Method and apparatus for dodecahedral imaging system

40 Pages·2013·2.53 MB·English

United States Patent [191 [11] Patent Number: 5,023,725
McCutchen [45] Date of Patent: Jun. 11, 1991
[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SMPTE Journal, 9/89, “Transmission of HDTV . . . ”
DODECAHEDRAL IMAGING SYSTEM Natarajan et al., 651-657.
Laser Creations (brochure) on LVP Laser Video Pro
[76] Inventor: David McCutchen, 931 N. Gardner jector, 9/21/ 89.
St., W. Hollywood, Calif. 90046
Hitachi (brochure) on C70-201OR Multiscan HD Pro
[21] Appl. No.: 425,406 Jector.
Thom EMI (brochure) on CID Projection Lamp.
[22] Filed: Oct.23, 1989 Pugh, “Polyhedra, A Visual Approach”, 1976, pp.
7-10, 12, 14, 26, 57-60, 84-102.
[51] Int. Cl.5 ...................... .. H04N 5/74; H04N 7/00;
Wenninger, “Spherical Models”, 1979, pp. 9-21, 26-33,
H04N 9/31; H04N 7/18
37, 41, 126-131, 43-53, 58-61, 65-66.
[52] us. 01. .................................... .. 358/231; 358/87;
358/60; 358/93; 350/502; 352/70; 354/94 Dana’s Textbook of Minerology, 1946 ed. pp. 70-71,
74-85.
[58] Field of Search ................... .. 358/60, 231, 37, 50,
Photographic Stills (3) from “Flat Out” by David
358/93, 104; 350/502, 124, 125; 352/69, 70;
McCutchen.
354/103, 110, 113, 119, 94; 353/30, 28
[56] References Cited Primary Examiner-John K. Peng I
[57] ABSTRACT
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
A dodecahedral environmental photography and pro
3,209,073 9/1965 Falbel .................................. .. 358/87
jection system based on a pentagonal format is dis
3,687,530 8/1972 Watanuki .. 352/71
closed, designed for a modular compound camera and
3,698,803 10/1972 Watanuki .......... .. .. 352/69
3,832,565 8/1974 Graf 250/566 projector system aligned according to the dodecahe
4,100,571 7/1978 Dykes . .... .. 358/87 dron, for the photography and projection of apparently
4,214,821 7/1980 Termes ..... .. 352/70 continuous images across the interior surface of‘ a dome
4,656,506 4/1987 Ritchcy .. 358/60 or spherical theater. The use of a compound system
4,673,057 6/1987 Glassco 181/144 provides better resolution that a single-camera system
4,772,942 9/1988 Tuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 358/87 ,and the use of a pentagonal picture as a standard shape
4,796,961 1/1989 Yamada et a1. . 350/6.8
allows complete coverage of a spherical surface, and
4,798,448 l/1989 Van Raalte ....................... .. 350/345
greater use of the available lens image than existing
OTHER PUBLICATIONS rectangular formats. By the addition of camera and
projection modules, this system enables photography
Daily Variety: “Single-Camera, 360-Film . . . ,
and projection up to a total spherical ?eld of view, and
12/26/89, p. 3.
practical application of video technology to a dome
Sidney Ray: “The Lens and All Its Jobs”, 1977, 64-69,
theater. A masking processor is also provided to control
74-7, 98-103.
the shape of the projected video image, enabling projec
Cox: “Photographic Optics”, 1974, pp. 485-497,
tion of compound images of variable overall shape and
514-533.
Video (Magazine): Sep. ‘89 Issue-See Woodcock, p. size. An electro-optical lens is also described, sufficient
18, Slovick, pp. 64-68, Forbis, pp. 70-73. to produce the effect of a lens with two or three optical
Panasonic (Brochures) on WU-CD2, GP-l2 Cameras centers, so that one lens can cover more than one view.
and Lenses. With a dual-center lens, the number of camera modules
Sony (brochure) on XC-711 and XC-O07 CCD Cam required is thereby halved, or if the number of camera
modules remains the same and their dual views are
eras.
Computer Pictures Magazine, 9/ 89, p. 56 ad for Nikon made to overlap, the effective resolution of the system is
Hr-lSOOc. thereby doubled.
RezFacts (brochure) on Relay Single Fiber HD Trans
mission System. 34 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent June 11, 1991 ~ Sheet 1 of 18
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US. Patent June 11, 1991 Sheet 4 of 18 5,023,725
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US. Patent 5,023,725
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U.S. Patent June 11, 1991 Sheet 8 of 18
US. Patent June 11,1991 ' Sheet 9 of 18 5,023,725
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