Mirror display with increased brightness

Number: 12298537
Published: 2025-05-13
Filed: 2022-03-07
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Smithwick; Quinn Y. et al.
CPC: G02B27/145; H04N13/363; G02B30/56; G02B30/52; H04N13/337; H04N13/346; G02B27/283; G02B30/25
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

High-brightness mirror-display optical show hardware (Smithwick).

Abstract

A display system for a providing a three-dimensional effect with controlled reflections is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display system includes a display; and a beam splitter positioned between the display and the viewing location. The beam splitter transmits or reflects light based on a characteristic of the light. A physical prop is positioned between the beam splitter and the viewing location. The display is oriented to emit light toward the beam splitter and displays an image at least partially viewable in the viewing location through the beam splitter, such that the image is substantially un-attenuated by the bean splitter. Light reflected from the physical prop and further reflected by the beam splitter toward the viewing location is at least partially viewable in the viewing location. The display system is suitable to enable a substantially full brightness of the image to be viewable in the viewing location.

Background

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (1) The present application is related to U.S. patent application No. 16/190,262 filed Nov. 14, 2018 and entitled “Mirror Display Without Viewer Reflection,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. FIELD OF THE DESCRIPTION (2) The present description relates, in general, to compact display systems to provide a three-dimensional (3D) mirror illusion, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for producing 3D images or depth and space media illusions without requiring viewers to wear 3D glasses or other eyewear by using mirror techniques combined with other optical components and arrangements to eliminate viewer reflection that had hindered prior mirror-based displays. RELEVANT BACKGROUND (3) There is a growing demand for displays that include 3D imagery to capture attention and entertain visitors of a facility. One conventional approach to providing 3D imagery without the need for 3D or other special eyewear has been the use of Pepper's Ghost displays. Pepper's Ghost is an illusionary technique used by magicians, by ride or attraction designers, and by others to produce a 3D illusion of a latent or ghost-like image. Using a simple piece of plate glass or transparent plastic (e.g., a Mylar sheet) that acts as a beam splitter and special lighting techniques, Pepper's Ghost systems can make objects appear, move, and/or disappear within a scene or room. (4) Conventionally, these systems include a main

Claims

1. A display system for a providing a three-dimensional effect with controlled reflections comprising: a display; a beam splitter positioned between the display and a viewing location that transmits or reflects light based on one or more wavelengths of the light; a physical prop positioned between the beam splitter and the viewing location; and a polarizing element positioned between the physical prop and the viewing location, wherein: the display is oriented to emit light toward the beam splitter and displays an image at least partially viewable in the viewing location through the beam splitter, wherein the display emits wavelengths of light which are substantially transmitted by the beam splitter such that the image is substantially un-attenuated by the bean splitter, light reflected from the physical prop and further reflected by the beam splitter toward the viewing location is at least partially viewable in the viewing location, and light from a viewer which passes through the polarizing element and reflects off the beam splitter is blocked by the polarizing element, substantially attenuating a reflection of the viewer. || 16. A method of providing a three-dimensional (3D) effect with controlled reflections comprising: providing a display; providing a beam splitter positioned between the display and the viewing location that transmits or reflects light based on one or more wavelengths of the light; providing a physical prop positioned between the beam splitter and the viewing location; providing a polarizing element positioned between the physical prop and the viewing location, wherein: the display is oriented to emit light toward beam splitter and displays an image at least partially viewable in the viewing location through the beam splitter, wherein the display emits wavelengths of light which are substantially transmitted by the beam splitter such that the image is substantially un-attenuated by the bean splitter, light reflected from the physical prop and further reflected by the beam splitter toward the viewing location is at least partially viewable in the viewing location, and light from a viewer which passes through the polarizing element and reflects off the beam splitter is blocked by the polarizing element, substantially attenuating a reflection of the viewer.