Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
:,7
~.2~3~
TITLE: VISUAL IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS
Technical Field Of The Invention
This invention relates generally to the creation and
display of visual or graphical images having a unique
appearance and more particularly relates to the creation
of an illusion for purposes of architectural design,
entertainment, educat-ion and attracting attentlon.
.....
Background Of The Invention
Historically, there have been a variety of visual
displays for commercial, esthetic, entertainment and
educational purposes. These vary from the simple two-- -
dimensional images of paintings and simple commercial signs
through lighted and moving displays such as neon signs,
flashing light boards and movies and cathode ray tube
.images such as used in television and computer displays
to three dimensional displays such as sculptures and
holograms~ They display esthetically pleasing images,
information and data and are used for amusem`ent, for
entertainment,for appealing to human curiosity, decoration
and for transmitting information.
Mirrors have previously been used to create visual
image displays. For example, multiple mirrors have been
placed side by side in amusement houses or carnivals which
:2S~ii3
--2--
create multiple images receding to infinity. Parallel
mirrors have also been positioned at 60 angles with a
variable image at their e~d to construct a kaleidoscope.
Brief Summar~ Of The Invention
The present invention takes a simple, two-dimensional
primary image, such as that displayed on a backlighted
movie screen or a cathode ray tube display, and generates
the illusion of a solid object with a spherical, polyhedral
or other such three-dimensional shape having a surface of
adjoining multifaceted duplicates and reversed duplicates
of the primary image. Thus, for example, a display on a
cathode ray tube is multiplied to appear as adjacent
duplicate displays covering the surface of a sphere.
The visual display apparatus of the present invention
has an array of mirrors which diverge outwardly away from
a primary image display surface, each mirror intersecting
its adjacent mirrors and having its refleckive side facing
toward the other mirrors to generate an image of an object
having a surface composed of adjoining repetitions of the
image of the primary di~play surface.
The illusion created is greatly enhanced and particularly
striking when the primary image display surface is a portion
of a spherical surface and the mirrors are aligned perpendicularly
to each other and along radii of the spherical surface. The
angle o~ the mirrors is precisely related to the compound
curvature of the primary image screen in such a way as to
create 13 images of primary graphic importance labelled a~m.
The 12 very exterior images have high level importance
_3_ ~ ~5 ~
because of the three dimensionality given to the sphere
by these images which appear to continue as far as the eye
can see around the sphere (FIG. 6). The contour and the
surface pattern of the display surface is duplicated to
create the image of a continuous surface which smoothly
blends together the contour of the duplicate images,
without contour discontinuities, so that it gives the
esthetically pleasing appearance that the primary surface
is extended to complete the sphere.
Preferably, the primary image is moving and changing
so that the entire surface of the image of the sphere is
reflecting that motion. Also preferably, the reflectivity
coeficient of the mirrors is slightly less than that of
the primary image screen (~2%/75~) to create a proper
shading of the sphere and enhance its three dimensionality.
Such a device has a variety of uses. It may, for
example be used for entertainment in the form of video or
arcade games, video music enhancement, entertainment or
education, the display of images for esthetic purposes
such as in interior decoration in an office reception room
to gain and hold the curiosity and interest of visitors
or as a display which will attract the attention of passersby
such as at a store or at a trade show booth. The displays
of the present invention may be computer or camera generated
or created by combinations of the two and lends itself to
both artisitic creativity and the display of information.
Brief Descript_on Of The Drawings
Fig. 1 is a front view in perspective of an embodiment
of the invention showing the primary image display surface
and the apparent reflected image.
Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the structure of
the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 and
broken away from a wall surface.
5~
Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section of the embodiment
of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2.
Fig. ~ is a diagrammatic view illustrating the
multiple image illusion obtained in the operation o~ an
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5 is a top, plan view of an alternative embodiment
of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the embodiment
of Fig. 5.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention
illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be
resorted to for the sake of clarity. ~owever, it is not
intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected
and it is to be understood that each specific term includes
all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner
to accomplish a similar purpose.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiment
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the construction of the
preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention has
a primary image display surface 10 which may, Eor example,
be the screen of a cathode ray tube 12 but alternatively
might be a backlighted movie screen or even a frontlighted
movie screen. Preferably this screen i5 a compound curve
being a section of a sphere. It includes a means 13 for
varying the display preferably as a continually moving
graphic display which is presented on the primary image display
surface 10. This means 13 may include the cathode ray
tube 12 and its associated electronic equipment for
generating a display on the surface of the cathode ray
tube 12 or alternately the means may include other equipment
for generating a motion picture or other changeable or
fixed primary image.
~i6~
5--
An array of mirrors 14 extends divergingly and outwardly
away from the primary image display surface 10. In the
preferred embodiment there are ~our mirrors 16, 18, ~0 and
22. Each mirror has its reflective side facing centrally
inwardly toward the other mirrors. The term "mirror" is
used to refer to a reflective surface including those made
of polished stainless steel, coated plastics and other mirror
surfaces.
Preferably, the mirrors are four, generally trapezoidally
shaped, symmetrical mirrors which are of identical shape
and size. They lie in planes which perpendicularly intersect
each other at their edges and all intersect the image display
surface at the same angle. Most preferably the display
surface, instead of being planar, is a portion of a spherical
surface and the mirrors are aligned substantially along
radii of the spherical surface. This causes the apparatus
to create an image of a sphere having segments of its
surface repeating the primary image.
The mirrors may be supported in a wooden frame 24
2~ having vertical legs 26. Mounted within the frame 24
are a plurality of supporting, planar sheets 28 to which
the mirrors themselves are adhered or otherwise supported.
Construction means may vary and include metal or plastic
fasteners.
Although the device may be a simple free standing
display apparatus, advantageously it may be mounted behind
a wall 30 provided with a suitable opening surrounded by
an attractive frame 32 in the manner of a window or picture.
Referring now to Fig. 4, in an embodiment having the
mirrors aligned along planes intersecting the center 34
of a spherically contoured primary image display surface,
the eye sees not only the primary image but also sees
primary reflected images 35A and 36B and secondary reflected
images 36C and 35D. All these images appear to lie upon b
~2~i63~8
--6--
the surface of a sphere indicated generally as 38. The
result of the reflections, which are diagrammatically
illustrated in Fig. 4, is the presentation of an illusion
to a viewer's eye 40 that a sphere 38 exists in the position
illustrated. The sphere appears multifacted, as also
illustrated in Fig. 1, because the primary image is repeated
in adjoining repetitions and each repetition is a facet
which appears to lie on the surface of the sphere.
If th~ primary image 3urface is planar, then the
apparatus creates the image of a polygon having each face
repeating the image of the primary display surface. If the
primary image surface is curved but the mirrors are no~
aligned along the radii of curvature then the apparent
object will neither be spherical nor be a polygon with flat
1~ surfaces but will appear to be a polygon-like object with
surfaces having adjoining repetitions of the primary
surface curvature with the image of the primary surface
upon them. If the primary image surface is rectangular an
eliptical image may be formed or an irregularly faceted sphere.
The mirrors 14 are preferably all front surface
mirrors so that they present only a single reflective
surface. Conventional glass mirrors which are silvered
on the back are reflective not only at their primary, mirrored
surface at the back of the glass but also are somewhat
reflective along their front surface. This crea-tes a
ghost or double image effect which is undesirable.
It is additionally desirable that the mirrors have a
high reflectivity so that the images are not significantly
attenuated from the multiple reflections which occur to
provide some of the segment repetitions on -the apparent
spherical surface. It is additionally desirable that the
edges 42 of the mirrors which abut the primary image surface
10 be chamfered and curved so that their mirrored surfaces
i3~
will be immediately adjacent rather than spaced from the
primary image surface 10. Any space between the primary
image and the edge of the~reflective surface produces a
corresponding gap or line between the images on the surface
of the apparent sphere 38.
Although a variety of equipment is avallable for
generating primary images on a surface, a television
system is preferred in which the images are generated
by camera and television image generating means as well
as computer systems for generating graphics. Combinations of these
techniques are available and particularly useful for
resourceful and creative persons.
There are a variety of alternative and enhancing
modifications which can be made to the present invention.
For example, a one way reflecting mirror 44 may be
positioned, as shown in phantom, at the forward end of
the diverging array of mirrors 14 with its reflective side
facing the primary display sur~ace 10 so that it too will
cause reflections of the apparent image, such as the sphere
38. Because of its one way reflecting characteristics a
viewer can still view these images.
Additionally, a projection lense 46, illustrated
in Fig. 4, may be utilized to project the apparent image
onto a screen 48.
2~ Although a single display apparatus as described
above gives the illusion of a solid object, that solid
object is only visible to a person looking into the array
of mirrors 14. However, a plurality of such display units
may be combined in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 so that
an individual may walk part way or completely around the
combination of display apparatuses and view the sphere
from multiple directions.
~:Z 563~3
--8--
The embodiment of Fig. 5 consists of a plurality of
visual display apparatuses of the type described above.
Their primary image display surfaces, such as image
display surfaces 60 and 62, are positioned centrally and
arranged and oriented to face outwardly~ The mirror array
for each is disposed adjacent its neighbor so that they
combine to form a circular arrangement of contiguous arrays
as illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. With the use of cathode
ray tubes, the identical image may be displayed on each
primary image surface so that identical spheres are apparent
from each viewing angle. Alternatively, different images
may be used on each primary display surface but they may be
coordinated so that the polygon image may appear to have
different surface images on its different apparent surfaces.
Although the same type of mirror as used in the other
illustrated embodiment can be used, alternatively double
reflective surface mirrors can be used. As another
alternative to the use of a different video screen for each
primary image surface, a mirror and prism system can be
used to display a single image on each primary display surface.
simultaneously.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be
understood that various modifications in details of
construction and design may be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the
following claims.
