Patents Assigned to IMAX Theatres International Limited
  • Patent number: 11889234
    Abstract: Systems for displaying images in a cinema setting can include components to reduce screen-door effect. The systems can include an array of light emitting sources (102) or other active sources of light. In one example, the light emitting source emit pixels of light to a projection lens (124) to project an image represented by the projection lens and a baffle (150) and an aperture stop (118) can block part of the light from the sources that exceeds an allowable cone angle of acceptable of the system. In another example, a display includes the array of light emitting sources and additional elements, such as diffuser elements, positioned in front of the array of light emitting sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Barry Silverstein, Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Steven Charles Read, Denis Tremblay, Anton Leonard Baljet, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Andrew F. Kurtz, John W. Bowron
  • Patent number: 11682369
    Abstract: A light emitting display can be formed from tiles mounted within a certain distance range with respect to each other and with an established blending region positioned towards the edges of the tiles. A tile can be a matrix of light emitting elements, such as LEDs, OLEDs, quantum dots, or other element that emits light. The tolerance of spacing between tiles can allow for less precision in alignment during installation in a theatre, thereby reducing display assembly cost but still maintaining a display for displaying an image at a high quality with reduced or eliminated appearance of visual artifacts between tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Steven Charles Read, Anton Leonard Baljet
  • Patent number: 11664008
    Abstract: An active display can be used in a theatre with reduced screen-door effect. For example, the active display can have a structure, such as a diffuser structure, or a diffuser and mask structure, that can have, or appear to have, transmissive areas and opaque areas to reduce the audience from detecting gaps or other non-light sources in the active display. The active display may additionally or alternatively have audio ports to allow sound to pass through the active display and appear to the audience as if the sound is coming from the active display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Denis Gilles Tremblay
  • Patent number: 11376518
    Abstract: Light emitting displays can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrate a sound system to achieve immersive conditions in cinema theatres. The cinema screen can include a matrix of light emitters and a diffuser sheet. The matrix of light emitters is configured to form a light-emitting area of the cinema screen. The diffuser sheet includes one or more perforations, and can be positioned between the matrix of light emitters and an audience area in the theatre. The diffuser sheet is positioned with respect to the matrix of light emitters such that the one or more perforations are configured to prevent light outputted by the light emitters from being viewable in the audience area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Patent number: 11347466
    Abstract: An active display (102) can be used in a theatre environment (100) in which content to be displayed by the active display (102) can be delivered wirelessly using emitters (118). The active display (102) can include tiles (104a-104d) with detectors (106a-106d) that can detect the wireless signals. The active display (102) can include circuitry that can interpret instructions from the wireless signals for controlling the output (108a-108d) of pixels on the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Anton Leonard Baljet, Denis Gilles Tremblay
  • Patent number: 11294269
    Abstract: Screen vibration systems are provided that can vibrate theatre screens using acoustical, electromagnetic, or another type of energy while reducing the presence of image artifacts that may otherwise be visible as result of vibrating the screen. In one example of a screen vibration system, the system includes a controller and an electromechanical acoustical actuator with an open baffle. The electromechanical acoustical actuator can be uncoupled from the screen in an operational setup. The controller can provide a signal to the electromechanical acoustical actuator for causing the electromechanical acoustical actuator to output energy to displace air that is (i) in front of the electromechanical acoustical actuator and (ii) between the electromechanical acoustical actuator and the screen. The open baffle can prevent displaced air behind the electromechanical acoustical actuator from affecting the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Hamed Herati, Denis Giles Tremblay, Oliver Nicholas Komarnycky
  • Patent number: 11195446
    Abstract: An active display can have an increased color gamut and include a group of LED packets that each form a sub-pixel and that together form a pixel for the display. Each LED packet includes at least a red primary color LED, a greed primary color LED, and a blue primary color LED. Each LED can be associated with an intensity value to control the intensity of primary light outputted by the LED. The group of LED packets can output light in a color gamut of a color space for the active display. Each LED packet of the group of LED packets, individually, is configured to output light in the color gamut of a subset of the color space. The active display can display a visual media presentation to an audience. An increased fraction of LEDs from a production batch can be used in the active display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Steen Svendstorp Iversen, David Morrison Martindale
  • Patent number: 10921608
    Abstract: Speckle artifacts as viewed in images projected on a display surface by a projector can be reduced. At least one spatial light modulator, illuminated by one or more light sources, can be imaged to a screen by a projection lens. A deflector subsystem can be provided in image space, proximate to the lens, where the image light emerges. In this location, image light directed to any given field point on the display surface is convergent, but can appear collimated. The deflector subsystem can include a tilted optical plate that is rotated in a plane along an axis. As the deflector subsystem is temporally rotated, the image light to any given field point traverses different optical paths, varying the angular diversity to reduce perceivable speckle by changing at least the angle of incidence to the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Joseph R. Bietry, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10807016
    Abstract: Light emitting displays and sound systems can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrates a sound system to achieve the same or better immersive conditions in cinema theatres with front projection cinema screens. The screen can be active with light emitters, rather than passive and reflect light projected from a projector. Spaces are formed between adjacent light emitters in the display to allow for sound waves to pass from sound wave emitters positioned behind the screen to a cinema seating area in front of the screen. Loudspeakers may be positioned in the spaces. Diffusers or other structures may be positioned proximate to a front of the screen to facilitate visual performance. In addition or in the alternative, loudspeakers can be positioned in each seat of the viewing seating area that produce sound waves that appear to be coming from a non-seating location in the theatre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Patent number: 10775690
    Abstract: A cinema screen can be vibrated by a screen vibrator assembly. A screen vibrator assembly can include a vibrator, a mount bracket, and an isolation device. The vibrator can be positioned to generate a vibration for vibrating a cinema screen. The mount bracket is configured to be coupled to a screen support structure of the cinema screen. The isolation device is configured to couple the vibrator to the mount bracket to isolate the mount bracket from the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Denis Gilles Tremblay, Gashtaseb Ariana
  • Patent number: 10768449
    Abstract: Filter glasses for use by an observer of a stereoscopic digital display system that displays stereoscopic images including first-eye images and second-eye images. The filter glasses include a first-eye filter that substantially transmits light from the first-eye images and blocks light from the second-eye images, and a second-eye filter that substantially transmits light from the second-eye images and blocks light from the second-eye images. A frame is used to position the first-eye filter in front of the observer's first eye and to position the second-eye filter in front of the observer's second eye, such that the front surfaces of the filters are oriented at a tilt angle of at least 5 degrees relative to vertical so that light from the display surface that is reflected from the first-eye filter and the second-eye filter is directed over the heads of other observers that are seated in front of the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventor: Barry David Silverstein
  • Patent number: 10691007
    Abstract: Screen vibration systems are provided that can vibrate theatre screens using acoustical, electromagnetic, or another type of energy while reducing the presence of image artifacts that may otherwise be visible as result of vibrating the screen. In one example of a screen vibration system, the system includes a screen, a permanent magnet mounted to the screen, and a magnetic source positioned with respect to the permanent magnet and uncoupled from the screen. The screen is moveable in response to a changing magnetic field from the magnetic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Hamed Herati, Denis Gilles Tremblay, Oliver Nicholas Komarnycky
  • Patent number: 10691006
    Abstract: A screen can be vibrated by vibrators that are drivable by signals. Each vibrator can be adjacent in position to other vibrators that are drivable by different types of drive signals than a drive signal associated with the vibrator. The number of drive signals can be equal to or less than the number of vibrators. A vibrator assembly for a vibrator can include a baffle and a transducer that couples to the baffle. The transducer can vibrate at least a portion of the screen. The vibrating screen can be monitored by a sensor and an analyzer unit that can analyze image speckle and screen displacement artifacts in captured images of images projected onto the screen and output results of the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Denis Gilles Tremblay, Gashtaseb Ariana
  • Patent number: 10433626
    Abstract: An optical system that includes a micro-mirror array optical modulator that can selectively modulate an incident light beam having a defined narrow spectral bandwidth to encode data thereon based on commands to an ON-state or an OFF-state of a micro-mirror. The micro-mirror array optical modulator can redirect light by diffraction and reflection to provide an output modulated light beam that exhibits a diffraction handedness dependent described by an arrangement of diffraction orders that depend in part on the narrow spectral bandwidth of light incident thereupon. An optical element has an optimized limiting aperture for defining portions of a modulated light beam that are blocked and remaining portions that are transmitted. An ON-state efficiency and an OFF-state contrast of an optically transmitted modulated light beam can depend on the diffraction handedness of the output modulated light beam relative to a size and a shape of the optimized limiting aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: IMAX THEATRES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Gary E. Nothhard
  • Publication number: 20190146235
    Abstract: A stereo viewing device comprises a first lens comprising a first lens filter, and a second lens comprising a second lens filter. The first lens filter comprises a first set of light absorbing dyes that define a first set of rejection bands. The first set of light absorbing dyes comprises at least a first polymethine dye. The second lens filter comprises a second set of light absorbing dyes that define a second set of rejection bands different from the first set of rejection bands. The second set of light absorbing dyes comprises at least a second polymethine dye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: IMAX THEATRES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Donald R. Diehl
  • Patent number: 9961316
    Abstract: Hybrid image projection systems and methods can superimpose image components of an input image. An input image can be divided into smaller regions and at least one parameter of each region can be determined. The input image can be decomposed based on the parameter of each region into multiple, less correlated, orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal image components. Each projector can display respective image components so that the images projected may be optically superimposed on a screen. The superposition of orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal image components can result in superposition of images in an existing multi-projector image systems being more insensitive to inter-projector image misalignment. Superimposing orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal images can be used to avoid visible image degradation, and provide more robust image quality in a multiple projector system implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Weining Tan, Steven Charles Read
  • Patent number: 9915820
    Abstract: An optical system that includes a micro-mirror array optical modulator that can selectively modulate an incident light beam having a defined narrow spectral bandwidth to encode data thereon based on commands to an ON-state or an OFF-state of a micro-mirror. The micro-mirror array optical modulator can redirect light by diffraction and reflection to provide an output modulated light beam that exhibits a diffraction handedness dependent described by an arrangement of diffraction orders that depend in part on the narrow spectral bandwidth of light incident thereupon. An optical element has an optimized limiting aperture for defining portions of a modulated light beam that are blocked and remaining portions that are transmitted. An ON-state efficiency and an OFF-state contrast of an optically transmitted modulated light beam can depend on the diffraction handedness of the output modulated light beam relative to a size and a shape of the optimized limiting aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Gary E. Nothhard
  • Patent number: 9888153
    Abstract: A method for color correcting an input color image having input color values adapted for display on a reference display device having a plurality of input color primaries to account to provide reduced observer metemaric failure on a narrow-band display device. A metamerism correction transform is applied to the input color image to determine an output color image having output color values in an output color space appropriate for display on the narrow-band display device. The metamerism correction transform modifies colorimetry associated with the input colors to provide output color values such that an average observer metameric failure is reduced for a distribution of target observers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Elena A. Fedorovskaya, Thomas O. Maier
  • Patent number: 9696472
    Abstract: A stereo viewing device comprises a first lens comprising a first lens filter, and a second lens comprising a second lens filter. The first lens filter comprises a first set of light absorbing dyes that define a first set of rejection bands. The first set of light absorbing dyes comprises at least a first polymethine dye. The second lens filter comprises a second set of light absorbing dyes that define a second set of rejection bands different from the first set of rejection bands. The second set of light absorbing dyes comprises at least a second polymethine dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: IMAX THEATRES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Donald R. Diehl
  • Patent number: 9465284
    Abstract: Screen vibration systems are provided that can vibrate theater screens using acoustical, electromagnetic, or another type of energy while reducing the presence of image artifacts that may otherwise be visible as result of vibrating the screen. In one example of a screen vibration system, the system includes a screen, a permanent magnet mounted to the screen, and a magnetic source positioned with respect to the permanent magnet and uncoupled from the screen. The screen is moveable in response to a changing magnetic field from the magnetic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Hamed Herati, Denis Gilles Tremblay, Oliver Nicholas Komarnycky