WO2003062918A1

WO2003062918A1 - Projection system having an associated space for dome projection

Info

Publication number: WO2003062918A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/000616
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christhard Deter; Klaus Hiller
Original assignee: Jenoptik Ldt Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-01-23
Filing date: 2003-01-22
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Also published as: DE10202325B4; DE10202325A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a projection system having an associated space for dome projection, whereby a plurality of projectors are arranged below an equatorial plane (4) in a periphery, at a same angular distance, said projectors respectively projecting a triangular partial image into a dome. The invention is characterised in that the space comprises a dome wall (3) which is shaped in the form of a truncated sphere, the equatorial plane (4) of said wall being inclined (α) in relation to the horizon and extending over the eye level of an observer (8); the dome wall (3) has a fictitious plane (6) which is parallel to the equatorial plane (4) and is at a safety distance (A) above the eye level of the observer (8); at least two projectors (5) are arranged in said fictitious plane in a staggered manner at a certain angle, and, seen by the observer (8), vertically in the dome wall (3); and the dome wall (3), seen by the observer (8), is embodied as a projection surface above the fictitious plane (6), said fictitious plane (6) not being irradiated by the beams of the projection light.

Description

Projection arrangement with associated space for dome projection

The invention relates to a projection arrangement with an associated space for dome projection.

According to DE 198 46337 C1, a projection arrangement with a spherical segment-shaped dome is known, in which a plurality of projectors are arranged on the back of an operating person. The total of eight projectors produce a front view and a right and a left side view. The back part of the dome cannot be filled with picture content.

Another projection arrangement is described in DE 199 52 896 C1. There, a projector is arranged in front of the eye of an operating person and projects an image of a front view onto a cylindrical, barrel-shaped or spherical projection surface. A projection arrangement with a plurality of projectors is also described, which are aligned in such a way that the partial images they produce result in an overall large image of a front view. Additional projectors are required for the image display on the sides and behind the person acting.

DE 196 28 455 A1, US 5,023,725 A, DE 41 03 845 A, DE 1948829 A1, WO 01/59738 A1 and JP 58-190172 A show projection arrangements in which one or more projectors are arranged in the center of a spherical projection surface are. This has the disadvantage that there is no operating person in this area.

US Pat. No. 3,687,530 A describes a projection arrangement in which five projectors are arranged at an equal distance below the equator of a dome. Each of the projectors creates a triangular image which results in a composite single image on the dome-shaped projection surface. This arrangement has the disadvantage that an active person can be in the area of the projection beams. The invention is intended to solve the problem of providing a dome projection which fills at least one hemisphere and in which it is impossible for an active person or an observer to be able to get into the projection beam path. The invention is intended to enable the observer to view the projected image without fatigue within a large horizontal and vertical viewing angle.

The invention relates to a projection arrangement with associated space for dome projection, in which several projectors are arranged at the same angular distance below an equatorial plane in the periphery, each projecting a triangular-like partial image into a dome. The invention is characterized in that the space has a spherical segment-shaped dome wall, the equatorial plane of which is inclined to the earth's horizon and extends over the eye point of an observer, and the dome wall has a fictional plane which is parallel to the equatorial plane and at a safety distance above the eye point of the Observer lies, with at least two projectors offset by an angular amount in this fictitious plane and, viewed from the observer, are arranged standing in the dome wall and the dome wall, as seen from the observer, is designed as a projection surface above the fictitious plane, the fictional level is not irradiated by rays of projection light.

This arrangement ensures fatigue-free viewing of a dome projection, since the zenith of the dome is in the usual direction of view of a seated or standing observer. The observer only has to bow his head or move his body to look at the edges of the image. The arrangement according to the invention realizes relevant requirements and standards for laser safety without further effort. By designing the safety distance of the order of magnitude of at least 0.5 meters above the greatest possible height of an eye point, it is with certainty achieved that an observer cannot suffer damage from intense light radiation, in particular from laser light. However, the safety distance is expediently in the range between 1, 50 meters and 4 meters above the slope of the platform. Triangle-like means that the projectors in the dome generate partial images as triangles with curved side surfaces. Triangle-like in the context of this invention also means that more than two projectors produce fields that are trapezoidal, the zenith of the dome being filled by another field that has a number of corners equal to the number of projectors for the trapezoidal fields. The partial images are either placed together with pixel accuracy or superimposed on adjacent image edges so that the observer has the impression of a large, uniform image filling the projection dome.

The dome is advantageously filled with an image content from partial images if several projectors have the same orientation to the dome geometry and the angular amount of their distance results from 360 ° divided by a number of projectors. In this case, partial images of the same size result and the same geometric image corrections are carried out for all projectors, which reduces the effort. The size of the drawing files can also be different, e.g. to realize different resolutions.

The invention relates to a wide field of application of this dome projection and is not restricted to a planetarium or cinema. The space for the observer can be a platform or a staircase or a grandstand, the driving position of a vehicle, ship, aircraft or spaceship, a workplace for virtual design, planning and architecture or a workplace for biological, chemical, physical, medical, technical research and be development.

Furthermore, the dome wall does not have to have the shape of a sphere or a spherical section. Rather, the dome wall can also be a segment of an ellipsoid of revolution or a spherical segment. The dome wall can also be composed of adjoining partial surfaces, which in particular form the surface of a multi-sided pyramid or an octahedron. The dome wall can also be composed of partial surfaces of the geometric shapes mentioned, in particular of a combination of a spherical segment and a cylindrical partial surface. The projectors are arranged directly in front of the dome wall (seen from the center of the dome) or they are built into the dome wall to save space. An advantageous solution is that the projectors, as seen from the podium, are arranged behind the dome wall and the dome wall has an opening for the projection light of each of the projectors. The prerequisite is, however, that the structural conditions allow this.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that more than one hemisphere, this corresponds to the dome, is filled with an image content. On the one hand, this is achieved in that a spherical segment forms the projection surface and the plane, which is not penetrated by the projection beams, is defined far below the equatorial plane. However, this has the consequence that the space for the stay of people is getting smaller.

Another solution is that at least one additional projector is arranged within the projection dome, which fills the parts of the projection dome with an image content that cannot be reached by the projectors. In particular, four additional projectors are provided, which are arranged as close as possible to the center of the dome, but in such a way that the safety distance A is not undercut by these additional projectors either. The projection beams of these additional projectors shine past the observer, the distance being greater than the safety distance A.

The safety distance A can, however, be undershot if corresponding additional devices for security against visible radiation are provided, e.g. those described in US 6,002,505 A.

To display the partial images through the projectors or the additional projectors, image-imaging projectors are used or projectors that work with a laser light beam that writes in a grid pattern. The latter are known as laser projectors (for example DE 197 37374 C2) and are particularly advantageous since the effort for necessary geometric corrections is comparatively low. Each of the partial images and thus the entire image in the sphere is in focus at every projection distance. This is particularly important because in the arrangement of the projectors and Additional projectors the projection distance is practically different for each pixel.

Another division for image display in the projection dome is achieved in that more than three projectors are arranged, at least three projectors each producing trapezoidal partial images adjacent to one another in the projection dome, which, however, do not fill an area around the surface center and a further projector (16 ) is arranged in the plane (6) which fills the area around the surface center.

The invention is described below with reference to figures. It shows: Fig. 1: projection dome with a grandstand, the four

Projectors is equipped, Fig. 2: projection dome with a workplace with a spherical segment-shaped, enlarged projection surface, Fig. 3: projection dome with simulator, with four projectors and four

Additional projectors is equipped, Fig. 4: projection dome according to FIG. 3 in a view of the

Equatorial plane B-B, Fig. 5: projection dome according to Fig. 3 in a view of a vertical plane C-C, Fig. 6: projection dome with a bleachers with five

Projectors.

1 shows a projection dome 1. with a bleachers 2 in a vertical section. The projection dome has a diameter of 18 meters and offers space for a large number of observers 8. However, only one observer 8 is drawn. In the dome wall 3 4 projectors 5 are arranged below an equatorial plane. Four projectors 5 are offset in a plane 6, which runs parallel to the equatorial plane 4, at an angle of 90 ° to one another. The projectors 5 are aligned in such a way that the projection beams cover an area which extends from a surface center 7 to the plane 6. It is essential that the projection beams do not penetrate the plane 6. Furthermore, an auditorium 2 is aligned parallel to the plane 6, these being so far apart that a safety distance A is maintained from the observer 8. The safety distance is required to avoid disturbances in the image due to shadowing by the person. Furthermore, it must be ensured that damage to the observer 8, in particular his eyes, by high-intensity visible light is excluded. The safety distance A can be less than 1 meter if an appropriately designed seat prevents an observer from being able to rise from the seat. The safety distance should then be more than 2 meters if the observer can stand.

2 shows a projection dome 1 with an observer sitting at a work station 9. The dome is only 4.5 meters in diameter here. Only two projectors 5 are arranged in the dome wall, which are sufficient with this dome size to generate enough bright images on the projection surface. In this example, compared to FIG. 1, the level 6 lies far below the equatorial level 4, the angle is larger.

FIG. 3 shows the projection dome 1 with a truck simulator 10. Here too, four projectors 5 corresponding to FIG. 1 are installed in the dome wall 3. In this example, the level 6 is identical to the equatorial level 4 of the dome, so that with the projectors 5 a half, upper dome is filled with the image content. The observer is here the person to be trained, who is surrounded by a control station 11, so that here the safety distance A from the observer 8 is essentially determined by the dimensions of the control station 11. Furthermore, four additional projectors 12, 13, 14, 15 are provided, the other parts of the dome, namely seen from the sitting position of the observer 8, fill the rear and the lower parts of the dome with an image. Seen from the position of the observer 8, the projector 12 projects an image on the left below the observer 8, the projector 14 projects an image on the right below the observer 8, the projector 13 projects on the left above the observer 8 and the projector 15 projects on the right above the observer 8th.

For clarification of the projection geometry, reference is made to FIGS. 3 and 4. There, the reference numerals designate the same elements as those in FIG. 2 are described. In any case, it is ensured that none of the projection beams of the additional projectors can hit the observer. Here too, the safety distance A is at least maintained. The projectors 5 generate in the hemisphere in front of the eyes of the observer 8 the essential image content for the front view of the observer 8. The additional projectors 12, 13, 14 and 15, on the other hand, produce subordinate image contents for the side view and the rear view of the observer.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a section in the equatorial plane B-B of the spherical segment-shaped projection surface. The projectors 5 generate images in the upper hemisphere. The additional projectors 12, 13, 14 and 15 generate images in the lower hemisphere in which the operator's platform 11 is located.

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 3 in a front view as section C-C on the operator's station 11. Three of the four projectors 5 are shown which project partial images into the upper half of the sphere and fill these completely with partial images. Furthermore, the four additional projectors 12, 13, 14 and 15 are shown, which fill the lower half of the ball in essential parts. The hatching indicates the areas on the dome wall 3, which are filled in with partial images from the respective projectors and additional projectors with an image content.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement with five projectors, four projectors 5, as in FIG. 1, being arranged in plane 6, each offset by 90 °. A fifth projector 16 is also arranged in this plane 6, between two other projectors 5. The four projectors 5 provide trapezoidal partial images that do not fill the area around the surface center 7. The fifth projector 16 supplies a quadrangular partial image which fills the area around the surface center 7 of the dome in such a way that a transition to the four other partial images of the projectors 5 is established. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

projection dome

public gallery

dome wall

equatorial plane

projector

level

space center

observer

Workplace

10 truck simulator

11 control station

12 additional projector

13 additional projector

14 additional projector

15 additional projector

16 projector

B-B section through the projection dome parallel to the equatorial plane C-C vertical section through the projection dome

α Inclination of the equatorial plane to the earth's horizon

Claims

claims

1. Projection arrangement with associated space for dome projection, in which several projectors are arranged at the same angular distance in the periphery below the equatorial plane (4), each projecting a triangular-like partial image into a dome, characterized in that the space has a spherical segment-shaped dome wall (3) , whose equatorial plane (4) has an inclination () to the earth's horizon and runs over the eye point of an observer (8), the dome wall (3) has a fictitious plane (6) that is parallel to the equatorial plane (4) and at a safety distance (A) lies above the eye point of the observer (8), at least two projectors (5, 16) are offset by an angular amount in this fictitious plane (6) and, viewed from the observer (8), arranged in the dome wall (3) and the dome wall (3), as seen by the observer (8), is designed as a projection surface above the fictitious plane (6), the fictitious plane (6) not is shone through by rays of the projection light.

2. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the angular amount is divided by 360 ° by a number of projectors (5) and these projectors (5) preferably have the same orientation to the dome geometry.

3. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a place of the observer (8) a platform or stairs or a grandstand (2), further a control station (11) of a vehicle, ship, aircraft or spaceship, furthermore a workplace for virtual design , Planning and architecture or a workplace for biological, chemical, physical, medical, technical research and development.

4. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the dome wall (3) is a segment of an ellipsoid of revolution or a spherical segment.

5. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the dome wall (3) from adjacent flat or curved Sub-areas is composed, which form in particular the surface of a multi-sided pyramid or an octahedron.

6. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the dome wall (3) is composed of a combination of a spherical segment and a cylindrical partial surface.

7. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the projectors (5) are arranged directly in front of the dome wall (3) or are built into the dome wall (3).

8. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the projectors (5), seen from the podium, are arranged behind the dome wall (3) and the dome wall (3) each has an opening for the projection light of each of the projectors (5).

9. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that an additional projector (12, 13, 14, 15) is arranged within the projection dome, which fills the parts of the projection dome with an image content that cannot be reached by the projectors 5 by the additional projectors (12, 13, 14, 15) are arranged as close as possible to the center in the dome so that the projection beams of these additional projectors continue to shine past the observer (8) as determined by the safety distance A.

10. Projection arrangement according to claim 1 or according to claim 9, characterized in that the projectors (5) are image-projecting projectors or are projectors which work with a grid-writing laser light beam.

11. Projection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that more than three projectors are arranged, at least three projectors each producing trapezoidal partial images which do not fill an area around the center of the surface and a further projector (16) is arranged in the plane (6) that fills the area around the area center.