WO2006115355A1

WO2006115355A1 - The apparatus and method for displaying an image using a large balloon

Info

Publication number: WO2006115355A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001527
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seok-Joong Oh
Original assignee: O & K Corp.
Priority date: 2005-04-23
Filing date: 2006-04-24
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: KR20080019201A; KR100883634B1

Abstract

There are problems in a prior art in that installation of a projector within a large balloon causes complicated installation and maintenance of the projector and malfunction of the projector due to heat upon operation thereof, or installation of the projector outside the large balloon disables isolation or minimization of an influence by external conditions such as temperature, wind, rain, and snow. These problems are solved by the present invention providing an image-displaying apparatus using a large balloon, which comprises a large balloon having a predetermined shape and installed on the ground or at a predetermined height therefrom, a projector installed at one side of the large balloon to project an image transmitted from an image transmitter, and a screen installed at the other side opposite to the one side of the large balloon so that the image projected from the projector can be displayed thereon. At this time, the large balloon further comprises a housing-accommodating bag at the one side where the projector is installed. The housing-accommodating bag includes a transparent window which faces the screen toward the interior of the large balloon and maintains a sealing state. The large balloon comprises a housing fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag by being inserted from the outside in a state where a front face of the housing partially opened corresponding to the transparent window faces the interior of the housing-accommodating bag, and the projector is installed within the housing. A housing cover is provided with an intake fan and a discharge fan, so that temperature in the housing in which the projector is installed can be optimized, whereby itis possible to stably operate the projector for a long time.

Description

THE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AN IMAGE USING A LARGE BALLOON

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for displaying an image using a large balloon, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for displaying an image using a large balloon, wherein a screen and a projector are mounted to the large balloon which has a predetermined shape and an interior treated to shield most light from the outside, and a still or moving image concerning an advertisement, a movie, a public performance, a sports event, or the like transmitted from an image transmitter installed on the ground or in the peripheral upper air is displayed by projecting the image onto the screen through the projector. Background Art

[2] In a prior art, as one of advertising methods capable of improving noticeability and causing desired effects to be obtained by keeping a placard to be up in the air at a predetermined height from the ground and thus catching the eyes of people in a large area, an advertising method using an advertising balloon is generally used in such a manner that the suspended placard on which descriptions or figures for advertisement are represented is fixedly supported through a connecting line to an advertising balloon that is up in the air by injecting a gas such as helium lighter than air thereinto.

[3] However, since such an advertising method using the advertising balloon has limitations in that contents should be expressed only with a still character or simple figure, it is difficult to arouse interest due to monotonous contents, so that desired effects cannot be sufficiently obtained. Further, in a case where the expressed contents are changed to another, there is inconvenience in that the placard should be replaced with another having new contents after lowering the advertising balloon in the air and the advertising balloon should be then installed again.

[4] There has been suggested an image-displaying apparatus using a large balloon capable of implementing contents for an advertisement, a movie, a public performance, a sports event or the like into a moving image as well as a still character or figure according to circumstances even while taking advantages of a balloon which makes it possible to obtain the desired effects by causing the balloon to catch the eyes of many neighboring people and thus improving noticeability while the balloon is kept to be up in the air at a predetermined height from the ground.

[5] As shown in Fig. 1, Korean Patent Application No. 1999-12980 entitled "Gas

Balloon for Representing Image" discloses such an image-displaying apparatus, wherein a groove and a projection hole 5 are formed inside a balloon 1 , which is formed of airtightly coated fabric or synthetic resin in order to accommodate air or helium gas therein, and mounted with an image device 2, so that an image projected from the imaging device 2 through the projection hole 5 can pass through the center of the balloon 1 and be displayed on a screen 3 which is positioned opposite to the projection hole 5 and is formed of a semitransparent film, regardless of a place such as a car, a building, or a water surface.

[6] Here, the imaging device 2 is installed within the groove to be accommodated in a case made of an aluminum alloy. The imaging device 2 is fixedly installed to be integral with the aluminum case while keeping its balance within the balloon 1 by means of steel wires using hooks fixed to a plurality of points on the inner surface of the balloon 1.

[7] However, the conventional gas balloon for displaying an image has problems to be solved in that the imaging device 2 should be firmly fixed to keep its balance even under an external environment, which may cause movement of the imaging device, and that the imaging device 2 accommodated and installed in the aluminum case within the groove should be maintained at a proper temperature to be operated stably and normally for a long time even under an internal operating environment in which a great amount of heat is generated.

[8] First, in view of the requirements that the imaging device 2 should be firmly fixed to keep its balance even under an external environment, which may cause movement of the imaging device, the conventional gas balloon for displaying an image has a disadvantage in that the imaging device 2 and the aluminum case fixed to the inner surface of the soft balloon 1 are excessively heavy.

[9] That is, since the imaging device 2 accommodated in the aluminum case is heavy, it is very difficult or impossible to fix them to the inner surface of the soft balloon 1 with the steel wires. In addition, even if the imaging device 2 and the aluminum case are fixed, it is also very difficult for the soft balloon 1 to support the imaging device 2 while maintaining the original spherical shape of the balloon 1. In a severer case, the balloon 1 may be torn.

[10] In addition, due to the excessive weight of the imaging device 2 and the aluminum case on a rear surface of the balloon 1, they are not balanced with the screen 3 of a front surface of the balloon 1. Thus, the screen 3 is directed upward rather than forward, which causes people on the ground not to watch an image on the screen 3.

[11] Next, in view of the requirements that the imaging device 2 accommodated and installed in the aluminum case within the groove provided at a side of the interior of the balloon 1 should be maintained at a proper temperature to be operated stably and normally for a long time even under an internal operating environment in which a great amount of heat is generated, the conventional gas balloon for displaying an image has a disadvantage in that the imaging device 2 is airtightly accommodated in the aluminum case in a simple manner and thus it is difficult to deal with heat generated and discharged during an operating process of the imaging device 2.

[12] That is, the heat generated from the imaging device 2, which operates in a state where it is airtightly accommodated in the aluminum case, does not escape to the outside and stays therein, thereby increasing temperature. Thus, the operation of the imaging device 2 itself is stopped within about 30 minutes by a temperature sensor.

[13] For example, the operatable temperature of the imaging device 2 such as a projector is in a range from 5°C to 35°C. Since the heat generated when the imaging device 2 operates is not discharged to the outside, the temperature in the airtight aluminum case easily reaches 35⁰C within about 30 minutes. If the heat generated and discharged from the imaging device 2 is not appropriately dealt, it is impossible to project an image and thus the imaging device 2 may not function as an imaging device.

[14] To this end, as shown in Fig. 2, Korean Patent Application No. 2005-7000744 entitled "Image-Projection Device Capable of Hovering and Flying" discloses a projector 12 arranged outside a first outer surface of a floating body 11 thereby preventing a problem that may be caused from heating of the interior of a floating body occurring when a projector operates in a prior art.

[15] Here, in an image-projection device 10 capable of hovering and flying, the projector

12 is arranged on the outside of the floating body 11, so that the problem caused from the heating occurring when the projector operates is prevented. However, since the original shape of the floating body 11 cannot be naturally maintained without protrusion of the projector 12 beyond the contour of the floating body 11, it is impossible to isolate or minimize influence caused from external conditions. For example, when an external collision due to a wind occurs, it is impossible to protect the projector 12. In a case where the projector 12 falls on the ground due to the collision, a dangerous problem causing breakage of the projector 12 itself as well as a loss of lives may occur. There is also a problem in that the projector 12 sensitive to external temperature (such as high temperature in summer and low temperature in winter) automatically stops operating by a temperature sensor installed in the projector 12 to protect the image projection equipment, thereby making it possible to use the projector 12. Even when it rains or snows, it is difficult to perform perfect waterproofing. In addition, there is a problem in that it is also difficult and complicated to attach and install the heavy projector 12 onto the soft surface of the floating body 11. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [16] Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for displaying an image using a large balloon, wherein when an image is displayed by projecting the image onto a screen through a projector installed to the large balloon in order to maximize desired effects by catching the eyes of many neighboring people with a variety of forms and contents and thus improving noticeability, a problem that may be caused from heating generated when the projector operates can be prevented by stably and simply installing the projector at a side of the interior of the large balloon using a housing and by separating the projector from the large balloon, and an influence caused from external conditions can be isolated or minimized by naturally maintaining the originally intended shape of the large balloon without protrusion of the projector beyond the contour of the large balloon. Technical Solution

[17] To achieve the object, the present invention provides an image-displaying apparatus using a large balloon, comprising a large balloon having a predetermined shape and installed on the ground or at a predetermined height therefrom; an image-projecting means installed at one side of the large balloon to project an image transmitted from an image transmitter; and a screen installed at the other side opposite to the one side of the large balloon so that the image projected from the image-projecting means can be displayed thereon. At this time, the large balloon further comprises a housing- accommodating bag at the one side where the image-projecting means is installed. The housing-accommodating bag includes a transparent window which faces the screen toward the interior of the large balloon and maintains a sealing state. The large balloon comprises a housing fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag by being inserted from the outside in a state where a front face of the housing partially opened corresponding to the transparent window faces the interior of the housing-accommodating bag, and the image-projecting means is installed within the housing.

[18] Preferably, the large balloon further comprises a plurality of fastening portions for housing-fixing belts installed in the large balloon, and the housing is connected to the fastening portions by means of the housing-fixing belts, so that the housing can be securely fixed to the large balloon.

[19] The housing-accommodating bag is preferably made of a polyurethane film or other materials identical with or similar to the material of the large balloon.

[20] The transparent window is preferably made of a polycarbonate material.

[21] The housing is preferably formed of a light and hard material of which the surface is coated with a thin, light, heat resisting material.

[22] Preferably, the housing further comprises a support for fixing the image-projecting means. The support is installed at a lower portion of the housing so as to support and fix the image-projecting means. The support is provided with a remote controller signal receiving portion for finely moving the image-projecting means through remote control for motors installed on right and left sides at a lower end of the support if an image on the screen is distorted or comes up or down, thereby correcting the image.

[23] Preferably, the housing further comprises an image distributor for distributing an image signal transmitted from the image transmitter into a plurality of image signals. The image distributor distributes an image signal into a plurality of image signals and transmits them to a plurality of image-projecting means fixed to the support, whereby an extra-large clear image is displayed on the screen by combining a plurality of divided images into the extra-large image again using an additional multiple video player (MVP) or a computer despite a limited distance between the image-projecting means and the screen in the large balloon.

[24] Preferably, a wired remote controller signal transmitting portion for the image- projecting means is installed in the housing to remotely control all functions of the image-projecting means, and the functions of the image -projecting means are remotely controlled using a wired remote controller on the ground through the wired remote controller signal transmitting portion.

[25] Preferably, the housing includes a cover for covering a rear face which is open to put or pull the image -projecting means in or out of the housing, and the cover is equipped with an intake fan and a discharge fan for cooling the image -projecting means by supplying external air into the housing and discharging heat generated by the operation of the image-projecting means to the outside.

[26] The housing preferably further includes a heat discharging duct for connecting the discharge fan and a heat discharge port of the image-projecting means.

[27] The housing preferably further includes an electric cooler for cooling the heat generated from the image-projecting means.

[28] It is preferred that the large balloon be provided with a plurality of screens and a plurality of housing-accommodating bags, and the housing be installed within each of the housing-accommodating bags so that an image with different content or an identical image can be projected through the image-projecting means.

[29] To achieve the object, the present invention provides a method of displaying an image using a large balloon by projecting an image transmitted from an image transmitter, through an image-projecting means fixedly installed at one side of the large balloon having a predetermined shape and installed on the ground or at a predetermined height therefrom, onto a screen installed at the other side opposite to the one side of the large balloon. In the method, a housing-accommodating bag is formed at the one side where the image-projecting means is installed, and the housing- accommodating bag includes a transparent window which faces the screen toward the interior of the large balloon and maintains a sealing state. The image-projecting means is installed within a housing fitted into and joined to the housing- accommodating bag by being inserted from the outside in a state where a front face of the housing partially opened corresponding to the transparent window faces the interior of the housing- accommodating bag.

[30] Preferably, the housing fitted into and joined to the housing- accommodating bag is pulled out of the housing after opening a zipper installed at an upper portion of the large balloon adjacent to the housing- accommodating bag, the housing is then connected to a plurality of fastening portions for housing-fixing belts installed within the large balloon by means of the housing-fixing belts, and the housing is subsequently put in the large balloon through the opened zipper again so that the housing can be securely fixed to the large balloon.

[31] Preferably, an image distributor provided in the housing to distribute an image signal transmitted from the image transmitter into a plurality of image signals distributes an image signal into a plurality of image signals and transmits them to a plurality of image-projecting means fixed to supports for fixing the image-projecting means, whereby an extra-large clear image is displayed on the screen by combining a plurality of divided images into the extra-large image again using an additional multiple video player (MVP) or a computer despite a limited distance between the image-projecting means and the screen in the large balloon.

[32] Preferably, a cover for covering a rear face which is open to put or pull the image- projecting means in or out of the housing is equipped with an intake fan and a discharge fan for cooling the image-projecting means by supplying external air into the housing and discharging heat generated by the operation of the image-projecting means to the outside.

[33] Preferably, during an outdoor event in the winter, the intake fan and the discharge fan are stopped to such an extent that a proper temperature at which the image- projecting means can operate is maintained by increasing a low inner temperature in the projector-installing housing using the heat discharged from the image-projecting means.

Advantageous Effects

[34] According to the apparatus and method for displaying an image using a large balloon of the present invention described in detail above, the projector is isolated from the large balloon in a stable state while naturally maintaining the original shape of the large balloon without protrusion of the projector beyond the contour of the large balloon. Thus, it is possible to prevent the problem caused from heating occurring when the projector operates in a state where it is installed in the large balloon; it is also possible to protect the projector, for example, when an external collision due to a wind occurs; it is possible to solve the problem in which the projector sensitive to external temperature (such as high temperature in summer and low temperature in winter) stops operating; and when it rains or snows, the projector is hardly influenced due to perfect waterproofing. That is, it is possible to isolate or minimize an influence, which is caused from external conditions, on the projector. Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] Fig. 1 is a view schematically showing the structure of a conventional balloon.

[36] Fig. 2 is a side view showing a conventional image projection device capable of hovering and flying with a projector installed at a side outside a floating body.

[37] Fig. 3 is a view showing an example in which an image-displaying apparatus using a large balloon according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in an event site.

[38] Fig. 4 is a view showing a projector-installing housing separated from a housing- accommodating bag, wherein the projector-installing housing is inserted into the housing-accommodating bag of the large balloon in the image-displaying apparatus using the large balloon according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[39] Figs. 5 to 7 are front, rear and side views showing the projector-installing housing, which is fitted into and jointed to the housing-accommodating bag at a side of the large balloon of Fig. 4, respectively.

[40] Fig. 8 is a view showing a process of fixing the projector- installing housing, which is fitted into the housing- accommodating bag at the side of the large balloon of Fig. 4, to the interior of the large balloon by means of housing-fixing belts.

[41] Figs. 9 to 11 are sectional views of the entire balloon including the projector- installing housing fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag at the side of the large balloon of Fig. 4, and a sectional view of a portion around the projector- installing housing, respectively.

[42] Fig. 12 is a view showing a state where a cover of the projector-installing housing fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag at the side of the large balloon of Fig. 4 is open.

[43] Figs. 13 to 16 are views showing a variety of examples, in addition to the example shown in Fig. 3, wherein the image-displaying apparatus using the large balloon according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in an event site.

[44] <Explanation of Reference Numerals for Major Portions Shown in Drawings>

[45] 100: Image-displaying apparatus using large balloon according to the embodiment of the present invention [46] 110: Large balloon 111: Transparent window

[47] 112: External light- shielding film 113: Housing-accommodating bag

[48] 114: Zipper

[49] 115: Fastening portion for housing-fixing belt

[50] 116: Housing-fixing belt

[51] 117: Front transparent window of housing- accommodating bag

[52] 120: Projector 130: Screen

[53] 140: Gas injection port 150: Projector-installing housing

[54] 151: Projector-fixing support 152: Cover

[55] 153: Intake fan 154: Discharge fan

[56] 155: Connecting terminal

[57] 156: Front partial opening section of housing

[58] 157: Housing/housing-accommodating bag fastening belt

[59] 158: Wired remote controller signal transmitting portion for projector

[60] 159: Projector-fixing belt 200: Image transmitter

[61] 210: Power and signal line 220: Circling-enabling apparatus

[62] 300: Fixing cable

[63] 310: Large balloon height-adjusting and fixing winch

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[64] An image-displaying apparatus 100 using a large balloon according to an embodiment of the present invention displays an image, which is transmitted from an image transmitter 200 on the ground or in the peripheral upper air, using a large balloon 110 having a predetermined shape and installed on the ground or at a predetermined height therefrom, as shown in Figs. 3 to 16.

[65] The image-displaying apparatus 100 comprises the large balloon 110, an image- projecting means such as a projector 120 installed at one side of the large balloon 110 to project the image transmitted from the image transmitter 200, and a screen 130 which is installed at the other side opposite to the one side of the large balloon 110 and on which the image projected from the projector 120 is displayed.

[66] The large balloon 110 in the embodiment of the present invention is generally manufactured using one of various kinds of polyurethane films such as films, sheets, injections and sponges. The large balloon 110 is formed out of a roll stock of polyurethane film into a general shape of a circular or elliptic globe or a specific shape of a character, an article or the like concerning an event to have a diameter of 2 to 10m, wherein the roll stock of polyurethane film is prepared by thermal-bonding a polyurethane film, which contains a glossy or fluorescent material to show a variety of colors and becomes an outer surface of the large balloon 110, to a polyurethane film, which presents matte black to construct the interior of the balloon as a darkroom by shielding most of external light for the purpose of implementation of optimal image quality and becomes an inner surface of the large balloon 110.

[67] Locating the polyurethane film, which shows a variety of colors and contains glossy or fluorescent materials, as the outer surface of the large balloon 110 is to cause the large balloon 110 to catch the eyes of many people.

[68] In addition, locating the polyurethane film presenting matte black as the inner surface of the large balloon 110 is to clearly display an image projected from the projector 120 onto the screen 130 by treating the interior for shielding most of external light, to cause shadows of housing-fixing belts 116 produced from the light of the projector 120 projected to the interior of the large balloon 110 not to fall on the outer surface of the large balloon 110, and to securely prevent leakage of helium gas or air by overlapping the two polyurethane films (outer and inner layers).

[69] Further, in the large balloon 110, a housing- accommodating bag 113 is installed at the one side of the large balloon 110 where the projector 120 is installed, so that a projector-installing housing 150 for installing the projector 120 can be accommodated in the housing-accommodating bag 113.

[70] The housing-accommodating bag 113 is provided with a front transparent window

117, which is formed to face the screen 130 toward the inside of the large balloon 110, and maintains a sealing state with respect to the large balloon 110.

[71] To this end, the housing-accommodating bag 113 isolates the projector 120 from the interior of the large balloon 110 without leakage of the helium gas filled in the large balloon 110 by maintaining heat adhesion securely made using a polyurethane material identical to that of the large balloon 110.

[72] Further, to ensure that an image projected onto the screen 130 from the projector

120 can clearly pass through the front transparent window 117 of the housing- accommodating bag, the front transparent window 117 is formed of a transparent material, particularly a polycarbonate material, for more securely maintaining the heat adhesion or adhesive strength to the polyurethane material that is the material of the housing-accommodating bag 113.

[73] Furthermore, a plurality of fastening portions 115 for housing-fixing belts are installed at upper and lower portions in the large balloon 110 in the form of a curtain or the like.

[74] The fastening portions 115 are stably and securely fixed to the interior of the large balloon 110 by connecting the projector-installing housing 150 fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag 113 to the large balloon 110 through the housing- fixing belts 116.

[75] In addition, a gateway through which an operator comes in and out of the large balloon 110 when a defect occurs in the large balloon 110 or in order to check out the interior thereof is installed at a portion of the large balloon 110.

[76] The gateway, which preferably includes a special zipper 114 for preventing leak of the helium gas injected into the interior of the large balloon, is installed at an upper portion of the large balloon 110 adjacent to the housing-accommodating bag 113 so that the helium gas lighter than air can be easily discharged through the zipper 114 when the internal helium gas is removed to dismantle the balloon.

[77] In addition, after securely fixing the projector-installing housing 150 to the large balloon 110 by connecting the projector- installing housing 150 to the plurality of fastening portions 115 installed at the upper and lower portions in the large balloon 110 through the housing-fixing belts 116 in a state where the projector- installing housing 150 fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag 113 is pulled out after opening the zipper 114, closing the zipper 114 after inserting the projector- installing housing 150 through the opened zipper 114 ensures that the gas injected into the large balloon 110 does not leak.

[78] The projector 120 is installed in the projector-installing housing 150, which is formed to be isolated from the interior of the large balloon 110, at the side of the large balloon 110, so that the image transmitted from the image transmitter 200 is projected onto the screen 130.

[79] In such a case, the installation itself of the projector 120 is simple. Further, by preventing a large amount of heat generated upon operation of the projector 120 from being introduced into the large balloon 110, it is possible to maintain the normal operation of the projector 120 and also to remove a bad effect on the internal buoyancy of the large balloon 110.

[80] The projector-installing housing 150 is fitted into and joined to the housing- accommodating bag 113 so that a front partial-opening section 156 of the housing, which is partially open in the form of a circular or elliptical shape corresponding to the front transparent window 117 of the housing-accommodating bag, faces the interior of the housing-accommodating bag 113.

[81] The front partial opening section 156 is formed at a front end portion of the projector-installing housing 150 so that the image projected from the projector 120 isolated from the interior of the large balloon can reach the screen 130 without hindrance.

[82] In addition, the projector-installing housing 150 with the projector 120 accommodated therein is fixed to the interior of the large balloon 110 in a most stable state by being dispersedly fastened thereto by means of the housing-fixing belts 116 fastened to the plurality of fastening portions 115 installed in the interior of the large balloon 110. [83] Although the projector-installing housing 150 is formed in a cylindrical shape in the embodiment of the present invention, other various shapes may be employed. For example, the projector- installing housing 150 may be formed of a light and hard material such as a Styrofoam box of which the surface is coated with a thin, light, heat resisting material such as foamax.

[84] In the meantime, the projector- installing housing 150 includes a projector- fixing support 151 that is installed below the projector 120 and supports the projector.

[85] After forming a groove at an upper portion of the projector- fixing support 151, the projector 120 is fixedly positioned in the groove. Then, projector-fixing belts 159 are installed at a side portion of the projector-fixing support 151, and then, the projector 120 is bound and fixedly positioned by the projector-fixing belts 159.

[86] In addition, motors (not shown) are installed at the left and right sides of a lower end of the projector-fixing support 151, so that when the image on the screen 130 is distorted or comes up or down, the distorted image can be corrected by finely moving the projector 120 through remote control.

[87] Further, a wired remote controller signal transmitting portion 158 for the projector is installed in the projector-installing housing 150, so that it is possible to easily operate all functions of the projector 120 positioned in the large balloon 110 using a wired remote controller (not shown) on the ground.

[88] Furthermore, an image distributor (not shown), which distributes an image signal transmitted from the image transmitter 200 into a plurality of image signals, is installed in the projector- installing housing 150.

[89] The image distributor distributes an image signal into a plurality of image signals and transmits them to a plurality of projectors 120 fixedly positioned at upper and lower sides or left and right sides on the projector-fixing support 151. Then, a clear image is displayed on the screen 130 by combining a plurality of divided images into an extra-large image again using an additional multiple video player (MVP) or a computer.

[90] This can be used as a useful means capable of implementing such a clear extra-large image on the screen 130, despite a limited distance between the projector 120 and the screen 130 in the large balloon 110.

[91] The projector-installing housing 150 is provided with a cover 152 which is installed to cover a rear face which is open so that the projector 120 is put in or pulled out of the projector-installing housing 150.

[92] The cover 152 is equipped with at least one intake fan 153 and at least one discharge fan 154 for cooling the projector 120 by supplying external air into the interior of the projector-installing housing 150 and discharging the heat generated due to the operation of the projector 120 to the outside. [93] Here, considering that a heat discharge port for discharging the heat generated from the projector 120 is positioned on one of its front, side and rear surfaces according to an employed projector, the heat generated from the projector 120 is generally cooled by connecting the discharge fan 154 and the heat discharge port (not shown) of the projector 120 installed in the projector-installing housing 150 to each other using a duct (not shown) or by installing an electric cooler (not shown) in the projector- installing housing 150.

[94] In addition, base on the fact that the operating temperature of the projector 120 is in a range of 5⁰C to 35⁰C, in order to normally operate the projector 120 during an outdoor event at 5⁰C or less in the winter, the intake fan 153 and the discharge fan 154 may be stopped to such an extent that the proper temperature at which the projector 120 can operate is maintained by increasing temperature in the projector- installing housing 150 using the heat discharged from the projector 120.

[95] The cover 152 is also equipped with a connecting terminal 155 for transmitting a variety of image signals such as S-VHS, RGB, VIDEO and optical signals and remote control signals for controlling the position of the projector-fixing support 151 and supplying power to the projector 120.

[96] Further, a portion of the large balloon 110 is open so that the screen 130 fixedly installed in a planar state can be seen from the outside. The open portion of the large balloon 110 is formed with a transparent window 111 that is made of a transparent polyurethane film for causing the screen 130 installed in the large balloon 110 to be in good sight while intactly maintaining the shape of the large balloon of a circular or elliptic globe or a character, an article or the like concerning an event.

[97] In the embodiments of the present invention, a "Rear Projection Screen" with a dimension of 70 to 300 inches may be used as the screen 130, which maximizes convenience upon handling of the large balloon by enabling the screen to be folded or rolled like a tent.

[98] Since the screen 130 is in the form of a rectangle, gaps are produced when the screen 130 is bonded to the open portion of the circular large balloon 110. Therefore, in order to effectively construct the aforementioned darkroom, the gaps are closed up with external light- shielding films 112.

[99] Here, in order for spectators to watch a plurality of respective images according to spectators' positions or to watch an image regardless of their current positions, the large balloon 110 is provided with a plurality of screens 130 and a plurality of housing- accommodating bags 113 and a plurality of projector-installing housings 150 each of which has the projector 120 installed therein, thereby causing the images with different contents or the same images to be projected through the projectors 120.

[100] The image transmitter 200, which is installed on the ground of the event site or in the peripheral upper air, transmits an image to the projector 120 through a signal line 240. At this time, the image is input directly from a medium such as a DVD, a PC, a set-top box or a video camera, or is input through a network such as the Internet and a LAN.

[101] In addition, using fixing cables 300 connected to a plurality of fixing hooks (not shown) installed on the large balloon 110 of the image-displaying apparatus 100, the image-displaying apparatus 100 is fixedly installed at a height of not greater than about 40m from the ground.

[102] In such a case, the length of each of the fixing cables 300 is adjusted through a large balloon height-adjusting and fixing winch 310 that can be moved and fixedly installed on the ground. Here, the length of the fixing cable 300 may be remotely controlled.

[103] The process of installing the image-displaying apparatus using the large balloon according to the embodiment of the present invention thus constructed will be described below.

[104] As shown in Fig. 4, in a state where the image-displaying apparatus 100 is first unfolded on an event site where it will be installed, the projector- installing housing 150 is fitted into the housing- accommodating bag 113 from the outside.

[105] Here, the projector-installing housing 150 causes the interior of the large balloon

110 to be isolated from the projector 120 and the image projected from the projector 120 to be clearly displayed on the screen 130, by positioning the front partial opening section 156 of the projector-installing housing 150 to correspond to the front transparent window 117 formed inside the housing-accommodating bag 113.

[106] Next, as shown in Fig. 8, in a state where the projector-installing housing 150 fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag 113 is pulled out of the housing- accommodating bag 113 after opening the zipper 114 installed at the upper portion of the large balloon adjacent to the housing-accommodating bag, the projector-installing housing 150 is connected to the fastening portions 115 installed at the interior of the large balloon 110 through the housing-fixing belts 116. Then, the projector-installing housing 150 overlaps with and is fixedly coupled to the housing-accommodating bag 113 through housing/housing- accommodating bag fastening belts 157 around both ends of the projector-installing housing 150. Thereafter, the projector- installing housing 150 is put in the large balloon 110 through the opened zipper 114 again.

[107] Next, by injecting helium gas into the large balloon through a gas injection port 140 after closing the zipper 114, the large balloon is installed in a state shown in Figs. 9 to 11. Here, Fig. 11 specifically shows a portion around the projector-installing housing 150 schematically shown in Fig. 10.

[108] Then, as shown in Fig. 12, after opening the cover 152 of the projector- installing housing 150, the projector 120 is positioned and then fixedly installed on the projector- fixing support 151 in the projector- installing housing 150. In this case, if additional projector-fixing belts 159 are used, the projector 120 can be securely fixed.

[109] Next, after a variety of power and signal lines 210 through which power and image signals supplied to the projector 120, control signals of the remote controller, and the like are transmitted are connected to the projector 120 through the connecting terminal 155, focus and image conditions are adjusted while the image is projected onto the screen 130, and the cover 152 is then closed.

[110] Next, the image-displaying apparatus 100 is fixedly installed at a height of not greater than about 40m by controlling the fixing cables 300 connected to the image- displaying apparatus 100 through the plurality of hooks attached thereto using the large balloon height-adjusting and fixing winches 310. During the installation process, it is possible to remotely control the lengths of the fixing cables 300 using an additional remote controller.

[I l l] Here, the image-displaying apparatus 100 may be installed adjacent to a ceiling or a bottom of the interior of a room by mixing helium and air at a proper ratio. In a case where the image-displaying apparatus 100 is suspended with a minimum load from the ceiling by injecting helium gas into the large balloon 110 to cause the image- displaying apparatus 100 to be lighter after injecting a predetermined amount of air thereinto, the fixing cables 300 connected to the ground may be removed. Thus, viewers do not trip on or are not hindered by the fixing cables. On the other hand, in a case where the installation height of the image-displaying apparatus 100 is the same as the ground by injecting only air into the large balloon 110 in order to place the image- displaying apparatus 100 on the bottom, it is possible to provide comfort to viewers.

[112] That is, the large balloon may be installed either in a standing type where a balloon is installed on and around the ground by injecting only air into the balloon or in a hanger type where a balloon is suspended from the ceiling or sidewall by injecting a mixture of helium and air at a proper ratio into the balloon.

[113] In such an installation state, when the image projected onto the screen 130 is distorted or comes up or down, the distorted image is corrected by finely moving the projector 120 through remote control of the motors (not shown) mounted at the left and right sides of the lower end of the support 151 using a remote controller (not shown).

[114] In addition, when controlling a specified function of the projector 120 accommodated in and installed to the interior of the projector-installing housing 150, the projector 120 is remotely controlled on the ground using a wired remote controller (not shown) through the wired remote controller signal transmitting portion 158 for the projector.

[115] In the meantime, when the installed image-displaying apparatus 100 is dismantled after the event is over, the dismantling process is performed in reverse order of the installing process. That is, after the internal helium gas is discharged by opening the zipper 114 positioned at the upper portion of the large balloon 110, the large balloon 110 is folded like a tent for safekeeping and carrying.

[116] The process of operating the image-displaying apparatus using the large balloon according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

[117] When in the image transmitter 200 installed on the ground of an event site, an image directly input from a medium such as a DVD, a PC, a set-top box, or a video camera or input through a network such as the Internet is transmitted along with power to the projector 120 through the power and signal line 240, the projector 120 projects the image onto the screen 130 to display the image. Thus, it is possible to maximize desired effects of an advertisement, a publicity campaign or the like using the large balloon 110. It is also possible to further maximize the effects by outputting voice and music corresponding to the image projected from the projector 120 through an amplifier and a speaker (not shown).

[118] At this time, since a large amount of heat is generated during the operation of the projector 120, the heat generated from the projector 120 which operates in the projector-installing housing 150 is cooled by circulating internal air by means of the intake and discharge fans 153 and 154 installed at both sides of the cover 152, so that the projector 120 can be maintained in a normal operating state.

[119] In addition, it is possible to more easily and quickly discharge the heat by connecting the discharge fan 154 and the heat discharge port (not shown) of the projector 120 to each other using a duct (not shown), or it is possible to entirely remove the heat by installing an electric cooler (not shown) at the interior of the projector-installing housing 150.

[120] Figs. 13 to 16 show a variety of examples, in addition to the example shown in Fig.

3, wherein the image-displaying apparatus using the large balloon according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in an event site.

[121] First, as shown in Fig. 13, when an image is transmitted to the projector 120 from the image transmitter 200 installed on the ground at an event site in a wireless manner such as by RF, a wireless LAN, an optical signal or Bluetooth, the projector 120 projects the image onto the screen 130 to display the image. Thus, only the large balloon 110 seems to be up in the air due to removal of a power and signal line, which causes viewers to feel mysterious and functions as a primary factor of the improvement of noticeability.

[122] In addition, when the situation of a spot far from the large balloon 110 should be displayed through an image like a case where an actual spot is far from the large balloon 110 to be watched as in a golf match, an image playing and transmitting means for providing an image signal and a wireless transmitter are separated from each other in the image transmitter 200 and they are connected to each other through a video line. After an image signal is transmitted in a wireless manner, a wireless receiver (not shown) in the housing 150 of the large balloon 110 receives the image signal and inputs the image signal to the projector 120 directly adjacent to the wireless receiver, whereby it is also possible to display the image on the screen 130.

[123] Next, as shown in Fig. 14, when the image transmitter 200 which is installed to circle using a circling-enabling apparatus 220 such as an airship circling over an event site transmits an image to the image-displaying apparatus 100 in a wireless manner, it is possible to cause the projector 120 to display an actual image in real time by projecting the image onto the screen 130 to maximize a sensation of reality.

[124] Next, as shown in Fig. 15, the projector 120 projects onto the screen 130 an image transmitted from the image transmitter 200 to the large balloon 110 which has a variety of shapes related to specific events and is installed to circle in the peripheral upper air of an event site, so that the image-displaying apparatus 100 covers a relatively large area while going around every corner of the event site, thereby causing more people to see the image.

[125] Particularly, for example, the large balloon 110 may be formed to take the shape of an automobile in case of an automobile-related event, so that it is possible to more improve the effects of an advertisement. Here, by further installing a remotely controllable driving apparatus (not shown) to the large balloon 110, it is also possible to remotely control the large balloon 110 from the ground.

[126] Next, as shown in Fig. 16, instead of the transparent window 111 of the screen 130 fixedly installed in a planar state, by directly installing the screen 130 at a portion on a corresponding opposite side of the large balloon 110, the projector 120 adjusts an image so as to be adapted to the curved screen, so that the quality of the projected image is not affected and viewers may feel mysterious.

[127] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is possible to make various modifications thereto within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims, and the modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. Industrial Applicability

[128] With an apparatus and method for displaying an image using a large balloon according to the present invention, it is possible to solve a problem that may be caused from heating generated when a projector installed within the large balloon operates, and to isolate or minimize an influence caused from external conditions.

Claims

[1] An image-displaying apparatus using a large balloon, comprising: a large balloon having a predetermined shape and installed on the ground or at a predetermined height therefrom; an image-projecting means installed at one side of the large balloon to project an image transmitted from an image transmitter; and a screen installed at the other side opposite to the one side of the large balloon so that the image projected from the image-projecting means can be displayed thereon, wherein the large balloon further comprises a housing- accommodating bag at the one side where the image-projecting means is installed, the housing-accommodating bag including a transparent window which faces the screen toward the interior of the large balloon and maintaining a sealing state, the large balloon comprises a housing fitted into and joined to the housing- accommodating bag by being inserted from the outside in a state where a front face of the housing partially opened corresponding to the transparent window faces the interior of the housing-accommodating bag, and the image-projecting means is installed within the housing.

[2] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the large balloon further comprises a plurality of fastening portions for housing-fixing belts installed in the large balloon, and the housing is fitted into the housing-accommodating bag and then connected to the fastening portions by means of the housing-fixing belts, so that the housing can be securely fixed to the large balloon.

[3] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing-accommodating bag is made of a polyurethane film or other materials identical with or similar to the material of the large balloon.

[4] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent window is made of a polycarbonate material.

[5] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is formed of a light and hard material of which the surface is coated with a thin, light, heat resisting material.

[6] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a support for fixing the image-projecting means, the support being installed at a lower portion of the housing so as to support and fix the image -projecting means, and if an image on the screen is distorted or comes up or down, the image is corrected by finely moving the image-projecting means through remote control for a motor installed at a lower end of the support.

[7] The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises an image distributor for distributing an image signal transmitted from the image transmitter into a plurality of image signals, and the image distributor distributes an image signal into a plurality of image signals and transmits them to a plurality of image-projecting means fixed to the support, whereby an extra-large clear image is displayed on the screen by combining a plurality of divided images into the extra- large image again using an additional multiple video player (MVP) or a computer despite a limited distance between the image-projecting means and the screen in the large balloon.

[8] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wired remote controller signal transmitting portion for the image-projecting means is installed in the housing to remotely control all functions of the image-projecting means, and the functions of the image-projecting means are remotely controlled using a wired remote controller on the ground through the wired remote controller signal transmitting portion.

[9] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a cover for covering a rear face which is open to put or pull the image-projecting means in or out of the housing, and the cover is equipped with an intake fan and a discharge fan for cooling the image-projecting means by supplying external air into the housing and discharging heat generated by the operation of the image-projecting means to the outside.

[10] The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing further includes a heat discharging duct for connecting the discharge fan and a heat discharge port of the image -projecting means.

[11] The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing further includes an electric cooler for cooling the heat generated from the image-projecting means.

[12] The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the large balloon is provided with a plurality of screens and a plurality of housing-accommodating bags, and the housing is installed within each of the housing-accommodating bags so that an image with different content or an identical image can be projected through the image -projecting means.

[13] A method of displaying an image using a large balloon by projecting an image transmitted from an image transmitter, through an image-projecting means fixedly installed at one side of the large balloon having a predetermined shape and installed on the ground or at a predetermined height therefrom, onto a screen installed at the other side opposite to the one side of the large balloon, wherein: a housing-accommodating bag is formed at the one side where the image- projecting means is installed, the housing- accommodating bag including a transparent window which faces the screen toward the interior of the large balloon and maintaining a sealing state; and the image-projecting means is installed within a housing fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag by being inserted from the outside in a state where a front face of the housing partially opened corresponding to the transparent window faces the interior of the housing-accommodating bag.

[14] The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing fitted into and joined to the housing-accommodating bag is pulled out of the housing after opening a zipper installed at an upper portion of the large balloon adjacent to the housing- accommodating bag, the housing is then connected to a plurality of fastening portions for housing-fixing belts installed within the large balloon by means of the housing-fixing belts, and the housing is subsequently put in the large balloon through the opened zipper again so that the housing can be securely fixed to the large balloon.

[15] The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein an image distributor provided in the housing to distribute an image signal transmitted from the image transmitter into a plurality of image signals distributes an image signal into a plurality of image signals and transmits them to a plurality of image-projecting means fixed to supports for fixing the image-projecting means, whereby an extra-large clear image is displayed on the screen by combining a plurality of divided images into the extra-large image again using an additional multiple video player (MVP) or a computer despite a limited distance between the image-projecting means and the screen in the large balloon.

[16] The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a cover for covering a rear face which is open to put or pull the image-projecting means in or out of the housing is equipped with an intake fan and a discharge fan for cooling the image- projecting means by supplying external air into the housing and discharging heat generated by the operation of the image-projecting means to the outside.

[17] The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein during an outdoor event in the winter, the intake fan and the discharge fan are stopped to such an extent that a proper temperature at which the image-projecting means can operate is maintained by increasing a low inner temperature in the projector-installing housing using the heat discharged from the image-projecting means.