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

• US 9,071,834 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Yett
• Original Assignee: James Yett
• Inventors: Yett, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kakalec, Kimberly N
• Application Number:
  US12/799,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 3591961-2263, 359290-320, 359838-884, 353/30, 353/31, 353/34, 353/37, 353/98, 353/99
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An image and visual effects display apparatus comprising:

A substrate;

A plurality of recesses formed in a surface of the substrate, wherein each recess is defined as having a predetermined angle with respect to the surface, and wherein at least one recess has a different predetermined angle from at least one other recess;

A plurality of static light re-directive elements, wherein each light re-directive element is connected to one of the recesses; and

A first color source capable of reflecting or emitting at least one wavelength of light,

Wherein each static light re-directive element is individually angled according to the predetermined angle of the recess to which it is connected, and configured to direct light reflected or emitted from the first color source to a viewer located at a first viewing angle with respect to the substrate to display an image or part of an image containing the at least one wavelength of the first color source.

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

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

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second color, source configured via bi-directional mapping, to be redirected by said plurality of static light re-directive elements to present a second image or part of an image containing the at least one wavelength of the first color source, to a second viewing angle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first color source is redirected from the viewer'"'"'s own face and in which said viewer sees reflected in said apparatus an alternate image or face or visual effect constructed using the colors of said viewer'"'"'s own face.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 sited facing a solid color background, wherein the first color source is the viewer'"'"'s own body shape, which in reflection in said apparatus displays an image or part of an image containing the at least one wavelength of the first color source.

7. An apparatus that is comprised of a plurality of the apparatus of claim 6, arranged in sequence, wherein each of said sequence displays one in of a chosen connected progression of images or parts of images containing the at least one wavelength of the first color source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 utilizing at least two color sources wherein each eye is presented a different re-directed color source by each array element, thereby providing the ability to display different images or parts of images containing the at least two wavelengths of the at least two color sources to each eye.

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

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each light-re-directive element is shaped to a focal curve of a degree necessary to reduce the subtended size of the color sources necessary to fill said mirrors light re-directive elements when re-directing said color sources to a viewing angle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 utilizing at least two color sources in which each static light re-directive element is comprised of a variable number of smaller independently angled light re-directive elements which are freely sized and shaped to proportionally re-direct any desired combination of color sources.