Abstract:
The present invention relates to an electronic image display system. The system of the invention can be used, for example, as an advertising device using audiovisual presentations of digital image files, digital video files, and/or digital audio files.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     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. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to display system and more particularly to electronic image display systems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     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.  
         [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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&#39;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.  
         [0006]     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&#39;s heads in high traffic areas and the display has to be of reduced weight to prevent tearing of the garment.  
         [0007]     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.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     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.  
         [0009]     In another aspect, the invention includes an out-of-home audiovisual presentation method comprising: 
        a) the use of a nomadic technology to provide the ability: 
            i. to present audiovisual content at any location having a surface capable of receiving a projected image;     ii. to target the time of the presentation;     iii. to target the geographical area and the venues in which the content is presented;    
            b) a human being wearing audiovisual equipment providing the ability: 
            i. to rapidly change the time or location of the presentation;     ii. to interact with the audience verbally or with signs;     iii. to distribute and hand out collateral materials directly to passer-by&#39;s;    
            c) the use of commercially available equipment to enable: 
            i. reproduction of existing broadcast quality and multimedia content in the MPEG-2 encoding format or other encoding format known in the art;     ii. playback from any DVD or other similar multimedia storage device that can be read with a commercial DVD player or other similar multimedia playing device;     iii. playback from any software application that can run on a commercial portable computer;     iv. display of any visual content fit for projector devices;     v. projection of such visual content.    
               
 
         [0024]     In another embodiment, the invention may be a wearable and nomadic technology comprising: 
        a) a costume customizable to each specific activity and facilitating the integration to a specific event or product brand, generally comprising a long trench coat or other costume element designed for hiding the backpack straps;     b) an electronic image display system with the following specifications: 
            i. projector means;     ii. very light weight;     iii. native resolution: true XGA 1024×768 or better;     iv. data compatibility: all standard modes, including VESA, VGA, SVGA, XGA, and/or SXGA 85 Hz;     v. video compatibility: Full NTSC (M 4.43), PAL (BGHI, M, N), SECAM (M), HDTV (720p and 1080i RGBHV) and/or other known standards;    
            c) a backpack for the projector set-up preferably made of a hard plastic shell containing: 
            i. a low voltage VDC audio amplifier, and two speakers located preferably on each side of the character&#39;s waist;     ii. one ore more batteries as light as possible, and a DC to AC electrical converter;     iii. a commercial type portable DVD or other media player or a portable computer, both requiring external audio and video output ports and their own battery pack.    
               
 
         [0036]     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.  
         [0037]     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.  
         [0038]     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. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an electronic image display system according to the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a support structure according to the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the interior of a backpack of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of the interior of a backpack of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0046]     In one aspect, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention relates to an electronic image display system  10 . The electronic image display system  10  comprises a projector  150 , a general support frame  20 , on which is mounted a base support means  30 , and a carrying sack  40 . The projector  150  may be mounted on a telescoping pole  140  such that an operator  160  can carry the projector  150  or support the projector  150  on the ground via the telescoping pole  140 . At the upper end of telescoping pole  140  is mounted connecting means  60  which is used to attach the projector  150  to the telescoping pole  140 . The connecting means  60 , comprising pivotal connector, allow the human operator  160  to change the direction of the projection, by changing the orientation and the direction of the projector  150 .  
         [0047]     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.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 2 and 7  show the electronic image display system  10  in another embodiment comprising a projector  150 , a general support frame  20 , on which is mounted a base support means  30 , and a carrying sack  40 . An elongated member  50 , preferably but not exclusively in the form of a hollow tube or other similar element is attached at one end to the base support means  30 . At the other end of the hollow tube  50  are mounted connecting means  60  which are used to attach display device  150  to the hollow tube  50  at any orientation chosen by the human operator. As in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the connecting means  60 , comprising pivotal connector, allow the human operator  160  to change the direction of the projection, by changing the orientation and the direction of the projector  150 . Also as in the first embodiment, the carrying sack  40  contains a video signal generating means which is connected to the projector  150  by cable means  85 , which allows the video signal generating means to send video signals to the projector  150  which can then project the corresponding image on any appropriate surface.  
         [0049]     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the general support frame  20 , comprises two straps  100  and  102  which can be used to fasten the general support frame  20  to the body of an operator. Furthermore, the general support frame  20  may have a curvature adapted to fit to the natural curvature of a person body. This allows for greater comfort while carrying the system.  
         [0050]      FIG. 4  shows a diagram of the contents of the backpack  40  where a projector  150  is used. In this embodiment, the backpack  40  preferably contains a video signal generating means  170 , such as a DVD or other media player or a portable computer. The video signal generating means  170  generates an image based on a video program stored on a storage means, for instance a DVD disk or a video file. Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the backpack  40  may also contain batteries  190 , speakers  180  and AC/DC converter  200 . The backpack  40  is preferably made from a hard plastic shell. The video signal generating means  170  is connected to the projector  150  such that the image generated by the video signal generating means  170  is projected by the projector  150 .  
         [0051]     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.  
         [0052]     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.  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown where the projector  155  is wireless and can receive a wireless video signal. In this embodiment, the projector  155  can be mounted on a tripod  145 , or other mechanically equivalent stand-alone structures, which can stand alone and at different height. In this embodiment, the operator  160  can move near and around the projector  155  since the video signal is sent by a wireless transmitter (shown in  FIG. 6 ). As in the two previous embodiments, the projector  155  is preferably mounted to the tripod  145  with connecting means  60  comprising pivotal connector, which allows the operator to adjust the direction of the projection.  
         [0054]      FIG. 6  shows a diagram of the contents of the backpack  40  where a wireless projector  155  is used. In this embodiment, the data is processed by the video signal generating means  170  and transferred to a wireless transceiver  195  which will then send the video signal to the wireless projector  155 . The power source for the wireless projector  155  is preferably a battery located inside the projector (not shown). Alternatively, the wireless projector could be powered by means of an electrical cable (not shown) to be connected to an external power source or to the batteries of the backpack  40 .  
         [0055]     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.  
         [0056]     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.