Video Wall Synchronization with Content Using Feedback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stage systems lack the ability to synchronize the movement of video walls with the video content effectively, leading to disjointed and unsynchronized visual experiences during performances.

Innovation Solution

A system that integrates a controlling console, media server, winch assemblies with feedback mechanisms, and scenic controllers to synchronize the movement of video walls with the video content, using cues and feedback data to adjust the video imagery in real-time, ensuring that the video appears stationary while the wall moves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the video wall moves along a path, then the physical position of the video wall changes, but the video content appears to remain stationary relative to the wall's original position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo wall movement controlVSAvoidsynchronization precision between wall movement and video content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where the controller receives real-time position data from the video wall's movement along the path and dynamically adjusts the video content positioning accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the video content maintains its apparent stationary position relative to the original wall location, even as the physical wall moves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy or representation of the video content that is independently positioned and oriented. This virtual copy is then mapped to the moving video wall, allowing the content to be repositioned in the virtual space to compensate for the physical wall's movement, thereby maintaining the illusion of stationary content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple pieces of equipment are integrated to enable video wall movement, then the system's functionality is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo wall movement capabilityVSAvoidnumber of integrated equipment components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform multiple tasks: it manages video wall movement coordination, processes position feedback, adjusts video content positioning and orientation, and synchronizes across multiple equipment components. This consolidation of functions into a single control system reduces overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary device that mediates between the video wall movement mechanism and the video content delivery system. It receives movement commands and position feedback, then translates these into appropriate video content adjustments, thereby simplifying the interaction between multiple equipment components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the video content is adjusted in real-time based on wall position, then the synchronization accuracy is improved, but the processing requirements and system response time demands increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo content positioning accuracyVSAvoidreal-time processing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores the relationship between video wall positions and corresponding video content positioning parameters. When the wall moves to a known position, the controller can quickly retrieve the pre-computed positioning data rather than calculating it in real-time, thereby maintaining high positioning accuracy while reducing processing demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex real-time computational mechanics with pre-computed lookup tables or predetermined transformation matrices. Instead of performing complex real-time calculations to determine video content positioning, the controller uses pre-established mathematical relationships that can be quickly applied based on the current wall position, reducing processing requirements while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9489923B2Synchronization of video wall movement with content on the wall
Publication Date: 2016.11.08 PRODN RESOURCE GROUP L L C
  • US9489923B2 patent drawing
  • US9489923B2 patent drawing
  • US9489923B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A controlling console and media server, and winch moving console all work together.