Polarized light valve

• US 20050286127A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Mark Joseph Huber
• Inventors: Huber, Mark Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/483.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 21/00 Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/02 Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/06 produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/08 characterised by colour effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/061 on-axis systems with at least one of the mirrors having a central aperture
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/02 Viewing or reading apparatus stereoscopic systems G02B30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/281 used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images

Abstract

A projection system for making an object appear and disappear to an observer on cue is disclosed. The system remotely activates a reflective axis and a transmissive axis within a polarized window for making an object on cue appear and disappear. In one aspect, this system contains a reflective back plate, a polarized window, and a textured surface. A reflective back plate is placed behind an object. A polarized window is placed in front of the object. A textured surface is placed in front of the polarized window. A polarized light source is placed in front of the textured surface. If the polarized light is aligned parallel to a reflective axis, the textured surface is visible to an observer. If the polarized light is aligned parallel to the transmissive axis, the textured surface and the object are visible to an observer.

Claims

1. A projection system for making an object appear or disappear to an observer comprising:

a polarized window placed in front of an object;

a textured surface placed in front of the polarized window that is at least partially transparent, and

a polarized light source placed in front of the textured surface transmitting polarized light toward the textured surface;

wherein the polarized light causes an object to transition from being invisible to being visible to an observer in a user-controlled manner.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the polarized light is oriented parallel to a reflective axis of the polarized window passes through the textured surface, and is reflected by the polarized window, preventing viewing of the object.

3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the polarized light oriented parallel to a transmissive axis of the polarized window passes through the textured surface and the polarized window, allowing viewing of the object.

4. A system as described in claim 1 further including a reflective back plane for reflecting light transmitted through the object for increased illumination of the object.

5. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the object is a thin film material of a cartoon character mounted on a clear acetate material.

6. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the textured surface is a thin film material of a brick surface deposited on a clear acetate material.

7. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the polarized light source includes a first transmissive axis substantially parallel to a transmissive axis of the polarized window for activating the projection system.

8. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the polarized light source includes a first transmissive axis substantially orthogonal to a transmissive axis of the polarized window for deactivating the projection system.

9. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the object is two-dimensional thin film on a wall surface.

10. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the system is a thin film system adapted to fit into a very small real estate area.

11. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the system is a thin film system mounted on a wall.

12. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the system has two states corresponding to a disappearing state for the object and a reappearing state for the object.

13. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the system having multiple states for gradually transitioning an object from a visible state to an invisible state.

14. A method for making an object mysteriously appear or disappear to an observer comprising:

providing a polarized window;

placing an object behind the polarized window;

providing a textured surface; and

providing a light source adapted to be polarized whereby light that is oriented parallel to a reflective axis of the polarized window passes through the textured surface, and is reflected by the polarized window, preventing viewing of the object, light that is oriented parallel to a transmissive axis of the polarized window passes through the textured surface and the polarized window, allowing viewing of the object.

15. The method as described in claim 14 wherein the polarized window is a thin film reflective polarizer film.

16. The method as described in claim 14 wherein the polarized window is a Dual Brightness Enhancement Film.

17. A method for an object appearing or disappearing on cue comprising:

providing a polarized window;

placing an object behind the polarized window;

providing a textured surface; and

providing a light source which can be polarized, whereby light that is oriented parallel to the reflective axis of the polarized window passes through the textured surface, and is reflected by the polarized window, preventing viewing of the object, and light that is oriented parallel to the transmissive axis of the polarized window passes through the textured surface and the polarized window, allowing viewing of the object.