SPATIAL PROJECTION

• US 20100066978A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 for producing a three-dimensional real image, comprising:

a device to reflect a projection in a shape of a contoured surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a projection device to emit said projection onto said contoured surface.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface;

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

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

4. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tangible object comprises a convex side, at least a portion of said convex side being positioned to be reflected as said three-dimensional image, at least a portion of said convex side positioned to be illuminated with said projection.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tangible object comprises a concave side, at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be reflected as said three-dimensional image, at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be illuminated with said projection from said device.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, 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 said three-dimensional image, at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be illuminated with said projection from said device operable to provide a rear projection of said projection onto said concave side.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, 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.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, 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.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said device projects through an opening in said rear portion of said frame to illuminate said convex side of said tangible object.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said three-dimensional image comprises a real image.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said optical device comprises a mirror.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said optical device comprises a curved mirror.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said optical device comprises a parabolic or spherical mirror.

15. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

16. A method of producing a three-dimensional real image comprising:

reflecting a projection in a shape of a contoured surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein reflecting a projection in the shape of a contoured surface comprises:

projecting a projection onto a contoured or geometrical surface of a tangible object; and

reflecting a three-dimensional real image comprising said projection in the shape of said contoured or geometrical surface.

18. The method of claim 17, 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.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface comprises:

a convex side, wherein at least a portion of said convex side is positioned to be reflected as said real image, and at least a portion of said convex side is positioned to be illuminated by said projection.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface comprises:

a concave side, wherein at least a portion of said concave side is positioned to be reflected as said real image, and at least a portion of said concave side is positioned to be illuminated by said projection.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said tangible object having a contoured or geometrical surface 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 said real image, and at least a portion of said concave side positioned to be illuminated by said projection.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein projecting a projection onto said contoured or geometrical surface of said tangible object comprises:

filming an observer of said three-dimensional real image to obtain an image of said observer; and

projecting said image onto said contoured or geometrical surface of said tangible object.

23. An apparatus to produce a three-dimensional real image, comprising:

means for reflecting a projection in a shape of a contoured surface.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein means for reflecting a projection in the shape of a contoured surface comprises:

means for projecting a projection onto a contoured or geometrical surface of a tangible object; and

means for reflecting a three-dimensional real image comprising said projection in the shape of said contoured or geometrical surface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, 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.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a frame having a shield and a rear portion, said shield defining a viewing aperture;

a reflective surface coupled to said rear portion, said reflective surface defining an optical axis, said optical axis being aligned with and extending out of said viewing aperture;

a real object comprising a bas relief including a concave side and a convex side, said bas relief aligned with said optical axis to project a real image through said viewing aperture; and

a projector to illuminate said bas relief with an image, wherein a real image of said bas relief is reflected by said reflective surface to project a real three-dimensional image of said bas relief through said aperture.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said bas relief comprises a translucent material.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said projector projects through an opening in said rear portion of said frame to illuminate said convex side of said tangible object.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said reflective surface comprises a curved mirror.

31. An apparatus comprising:

a screen to receive a projection;

a projection device operable to emit said projection onto said screen; and

an optical device operable to produce a three-dimensional image comprising said projection onto said screen.

30. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said optical device comprises a parabolic or spherical mirror.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said optical device comprises a curved mirror.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said projection device comprises a scanning laser.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said projection device comprises an emissive device.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said optical device comprises:

a frame having a shield and a rear portion, said shield defining a viewing aperture, wherein said curved mirror is coupled to said rear portion of said frame, said curved mirror defines an optical axis, said optical axis is aligned with and extends out of said viewing aperture, said screen is located between said projection device and said curved mirror, and an image of said projection is reflected by said curved mirror to project said three-dimensional image through said aperture.