Accurate and balanced lighting in a Pepper's ghost projection system for live cinematic performances

Number: 10156730
Published: 2018-12-18
Filed: 2018-05-16
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Comploi; Dumene; Iwanowski; Przemyslaw Marek
CPC: G02B30/56; G03B21/26; H04N13/305; G09G3/003; A63J5/021; G03B17/54
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Pepper's ghost projection illusion (grant dup).

Abstract

A display system that is particularly well-suited for use in providing or displaying a live cinematic performance to an audience. The system includes a first space that is directly viewable by the audience and that is illuminated with a stage lighting assembly. Human, robotic, or other physical performers are positioned in the first space and selectively illuminated by light from the stage lighting. The system includes a Pepper's ghost assembly configured to provide enhanced brightness of the projected image as background items in the Pepper's ghost assembly's space are hidden from view by the audience. The Pepper's ghost assembly may include one or more high speed projectors or other light sources, a high speed vision system, and black retroreflective material, and these components function in combination to allow the assembly to be operated to selectively light objects and people in the hidden space without projecting the background to the audience.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to lighting and projection systems and techniques used to enhance live cinematic performances. More particularly, the present description relates to a display system and method that uses one or more Pepper's ghost assemblies or systems that are configured to provide accurate and balanced lighting in a space viewed by an audience, and the display system and method is particularly well suited for use in providing live performance with cinematic qualities and/or post-production-like effects (or for use in live cinematic performances).2. Relevant Background(2) There are numerous entertainment and other settings where it is desirable to create a unique visual display. For example, theme or amusement parks may include rides, walk-through attractions, and theatrical performances where guests (or “viewers”) are entertained by a unique visual effect or illusion. In this regard, it is a growing desire to provide a display or experience that is live with one or more human or robotic performers entertaining the audience, but it is also desirable that the live performance include cinematic special effects such as a dramatic and changing background, interaction of the actor with other actors or animated or physical characters, movement of a performer in an unusual or unexpected manner, and so on. Such cinematic effects are provided in movies during post-production and have proven difficult to provide in a

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a Pepper's ghost visual effect, comprising: a background surface in a space; a foreground surface in the space; black retroreflective material covering the background surface; a visible light source projecting visible light into the space; a beamsplitter positioned with a surface facing the space; and a display controller operating the visible light source to direct the projected visible light onto the foreground surface, whereby reflected portions of the projected visible light reflected from the foreground surface are directed toward the surface of the beamsplitter for reflection into a viewing space. 10. An apparatus for providing a Pepper's ghost visual effect, comprising: a first object in a display space; a second object in the display space; retroreflective material covering surfaces of the first object; a first light source projecting IR light into the display space; a camera capturing an image of surfaces in the display space illuminated by the projected IR light; a second light source projecting visible light into the display space; a beamsplitter positioned with a surface facing the display space; and a display controller processing the image captured by the camera to identify surfaces of the second object, wherein the display controller operates the second light source to project substantially all of the visible light onto the identified surfaces of the second object, whereby reflected portions of the projected visible light reflected from the second object are directed toward the surface of the beamsplitter for reflection into a viewing space. 16. An apparatus for providing a Pepper's ghost visual effect, comprising: a foreground object or performer; a background object proximate to the foreground object or performer; black retroreflective material covering surfaces of the background object, wherein surfaces of the foreground object or performer remain uncovered by the black retroreflective material; an IR light source projecting IR light onto the background object, the black retroreflective material, and the foreground object or performer; a camera capturing an image of surfaces illuminated by the IR light; a processor processing the captured image to identify a subset of the surfaces illuminated by the IR light that are associated with the foreground object or performer; and a projector selectively projecting visible light onto the subset of the surfaces to illuminate the foreground object or performer, wherein the processor generates a projection map defining locations of the subset of the surfaces relative to a location of the projector.