Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02268221 1999-04-O1
THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the field of apparatus for relief illusion.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a system of physical
configurations for providing optical illusions with respect to relief
characteristics in
the presence of certain lighting conditions. More particular yet, the present
invention involves an imaging system, where the physical configurations are
three-dimensional generally-concave designs within a relatively flat surface
and
the lighting conditions are predetermined from a fixed source.
Description of Prior Art
Design and fabrication of structures for creation of visual effects typically
involve various two-dimensional or three-dimensional surfaces. An example of
such a structure is a wall mosaic having a relief-image molded onto the
visible
surface. On a different scale, minted coins -- e.g., a penny bearing a raised
image of Abraham Lincoln -- are another example of three-dimensional surface
effects. However, the usefulness of such structures is not limited to
decorative
visual effects. Visual or tactile sensation of three-dimensional surface
structures
can be educational and communicative. A relief-map of mountainous terrain is
one such structure related to visual and tactile sensation for educational
and/or
communicative purposes. The alphabetic system of Braille is one such structure
related to tactile sensation for primarily communicative purposes. Thus, three-
dimensional imaging not only creates interesting visual effects but also
creates
visual effects that have both communicative and educational aspects.
Enhancement of the desirable aspects of three-dimensional surfaces is
typically achieved through coloration and texturing. For instance, the relief-
map
discussed above is enhanced by the use of green in the recessed areas to
connote valleys, various shades of brown in the raised areas to connote hills
and
mountains, and white in the crests of the tallest raised areas to connote
glacial
mountains. Textural variations in any given colored area could also be used.
In
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this case, the green area of the relief-map may be roughly textured yet still
green
to connote a heavily wooded area. Further, another portion of the green area
may be smoothly textured to connote a grassy field. In this way, the visual
effect
of the structure includes enhanced educational, communicative, and decorative
aspects.
One prior-art surface device is that of Kapusta (USP #4,681,481), which
involves a tile with multiple faces. One of the faces includes a recessed area
having five exposed surfaces. These exposed surfaces interrelate with one
another and yield varied visual effects by the interplay of light with the
five
exposed surfaces. Although interesting lighting effects such as shimmering and
reflecting can be accomplished, the three-dimensional surface of Kapusta fails
to
yield any optical effects that could be considered useful in terms of
educational
or communicative value. Accordingly, the device of Kapusta is little more than
a
decorative tile.
Concurrent with the development of the prior-art three-dimensional
surfaces and tiles described above, other tile surface structures have been
developed with the goal of increased aesthetics in surface coverings.
Typically,
such tile surface structures have focused on two-dimensional patterning
characteristics used on an inherently three-dimensional tile. Three
representative
prior-art devices are those of Penrose (USP #4,133,152), Osborn (USP
#5,520,388), and Lalvani (USP #5,575,125). Still further, illusional artwork
by
the mathematician and artist M.C. Escher provides another example of three-
dimensional illusions in two-dimensional designs.
The device of Penrose includes a set of two-dimensional tiles for covering
a surface. Only two types of tiles are used to compose the set. The pattern
that
the set forms is commonly referred to as Penrose Tiling. An example of a
Penrose Tiling is shown in prior-art FIGURE 1. The pattern that forms the set
is
non-repeating, which is the stated aesthetic appeal of the Penrose device.
However, the Penrose device is limited to a two-dimensional pattern with
little
more than decorative usefulness. The device of Osborn includes a set of tiles
similar to Penrose but one having only one type of zoomorphic tile shape. The
device of Lalvani includes a family of tile shapes similar to Penrose but
being
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able to fill a planar surface in a periodic or non-periodic manner. As seen in
the
device of Penrose, the devices of Osborn and Lalvani and illusional artwork of
M.C. Escher are limited to two dimensions and especially do not convey any
qualities further than aesthetic attributes.
Accordingly, the prior art fails to provide any surface structure that
utilizes
lighting from a source to create a three-dimensional illusion with a three-
dimensional object. Therefore, what is needed is an imaging system that
provides an aesthetically appealing three-dimensional object. What is also
needed is such an imaging system that includes attributes that may be
educational and/or communicative. Further, what is needed is such an imaging
system that may convey all its desired attributes through the use of a single
lighting source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging system that
provides aesthetically appealing repeating or non-repeating patterns viewable
in a
three-dimensional form. Another object of the present invention is to provide
such an imaging system that is not only aesthetically appealing but may also
include educational and/or communicative attributes. Yet another object of the
present invention is to provide such an imaging system to create the three-
dimensional form using a defined lighting source. Still another object of the
present invention is to provide such an imaging system that allows all desired
attributes to be visually conveyed to a user. Moreover, an object of the
present
invention is to create an illusion that converts recessed regions to raised
regions
and vice-versa. Still further, an object of the present invention is to
provide
recessed sections that will orient their face to the viewer as the viewing
angle
becomes more acute to the outer surface.
The imaging system of the present invention includes one or more
recessed, or otherwise substantially-concave, surfaces having a simple
geometric
shape or a shape of a particular design. The particular design may be a simple
golf-ball-shaped or sun-face-shaped design, though any similar relatively-
concave
form may be used. Also, for purposes of illustration, the present invention is
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discussed in terms of a simple recessed section with mostly aesthetic utility;
however, it should be understood that the recessed section is not intended to
be
limited to a simple shape. Instead, the focus of the invention is on the
creation of
an object that permits a viewer to perceive it as having two distinct
configurations. Further, there is produced with the present invention a
luminous
effect in that it appears that the device is creating light by shifting the
observer's
perception of the location of a light source.
The invention may be utilized in a variety of ways including, but not limited
to, providing an object for psychological evaluation, the study of
physiological
optics and the like, or simply as an object to be observed. Moreover, it may
be
used to form puzzles, to create structural surfaces, including, but not
limited to,
the exterior of a building wall, or simply to create works of art.
According to the present invention, a surface is formed upon a relatively
flat surface. The surface may be any desired shape or form so long as one or
more recessed sections and one or more raised sections are formed and that the
recessed sections maintain a general concavity with respect to an outermost
surface. Secondary-recessed-surface-features within the recessed sections can
also be added as supplemental designs. Periodic or non-periodic patterns may
be used when multiple recessed sections are formed.
Important elements of the imaging system as a whole are further defined
by strategic placement of a lighting source and coating of the interior walls
of the
recessed sections with a reflective material. The outermost surfaces may also
be
coated with the reflective material. The reflective material may be any
suitably
. light-reflective material such as, but not limited to, flat white paint. The
lighting
source is important only in that it provides sufficient lighting to enable the
visual
effect of distending the recessed surface design outward and oriented towards
the viewer, and the raised surfaces inwards. Thus, each recessed surface
feature
of the design visually becomes raised and oriented facing the viewer and each
raised surface feature surrounding the recessed surface feature becomes
recessed. For purposes of this specification, this illusion is simply referred
to as
inversion. In the imaging system of the present invention, the lighting source
and
the recessed surface design are kept substantially stationary relative to one
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another. However, there is a range of positions of the viewer relative to a
variety
of positions for the lighting source and the recessed surface design. This is
well
adapted for situations such as art-viewings and in the analysis of the effect
on the
mind of visually observed objects, where the imaging system has beneficial
uses,
particularly as a means of providing "flash-over" imaging, wherein an object
initially observed can be seen as a different object substantially in an
instant
rather than in a gradual way. Further, increasing the depth of each recessed
section will increase the range at which the inversion effect can be viewable.
It is to be understood that other objects and advantages of the present
invention will be made apparent by the following description of the drawings
according to the present invention. While a preferred embodiment is disclosed,
this is not intended to be limiting. Rather, the general principles set forth
herein
are considered to be merely illustrative of the scope of the present invention
and
it is to be further understood that numerous changes may be made without
straying from the scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a diagram view of prior-art non-periodic Penrose tiling.
FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of the imaging system of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention showing a vantage point, a recessed
surface design, and a lighting source.
FIGURES 3 and 4 are frontal views of two possible variations of recessed
surface designs for use within the imaging system as shown in FIGURE 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIGURE 2, an imaging system device 20 is shown according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The imaging system 20 involves
a lighting source 21 and a specially designed three-dimensional-surface-means
22, strategically arranged with respect to a vantage point 23 indicated by an
illustration of a user's eye. The imaging system 20 is arranged for viewing a
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surface-design 22a located on the three-dimensional-surface-means 22. In
operation, the three-dimensional-surface-means 22 selectively reflects light
21a
from the lighting source 21 to the vantage point 23. This produces an
inversion
of surface features that is perceptible by an individual located at the
vantage
point 23.
FIGURES 3 and 4 show two particular types of three-dimensional-surface-
means 32 and 42. These illustrate the point that any particular pattern may be
used without straying from the underlying inventive concept -- i.e., recessed
surface structures. In FIGURE 3, secondary recess structures in the form of a
golf-ball 34, a sun-face 35, and primary recesses 33 are shown. The three-
dimensional-surface-means 32 includes a base plane 32b and an outer-surface
plane 32a. The recesses 33, 34, 35 are formed between the outer-surface plane
32a and extend inwardly toward the base plane 32b. The primary means for
presenting a flash-over image is the use of the primary recesses 33 that can
be
patterned in a periodic manner as shown in FIGURE 3. However, it is to be
understood that non-periodic patterns such as Penrose Tiling may also be used.
In the three-dimensional-surface-means 32 of FIGURE 3, it is most important to
coat the interior walls of primary recesses 33, and any other interior walls
for
which flash-over is desired, with a reflective material. Additionally, each
portion of
the outer-surface-plane 32a, and recesses 34 and 35 may be coated with the
reflective material, which is preferably simply flat white paint. This
increases the
reflectivity of the surfaces and thus enhances the inversion illusion
discussed with
respect to FIGURE 2 above.
FIGURE 3a shows, in cross-sectional detail, the secondary recessed
surface structure in the form of the sun-face 35. The primary recesses 33 are
shown in the three-dimensional-surface-means 32 in relation to the outer-
surface
plane 32a. The generally-concave nature of the recessed surface structure 35
is
visible by this cross-section in that the recessed surface structure 35
extends
inwardly from the outer-surface-plane 32a. The walls of each recessed surface
structure 35 are preferably curved or otherwise angled in order to reflect
light
back toward the viewer located at the vantage point 23. While only one vantage
point 23 is shown, it should be understood that a range of vantage points is
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possible. The curvature or angle of the reflective walls may be substantially
anywhere in the range between about 1 ° and about slightly less than
90°, with an
angle of about 75° shown in FIGURE 3a.
Similar to FIGURE 3, FIGURE 4 shows additional secondary recesses in
the form of a cross 44, a medallion 45, and primary rhomboid recesses 43. The
three-dimensional-surface-means 42 includes a base plane 42b and an outer-
surface plane 42a. The recesses 43, 44, 45 are formed between the outer-
surface plane 42a and extend inwardly towards the base plane 42b. As with the
other design, it is important that the interior walls of the recesses be
coated with
the reflective material. Optionally, the outer-surface-plane 42a and each
cross 44
and medallion 45 may be coated with the reflective material, which is, again,
preferably flat white paint.
In producing an inversion illusion through the imaging system 20 as shown
in FIGURE 2, a method is utilized that involves first positioning the lighting
source
21 at a desired location. Next, the three-dimensional-surface-means 22 is
positioned with respect to the lighting source in order to selectively reflect
the
light 21 a from the lighting source 21. Lastly, a user of the imaging system
20 is
positioned in a reflective range (shown for illustrative purposes at a
predetermined distance x) from the three-dimensional-surface-means 22. Such
positioning is made relative to the lighting source 21 such that the three-
dimensional-surface-means 22 produces an inversion illusion viewable by the
user upon reflection of the light 21 a from the lighting source 21 by one or
more
recessed surfaces structures 22a.
It should be understood that the preferred system embodiment and
method if using that embodiment mentioned here are merely illustrative of the
present invention. Numerous variations in design and use of the present
invention may be contemplated in view of the following claims without straying
from the intended scope and field of the invention herein disclosed.
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