- Number
- 10309619
- Published
- 2019-06-04
- Filed
- 2016-12-27
- Assignee
- DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
- Inventors
- Joseph; Daniel M., De Jesus; Guillermo Fok, Petronglo; Justin C., Kaplan; Samantha L.
- CPC
- F21V14/08; F21S10/00; F21V11/18
- Verdict
- High Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Special effects system midair laser blast illusion (Joseph watchlist).
Abstract
A special effects apparatus for generating an illusion of a moving beam of light in midair. The apparatus includes a light source, such as a laser light source outputting colored light, generating a beam of light that is aimed along a linear light travel path. The apparatus further includes a dynamic light receiving assembly, and this assembly includes: an elongated support rod; a light receiving element attached to a first end of the support rod; and a driver coupled to a second end of the support rod opposite the first end of the support rod. The driver rotates the support rod about the second end at a high rotation rate, and the light receiving element moves along an arcuate travel path that intersects the linear light travel path of the beam of light. The arcuate travel path of the light receiving element and the linear light travel path are coplanar.
Background
BACKGROUND(1) 1. Field of the Description(2) The present description relates, in general, to theatrical and other visual special effect devices used to provide lighting-based illusions or displays and, more particularly, to a special effects system (or light-based display system) adapted to provide linear streaks, bolts, or elongated balls light, e.g., an illusion that a theatrical prop such as a futuristic laser-based weapon has fired a laser blast or the like, and the output of the special effects system is 360-degree viewable.(3) 2. Relevant Background(4) In the entertainment industry, there are many settings or venues where it is desirable to recreate scenes from popular movies often with live actors performing a scene from a movie. An often used lighting effect in movies is a streak or flash of light from various sources. For example, many futuristic movies include battles where the actors operate laser-based props, e.g., blaster gun props, which produce laser blasts. The laser blast beams in the movie travel through the air and may have the appearance of a volumetric ball or slug of light, which may be red, green, blue, or another color, that travels from the actor's weapon prop through the air in a line to its target.(5) To create such a scene in a movie, post-production computer graphics and other techniques are used to easily achieve the laser-blast effect inserting streaks of light after filming is completed. However, it has been problematic to create a similar effe
Claims
1. A special effects apparatus for generating an illusion of a moving beam of light in midair, comprising: a light source generating a beam of light that is aimed along a linear light travel path; and a dynamic light receiving assembly, comprising: an elongated support rod; a light receiving element attached to a first end of the support rod; and a driver coupled to a second end of the support rod opposite the first end of the support rod, wherein the driver rotates the support rod about the second end at a rotation rate, wherein, during the rotation of the support rod by the driver, the light receiving element moves along an arcuate travel path that intersects the linear light travel path of the beam of light, and wherein the arcuate travel path of the light receiving element and the linear light travel path are substantially coplanar. |
12. An apparatus for displaying midair beams of light in a repeatable manner, comprising: a non-opaque, planar screen; a rod, wherein the screen is attached to a first end of the rod; a drive assembly coupled to a second end of the rod, wherein the drive assembly rotates the rod at a rotation rate greater than 100 RPM to move the screen along an arcuate path; and a light source outputting a beam of light targeted along a linear path, wherein the arcuate path is in a plane containing the linear path, wherein the screen passes through linear path during travel along the arcuate path whereby the beam of light strikes a portion of the screen, wherein the rotation rate is greater than 120 RPM, wherein the arcuate path is a 180 -degree arc, and wherein the drive assembly comprises first and second catchers for receiving the rod at each end of the 180 -degree arc to slow deceleration or absorb shock. |
17. An apparatus for displaying a stream or bolt of light in midair, comprising: a light source generating a beam of light along a linear travel path; and two or more light receiving assemblies, wherein each of the light receiving assemblies, comprises: a support rod; a planar, non-opaque screen attached to a first end of the support rod; and a driver coupled to a second end of the support rod opposite the first end of the support rod, wherein the driver rotates the support rod about the second end at a rotation rate, wherein, during the rotation of the support rod by the driver, the screen moves along an arcuate travel path passes through the linear light travel path of the beam of light at a plurality of angular positions of the support rod, and wherein the arcuate travel path of the screen and the linear travel path of the beam of light are substantially coplanar. |
21. An apparatus for displaying midair beams of light in a repeatable manner, comprising: a non-opaque, planar screen; a rod, wherein the screen is attached to a first end of the rod; a drive assembly coupled to a second end of the rod, wherein the drive assembly rotates the rod at a rotation rate greater than 100 RPM to move the screen along an arcuate path; and a light source outputting a beam of light targeted along a linear path, wherein the arcuate path is in a plane containing the linear path, wherein the screen passes through linear path during travel along the arcuate path whereby the beam of light strikes a portion of the screen, wherein the screen is struck by the light over a range of angular positions of the rod, wherein the screen is rectangular, and wherein the portion of the screen struck by the light is at or below the centerline of the screen when the rod is at a 90-degree angular position.