The present invention generally relates to display system and more particularly to electronic image display systems.
Various methods for advertising exist today in abundance. Many of the more common methods of advertising include billboards and signs, which are posted in locations frequented by many people. These methods of advertising while useful have a significant drawback in that they require large amounts of space. There is therefore a limited amount of signs and billboards which can be placed in an area before the area becomes saturated. Furthermore, signs and billboards often require significant effort to change advertising should one desire replace an old advertisement with a new advertisement.
Other less frequent methods of advertising include wearable signs which are carried by a human operator in a populated area. This method solves some of the problems of space which are involved with normal signs and billboards, though the wearable signs can often lack aesthetics qualities and be quite uncomfortable for the wearer. Additionally the wearable signs are still static and need to be replaced if a new advertisement is desired.
Recently as technology has progressed, and miniaturisation techniques have been improved, several types of portable electronic devices have been made available. These sorts of devices include a range of devices from portable telephones to personal computer which can be mounted on a person's body. Examples of these kinds of devices can be seen in for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,981 to Kuenster et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,966 to Carroll et al.
There has also been an attempt at including video images on garments, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,653 to Stephan Fitch. This device while allowing changeable images on a person, are not useful for large scale advertising since the display is not visible above the people's heads in high traffic areas and the display has to be of reduced weight to prevent tearing of the garment.
As can be seen from the prior art there is a need for a portable dynamic display device which can be used for large scale advertising and audiovisual presentations.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic image display system comprising a projector for displaying a video image. The display system comprises image input means and means to connect it to an electrical power source, a support structure having means to attach the support structure to a human body. The support structure further comprises a storage device for storing at least one video program including data for the video image, a video signal generating means to send the video image to the projector, and communication means between the projector and the video signal generating means. Hence, the support structure is adapted to carry the storage device supporting the video program to be displayed by the projector and sent thereto by the video signal generating means via the communication means.
In another aspect, the invention includes an out-of-home audiovisual presentation method comprising:
In another embodiment, the invention may be a wearable and nomadic technology comprising:
The electronic image display system may be used with standard technology for wired data transmission or wireless data transmission. In the latter case, a wireless projector is used and both the wireless projector and the backpack are equipped with transceivers to transmit the video signal from the portable DVD or other media player or the portable computer to the projector. Understandably, a projector having both types of connections (i.e. wired and wireless) can be used to adapt to different signals, by cable means or wireless transmission.
According to another aspect of the invention, the projector may be fixed on a telescopic pole which may be held by the human operator at different heights and in different positions. It can also be fixed on a tripod to stand alone at different heights and in different positions, the human operator being near enough to provide the video signal. Still, the projector could also be mounted to a support member fixed to the backpack worn by the operator. In this latter case, depending of the shape of the support member and/or the intended use of the projector, the projector could be located beside the operator or above its shoulders or even its head. Understandably, by changing the shape of the support member, the projector could be located at other locations. Nevertheless, in all these configurations, the projector is preferably attached (to the telescopic pole, the tripod or the support member) so as to allow the human operator to modify the orientation of the projection. A pivotal connector, known in the art, could be used for that matter. Thus, the video image projected by the projector could be directed on any surfaces and even on the ground by changing the orientation of the projector. Finally, the projector may be removable from the telescopic pole or the tripod to be disposed on a surface or on the human operator with appropriate fastening means.
While the invention has been described in relation to several embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several modifications and variations not mentioned exists. Accordingly the previous descriptions are only meant for the purposes of illustration, and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the following drawings, in which:
In one aspect, as shown in
The carrying sack 40, mounted to the support frame 20, contains a video signal generating means (see below) which is connected to the projector 150 by cable means 80 and which allows for the video signal generating means to send video signals to the projector 150 which can then project the corresponding image or presentation.
As can be seen in
Additionally, the video signal generating means 170 is connected to a pair of speakers 180 such that an audio component generated by said video signal generating means 170 can be played back on speakers 180. The speakers 180 may also be placed on either end of the base support means 30. Other locations are also possible and within the scope of the invention.
As mentioned above, the backpack 40 preferably contains a pair of batteries 190 which power the projector 150 and the speakers 180. Depending on the type of device used, the video signal generating means 170 may have a separate power source or may be connected to the batteries 190. The backpack 40 may also include a DC to AC converter 200 if an AC driven projector is used. The skilled addressee will understand that the backpack 40 may also contain all other components which could be required by the electronic image display system.
In
The skilled addressee will understand that the wireless transmission between the transceiver 195 and the wireless projector 155 can be effected via any appropriate wireless transmission protocol such as, but not limited to, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), as long as the wireless protocol provides enough bandwidth for transmitting the required video signals.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2,376,896 | Mar 2006 | CA | national |
This application is a continuation in part of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/389,614, filed on Mar. 17, 2003 and entitled “Portable Display System”. The content of the aforesaid application is fully incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the disclosure presented hereinbelow.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10389614 | Mar 2003 | US |
Child | 11531323 | Sep 2006 | US |