RENEWABLE FROZEN MATERIAL DISPLAY

A renewable frozen material display for displaying 2-dimensional images on or in the frozen material and 3-dimensional images above the frozen material. The frozen material is easily renewed by reflowing and freezing the liquid material to create a new display. A plurality of light sources emit light into or onto the frozen material to form the images. A plurality of sensors detect location or position of an object or participant which affects or determines aspects of the images or which image is displayed. User devices via a server interact with the renewable frozen material display and affect content of the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images and location of the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images to provide a group interacting activity environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to presentation displays and screens. More specifically, the present invention discloses a renewable frozen material or ice display for providing 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images in an interactive environment.

Description of the Prior Art

Conventional presentation displays are electronic screens such as television monitors that receive digital data and convert it into an image.

Unfortunately, the conventional screen requires positioning in an upright position in the eyesight of a spectator. However, there are many situations where the installation of the screen would be better positioned below the spectator.

Disadvantageously, if the conventional screen is positioned below the spectator the surface of the screen is damaged by the spectator walking across the screen. As a result the screen is easily scratched or broken and the image is degraded.

Therefore, there is need for an improved presentation display for presenting 2-dimensional images and 3-dimensional images that can be easily renewed to optimal display and projecting image properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve these and other advantages and in order to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional method in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a display surface comprising a frozen material such as ice to display 2-dimensional images and 3-dimensional images in still photo or video format.

A frozen surface such as a substrate of frozen water (ice) is provided. For example, a surface of an ice skating rink forms the display screen of a renewable frozen material display.

A plurality of light sources emit light into the sides of the frozen material. The emitted lights interact to form 2-dimensional images in the frozen material or are reflected and emitted from the frozen material to form a 3-dimensional image above the surface of the frozen material.

The surface of the frozen material or the frozen material is easily renewed by reflowing material and refreezing the material to create a new frozen material display.

Sensors detect a participants position or location on the frozen material to cause interactivity between image content and user interaction. For example, participants can participate in a game displayed on or above the frozen material and their actions/movements will determine which images are displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Refer toFIGS. 1-3, which are drawings illustrating a renewable frozen material display providing 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images according to embodiments of the present invention.

The renewable frozen material display100comprises a substrate of frozen material110. For example, the frozen material110comprises frozen water or ice.

A plurality of light sources120are provided on at least one side of the frozen material110. The plurality of light sources120comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser light sources capable of emitting colored lights.

When activated the plurality of light sources120emit light into sides of the frozen material110. The emitted light combines or interacts to form a 2-dimensional image150in or on the frozen material110. In embodiments of the present invention a 3-dimensional image155is formed on top of or above the frozen material110.

Additionally, in embodiments of the present invention at least one external light source160is provided above or around the frozen material. For example, the external light source160comprises a spotlight, a video projector, a laser light source, or a holographic image projector. The external light source160collaborates with the plurality of light sources120to create the 2-dimensional image150and the 3-dimensional image155. Seating195or spectator viewing area is provided195around the frozen material110.

An advantage of the present invention, as needed the raw material of the frozen material110is reflown across the base and frozen to create a renewed frozen material display100. For example, is the surface of the frozen material110becomes scratched or distorted, the surface of the frozen material display100is remade as a new surface in order to create sharper or better 2-dimensional images150and 3-dimensional images155.

In an embodiment of the present invention the renewable frozen material display100comprises a plurality of sensors170positioned around, above, in, and/or below the frozen material110.

In an embodiment of the present invention a server197cooperates with the sensors170to obtain and analyze sensor data, with the light sources120,160to control light and image data, and spectator/user devices196to receive user data and send control options to the spectator/user devices196.

Refer toFIG. 4, which is a drawing illustrating a renewable frozen material display with a diffusion surface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention the frozen material110of the frozen material display100further comprises a diffusion surface175.

The diffusion surface175comprises hashed lines, criss-cross lines, pitted indentations, etc and are created in the top surface of the frozen material110. The diffusion surface175affect the emitted light from the plurality of light sources120and affect the resultant 2-dimensional image and 3-dimensional image155. For example, the diffusion surface175softens the contrast or edges of the images.

Refer toFIG. 5, which is a drawing illustrating a renewable frozen material display with a plurality of intersecting emitted light according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the renewable frozen material display100, the plurality of light sources120project emitted light175into the frozen material110.

The emitted light175passes through the frozen material110and intersect. The intensity and color of the intersecting lights are variable to determine the images or aspects of the images.

Refer toFIG. 6, which is a drawing illustrating a renewable frozen material display with a linear light guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention the frozen material display100comprises a linear light source120. The linear light source120comprises, for example, a light emitting diode, a plurality of light emitting diodes, or a light emitting diode module. The linear light source120emits light175into an end of a transparent or translucent light guide180. The emitted light175travels through the light guide and is reflected into the frozen material110.

The light guide180comprises an elongated polygonal material. A reflector or reflective surface is provided on at least one side of the polygonal material to assist in increasing the reflectivity of emitted light thereby improving the 2-dimensional image150and 3-dimensional image.

Refer toFIG. 7, which is a drawing illustrating a renewable frozen material display with a plurality of sensors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention the renewable frozen material display100comprises a plurality of sensors170positioned around, above, in, and/or below the frozen material110.

The sensors170comprise a motion detector, a heat sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared tag/ID reader, a bluetooth transceiver, an ultrasonic transceiver, or a wireless transceiver.

The sensors170detect the position or location of an object or participant190on the frozen material110. The sensors170allow for the participant190or object to affect the 2-dimensional image150and 3-dimensional image155or determine which 2-dimensional image150and 3-dimensional image155is displayed or determine game play.

In this way, the participant190can interact with the 2-dimensional image150and 3-dimensional image155in order to interactively determine the progress or outcome of a media presentation of the frozen material display100.

Refer toFIG. 8, which is a drawing illustrating a renewable frozen material display with a plurality of light sources according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention a plurality of light sources120are provide under the frozen material110. The emitted light cooperates to form the 2-dimensional image150and 3-dimensional image155of the frozen material display100.

The present invention comprises a server197that cooperates and interacts with the sensors170to obtain and analyze sensor data, with the light sources120,160to control light and image data, and spectator/user devices196to receive user data and send control options to the user devices196.

Users utilize user devices196to interact with the renewable frozen material display100. For example, users can determine what image or object is displayed in a 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image or can determine the image or objects position or location.

For example, a participant190moves across the substrate and is interacting with the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image via the sensors170, the user via the user device196sends commands or selects options that control the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image or the position of the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image.

The server197receives the data from the user device196and revises or alters the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image or the position of the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional image.

In this way, a user or a plurality of users via user devices196can interact with the participant or participants190and the renewable frozen material display100to provide a group interaction activity.

In an embodiment of the present invention the user device196is a mobile phone.

The server comprises a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a central processing unit, and a wireless transceiver.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the invention and its equivalent.