Infrared imaging projection

• US 8,439,503 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Reichow, Mark A., Runco, Christopher R., Brentnall, Tom E., LaDuke, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, DON J
• Application Number:
  US12/187,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/28, 353/88, 353/98, 353/94, 353/121, 250/216, 250/353, 250/330, 250/495.1, 250/504.R, 345/175, 345/629, 349/11, 349/12, 349/16, 359/443, 359/449, 348/164
• US Class Current: 353/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein involves systems, methods, apparatuses or devices related to infrared imaging or infrared imaging projection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

illuminating a display, which emits a non-infrared image through an overlay, with infrared radiation to at least partially obscure the non-infrared image otherwise viewable by an imaging device, the overlay being placed over at least a portion of the display, the overlay being at least partially transparent to the visible light spectrum, the overlay being at least partially reflective to the infrared light spectrum.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said display comprises a display screen;

and further comprising, prior to said illuminating said display, placing said overlay over at least a portion of said display screen.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

an overlay at least partially transparent to invisible light and at least partially reflective of infrared radiation;

wherein said overlay comprises a structure for being placed over at least a portion of a display screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said overlay comprises a layer of indium tin oxide.

5. A device comprising:

first emitters and second emitters, said first emitters operable to emit non-infrared electromagnetic radiation from a display through an overlay, said second emitters operable to emit infrared electromagnetic radiation, the overlay being placed over at least a portion of the display, the overlay being at least partially transparent to the visible light spectrum, the overlay being at least partially reflective to the infrared light spectrum;

said second emitters being in an arrangement so as to alter, during operation of said second emitters, the appearance of an image formed by operation of said first emitters, if said emitters are viewed during operation by an imaging device capable of sensing infrared and non-infrared radiation.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said second emitters are arranged in a pattern to obscure said image if said emitters are viewed during operation by said imaging device.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said non-infrared electromagnetic radiation comprises visible light.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said emitters comprise light emitting diodes.

9. A display comprising:

a display screen;

an overlay placed over at least a portion of the display screen, the overlay being at least partially transparent to the visible light spectrum, the overlay being at least partially reflective to the infrared light spectrum;

a non-infrared light source operable to illuminate an image on said display screen from the display screen through the overlay; and

an infrared light source operable to alter the appearance of said image to an imaging device by illuminating said image on said display screen with infrared light.

10. The display of claim 9, wherein said infrared light source is operable to illuminate said display screen with sufficient infrared light so as to obscure said image to said imaging device.

11. The display of claim 9, wherein said infrared light source comprises a plurality of infrared light sources particularly arranged so as to be viewed in conjunction with said image via said imaging device.

12. The display of claim 9, wherein said non-infrared light comprises visible light.

13. A method of producing an image not visible to the unaided human eye, comprising:

illuminating a fluid medium with an infrared image projection to at least partially obscure the fluid medium, said fluid medium otherwise viewable by an imaging device through an overlay, the overlay being at least partially transparent to the visible light spectrum, the overlay being at least partially reflective to the infrared light spectrum.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said illuminating a fluid medium comprises:

illuminating a vapor cloud.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said illuminating a fluid medium comprises:

illuminating a smoke cloud.

16. A method comprising:

projecting an infrared image so that an imaging device captures the projection of said infrared image and at least partially blocks non-infrared light received through an overlay of a display screen in those instances in which infrared light at least partially illuminates an object immediately before the imaging device is about to capture the image of said object, the overlay being at least partially transparent to the visible light spectrum, the overlay being at least partially reflective to the infrared light spectrum.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

tracking those instances in which an imaging device captures the projection of said infrared image.

18. An apparatus comprising:

an imaging device;

said imaging device being adapted to at least partially block non-infrared light received through an overlay of a display screen in those instances in which infrared light at least partially illuminates an object immediately before said imaging device is about to capture an image of said object, the overlay being at least partially transparent to the visible light spectrum, the overlay being at least partially reflective to the infrared light spectrum.