Apparatus that produces a three-dimensional image

• US 8,042,948 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ingraldi, Sam, Powell, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz; Magda
• Application Number:
  US12/212,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 353/10, 359/479, 359/629, 359/858, 359/730, 352/86
• US Class Current: 353/10
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for providing image projection and entertainment.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface, said tangible object comprising a convex side, at least a portion of said convex side positioned to be reflected as a three-dimensional image, at least a portion of said convex side positioned to be illuminated with a projection;

a device operable to emit said projection onto said contoured or geometrical surface of said tangible object; and

an optical device operable to produce said three-dimensional image comprising said projection in a shape of said contoured or geometrical surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said tangible object is positioned to be reflected as said three-dimensional image and positioned to be illuminated with said projection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical device comprises:

a frame having a shield and a rear portion, said shield defining a viewing aperture, wherein said optical device is coupled to said rear portion of said frame, said optical device defines an optical axis, said optical axis is aligned with and extends out of said viewing aperture, and said tangible object is aligned with said optical axis so that said three-dimensional image is projected through said aperture.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said device projects through an opening in said rear portion of said frame to illuminate said convex side of said tangible object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional image comprises a real image.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said optical device comprises a curved mirror.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical device comprises a mirror.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said optical device comprises a parabolic or spherical mirror.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical device comprises at least one of the following:

a liquid crystal display (LCD), a fly'"'"'s eye lens, a digital mirror device (DMD), and a flexible foil mirror.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface, wherein said tangible object comprises a concave side, at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be reflected as a three-dimensional image, at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be illuminated with a projection;

a device operable to emit said projection onto said contoured or geometrical surface of said tangible object; and

an optical device operable to produce said three-dimensional image comprising said projection in a shape of said contoured or geometrical surface.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface, wherein said tangible object comprises a concave side and a convex side opposite said concave side, said tangible object comprising a translucent material, at least a portion of said convex side adapted to be reflected as a three-dimensional image, at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be illuminated with a projection;

a device operable to emit said projection onto said contoured or geometrical surface of said tangible object, said device operable to provide a rear projection of said projection onto said concave side; and

an optical device operable to produce said three-dimensional image comprising said projection in a shape of said contoured or geometrical surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said optical device comprises:

a frame having a shield and a rear portion, said shield defining a viewing aperture, wherein said optical device is coupled to said rear portion of said frame, said optical device defines an optical axis, said optical axis is aligned with and extends out of said viewing aperture, said tangible object is located between said device and said optical device, said convex side of said tangible object extends toward said optical device, and a real image of said tangible object is reflected by said optical device to project said three-dimensional image through said aperture.