Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Ford applies for patent to build movie projectors into cars

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-06-2019, 12:54 PM:

Thought this was on topic enough for this forum to be worth its own thread...

quote: Daily Wail
Now that's a drive-in cinema! Future Fords could be fitted with projectors to turn a vehicle into the perfect outdoor theatre, patent reveals

Ford is hoping to bring drive-in cinemas back into fashion, but with a modern twist.

Instead of parking up and watching a film through the windscreen, Ford may be toying with the idea of installing a projector in the boot lid.

A patent reveals that the system would allow it to be turned on when the car is stationary and would project onto a screen behind the vehicle.

People would then be able to watch from outside the car whatever they desire.

Images from the filing show how it would be ideal for film nights, summer evenings and could turn anywhere reachable by car into a pop-up theatre.

The patent also alludes to a second function of the feature designed to provide outdoor lighting to improve the ambience of the event.

Exact methods of how it will work are not yet known, mainly because of the preliminary nature of the patent filing.

However, it could no doubt cast light on a group having a picnic at dusk.

Ford writes in its patent: 'In addition to being relied upon for transportation, automobiles are increasingly being used as entertainment accessories for tailgating, camping, and other outdoor activities.'

Ford explains in the patent how the projector would work.

It says: 'Present disclosure includes, among other things, a liftgate rotatable between a closed position and an open position, and a video projector mounted to the liftgate.

'Further, the video projector is configured to project video in a direction away from the vehicle when the liftgate is in the open position.'

The patent was first filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2017 and has now been categorised as 'pending'.

Large companies, including auto manufacturers, file for hundreds of patents every year to safeguard any potential ideas they may have.

Although it is now an indication they are actively pursuing it, it does show the firm, for at least a brief period of time, flirted with the idea.

Posted by James Biggins (Member # 8574) on 09-06-2019, 01:05 PM:

I had to check the date while I was reading this. [Eek!]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-06-2019, 01:34 PM:

You could use it to project grizzly footage of accidents onto the windshield of the car that is tailgating you...

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 09-06-2019, 02:56 PM:

quote:
Although it is now an indication they are actively pursuing it, it does show the firm, for at least a brief period of time, flirted with the idea.

If they aren't pursuing it, then they shouldn't be allowed a patent on it. "Innovation" isn't of any value if it consists solely of a stack of papers in a filing cabinet and a bill if someone wants to actually do anything with it.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-06-2019, 03:18 PM:

Agreed completely - IMHO, there should be a legal mechanism whereby patents can be voided if a challenger can show that (a) they came up with the same invention independently of the patent holder, and (b) the patent holder cannot show that they have made any attempt to monetize the patented invention within a certain time period (say, two years).

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 09-06-2019, 03:44 PM:

I can't imagine this patent would be defensible. What have they invented? Mounting a small projector isn't an innovation.

They may be able to patent the exact location and look of the integration but other than that I can't see it standing up in court.

Whoever was first to put a touch screen LCD for the "infotainment" system wasn't able to stop every other manufacturer from doing it.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 09-06-2019, 04:09 PM:

I suspect that a lot of the "movie in the park" guys do something like this already. Mount a projector in the back of the van pointed at the rear doors, open the doors when ready to operate it.

Posted by Jarod Reddig (Member # 6363) on 09-06-2019, 04:54 PM:

This is just dumb. Stick with giving us better gas milage etc.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-06-2019, 06:51 PM:

This looks like something they could install for about $100 cost and sell it for about $500, considering most cars already have a disk player (or streamer) built in anyway.... a cheap-o projector mounted in the hatch (or just on the back of the car, why have to open the hatch?), a simple control interface and presto.

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 09-06-2019, 07:57 PM:

Ford Motors better have a good working battery for the projector and sound machine or they may find their car dead after the feature movie ends.

The car burglars will love this toy to take home and put in their car.

Will the image be 4x3 or 16x9 semi scope and the sound be stereo surround or will they just wire It up cheap to the radio/CD/internet car door speakers?

I don't think Drive In theatre owners need to worry much because I think the image will be very small.