AMUSEMENT RIDE

Abstract

 In order to provide an amusement ride having an enhanced experience factor, the amusement ride comprises an audience platform, a 360° screen for displaying moving image surrounding the audience platform, a display system for displaying moving image on the screen, at least one circular row of seats arranged on the audience platform, said circular row being co-axial with a central axis of the 360° screen and being rotatably supported to rotate around said central axis, said seats being directed in an outward direction relative to the circular row so as to each accommodate a visitor facing towards the 360° screen, and a drive system configured to rotatably drive said at least one row of seats about the central axis.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The invention refers to amusement rides, such as amusement rides for amusement parks.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Theme or amusement park ride attractions have become increasingly popular. Amusement rides can generally be characterized into rides that include ride vehicles that travel along a track and rides that are fixed relative to the ground. In fixed rides, an audience platform or ride vehicle is typically situated on a motion base having multiple degrees of freedom. An amusement ride of this kind is described in DE 3224953 A1 and in US 8,206,230 B2. These types of motion bases are positioned adjacent to one or more screens. A series of images or a motion picture is then projected onto the screen. For added realism and effect, the movement of the motion base can be synchronized with the images displayed on the screen.

[0003] The motion base can move the audience platform in several different directions including angular movements, such as roll, pitch and yaw, and linear movements, such as heave and surge. The various degrees of freedom can be used to simulate the effect of actually moving in synchronization with the images or the motion picture displayed on the screen. For example, the audience platform may be tilted backwards to create the impression of acceleration, tilted forward to create the impression of braking or tilted sidewards to create the impression of driving through a curve.

[0004] While prior art amusement rides have focused on improving the synchronization of the motion base movement with the motion picture, the ride experience is still limited to each individual visitor being positioned on its own substantially stationary position during the ride, thus offering a limited field of vision to each visitor.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved amusement ride having an enhanced experience factor. In particular, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an amusement ride offering an improved ride experience and increasing the audience's feeling of travelling through a virtual environment.

SUMMARY

[0006] According to the invention, the amusement ride comprises an audience platform, a 360° screen for displaying moving image surrounding the audience platform, a display system for displaying moving image on the screen, at least one circular row of seats arranged on the audience platform, said circular row being co-axial with a central axis of the 360° screen and being rotatably supported to rotate around said central axis, said seats being directed in an outward direction relative to the circular row so as to each accommodate a visitor facing towards the 360° screen, and a motion system configured to rotatably drive said at least one row of seats about the central axis.

[0007] Thus, the invention is characterized by a 360° screen that surrounds the audience platform and by at least one circular rotating row of seats. By moving the visitors along a circular path about a central axis of the 360° screen, the visitors may enjoy an enhanced experience of moving through a virtual space that is created by the moving images displayed on the 360° screen that surrounds them. Thus, an increased field of view can be provided for being immersed into a virtual environment.

[0008] Un unimpaired view of the screen is provided according to the invention by having the seats oriented outwardly from the circular row of seats.

[0009] As used herein, a circular row of seats is to be understood as an arrangement of seats, where seats are arranged substantially along a circle. The seats need not be arranged to be directly connected to one another, but a space can be provided between neighboring seats. Further, the circular row may also be interrupted at some places, in order to enable visitors to pass between two neighboring seats for reaching seats of an adjacent row of seats. Further a circular row of seats is understood to also encompass embodiments, wherein the seats of the row are staggered in a radial direction, as long as, e.g., every second or every third seat in the row is arranged along a circular line.

[0010] A 360° screen is understood to be a screen that surrounds the audience platform on all sides, i.e., in a substantially annular manner. Preferably, the 360° screen is a continuous screen that displays moving images along a continuous surface substantially completely surrounding the audience platform. The 360° screen may also be interrupted at some places, such as at one or two places, by relatively small openings or gaps. Such openings or gaps may be necessary for allowing the installation of doors so that visitors my enter and leave the amusement ride.

[0011] The screen surrounding the audience may be designed as a self-luminous display, such as an LCD or LED screen. Alternatively, the screen may be designed as a projection screen and a plurality of projectors may be arranged to project moving image onto the projection screen. A 360° image projection system may comprise multiple projectors arranged to project substantially seamless edge blended image sections onto the curved screen.

[0012] The display system for displaying moving image on the screen is preferably configured to create a continuous panoramic video over the entire circumferential extension of the screen.

[0013] The screen is preferably arranged to extend above the audience platform, i.e., above the audience sitting in the seats. Preferably, the screen may be designed to extend both above and below the audience.

[0014] Generally speaking, the screen may have any curved shape that surrounds the audience platform by 360°.

[0015] Preferably, the 360° screen is cylindrical, frustoconical or dome shaped. Alternatively, the screen may have the shape of a spherical zone, i.e., the surface of a spherical segment. The spherical zone may have the shape of a spherical ring.

[0016] In case of a dome shaped screen, the dome portion of the screen may be formed substantially in the shape of a hemispherical dome.

[0017] In the case of a frustoconical screen, the screen may taper so that the diameter of the screen widens in the upward or downward direction.

[0018] The screen may also be composed of two or more curved shapes. For example, the screen may comprise a cylindrical portion and an extension portion directly adjoining the cylindrical portion. Thus, an increased display area is provided. Preferably, the cylindrical portion and the extension portion of the screen each surround the audience platform so that the screen extends over an angle of 360° when seen in a horizontal plane. Preferably, the cylindrical portion and the extension portion of the screen are arranged and realized such that they together provide a display surface extending over an angle of more than 180° measured in a vertical plane from a center of the dome. In this way, the screen extends not only above the audience's head, but also below their feet. In particular, the extension portion of the screen may comprise a closed top so that the screen completely encases the audience platform also from above.

[0019] Preferably, the cylindrical portion and the extension portion of the screen are immediately adjacent to each other, so that a continuous screen surface is achieved that does not have any gap between the cylindrical portion and the extension portion.

[0020] In order to enhance the riding experience, the at least one row of seats may preferably be supported to be movable in a height direction, wherein the drive system is configured to raise and lower the at least one row of seats.

[0021] The arrangement of visitors in a circular row of seats and being directed outwardly towards the screen allows a high number of visitors to be placed on the audience platform without the visitors impairing each other's sight onto the screen. The same applies, if, as is in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two concentric circular rows of seats are arranged on the audience platform, such as two, three or four concentric circular rows. An unimpaired view onto the screen may for example be achieved by arranging the seats of an inner row on a higher level than the seats of an outer row.

[0022] Preferably, the at least two rows are rotatably supported to rotate around said central axis independently from one another and wherein the drive system is configured to rotatably drive said at least two rows independently from one another. In this way, each circular row of seats can be individually controlled to rotate. Preferably, the row(s) of seats are configured to be rotatable in either direction. In the case of at least two rows of seats, one row can be driven to rotate in one direction, while another row of seats is driven to rotate in an opposite direction.

[0023] In particular, the at least two concentric circular rows of seats have different diameters. This allows for a space saving arrangement of a plurality of seats on the audience platform.

[0024] According to another preferred embodiment, the at least two circular rows of seats are supported to be movable in a height direction, in synchronous way or independently from one another, and wherein the drive system is configured to raise and lower the at least two rows of seats, preferably independently from one another.

[0025] In order to further improve the riding experience, the at least one row of seats may preferably be supported to be tiltable about a horizontal axis and wherein the drive system is configured to tilt the at least one row of seats. In case of a plurality of concentric rows, each raw may be tiltable about a horizontal axis independently of another raw.

[0026] Preferably, the at least one row of seats may be supported to be tiltable about at least two horizontal axes and wherein the drive system is configured to tilt the at least one row of seats. The two horizontal axis may be arranged at an angle of 90°. In this way, the at least one row of seats may be tilted to the left and to the right as well as backwards and forwards.

[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment, the amusement ride comprises a plurality of pointer devices, for pointing towards a target displayed on the 360° screen and a control unit, wherein the pointer devices each comprise a pointing element and wherein at least one sensor is provided for determining an orientation information representative of the orientation of each pointer element relative to the screen. The pointing element allows the audience to interact with the content displayed on the screen. For example, the pointing element may function as a shooting device and the audience is prompted to target specific targets that are displayed on the screen. Such targets may be movable targets or targets that are stationary with respect to the screen. The pointer device may comprise a triggering element, such as a push button, for the user to trigger a shot once the pointing element has been pointed towards the target. Further, the amusement ride may be configured to determine, whether a shot has hit a target or not and the respective user may be credited with credits for each target that was hit.

[0028] In order to determine the orientation of the pointing element relative to the screen, a triangulation system may be used that measures the position of the pointing device in a three-dimensional reference coordinate system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will now be further explained with reference to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and related figures directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without departing form the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

[0031] It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the germs "embodiments of the invention", "embodiments" or "invention" do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0032] In Fig. 1 and 2, a cylindrical screen 1 is illustrated. The screen 1 is supported on a cylindrical base wall or is supported by any other suitable supporting structure. The screen 1 may be designed as a self-supporting structure or may be integrated into a building. An audience platform 2 is arranged within the space that is surrounded by the cylindrical screen 1. The audience platform 2 is shown to have a circular outline, but can have any other suitable shape. Preferably, the audience platform 2 is arranged coaxial with a central vertical axis 8 of the screen 1. Stairs 3 are provided for facilitating visitors to step onto the audience platform 2.

[0033] The audience platform 1 comprises three circular rows of seats, wherein an inner row 4 is surrounded by a middle row 5 and the middle row 5 is surrounded by an outer row 6. The rows 4, 5 and 6 are arranged coaxially with respect to the central vertical axis 8 of the screen 1. As can be seen in Fig. 1 and 2, the individual seats 7 in each of the rows 4, 5 and 6 are directed outwardly, so that a visitor sitting on a seat 7 faces the screen 1. Specifically, the seats are arranged so that the visitors are facing outwardly in a radial direction of the circular row. The middle row 5 and the outer row 6 have a gap or clearance for allowing visitors to access the middle and the inner row, respectively.

[0034] The inner row 4 is arranged on an elevated level with respect to the middle row 5 and the middle row 5 is arranged on an elevated level with respect to the outer row 6.

[0035] The rows 4, 5 and 6 are supported to be rotatable about the central axis 8. The rotational support may be realized by rotationally supporting the audience platform 2 or by arranging the audience platform 2 in a stationary manner and supporting the rows 4, 5 and 6 in a rotational manner relative to the audience platform 2. Preferably, each of the rows 4, 5 and 6 is independently supported on the audience platform in a rotational manner so as to rotationally drive the rows independently from one another by means of a drive system (not shown). The drive system may comprise any suitable kind of a motor.

[0036] The drive system may also be configured to move the rows 4, 5 and 6 in a height direction, i.e., in the direction of axis 8, and/or tilt each row.

[0037] In order to display motion picture on the screen 1 a display system is provided. If the display system is configured as a projection system, it comprises high resolution projectors 9 in a geometrical alignment which ensures a homogeneous projection of the individual image areas. Each separate image area overlaps with the adjacent areas, wherein edge blending may be provided to create a seamless overall projection.

[0038] In particular, the display system is configured to display motion picture on the entire screen. The screen 1 surrounds the first and second audience platform 2 so that the screen 1 extends over an angle of 360° when seen in a horizontal plane.

[0039] The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0040] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An amusement ride comprising:

- an audience platform,

- a 360° screen for displaying moving image surrounding the audience platform,

- a display system for displaying moving image on the screen,

- at least one circular row of seats arranged on the audience platform, said circular row being co-axial with a central axis of the 360° screen and being rotatably supported to rotate around said central axis,

- said seats being directed in an outward direction relative to the circular row so as to each accommodate a visitor facing towards the 360° screen, and

- a drive system configured to rotatably drive said at least one row of seats about the central axis.

2. Amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein the at least one row of seats is supported to be movable in a height direction and wherein the drive system configured to raise and lower the at least one row of seats.

3. Amusement ride according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two concentric circular rows of seats are arranged on the audience platform, wherein the at least two rows are rotatably supported to rotate around said central axis independently from one another and wherein the drive system is configured to rotatably drive said at least two rows independently from one another.

4. Amusement ride according to claim 3, wherein the at least two concentric circular rows of seats have different diameters.

5. Amusement ride according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least two circular rows of seats are supported to be movable in a height direction, in synchronous way or independently from one another, and wherein the drive system is configured to raise and lower the at least two rows of seats, preferably independently from one another.

6. Amusement ride according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one row of seats is supported to be tiltable about a horizontal axis and wherein the drive system is configured to tilt the at least one row of seats.

7. Amusement ride according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the 360° screen is cylindrical, frustoconical or dome shaped.

Drawing