FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the movement of entertainment elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of devices are used for entertainment purposes. For example, electronic displays are now extremely common and are utilized in a variety of environments. Such displays were initially used primarily in television sets and to with computers. Initially, these displays were primarily CRT type displays which were large and bulky.

In recent years, other display technologies have been developed. Plasma, LCD, LED and other types of displays are now commercially producible in large display sizes. At the same time, however, these displays are generally thin, thus taking up much less space than CRT type displays offering the same display area.

As such, these displays are now utilized for a variety of purposes. For example, large displays are used at stadiums to present replays of sporting events. These types of displays are also sometimes mounted to walls in stores to present advertising information.

In order to attract attention to advertising, graphic information may be presented on the displays. This information may comprise exciting patterns, such as in bright colors, flashing effects and the like, to draw attention to the display. Still, these displays may be overlooked and advertisers and other users of these displays continue to seek new ways to use these displays and increase their viewership.

Other types of entertainment devices may be used in other settings. For example, in a theatrical production, large props may be located on a stage. The props may be moved into various positions to create different scenes and various actions. The props are often moved manually, such as with ropes and pulleys, limiting the situations where they may be used or their effectiveness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises moveable entertainment elements and methods of moving one or more entertainment elements.

One embodiment of the invention is a robotic mount. The robotic mount is configured to support one or more entertainment elements and move the one or more entertainment elements in at least three degrees of freedom, and preferably six, and/or at least two dimensions/two-dimensional space, and preferably in three-dimensions/three-dimensional space. In one embodiment, the robotic mount comprises a base and a moveable support. The base supports the display support, such as by resting upon a support surface or by connection to a support, such as a wall or other element.

The moveable support is preferably moveable in three-dimensional space, whereby one more entertainment elements connected thereto are so moveable. In one embodiment, the moveable support comprises a plurality of members which are movably connected to one another in one more directions/dimensions. The moveable support may comprise, for example, a robotic arm having a base, a main support which is rotatable relative to the base, a lower arm which is rotatable relative to the main support, an upper arm which is rotatable relative to the lower arm, and a head to which the one or more entertainment elements are connected, the head moveable relative to the upper arm.

In one embodiment, means are provided for moving the moveable support. Preferably, the means permits the moveable mount to be automated in the sense that it can be moved without direct physical contact by a human therewith. This means may comprise one or more electric motors or the like.

One aspect of the invention is a robotically controlled electronic display. The robotically controlled electronic display preferably comprises a robotic mount which supports and moves one or more electronic displays. The electronic displays may comprise, for example, flat panel electronic video displays.

In another embodiment of the invention, a unitary display may comprise two or more individual displays. One or more robotic mounts may be utilized to move one or more or all of the displays of the unitary display. For example, each display of a unitary display comprising a plurality of displays may be associated with its own robotic mount, thus permitting all of the displays of the unitary display to be moved independently and/or synchronously.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a robotically controlled video projector. The robotically controlled video projector comprises a robotic mount which support and moves one or more video projectors. The video projectors may comprise, for example, CRT or DLP type electronic video projectors. The robotic mount may move the one or more projectors to cause then to display information, images, moving images or the like upon various display surfaces such as screens, walls, floors or, as described herein, one or more robotic screens.

Yet another aspect of the invention comprises a robotically controlled staircase. The robotically controlled staircase comprises a robotic mount which supports and moves a staircase. The staircase preferably defines one or more steps from a bottom end to a top end. The robot mount is preferably configured to move the staircase in three-dimensional space, such as from ground level to one or more raised platforms.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the robotic mount supports and moves a screen used for receiving and displaying video or graphic images projected to the screen. The robotic mount is preferably configured to move the screen in three-dimensional space to receive images from the one or more projectors. Multiple robotic screens may receive images from one or more projectors, including robotic projectors. The robotic screens may be made to move in synchronized unison with the movements and projection angles of the one or more robotic projectors.

Another embodiment of the invention is a robotically controlled camera. The robotically controlled camera comprises a robotic mount which supports and moves at least one image capture device, such as a film or digital camera.

One embodiment of the invention is a system including a robotic mount and a controller. The controller may be configured to accept input from a user and/or run control programs for generating instructions or output signals which may be used to control the robotic mount and its associated entertainment element (such as its associated video display(s), video projector(s), staircase, or screen). In one embodiment, such a controller may also be configured to control information displayed by the one or more video displays or video projectors, including synchronizing the movement thereof with the images displayed thereby.

In one embodiment, a system may comprise multiple robotic mounts which are used to coordinate the movement of an image capture device or camera. A first robotic mount may move the camera from a first position to a second position and then the camera may be transferred from the first robotic mount to a second robotic mount which moves the camera from the second position to a third position. The camera transfer may, along with the movement of the first and second robotic mounts, be automated.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

