A system and method for support and rotation of a screen

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for rotationally controlling a circular structure, such as a dome (11), from the outer circumference of the dome (11). The system uses an air driven motor having a circular fixed section (54) and a movable section (12, 51). The movable section (12, 51) is attached to the rim of the dome (11) and is supported by pressurized air over the fixed section. Air, or other fluid, is used to drive the movable section (12, 51), and hence the dome (11), around the circle. The dome (11) speed is controlled by air pressure and the position of the dome (11) is monitored.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to rotational screen support and control and more particularly to a system and method of precisely controlling a rotating surface by applying rotational force at its periphery. FR-A-1 532 474 discloses a tower with a cylindrical base that floats in a cylindrical pond of water and is caused to rotate steadily by a circulation induced by pumps in the water between the side wall of the pond and the side wall of the tower base. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A relatively new display system has been developed which generates images in all three physical dimensions. The system relies on the generation within a confined space, typically, a closed dome, of a volume upon which coherent light impacts to create the images. Each image is comprised of a number of light pixels (called voxels) usually generated by one or more laser beams impacting on the generated volume within the dome. The defined volume can be created by spinning a helix shaped surface (disk) within the dome so that as the disk spins a volume is created defined by the disk surface as it moves up and down in a helical curve. Thus, at any point in time a different height of the volume is at a given physical location within the dome. A light spot can then be created by impacting a beam of coherent light with the disk at a particular point in time coinciding with the height desired for that point of light. By timing a large number of such light beams, three dimensional objects can be created within the dome and these objects then can be viewed from any position since the spinning disk (which creates the display volume) is essentially transparent to the eye. Such a system is the subject of US-A-5 082 350, which was published after the priority date of the present application. A number of problems become clear. It is desired to spin a physical object at 600 rpm. One problem is how to mount the disk. The simple solution, of course, is to mount it on a center shaft and use a motor to spin the disk to create the volume spacer. However, this will only allow images to be created at the outside edge of the disk. One objective of the invention is the creation of a fully addressable display volume. A fully addressable display volume is a volume in which displays can be created anywhere within the space cylinder. Another objective is to create a very stable disk. A stable disk is one that does not have excessive dynamic movement over time and that does not have excessive vibration. A further objective is the ability to know precisely where any point on the disk is at any point in time. Originally, a flat disk mounted on a shaft of a motor was used. It was found that air turbulence, vibration, and other aspects limited the resolution and the precision of such a display system. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a rotational system that creates a fully addressable volume and which is dynamically stable and which lends itself to precise monitoring. The invention provides a system for rotating a screen comprising: a dome with said screen fused to the inside of said dome, a support structure for suspending said dome; and a system for rotating said dome; comprising: a circular channel attached to the bottom of said dome; a stationary circular fluid chamber in fluid connection with a reservoir of fluid, for mating with said channel, said chamber having a radius of curvature and a coss-section matching said channel; a gap between said channel and said chamber; and means in said chamber for releasing fluid into said gap. The invention also provides a method for rotating the said screen of a system according to the invention, comprising the steps of: creating a cushion of fluid between said channel and said chamber by expelling fluid from said chamber; and rotating said dome by expelling air through a stationary activator against a plurality of buckets mounted around the dome. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION We have solved the problem of making a disk rigid as it spins. This is accomplished by fusing a disk inside a dome using the side edge of the disk for attachment to the dome. Using this approach, the dynamic movement of the edges is eliminated. The outer rotation rim of the dome is, in one embodiment, supported pneumatically, and rotated by a pneumatic drive. The pneumatic support is an air channel that creates a blanket of air directed to the bottom of the dome. The dome floats of the order of 100 µm (a few thousandths of an inch) above the base structure. The pneumatic drive then rotates the dome by blowing a directed jet of air against a reflecting surface on the dome edge. In summary, there are three aspects of the invention. One is the support of the disk and the dome structure combination. The second is the actual rotation of that combination around an axis. The third is the shaft encoding, or optical encoding, to determine where the disk is in its rotation. It is one technical advantage of this invention that a rotating disk is positioned within a defined structure, such as a dome, mechanically attached to the circumference of the dome, and made to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the dome. It is another technical advantage of this invention to provide such a system where the rotation of the disk is precisely controlled by pneumatic means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, features and technical advantages, as well as others, of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of the drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows an illustration of a surface creating a defined volume within the dome; FIGURES 2-4 show graphically the volumes created by the rotating surface; FIGURES 5-6 show top and front views, respectively, of a rotating dome system using this invention; FIGURE 7 shows details of a section 7-7 taken through the dome system of FIGURE 5; FIGURE 8 shows details of the air activator and drive mechanism of the dome system; FIGURE 9 shows an exploded view of the activator; FIGURE 10 shows an illustration of the volume created by a helix shaped surface; and FIGURES 11 and 12 show alternate embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Before beginning a discussion of the optic system, a brief overview of the manner in which images are created in a defined volume is appropriate. Such a discussion is with respect to FIGURE 10 where surface 12, which in one embodiment can be a spinning helix, defines a volume V as it rotates about some central point. Each point in time A, B and C shows the helix at the same physical (spatial) place but at a slightly different time. Since the helix, or double helix in another embodiment, is spinning at a rate of 600 rpm or more, the human eye will treat the surface as being transparent. It is this transparency that allows the creation of three-dimensional images when struck by coherent light. Thus, coherent light source and optics system 10, discussed in more detail in concurrently filed patent application entitled "Volume Display Optical System and Method" provides a pulse of light 102 which has been spatially positioned and timed such that it impacts with surface 12 to form a point of light 105 at a height d1 from a base line 40. This pulse could be timed to arrive a little later in the and then it would impact surface 12 to create point of light 105′ which is displaced from base line 40 at a height of d2. Still further delay in the beam 102 would result in a point of light 105″ at a height of d3 from base line 40. Using this technique, then, and understanding that light source 10 can deliver multiple light beams over a wide spatial range at each point in time, three dimensional images can be formed from the points of light. Because the spinning helix is transparent to the human eye, the light spots will appear to be free floating and can be viewed from any angle and from any side. FIGURE 1 shows system 10 having surface 12 fused inside of inverted dome 11. Surface 12 is actually a flat circular disk that rotates to define the volume as discussed above. Motor 13 rotates the combined disk and dome. FIGURE 2 shows dome 11 in actual contact with surface 12. Surface 12 illustrates the viewing area defined by the tangency of dome 11 and surface 12. Surface 12 is a helix in this embodiment. FIGURE 3 shows a top view of surface 12. Surface 12 is a double helix in this embodiment. FIGURE 4 is the geometric design of a 60 cm (two foot) rise surface 12. Rise is the amount of volume that can display an image. This figure represents the vertical elevation of the surface at the highest point as a radial distance. FIGURE 5 shows a top view of the new dome rotating system 50 being rotated by mechanism 90 which is an air activated system. This system is partially balanced centrifugally as will be seen by wheels 73 equally spaced around the circumference of dome 11. Inside dome 11, surface 12 rotates as previously discussed to form the volume space. Air activation is controlled by selectively applying air to activators 90 that can be spaced around the circumference of system 50. FIGURE 6 is a front view of system 50. Surface 12 is fused to dome 11, and rotates with the dome to create the defined volume. FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through section 7-7 of FIGURE 5. Air cavity 76 allows air via input 75 to be fed around the perimeter of system 50 and contains multiple air holes 77 in this cavity to support tram 51. Tram 51 travels rotationally around circular support 54 supported by a thin layer of air. Tram 51 is connected to dome 11 by slot 74 and travels with the dome to rotate the dome. Rubber coated support wheels 73 are mounted on shaft 52 which are positioned around the outside perimeter of tram 51. Centrifugal ball balancing system 53 balances dome 11 and tram 51 assembly in rotation. Also shown is magnet 79. As shown in FIGURE 8 activator 90, which is shown in more detail in FIGURE 9, is connected to tram 51 by screw 96 positioned through activator 90 into groove 82 of tram 51. Air, via hose 81, is selectively injected into activator 90 for impact onto buckets 83 on the periphery of tram 51, thereby propelling tram 51 rotationally around support 54. Activator 90 is maintained in position via post 91 fitted through hole 92. Post 91 shown in FIGURE 9 is supported as shown in FIGURE 6 by base 54 shown in FIGURE 6. Turning now to FIGURE 9, activator 90 mounts on post 91 via hole 92 and air is injected via orifice 93 and is ejected via port 94 to impact on bucket 83 on the rim of tram 51, as shown in FIGURE 8. Screws 96 and 95 fit through holes 97 and 98, respectively, to engage grooves 82 and 72 (not shown in Figure 8) of tram 51. Grooves 82 and 72 are shown in FIGURE 7. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 8, as air is applied to activator 90, tram 51 is forced forward rotating the entire assembly including dome 11. The positional accuracy of the mechanism can be determined in many ways, one of which can be mounting a magnetic pickup 99 within activator 90 for sensing the rotation of magnet 79. The position of tram 51 can also be determined by installing a small light source and a photodetector or any other detecting device. Dome 11 may also be rotated by other mechanical means. FIGURE 11 shows a taut flexible belt 1102 engaging the outside perimeter of dome 11 through interlocking grooves or by friction. The belt also passes around the rotating shaft of a motor 1101. FIGURE 12 shows a motor linked directly to dome 11. Motor 1201 is located directly adjacent to the circumference of dome 11 and interlocking gears 1202 and 1203 synchronize motor 1201 and dome 11. Although this description describes the invention with reference to the above specified embodiments, the claims and not this description limited the scope of the invention. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiment, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to person skilled in the art upon reference to the above description. Therefore, the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims: A system for rotating a screen, comprising: a dome (11) with said screen (12) fused to the inside of said dome; a support structure (50) for suspending said dome; and a system (90,1101-2,1201-3) for rotating said dome; comprising: a circular channel (78) attached to the bottom of said dome; a stationary circular fluid chamber (76) in fluid connection (75) with a reservoir of fluid, for mating with said channel (78), said chamber (76) having a radius of curvature and a cross-section matching said channel (78); a gap between said channel (78) and said chamber (78); and means (77) in said chamber for releasing fluid into said gap. The system of claim 1, wherein said chamber (76) and channel (78) are rectangular in cross-section. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said system for rotating said dome (11) comprises: a plurality of buckets (83) mounted in a common plane around said dome; and a stationary activator (90) for receiving and directing air against the open end of said buckets. The system of claim 3, comprising: a plurality of activators (90) spaced around the edge of said dome (11). The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said system for rotating said dome (11) comprises; a motor (1101); and a belt (1102) connected to the shaft of said motor and to the perimeter of said dome. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said system for rotating said dome (11) comprises: a motor (1201); and a gear (1202) connected to the shaft of said motor and mechanically linked to the perimeter or said dome. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a monitor (79, 99) for monitoring the rotation of said dome. The system of claim 7, wherein said monitor comprises a stationary sensor sensitive to light reflected off said rotating dome (11). The system of claim 7, wherein said monitor comprises a stationary sensor (99) sensitive to magnetic fields generated by the rotating dome (11). A method for rotating the said screen of a system as claimed in claim 3, comprising the steps of; creating a cushion of fluid between said channel (78) and said chamber (76) by expelling fluid from said chamber; and rotating said dome (11) by expelling air through said activator (90) against said buckets (83). The method of claim 10, comprising the step of monitoring the rotation of said dome. The method of claim 11, wherein said monitoring step includes the step of positioning adjacent to said dome a stationary sensor sensitive to light reflected off said rotating dome. The method of claim 11, wherein said monitoring step comprises positioning adjacent to said dome a stationary sensor (99) sensitive to magnetic fields generated by the rotating dome (11).

Inventors: GARCIA FELIX, WILLIAMS RODNEY D, WRIGHT TOMMY D, GARCIA, FELIX, WILLIAMS, RODNEY D., WRIGHT, TOMMY D.
Applicants: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, G09B27, A63J13, G09B9