Special effects system for generating a midair laser blast illusion

Number: 10627079
Published: 2020-04-21
Filed: 2019-04-17
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Joseph; Daniel M., De Jesus; Guillermo Fok, Petronglo; Justin C., Kaplan; Samantha L.
CPC: F21V11/18; F21S10/00; F21V14/08
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Midair laser-blast illusion special-effects lighting hardware (Joseph).

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

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) 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 of 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.2. Relevant Background(2) 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.(3) 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 effect in

Claims

1. A special effects apparatus for generating an illusion of a moving beam of light in midair comprising: a light delivery element; and a dynamic light delivery assembly comprising: a support rod, wherein the light delivery element is 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 delivery element moves along an arcuate travel path and delivers light to a viewer such that the delivered light is along a linear light travel path; and wherein the arcuate travel path of the light delivery element and the linear light travel path are substantially coplanar. 10. A special effects apparatus for generating an illusion of a moving beam of light in midair comprising: a dynamic light delivery assembly comprising: an elongated support rod; a light delivery element attached proximate 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 delivery element moves along an arcuate travel path and delivers light to a viewer during a portion of travel along the arcuate travel path such that the delivered light is along a linear light travel path; and wherein the arcuate travel path of the light delivery element and the linear light travel path are substantially coplanar. 16. A special effects apparatus for displaying midair beams of light in a repeatable manner, comprising: a light providing assembly; a rod, wherein the light providing assembly is attached to a first end of the rod; and 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 first end of the rod along an arcuate path; wherein the arcuate path is in a plane, wherein the light providing assembly provides light while in the plane and over a range of angular positions of the rod, wherein the provided light is 360-degree perceivable as a substantially linear streak or beam of light in the plane, wherein the arcuate travel path is a 30-degree to 180-degree arc, and wherein the driver comprises a catcher assembly adapted to catch the support rod proximate to the second end and to decelerate the support rod to absorb shock at opposite ends of travel of the arcuate travel path.