Abstract: A calibration step is disclosed for use with a system and a method for creating a wide-screen picture-dominance effect in an auditorium located in a motion-picture theater. This is accomplished by an operator viewing a test image or images of horizontal and vertical lines projected onto a deeply-curved screen in said auditorium and adjusting the projection of said test image or images until the horizontal and vertical lines in said image or images appear straight and orthonormal, with the result that viewers watching motion pictures in said auditorium will observe images that appear wider than the physical confines of the auditorium in said theater.

Abstract: A calibration step is disclosed for use with a system and a method for creating a wide-screen picture-dominance effect in an auditorium located in a motion-picture theater. This is accomplished by an operator viewing a test image or images of horizontal and vertical lines projected onto a deeply-curved screen in said auditorium and adjusting the projection of said test image or images until the horizontal and vertical lines in said image or images appear straight and orthonormal, with the result that viewers watching motion pictures in said auditorium will observe images that appear wider than the physical confines of the auditorium in said theater.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for exhibiting wide-screen motion pictures, including in multiplex-style theaters, with an immersive, “virtual reality” picture-dominance effect not previously obtainable in such theaters. The invention uses a zero-gain or nominal-gain curved screen to accommodate a wide-screen presentation, and a digital projector capable of delivering fourteen foot-lamberts or more of light to the screen. It can support any theatrical aspect ratio for presentation, including 2.76:1. To eliminate image distortion, the invention uses mapping software to correct the image for the geometry of the auditorium and the shape of the screen. This correction is established for every aspect ratio displayed in the auditorium in which the invention is installed, and aspect ratios can be changed to display content with different aspect ratios during a program. The images delivered to viewers through the invention deliver the full benefit of the native aspect ratio in which they are displayed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for exhibiting wide-screen motion pictures, including in multiplex-style theaters, with an immersive, “virtual reality” picture-dominance effect not previously obtainable in such theaters. The invention uses a zero-gain or nominal-gain curved screen to accommodate a wide-screen presentation, and a digital projector capable of delivering fourteen foot-lamberts or more of light to the screen. It can support any theatrical aspect ratio for presentation, including 2.76:1. To eliminate image distortion, the invention uses mapping software to correct the image for the geometry of the auditorium and the shape of the screen. This correction is established for every aspect ratio displayed in the auditorium in which the invention is installed, and aspect ratios can be changed to display content with different aspect ratios during a program. The images delivered to viewers through the invention deliver the full benefit of the native aspect ratio in which they are displayed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for exhibiting wide-screen motion pictures, including in multiplex-style theaters, with an immersive, picture-dominance effect not previously obtainable in such theaters. The invention uses a zero-gain or nominal-gain curved screen to accommodate a wide-screen presentation, and a digital projector capable of delivering 14 to 22 foot-lamberts of light to the screen. The invention can support any theatrical aspect ratio for presentation, including the widest in use, 2.76:1. To eliminate image distortion, the invention uses warping software to correct the image for the geometry of the auditorium and the shape of the screen. This correction is established for every aspect ratio that will be accommodated in the auditorium in which the invention is installed, and aspect ratios can be changed to display content with different aspect ratios during a program.

Abstract: Previously-produced motion pictures are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. New, rendered images are interpolated between each of the images of the original motion picture. For image pixels containing excessively complex motion, those pixels are corrected to eliminate such complexity. This correction is accomplished by selecting the specific pixels that are too complex to be made a part of a synthesized image, rejecting them, and repeating only those appropriate pixels as they appeared in the previous frame; and by treating all other pixels in other images in a normal manner, known in the art. The pictures are projected through digital means at 48 frames-per-second. The invention allows for upgrade of previously-produced motion pictures for high-frame-rate presentation without repeating any frames, improving the quality of presentation by eliminating any appearance consistent with low-frame-rate photography and presentation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby motion pictures photographed and exhibited at high frame rates, typically 48 frames-per-second, are modified to impart a cinematic appearance which tempers the level of motion detail inherent at such high frame rates. Motion pictures can be photographed either on film or by digital means. A controlled amount of motion blur is imparted selectively to certain scenes, sequences, frames or components of images. This can be accomplished by using different shutter angles for digital photography, or by imparting motion blur in post-production. The result is a motion picture that provides viewers with a cinematic appearance while at the same time, retains the spatial and temporal resolution of HFR, due to the high frame rate of photography and exhibition.

Abstract: Previously-produced motion pictures are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. New, rendered images are interpolated between each of the images of the original motion picture. These new images are generated by computer software that analyzes the actual horizontal and vertical displacement of each pixel of every image of the original motion picture, so the interpolated images accurately depict the exact image that would have been captured, if the original motion picture had originally been produced at double the actual frame rate of production. This enhancement technique can be used for an entire motion picture, or selectively for certain scenes or sequences. For image components containing complex motion, those components are selected for treatment to correct for such complexity. The entire process can be executed automatically. In the preferred embodiment, the pictures are projected through digital means at 48 frames-per-second.

Abstract: Previously-produced motion pictures are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. New, rendered images are interpolated between each of the images of the original motion picture. For image components containing complex motion, those components are selected for treatment to correct for such complexity. This correction is accomplished by selecting specific pixels that cannot be made part of a synthesized image according to the prior art, repeating only those pixels as they appeared in the previous frame, and treating all other pixels in every image of the motion picture in the normal manner, known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the pictures are projected through digital means at 48 frames-per-second.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby motion pictures photographed and exhibited at high frame rates, typically 48 frames-per-second, are modified to impart a cinematic appearance which tempers the level of motion detail inherent at such high frame rates. Motion pictures can be photographed either on film or by digital means. A controlled amount of motion blur is imparted selectively to certain scenes, sequences, frames or components of images. This can be accomplished by using different shuttle angles for digital photography, or by imparting motion blur in post-production. The result is a motion picture that retains a cinematic appearance, at least in part, while other parts of the same motion picture appear hyper-realistic, due to the high frame rate of photography and exhibition.

Abstract: Previously-produced motion pictures are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. New, rendered images are interpolated between each of the images of the original motion picture. These new images are generated by computer software that analyzes the actual horizontal and vertical displacement of each pixel of every image of the original motion picture, so the interpolated images accurately depict the exact image that would have been captured, if the original motion picture had originally been produced at double the actual frame rate of production. This enhancement technique can be used for an entire motion picture, or selectively for certain scenes or sequences. For image components containing complex motion, those components are selected for treatment to correct for such complexity. The entire process can be executed automatically. In the preferred embodiment, the pictures are projected through digital means at 48 frames-per-second.

Abstract: Motion picture images are photographed at forty-eight frames per second, onto motion picture film in the thirty-five millimeter, two-perforation format. These film images are then converted to digital images and re-sized to accommodate an aspect ratio used for wide-screen motion picture exhibition. During exhibition, the images are projected digitally in the 1080 by 2048 or other commercially-used digital exhibition format. The server used for such exhibition is 3D compatible, although the interleaving feature used for three-dimensional exhibition is not used in the present invention. Instead, forty-eight discrete images are projected during each second, matching the forty-eight discrete images per second originally photographed on motion picture film in the practice of this invention. Thus, the present invention combines advantages of film photography in an economical film format with advantages of digital exhibition to theatrical motion picture audiences.

Abstract: Previously-produced motion pictures are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. Synthesized images are interpolated between each of the images of the original motion picture. These interpolated images are generated through the use of computer software that analyzes the actual horizontal and vertical displacement of each pixel of every image of the original motion picture, so the interpolated images accurately depict the exact image that would have been captured, if the original motion picture had been produced at double the actual frame rate of production. This enhancement technique can be used selectively for certain scenes or sequences. The invention uses the 70 mm film format or digital equivalent, with picture information added to films produced in a 35 mm format. For image components containing complex motion, those components are selected for treatment to correct for such complexity. The entire process can be executed automatically.

Abstract: Previously-produced motion picture films are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. New images are interpolated between each of the images of the original film. These interpolated images are generated through the use of computer software that analyzes the actual horizontal and vertical displacement of each pixel of every image of the original motion picture, so the interpolated images accurately depict the exact image that would have been captured, if the original motion picture had been produced at double the actual frame rate of production. This enhancement technique can be used selectively for certain scenes or sequences of a motion picture, and not for others. Film or digital projection is suitable. Two-dimensional or three-dimensional motion pictures can be enhanced according to the method described, and motion pictures photographed at high frame rates can be converted to conventional frame rates for general release.

Abstract: Motion picture images are photographed at forty-eight frames per second, onto motion picture film in the thirty-five millimeter, two-perforation format. These film images are then converted to digital images and resized to accommodate an aspect ratio used for wide-screen motion picture exhibition. During exhibition, the images are projected digitally in the 1080×2048 or other commercially-used digital exhibition format. The server used for such exhibition is 3-D compatible, although the interleafing feature used for three-dimensional exhibition is not used in the present invention. Instead, forty-eight discrete images are projected during each second, matching the forty-eight discrete images per second originally photographed on motion picture film in the practice of this invention. Thus, the present invention combines advantages of film photography in an economical film format with advantages of digital exhibition to theatrical motion picture audiences.

Abstract: A system is described for three-dimensional motion picture presentation. Films are shown at a high frame rate, such as 48 frames per second, through a projector equipped for double-shuttered display method. Frames intended to be seen through the left eye by the viewers are alternated on the same strip of film with frames intended to be seen through the right eye. Alternation of images between left and right eyes can be accomplished through use of a polarizing filter, the direction of which is electronically switched, so that light passes through complimentary polarizing filters on the glasses worn by the viewers. Alternatively, an infared-activated cueing device can switch between shutters provided as part of the viewers' viewing glasses, so that alternating images are seen through each eye separately.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby existing on future motion picture films are modified for exhibition at frame rates significantly higher than those used for general theatrical release. Films photographed at customary frame rates (such as 24 frames per second) are printed, with each frame printed twice, onto film for exhibition. The resulting film is shown at double the original frame rate (48 frames per second, for example). The method disclosed here allows more light to pass through the film than is possible with conventional projection methods. The method disclosed here is also compatible with any standard or nonstandard film size or aspect ratio. This method also allows light brightness to be varied for certain scenes or sequences, thereby allowing the viewers to perceive different amounts of visual impact for different scenes or sequences, a feature not available through conventional motion picture exhibition methods.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby cinematic image components photographed at one frame rate are composited with other cinematic image components photographed at a higher frame rate, to produce images containing some components that deliver a more realistic impression to the audiences viewing such images than are delivered by the other image components. This method is applicable to any combination of frame rates, as long as one frame rate is greater than thirty frames per second, and the other is thirty frames per second or less. Scenes or sequences photographed at different frame rates and containing entire images can also be combined into a single motion picture by intercutting in accordance with this method. In addition, this method allows conversion of films photographed at nonstandard frame rates to be converted to a universal format for exhibition in conventional motion picture theaters, thus eliminating the restriction of films of this sort to special venues.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby film images designed to produce a high-impact effect upon the members of an audience viewing a motion picture film are composited with other images designed to provide the conventional cinematic effect upon such audience members. "High-impact" film images photographed at forty-eight frames per second are composited with "conventional" images photographed at the traditional motion picture rate of twenty-four frames per second, with such images superimposed onto the same film frame. Certain portions of the motion picture image seen by the audience deliver a greater illusion of reality than other portions of the same motion picture image. In addition, the method described can accommodate the intercutting of discrete scenes presenting either high-impact or conventional cinema experience. The method disclosed here also allows easy conversion of films to the conventional twenty-four frames per second rate associated with conventional motion picture release and distribution.

Abstract: The device described here allows for the raising or lowering of the mask which sits along the bottom edge of the screen in a motion picture theater and, along with the top and two side masks, frames the entire screen. The lower mask is supported by a number of support units, each containing two arms, equal in length and pivotally joined at their apex, where they are also attached to the bar that supports the screen mask. The arms are moved further apart or closer together at their lower ends, so that they push the bar supporting the screen mask up or down. A rotating shaft, with sections of oppositely-pitched threads, is connected to a motor. Sleeves with complimentary inside threads are pivotally mounted to the support arms, such that rotation of the motor in one direction moves the loser ends of the arms further apart and rotation in the other direction brings the lower ends of the arms closer together. Thus, the screen mask can be raised or lowered by motor rotation in one direction or the other.