Latent-image projection system and method
First Claim
1. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
- a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization;
a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and
an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A latent image projection system, and related method, for displaying entertaining visual effects and optical illusions by projecting a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen. The latent image is revealed using a polarized analyzer having its polarization direction aligned with a polarization direction associated with the latent image. A "magic window" special effect is produced by sizing the analyzer to reveal only a portion of the latent image. A Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image is created by orienting a dielectric plate so that its surface analyzes the latent image on the screen and superimposes it onto the image of a real object. A dielectric surface, such as a pond of water, placed between a viewer and the screen will analyze and reveal the latent image when the viewer views the reflection of the screen on the surface of the water. Selectively viewable subtitles for a movie are created by polarization encoding the light that illuminates the movie'"'"'s film with alphanumeric images. The latent alphanumeric message are perceptible only to viewers viewing the screen using an analyzer.
80 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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10. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image, and wherein the analyzer is a specular dielectric surface that is located so that the selected viewer, who views an image of the screen reflected on the dielectric surface at a non-normal angle, may perceive the latent image. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image; and a vehicle for inducing relative motion between one or more viewers and the analyzer, wherein the vehicle aligns the analyzer between the viewers and the screen during only a part of the relative motion so that the viewers can perceive the latent image when the analyzer is aligned between the viewers and the viewing screen, but the viewers cannot perceive the latent image during the rest of the relative motion when the analyzer is not aligned between the viewers and the screen. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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17. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image; and a real three-dimensional object located to one side of the screen, wherein the analyzer is a dielectric surface oriented such that direct light rays from the real object are transmitted through the analyzer and such that light from the screen having a desired polarization orientation is reflected off the dielectric surface so that the latent image provides a ghost-like image superimposed over the real object.
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19. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image, wherein a portion of the latent image contains alphanumeric subtitles relating to a visible image projected on the screen, and wherein the latent-image projector includes a light source that uniformly illuminates an image area with a substantially parallel beam of light; a pre-polarizer that polarizes the light from the light source to a first polarization orientation before the light illuminates the predetermined image area; a polarization-rotating device located in a lower portion of the image area and having a pixel array that defines predetermined locations in the image area, wherein the polarization-rotating device rotates the polarization direction of the light at the predetermined locations in response to an electrical signal received from an alphanumeric image source as the light passes through the polarization-rotating device to create the polarization-encoded latent image; visible image film, located in the image area, that is illuminated by the light from the light source, including the light passing through the polarization-rotating device; a projection lens that focuses the light passing through the film onto the viewing screen, wherein the selected viewer who views the screen using the analyzer perceives the alphanumeric subtitles, whereas viewers who directly view the screen cannot perceive the alphanumeric subtitles. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image; and a sign that includes a visible message and that is located adjacent to the viewing screen, wherein the latent image includes a foreign language translation of the sign'"'"'s message.
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22. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image, wherein the viewing screen includes an integral sign that provides a visible message; and the latent-image includes a foreign language translation of the sign'"'"'s message.
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23. A latent-image projection system for creating visual images to entertain viewers, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image a main screen located above the viewing screen; a visible-image projector that projects onto the main screen a visible image having a temporally variable intensity; a photosensor that generates an intensity signal based on the intensity of the visible image on the main screen; and a control circuit, responsive to the intensity signal, that controls the intensity of the latent image such that the intensity of the latent image varies in response to the intensity variations of the visible image. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method using a latent image to create visual images for entertaining viewers of said amusement ride, comprising:
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projecting light having a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light, wherein the latent image is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen; and analyzing in a selected with an analyzer with predetermined dimensions relative to said viewing screen and positioned a predetermined distance from said viewing screen for one or more selected viewers of said amusement ride the light reflected from the screen so that the selected viewers may jointly perceive the latent image through the screen. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42)
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34. A method using a latent image to create visual images for entertaining viewers, comprising:
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projecting light having a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light, wherein the latent image is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen; and analyzing for one or more selected viewers the light reflected from the screen so that the selected viewer who views the analyzed light may perceive the latent image, wherein the step of analyzing includes reflecting, at a non-normal angle of incidence, an image of the screen using a specular dielectric surface. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method using a latent image to create visual images for entertaining viewers, comprising:
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protecting light having a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light, wherein the latent image is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen; and analyzing for one or more selected viewers the light reflected from the screen so that the selected viewer who views the analyzed light may perceive the latent image inducing relative motion between a viewer and the screen; and selectively analyzing the light reflected from the screen so that, during only a part of the relative motion, the viewer can perceive the latent image, and so that, during the rest of the relative motion, the viewer cannot perceive the latent image.
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39. A method using a latent image to create visual images for entertaining viewers, comprising:
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protecting light having a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light, wherein the latent image is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen; and analyzing for one or more selected viewers the light reflected from the screen so that the selected viewer who views the analyzed light may perceive the latent image, wherein the step of analyzing includes orienting the analyzed light so that it is superimposed over light from a real three-dimensional object to provide a visual effect of a ghost-like image superimposed over the real object.
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43. A method using a latent image to create visual images for entertaining viewers, comprising:
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protecting light having a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light, wherein the latent image is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen; analyzing for one or more selected viewers the light reflected from the screen so that the selected viewer who views the analyzed light may perceive the latent image projecting a motion picture onto a main screen located above the viewing screen; and causing the latent image to provide alphanumeric information relating to the motion picture. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A latent-image projection system for use with an amusement ride, for creating visual images to entertain viewers of said ride, comprising:
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a viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light without changing the light'"'"'s polarization; a latent-image projector that projects onto the screen a polarization-encoded latent image that is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen, wherein the latent image is associated with a predetermined polarization orientation; and an analyzer located between the screen and one or more selected viewers of said ride, said analyzer configured with predetermined dimensions relative to the screen and positioned a predetermined distance from to the screen to enable joint viewing through said analyzer by said selected viewers, wherein the analyzer has a preferential polarization orientation that is aligned with the predetermined polarization orientation associated with the latent image, so that a selected viewer, who uses the analyzer to view the screen, may perceive the latent image.
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46. A method using a latent image to create visual images for entertaining viewers of said amusement ride, comprising:
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projecting light having a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen that diffusely reflects incident light, wherein the latent image is imperceptible to a viewer who directly views the screen; and analyzing in a selected with an analyzer with predetermined dimensions relative to said viewing screen and positioned a predetermined distance from said viewing screen for one or more selected viewers of said amusement ride the light reflected from the screen so that the selected viewers may jointly perceive the latent image through the screen.
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Specification