Array of individually angled mirrors reflecting disparate color sources toward one or more viewing positions to construct images and visual effects

• US 20110032365A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Yett
• Original Assignee: James Yett
• Inventors: Yett, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/35 using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 25/02 with interposed lenticular or line screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors

Abstract

A general purpose image and visual effects display apparatus, with associated methods, which is comprised of an array of independently angled reflective or refractive elements wherein the varying angle pattern of each element across said array is designed to reflect or refract specifically designed as well as fortuitously located existing colors, in precisely determined patterns, to make apparent to specific viewing or receiving locations a wide range of complex emergent visual and other effects. In some embodiments very high resolution and high color fidelity image display is possible. In other embodiments moving images akin to video can be displayed, using no electronics or moving parts. In other embodiments true binocular 3D images can be displayed directly to viewers, without the need for special 3D viewing glasses. Many of the embodiments and methods are applicable to non-visible light and other reflectable wave-based phenomena.

Claims

1. A visual effects presentation apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light re-directive elements in an array wherein said elements are angled to individually redirect a first set of local color sources, toward a first viewer in a defined first viewing position, such that said redirection presents to said viewer, said local color sources reordered into a first predefined visual re-arrangement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light re-directive elements are reflective mirror surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light re-directive elements are refractive panes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second set of local color sources, configured via bi-directional mapping, to be redirected by said plurality of re-directive elements to present a second predefined visual arrangement to a second viewer, in a defined second viewing position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first set of local color sources is derived from the viewer'"'"'s face and in which apparatus is seen reflected a different image or face.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 sited facing a solid color background, wherein the only color source is the viewer'"'"'s own body shape, which in reflection is reshaped to a predetermined alternate shape.

9. An apparatus that is comprised of a plurality of the apparatus of claim 8, arranged in sequence, wherein each of said sequence displays one in a chosen connected progression of images.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflected colors are small enough that each eye sees a separate color and in which each eye is presented a different reflection color for each array element, thereby providing the ability to display different images to each eye.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the color redirective elements are held in three dimensional juxtaposition by a supportive framework so as to be evenly distributed in a chosen volume of space.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each mirror is a concave curve of a degree necessary to reduce the size of the reflection color areas necessary to fill said mirrors when reflecting said color sources to a viewer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each color-reflective element is comprised of a variable number of smaller independently angled component mirror elements which are freely sized and shaped to proportionally mix any desired component reflection source color scheme.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a wide angle digital imaging device aimed at a reflectable color environment from the position of a potential light redirective array, said device providing images of said reflectable environment to a computer wherein said computer comprises graphics processing software to analyze said images and identify and map flat color areas therein, and their specific color and angle locations; and

an array comprising light redirective elements configured at angles to reflect said colors to a given viewing location based upon said analyzation by said graphics software.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a mirror angle targeting system that updates at high enough frequency, at or near video frame-rate speed, and;

a mirror tile array comprised of individually actuated tiles capable of computer controlled actuation at or near video frame-rate speed and;

a viewer position tracking system;

which together comprise an image and effects presentation system, and;

a computer system that provides various display images, video, animations and instructions for interactive effects, to said image and effects presentation system.

6. An apparatus configured to present an animated visual effect to a viewer comprising a printed graphic comprising a plurality of elongated printed stripes, said stripes representing the color changes over time of every pixel in an animation, and an array of light redirective elements configured to redirect said plurality of printed elongated pixel representations to reconstruct in reflection, and thus present to said viewer, said animated visual effect.