360 degree viewing system having a liquid crystal display screen encircling a rotatable projection screen

A 360.degree. viewing apparatus, comprising:

• a rotatable projection screen;
• means for providing a non-rotating image;
• an optical system for continuously projecting the image onto the projection screen, the optical system comprising optical means for projecting the image from the image providing means, and light guiding means for intercepting and directing the image onto the projection screen;
• means for rotating the projection screen at a given number of revolutions per minute, such that a plurality of viewers surrounding the viewing apparatus will each see the image a number of times every minute corresponding to the given number of revolutions per minute when their line of sight is normal to the image, the given number of revolutions per minute being sufficient to permit all viewers to see the same image substantially simultaneously and continuously;
• means for rotating the light guiding means at the given number of revolutions per minute, wherein the projection screen and the light guiding means rotate as a unit;
• a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen encircling the projection screen, the LCD screen having a plurality of LCD panels and functioning as a shutter system as a select number of consecutive LCD panels become transparent to define a viewing window through which the image on the projection screen can be viewed, wherein the LCD panels subsequently become transparent adjacent a leading edge of the viewing window and sequentially become opaque adjacent a trailing edge of the viewing window such that the LCD panels continuously redefine the viewing window about the LCD screen in synchronization with rotation of the projection screen so that the viewing window is continually aligned with the projection screen;
• and
• means for synchronizing the continuous redefinition of the viewing window around the LCD screen with the rotation of the projection screen.

A 360.degree. viewing apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a cathode ray tube within the housing, for providing a non-rotating televised image;
• a rear projection screen rotatable about a primary axis which bisects a planar surface of the screen;
• an optical system for continuously projecting the televised image onto the projection screen, the optical system including optical means for projecting the televised image from the cathode ray tube, and light guiding means for intercepting and directing the projected image onto the projection screen;
• means for rotating the projection screen and the light guiding means at a given number of revolutions per minute, such that a plurality of viewers surrounding the viewing apparatus will each see the televised image a number of times every minute corresponding to the given number of revolutions per minute when their line of sight is normal to the image, the given number of revolutions per minute being sufficient to permit all viewers to see the same image substantially simultaneously and continuously;
• a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen encircling the projection screen, the LCD screen defining a viewing window through which the image on the projection screen can be viewed, wherein the viewing window is continuously redefined about the LCD screen in synchronization with rotation of the projection screen and the light guiding means, such that the viewing window is continually aligned with the projection screen;
• and
• circuit means for synchronizing the continuous redefinition of the viewing window around the LCD screen with the rotation of the projection screen.

A method of presenting an image to an audience generally surrounding the image such that all viewers see the same image substantially simultaneously, the steps comprising:

• providing a non-rotating image;
• refracting the non-rotating image through a projection lens;
• rotating the image from the projection lens at a given speed;
• reflecting the rotating image onto a projection screen;
• rotating the projection screen in synchronization with the rotation of the image;
• presenting a window in a normally opaque shutter surrounding the projection screen;
• and
• rotating the window around the shutter in synchronization with the rotation of the image.

A method of presenting an image to an audience generally surrounding the image such that all viewers see the same image substantially simultaneously, the steps comprising:

• providing a non-rotating image along a first axis;
• bending the non-rotating image from the first axis and aligning it along a second axis;
• rotating the image along the second axis at a given speed;
• reflecting the rotating image onto a projection screen;
• rotating the projection screen in synchronization with the rotation of the image;
• and
• presenting a window in a normally opaque shutter surrounding the projection screen, and moving the window around the shutter in synchronization with the rotation of the image.