Multi-Pane Window Projection System for Digital Signage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital signage technology is limited to projecting content onto a single flat surface, restricting its application to previously installed wide screens or upright walls without windowpanes, which limits its scope and advertising effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

An image projection system that utilizes a combination of multiple windowpanes on a building's outer surface as light transmission members, employing projectors and motor-driven screens to project dynamic images across these surfaces, allowing for larger-scale and more conspicuous digital signage with controlled illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If digital signage technology uses a single flat surface for projection, then the projection surface is simple and easy to implement, but the advertising effect and visual impact are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection surface implementationVSAvoidadvertising effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the projection surface into multiple separate windowpanes that can be individually projected onto. Each windowpane serves as an independent projection surface, allowing the system to overcome the limitations of single-surface projection while maintaining ease of implementation through standardized pane-based projection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines multiple projection surfaces (windowpanes) into a unified digital signage system. By projecting content across multiple panes simultaneously and coordinating their display, the system achieves enhanced advertising effect and visual impact while using simple, individually manageable surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If digital signage is projected onto previously installed wide screens or upright walls, then the projection surface area is limited, but the system structure is simple

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection surface areaVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from projecting onto traditional vertical walls or wide screens to projecting onto multiple horizontal windowpanes. This dimensional shift allows utilization of previously underutilized building surfaces (window areas) to expand the effective projection surface area without adding complex structural elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention makes existing windowpanes serve dual purposes: their original function as building envelope elements and their new function as projection surfaces. This multi-functionality expands the available projection area without requiring dedicated signage structures, maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple windowpanes are used as light transmission members for projection, then the digital signage scale and advertising effect are enhanced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedigital signage scaleVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the projection task across multiple windowpanes, with each pane being independently projected onto. This segmentation allows the use of simple, standardized projection units rather than requiring a single complex large-format projection system, thereby enhancing scale while managing complexity through modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a control device as an intermediary that coordinates the projection content across multiple windowpanes. This mediator manages the complexity of multi-pane synchronization and content distribution, allowing the system to achieve large-scale digital signage functionality while keeping individual projection units and their control simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the implementation of large-scale digital signage with high advertising effect by expanding the scope of digital signage technology beyond traditional surfaces, enhancing visual impact and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an image projection system that utilizes a combination of a plurality of windowpanes on a building's outer surface as light transmission members, employing projectors and motor-driven screens to project dynamic images across these surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission control:

Data Source

PatentEP3300360B1Image projection system and image projection method
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3300360B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3300360B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3300360B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An image projection system includes a dividing means configured to divide a single image into a plurality of split images on the basis of positions and sizes of a plurality of surfaces included in an area; and a control means configured to carry out such control as to project the split images respectively onto projection surfaces corresponding to the plurality of surfaces, using projection apparatuses respectively corresponding to the plurality of surfaces.