Abstract:
A location sensitive display device, system, and method therefor utilized in an entertainment environment. The display device (100) include a receiver (200), a control circuit (210), and indication units (112a-112d). Infrared transmitters are positioned within the entertainment environment and emit a code which is detected and decoded by the receiver (200) or IR photodiode. The receiver generates a control signal in response to the transmitted IR signal, and a control circuit processes the control signal to generate output signals which illuminate Light Emitting Diode (LED) indication units in a sequence determined by the output signals to provide a predetermined visual display. The display can be used in any activity related to the entertainment environment and can be controlled by a user or a central control system. Further, the display device can include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen to provide various types of games including games of skill and trivia games with questions and answers.
Abstract:
The present invention is a ride amusement conveyor (1) for drawing an amusement ride vehicle (4) to a height for travelling down. The conveyor (1) consists of rollers (2) and a spread belt (3) over the rollers (2). The rollers (2) are shaped to fit the bottom (5) of the vehicle (4) and have a larger diameter at the center than at the ends. Each roller (2) is formed of roller components (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15o) and a groove (16) in one of the roller components (15o) engages with a protrusion on the belt (24) to prevent sliding of the belt (3). A cushion support mechanism (17) supporting rollers (2) allows the rollers (2) to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the belt (3) to maximize contact between the belt (3) and the vehicle bottom (5).
Abstract:
The present invention is a ride amusement in which a vehicle (1) travels down a chute through a region of water. The vehicle (1) is shaped to minimize splashing and to allow water to flow away from the vehicle (1). The vehicle flanks (14) are curved to deflect splashing water down and away from the vehicle (1) and the vehicle bow (2) has upper flanks to deflect water down and away from the vehicle (1). The vehicle bottom (3) has a concave channel (13) to accomodate water displaced by the vehicle (1). The vehicle (1) has sets of wheels (4, 5, 6) for traveling, for guiding lateral motion, and for interlocking with floating prevention means (24). A groove (12) along each side of the vehicle (1) accomodates a splash prevention member (25) on the water chute.
Abstract:
A launcher (10) for holding and successively launching a plurality of projectiles (12), such as fireworks projectiles, which explode into an aerial pyrotechnic display. The launcher (10) includes a pressure tank (20) containing a compressed gas and a plurality of launching tubes (16) for holding the projectiles. The launching tubes (16) are constructed to form a magazine to enable successive launching of fireworks projectiles by appropriate indexing of the magazine and thus the launching tubes (16). A control apparatus opens and closes a valve (42) to introduce compressed gas into one of the launching tubes (16) to launch a projectile (12) into the air. A stop mechanism (14) prevents inadvertent or accidental detonation of the projectile (12) in the launching tube (16). The launcher (10) further includes an aiming apparatus (18) comprising actuators (28, 30) that support the launcher (10) and which are adjustable to change the launching angle of the launcher (10) with respect to the ground each time a new launching tube (16) is indexed to a launching position.
Abstract:
A seat (10) having an acoustic waveguide (36) for conveying sound from a remotely mounted loudspeaker (34) to a location in close proximity to an occupant's ears is disclosed. The seat (10) comprises a horizontal seating member (14) upon which an occupant may sit and a loudspeaker (34) located under the seating member for generating sound to be conveyed to the occupant's ears. A back rest member (16) extends upwardly from the seating member (14) and comprises an acoustic waveguide (36) coupled to the loudspeaker (34) for conveying sound to the occupant. The waveguide (36) terminates at an upper location such that a virtual sound source is located in close proximity to the occupant's ears. In its present form, the seat (10) has special application in the amusement ride industry where the conveyance of intelligible sound to occupants may be difficult in view of the noisy environment in which such amusement rides tend to operate. Multiple loudspeakers (76, 78) in combination with specially shaped waveguides (86) may be employed to convey stereo sound to multiple occupants.
Abstract:
A projection apparatus and method for realistic projection with applications to amusement, optical engineering, video shopping and cosmetics. Graphics data is entered into a user interface (32, 42, 52) and is processed to generate an output (24) representing an image to be projected onto a three-dimensional object (12). This output controls a light filter (68), such as a plurality of optically superposed color composite liquid crystal panels, to selectively filter projected light so that an image having a desired appearance is projected upon the object (12). The projected image may be interactively modified, stored in memory and projected as part of an image sequence to create apparent motion in the object.
Abstract:
A figure (10) is disclosed having a head (12) with a back projected image to animate the facial expression of the figure (10). The image is back projected onto the head's face (14) by a wide angle lens (16) inside the head (12) having an extremely short focal length. The lens is adjustable for focusing and image registration purposes in vertical, horizontal and lateral directions with respect to the face (14) by a lens adjustment system (38) also inside the head (12). The image is brought inside the head (12) to the lens (16) by a coherent fiber optic bundle (18) having a high resolution which transfers the image from a remote image source (22), such as a motion picture projector. Independent movement of the head (12) in all directions with respect to other parts of the figure (10) is provided by a motion device (34). The lens adjustment system (38) and fiber optic bundle (18) ensure that the image always remains in proper focus and registration on the face (14) despite free and unrestricted movement of the head (12) by the motion device (34).
Abstract:
An enhanced broadcasting system for presenting audio or video broadcoasts and related enhancements, the system comprising: a receiver for receiving an audio and video broadcast signal; a first display unit, connected to the receiver, for displaying content of the audio and video broadcast signal; a computer configured for receiving a code fragment correlated to the content of the audio and video broadcast signal; the computer executing software for interpreting the code fragment and correlating the code fragment to the audio and the video broadcast signal with respect to time; and a second display unit, connected to the computer, for displaying the interpreted code fragment.
Abstract:
A speed control apparatus (10) for waterway traveling vehicle (5) which can guide a vehicle (5) traveling along a waterway (1) while applying a damping force to the vehicule (5) to speed or stop it. A water traveling vehicle (5) is set afloat in a waterway (1) and propelled with the flow of water, and a damping mechanism (35) is provided in the course of the waterway (1) for stopping or speeding down the vehicle (5). A turning frame (13), guided by a guide member (12) to angularly move, is provided in the waterway (1) in an angularly movable manner, the turning frame (13) is urged by spring means (22) to align in a predetermined direction, and the damping mechanism (35) is mounted to the turning frame (13). When a vehicle (5) traveling with the aid of the water flow approaches the damping mechanism (35) obliquely, the turning frame (13) is angularly moved to make the damping mechanism (35) aligned with the direction of the vehicle (5) and then returned to the predetermined direction through reversed angular movement, under a restoring action of the spring means (22), for returning the damping mechanism (35) to its original direction, so that the direction of the vehicle (5) is corrected to the proper direction and the vehicle (5) slowed or stopped by action of the damping mechanism (35).
Abstract:
A recorder system contains a media key block (MKB) and selectively writes protected content into a recording medium according to the following content protection logic, to combat theft of the protected content: If the medium does not have a MKB, then the recorder writes its stored MKB into the medium and writes protected content into the medium. If the medium has a MKB that is older than the stored MKB in the recorder, then the recorder writes its stored MKB into the medium before re-encrypting and writing protected content into the medium. If the medium has a MKB that is newer than the stored MKB, then the MKB in the medium is used for content protection. The recorder may store the newer MKB in non-volatile memory, effectively updating its previous stored MKB, so the recorder will have the most recently observed MKB for content protection use.