Retroreflector display system for generating floating image effects

Number: 10001654
Published: 2018-06-19
Filed: 2016-07-25
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Joseph; Daniel M.; Smoot; Lanny S.; Smithwick; Quinn Y.; Ilardi; Michael J.
CPC: G02B27/14; G02B30/56; G02B3/0056; G02B3/0043; G02B3/14; G02B30/40; G02B5/3083; G02B5/124
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Retroreflector floating-image display system (grant dup).

Abstract

A display system is provided that combines the use of a display element with a beamsplitter and at least one retroreflector to provide an image (2D or 3D depending upon the output image from the display element) that appears to be floating in space some distance from the beamsplitter. For example, light that is bounced off/reflected and/or that is transmitted through the beamsplitter may be reflected from the reflective surface of the retroreflector toward the beamsplitter. The beamsplitter directs this light, through reflection or transmission, into a viewing space such that the 2D or 3D image can be viewed by a viewer as it appears to float a distance from the nearest surface of the beamsplitter and, typically, some distance above the ground/floor upon which viewers are walking. The floating image may be relatively bright so that it is viewable in low and brighter light conditions.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to displays adapted to provide the illusion that a virtual or projected image is a three-dimensional (3D) image or has volume or a two-dimensional (2D) or 3D image is floating in space like a hologram from a futuristic movie. More particularly, the description relates to systems and methods for producing 2D or 3D images that appear to float in space using one or more retroreflectors or sheets of retroreflective material (also called retroreflective elements/devices, retro reflective material/sheets, and retro-reflective material/sheets within the industry).2. Relevant Background(2) Today, there is a growing demand for displays with exciting and eye-catching visual effects. For example, there is a growing trend toward using 3D projection techniques in theatres and amusement parks and in home entertainment systems including video games and computer-based displays. In many conventional 3D projection techniques, the right eye and the left eye images are delivered separately to display the same scene or images from separate perspectives so that a viewer sees a three dimensional composite, e.g., certain characters or objects appear nearer than the screen and other appear farther away than the screen. However, stereoscopy, stereoscopic imaging, 3D imaging, and 3D or volumetric displays are labels for any technique capable of creating the illusion of depth in an image.(3) Often, the illusion of dept

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating floating images, comprising: a display element displaying an image with first light from a display surface; a retroreflector comprising a reflective surface facing the display surface and including a retroreflective material; a beamsplitter disposed between the display element and the retroreflector with a first surface facing the display surface to receive the first light; and a prop in the display space with a surface below, above, or to the side of the displayed image, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the prop is located at a separation distance from the second surface of the beamsplitter that equals the distance between the displayed image and the second surface of the beamsplitter, wherein the beamsplitter transmits a portion of the received first light as second light toward the reflective surface of the retroreflector, wherein the reflective surface reflects the second light as third light toward a second surface of the beamsplitter that is opposite the first surface, and wherein the beamsplitter reflects a portion of the third light as fourth light into a display space to provide a displayed image at a distance from the second surface of the beamsplitter. 29. A display system, comprising: a display displaying a 2D or 3D image; a retroreflector with a planar reflective surface facing the display to reflect the 2D or 3D image; a beamsplitter disposed between the display and the reflective surface of the retroreflector, wherein the beamsplitter is oriented at an angle relative to the reflective surface whereby a first surface of the beamsplitter faces the display and a second surface opposite the first surface faces the reflective surface to reflect light from the reflective surface into a display space, whereby a floating image corresponding to the 2D or 3D image is displayed in the display space; and a second retroreflector with a planar reflective surface oriented to be orthogonal to the reflective surface of the retroreflector and to face the first surface of the beamsplitter. 45. A display apparatus for displaying an image that appears to float in a display space, comprising: a display element outputting light associated with an image; a beamsplitter with a first surface receiving the light from the display element, wherein the beamsplitter reflects a first portion of the light and transmits a second portion of the light via a second surface opposite the first surface; a first retroreflector with a reflective surface facing the display element and the second surface of the beamsplitter receiving and reflecting the second portion of the light from the display element; and a second retroreflector with a reflective surface receiving the first portion of the light reflected from the first surface of the beamsplitter and reflecting the first portion back toward the beamsplitter, wherein the first and second retroreflectors are oriented in the apparatus whereby the first reflective surface is orthogonal to the second reflective surface, and wherein the beamsplitter is oriented to place the second surface at a 45 degree angle to the reflective surface of the first retroreflector.