Nested Turntable Arrangement for Electronically Animated Characters

This invention relates, in general, to animation shows of the type utilizing electronically animated robotic characters; and, in particular, to a cooperative arrangement of nested turntables for providing improved interaction among a plurality of such characters, especially to give the illusion of dancing.

The term "animated character" as used herein is defined as an electronically controlled figure which is animated to simulate life-like motion by articulating a preprogrammed repertoire of movements. Such figures typically include a skeletal framework of relatively movable jointed segments concealed within an outer covering depicting arm, leg, head, torso, and other external features of a represented human or animal personality. Animation shows of the type to which the present invention relates are known from such multimedia animated character performances as are commonly seen in amusement-oriented pizza restaurant chains. Such shows employ computer-controlled, sound synchronized robotics to cause interaction among animated characters on adjacent stages, utilizing coordinated body movements, audiotapes, backdrop scenery and lighting.

It is known in such animation shows to provide life-sized animated characters with articulated movements corresponding to various ranges of life-like motion. Other examples of animated characters are those commonly seen in Disney.TM. theme park animatronics presentations. It is further known to support animated characters on movable turntables, such as revolving stages used to provide changes of scene. The audience-perceived interaction of characters achievable through such conventional arrangements is, however, limited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nested turntable arrangement for movably supporting a plurality of animated characters to provide improved perceived interaction among the characters and, especially, to provide the illusion of interactive dancing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for producing the illusion of dancing, using such an arrangement.

In accordance with the invention, a novel arrangement of supporting stages for animated characters includes a plurality of animated characters, each supported by an independently controllable rotating pedestal turntable, with the several pedestal turntables in turn all supported on a common, separately controllable rotating base turntable. The characters each have life-like features simulating body parts, including arms, legs, heads and torsos; and the pedestals are arranged relative to each other and to the revolving base, so that the characters can be rotated and their arms extended to bring the hands into juxtaposition proximate the axis of rotation of the base.

Embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an animated show including a nested turntable arrangement in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the show of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the operable elements of the nested turntable arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Throughout the drawings, like elements are referred to by like numerals.

The principles of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, embodied in an animation show employing a plurality of animated characters using synchronized sound robotic technology in a multimedia performance presentation.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the show is presented on a plurality of left, center and right stages 10, 11, 12, each providing a respective base platform 14, 15, 16 for exhibiting a different one or more of the characters. Characters 18, 19 are exhibited on different halves 14a, 14b of turntable 14 defined by a vertical partition 20 extending diametrically between them. Each side of the partition depicts a different scene 21 which can be presented to the exclusion of the other by appropriate angular orientation of turntable 14 about a central rotary axis 22. Character 18 is located about midway between the center 22 and a circular edge 23 of the top surface of turntable half 14a. Character 19 is similarly positioned relative to turntable half 14b on the other side of partition 20. Characters 25, 26 are exhibited in similar manner on opposite halves 16a, 16b (FIG. 2) of turntable 16, divided by a vertical partition 27. Turntable 16 can likewise be rotated about a vertical rotary axis 28 passing through its center.

The base turntable 15 of center stage 11 is also made rotatable about its central vertical axis 30. In accordance with the principles of the invention, however, each character 32, 33, 34 is supported on its own respective pedestal turntable 35, 36, 37 for independent rotation about a separate respective pedestal central vertical axis 38, 39, 40, generally coincident with the center of the supported character 32, 33, 34. The pedestals 35, 36, 37 are arranged so that axes 38, 39, 40 will be located at equiangular-spaced intervals about the axis 30. Each character 18, 19, 25, 26, 32, 33 and 34 comprises a life-size, electronically-controlled figure having a skeletal framework with articulated jointed body part simulating segments whose relative movements are effected in accordance with computer preprogramming. Individual body part segment articulation to simulate real-life movements is implemented in accordance with well-known principles. Electrical communication therefor can be either implemented through concealed umbilical connection or through some other known electromagnetic wireless transmission means.

Character 19 is shown mounted on a rotary pedestal 42 supported on base turntable 14, similar to the support of characters 32, 33, 34 on pedestals 35, 36, 37, in order to illustrate the optional extension of independent rotating pedestal mountings also to any or all of the characters supported by the base turntables 14, 16 on the side stages 10, 12. The substructure beneath the top surfaces of stages 10, 11, 12 is hidden from the audience by fixed cylindrical shells 44, 45, 46, having vertical front facades 47, 48, 49 and horizontal annular regions, 50, 51, 52 circumferentially bordering turntables 14, 15, 16. Vertical panels 54, 55, 56, 57 positioned over the regions 50, 51, 52, span gaps between the rotating partitions 20, 27 and an arcuate vertical backdrop rising up circumferentially at the back of stage 11.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, each character 32, 33, 34 is provided with arm body part segments 59, 60, 61, movable to generally horizontal, hand-extended positions, as shown. Pedestals 35, 36, 37 are positioned with their axes 38, 39, 40 radially spaced from axis 30 of base turntable 15 so that the hand ends of arms 59, 60, 61 can be brought into apparent juxtaposed positions in a central zone of interaction 62 proximate the axis 30. In this way, when pedestals 35, 36, 37 are rotated to bring the extended hands into apparent juxtaposed positions and turntable 15 is rotated, characters 32, 33, 34 will appear to join hands and dance around the center of stage 11. The extended arms 59, 60, 61 can then be retracted, and the opposite arms extended into the same apparent hand-joined positions, with the pedestals 35, 36, 37 rotated by 180.degree. to face characters 32, 33, 34 in the opposite direction. Turning turntable 15 in the opposite direction about axis 30 will then give the illusion that the characters are now holding hands and dancing in the opposite direction about the same center of the stage. If desired, a prop, such as a pole 63 (shown in dot-dashed lines in FIG. 3), can be erected to extend upward at the center of the stage coincident with the axis 30. In such case, characters 32, 33, 34 will appear to dance first one way, then the other, around the pole, giving a very pleasing effect.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one way to implement the stage 11, shown with the top surface of turntable 15 removed and pedestal 37 cut away. As illustrated, turntable 15 includes an annular hub 64 mounted for rotation about a central vertical axle 65 coincident with rotary axis 30. A circular ring 66 that defines the circumferential perimeter of turntable 15 is supported on hub 64 by a plurality of equiangular-spaced radial spokes 67. The bottom edge of ring 66 is supported by correspondingly equiangular-spaced members, such as rubber wheels 68, mounted on the floor and journalled for free rotation about radially directed rotary axes 69. Ring 66 also includes a vertically directed cylindrical surface 75, which is covered with diamond plate aluminum or otherwise roughened, for frictional engagement with the outside diameter of a rubber drive wheel 70. Wheel 70 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 71 on a shaft 72, which is driven by a continuous chain belt 73 by the output shaft of a motor 74. Motor 74 is under control of preprogrammed signals from a computer for driving turntable 15 about axis 30 in synchronization with the animated articulations of characters 32, 33, 34.

A plurality of horizontal platforms 76 formed intermediate pairs of the spokes 67 serve to respectively support pedestals 35, 36, 37 for rotation with stage 15. Pedestals 35, 36, 37 are also separately, individually rotatable on shafts 77 fixed on platforms 76 and respectively coincident with the axes 38, 39, 40. Each shaft 77 is driven by an associated motor 78 through a chain belt connection 79, to independently control the rotation of the associated pedestal 35, 36, 37 about its axis 38, 39, 40. Electrical power for control of the motors 78 can be furnished by umbilical connections, whose lengths are chosen to permit 240.degree. or 360.degree. or other desired rotation of base turntable 15 relative to the floor. Servo-type potentiometer assemblies 80, 81 or similar mechanisms are provided for identifying angular orientations of the pedestal turntables relative to the base turntable, and the base turntable relative to the floor, to serve as feedback input signals to the animation control system.

In operation, characters 32, 33, 34 can be independently rotated about their respective pedestal axes 38, 39, 40 by separate control of their associated motors 78, either apart from or in conjunction with rotation of the base turntable 15 under action of motor 74. The characters 32, 33, 34 can be turned toward or away from each other, or toward or away from the side characters 18, 19, or 25, 26; and can be caused to simultaneously rotate in one or the other direction about the common axis 30. On the one hand, each character 32, 33, 34 is accommodated to rotate about a separate axis central to that character alone; and, on the other hand, the same characters are accommodated to collectively rotate about a common axis removed from each, but central to all. For the shown three character nested turntable arrangement shown, characters 32, 33, 34 are positioned at 120.degree. equiangular intervals about axis 30 of base turntable 15.

Those skilled in the art to which the invention relates will appreciate that other substitutions and modifications can be made to the described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the claims below.