Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63J—DEVICES FOR THEATRES, CIRCUSES, OR THE LIKE; CONJURING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
  • A63J5/00—Auxiliaries for producing special effects on stages, or in circuses or arenas
  • A63J5/02—Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
  • A63J5/021—Mixing live action with images projected on translucent screens
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63J—DEVICES FOR THEATRES, CIRCUSES, OR THE LIKE; CONJURING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
  • A63J21/00—Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/0018—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 with means for preventing ghost images
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
  • G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
  • G02B27/144—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
  • G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
  • G02B27/145—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
  • G02B30/50—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images the image being built up from image elements distributed over a 3D volume, e.g. voxels
  • G02B30/56—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images the image being built up from image elements distributed over a 3D volume, e.g. voxels by projecting aerial or floating images

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to systems for creating illusions in the manner of what has become known in the industry as Pepper's ghost and is intended to provide apparatus which is capable of providing significantly brighter images than apparatus and systems currently available.
• Pepper and Walker envisioned a large glass plate disposed on stage at an angle relative to the audience.
• a light source is strategically positioned so as to cause a portion of the light source to be reflected of the glass plate, while another portion passes through the glass.
• the light source usually an image of an object or person] can be made to appear and to appear in places where it is not.
• Yet another objective of the present invention is to create a system, at the root of which is an array of beam splitter elements arranged in a pack, which provides the user with a significant savings in power requirements and related costs to use the system.
• Another, and further, objective is to provide a system, which includes a beam splitter pack which is exceptionally strong when placed in prolonged tension so that wrinkles and waves can be minimized and in which the virtual images projected appear brighter, more vivid and realistic than is currently possible.
• FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of a basic beam splitter arrangement which embodies the essential improvement in the beam splitter element
• FIG. 2 is a perspective of an improved beam splitter element constructed in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of the "Pepper's Ghost" concept which is at the heart of the improved system herein described;
• FIG. 4 is a portion of a rigid tensioning system, partially sectioned and with the understanding that there is an opposite end which is substantially identical but reversed from FIG. 4;
• FIG. 5 is a portion of a flexible tensioning system, partially sectioned and with the understanding that there is an opposite end which is substantially identical but reversed from FIG. 5; and, [0020]
• FIG. 6 illustrates a complete tensioning system in which the left end is in the form of the rigid tensioning system, whereas the opposite side is of the flexible system.
• RG. 3 reflects the layout envisioned by Pepper et al.
• the key feature in that scenario is the beam splitter D, which pepper characterized as having graduated opacity.
• the beam splitter D By moving the beam splitter diagonally across the stage to a position shown in dotted lines, and slanting that beam splitter at an appropriate angle [typically 45E] relative to the audience, the audience is able to see the object OR behind the beam splitter.
• an object OF forward of the beam splitter would be perceived to appear adjacent to the rear object.
• FIG. 1 graphically depicts the preferred embodiment of the beam splitter structure, presenting a split beam structure which demonstrates, as part of a system for creating ghost like images of greatly increased brightness and, in a large setting, a commensurate increase in audience enjoyment.
• Beam splitters generally, and, in particular, in a stage setting where a substantial audience is anticipated to be present, may be of very considerable dimension, measured in feet, not inches. From the standpoint of appropriate material, it is typically of a clear substance, e.g., plate glass, optically neutral acrylics and polymeric films and some synthetic scrims. [0030] Still referring to FIG. 1, layers of substantially identical beam splitter elements 20, 22 and 24 are shown as being coplanar.
• Beam splitter element 20 is numbered 1
• beam splitter element 22 is numbered 2
• beam splitter element 24 bears the symbol W X ⁇
• the symbol "X" is intended to represent an integer between 3 and some larger number up to some practical limit, and the designation is intended to indicate that the number of layers of beam splitter material is, within practical limits, a matter of intelligent choice.
• Each beam splitter element has a face surface 26 and a back, or rear, surface 28, and that is true no matter how thin each layer may be.
• the significance of that simple fact becomes apparent when a light source 31 is positioned such that the beam of light 33 impinges [incident] on the face 26 of each of the beam splitters at an appropriate angle ⁇ [omega] resulting in a portion of the beam 35 [reflective] being split, and directed toward the viewers eye E.
• ⁇ [omega]
• two or more layers of beam splitter elements are arrayed in face to back touching arrangement, joined in a pack such as seen at 39 in FIG. 2.
• every layer of beam splitter material must remain absolutely flat with relatively few waves or wrinkles, since a light wave hitting a surface which is not at the proper angle to the wave will result in at least a portion of the wave being reflected in the wrong direction.
• each layer In addition to being essentially wrinkle free, each layer must be immediately adjacent to and touching the adjacent layer.
• the present view of the invention is that even seemingly optically clear adhesives currently available may tend to neutralize or distort light waves in the inner reaches of the beam splitter pack where an adhesive is in use and, thus, are not presently as effective in assembling a pack as, e.g., engaging the perimeter of the pack to remove possible non uniformity of the plane of the layers which comprise the pack.
• perimeter clamps 42 are shown and intended to be illustrative of a means, although clearly not the means, of assuring that the layers which comprise the pack are uniformly flat and wrinkle free.
• FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 an exemplary tensioning system is illustrated in some detail.
• the system has as its purpose the application of a uniform tension across the entire surface of a pack of beam splitter elements 39 so as to establish the pack as a fully controlled, unitary, relatively wave and wrinkle free beam splitter pack, usable in any environment in which a beam splitter has utility.
• F IG. 4 a relatively rigid tensioning support system 48 is illustrated in some detail.
• a clamp 42 is shown as comprising a pair of jaws 50, 51. Each jaw is fitted with a slip resistant gripping pad 53, secured to a rigid backing member 55. The entire edge of the beam splitter pack is uniformly engaged in gripping relation in the jaws 50, 51 between the pads 53.
• the jaws themselves are secured relative to each other in a "ITchannel beam 57 by means of at least one bolt 59, which can be adjusted with nut 62 to assure that appropriate gripping pressure can be created uniformly across the entire length of the jaws 53, between the post 64, which is fixed and the "IT'channel beam 57. It will be understood that the post is but representative of any stationary member which serves to hold the jaws in a relatively fixed position.
• the tensioning system 48 provides uniform pressure on the beam splitter pack along its opposed entire edges.
• the same tensioning system can be deployed at opposite edges to hold the pack as substantially wrinkle and wave free as reasonably possible given the state of the art.
• the system creates uniformity of tension at the "l/'channel beam, which is held against a rigid post 64 by a bolt 66, one end of which is secured to the stationary post 64, and the other end being engaged in the "ITchannel beam, and its length is variable by adjustment with the nut 68, to determine tension on the pack.
• FIG. 5 provides an alternative to the rigid system 48.
• a flexible system 71 The clamping arrangement of the flex system 71 is essentially the same as that of the rigid system 48. The difference rests with at least one pair of flexible bands 73 which are affixed at one end in the clamps 55, which, coincidently, hold the entire length of the edge of the beam splitter pack 39. The opposite end of the bands 73 are held between the blocks 75, held in clamping relation by an adjustable cross bolt 77.
• the system includes another light source 45 located on the opposite side of the pack from the viewer E, allowing the viewer to see the light source 45 directly through the pack.
• the light source 31 will simultaneously visually appear at 47 as though it is adjacent the light source 45 by virtue of the reflection of a portion of the beam of light emanating from the light source off both the face and rear surfaces, 26, 28, of each of the several beam splitters 20, 22, and 24.
• the image of the light source 31 will appear substantially brighter than the same image as it would appear as reflected off a single beam splitter. Indeed, with the addition of each layer of beam splitters in a pack, brightness of the image is increased as much as 100%, slightly diminished only by material transmission haze and other optical loss factors.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

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ID=40229997

Family Applications (1)

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• 2008
  • 2008-05-02 EP EP08767510A patent/EP2276545A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-05-02 WO PCT/US2008/005674 patent/WO2009134228A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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