Virtual reality dome theater

Abstract

A dome shape theater has a reflective floor. Audience members may sit or stand on a central platform viewing area surrounded by the screen. Audience members may access the viewing area via a tunnel passing under the reflective floor, by a movable bridge, or by passageways between divided sections of the reflective floor. A compound curved screen may alternatively lower from above to surround the viewing area. A 2D/3D projection system may be used to create images on the screen. Integrated special effects located throughout the theater can be synchronized with the media presentation.

1 . A theater comprising:
 a floor;   a dome screen extending continuously in a full circle about a horizontal plane;   a raised viewing platform having a standing surface centrally positioned under the domed screen and above the floor, with an unobstructed line of sight from substantially all areas of the standing surface to all areas of the dome screen above the standing surface, and with a lower section of the screen extending below the standing surface of the viewing platform;   a plurality of projectors positioned to project moving images onto the dome screen, with at least some of the projectors positioned above the viewing platform.   
     
     
         2 . The theater of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the projectors positioned above the viewing platform project images through an opening in the screen. 
     
     
         3 . The theater of  claim 1  with the viewing platform uniformly spaced apart from the screen on all sides by an annular area of the floor. 
     
     
         4 . The theater of  claim 1  with the projectors comprising 2D and/or 3D projector(s) arranged to provide substantially seamless edge blended images on the screen. 
     
     
         5 . The theater of  claim 1  with the viewing platform having two or more annular viewing tiers. 
     
     
         6 . The theater of  claim 1  further comprising multiple projectors projecting images radially outwardly and onto the screen. 
     
     
         7 . A theater comprising:
 a floor;   a dome screen extending in a full circle around the floor;   a viewing platform centrally positioned under the domed screen and raised above the floor, with substantially all areas of the dome screen above the viewing platform visible to audience members on the viewing platform, and with a portion of the screen below the viewing platform; and   a plurality of projectors positioned to project moving images onto the dome screen, with at least some of the projectors positioned above the viewing platform.   
     
     
         8 . The theater of  claim 7  with the projectors comprising 2D and/or 3D projector(s) arranged to provide substantially seamless edge blended images on the screen. 
     
     
         9 . The theater of  claim 7  with the viewing platform 1-10 meters above the floor. 
     
     
         10 . A theater comprising:
 a floor;   a dome screen extending in a full circle around the floor;   a viewing platform centrally positioned under the domed screen and raised above the floor, with substantially all areas of the dome screen above the viewing platform visible to audience members on the viewing platform, and with a portion of the screen below the viewing platform; and   a plurality of projectors positioned to project moving images onto the dome screen, with at least some of the projectors positioned above the viewing platform, and with the projectors arranged to provide substantially seamless edge blended images on the screen.