Systems and methods for a lensed display

A lensed display system includes a projector configured to project an image. The lensed display system includes a lens formed of a glass or crystalline material. The lens includes a first surface, wherein at least a portion of the first surface includes a coating that is configured to display the projected image. The lens includes a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises a transparent curved surface that is configured to face toward a user and to enable the user to view the image projected onto the coating through the transparent curved surface.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to displays for amusement park attractions and experiences.

Amusement parks often contain attractions or experiences that use video and/or still images to provide enjoyment and entertain guests of the amusement parks. For example, the attractions may include themed environments established using display devices displaying media content (e.g., in the form of video, text, still image, motion graphics, or a combination thereof). For some attractions, it may be desirable to display media content with special visual effects to create a realistic and/or immersive viewing or playing experience for an audience. In one example, such special visual effects may be achieved using holography technology, where the media content is displayed using a hologram produced by illuminating a holographic medium that encodes a light field emanating from a scene as an interference pattern. When the holographic medium is suitably lit with a light source, the interference pattern diffracts the light into a three-dimensional (3D) hologram image that exhibits visual depth cues, such as parallax and perspective. However, displaying media content via a hologram image (e.g., via a holographic medium that encodes a light field emanating from a scene as an interference pattern) may be challenging due to considerations relating to cost, space, equipment availabilities, viewing area environment, targeted audiences, and/or video (moving visual image) capabilities, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, a lensed display system includes a projector configured to project an image. The lensed display system includes a lens formed of a glass, crystalline, or polymer material. The lens includes a first surface, wherein at least a portion of the first surface includes a coating that is configured to display the projected image. The lens includes a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises a transparent curved surface that is configured to face toward a user and to enable the user to view the image projected onto the coating on the first surface through the transparent curved surface.

In another embodiment, a lensed display system includes a projector configured to project an image. The lensed display system includes a lens formed of a glass, crystalline, or polymer material. The lens includes a radially-inner curved surface, wherein the radially-inner curved surface is configured to face toward the projector and comprises a coating configured to display the projected image. The lens includes a radially-outer curved surface, wherein the radially-outer curved surface is configured to face away from the projector and to enable a user to view the image projected onto the coating on the radially-inner curved surface through the radially-outer curved surface.

In another embodiment, a lensed display system includes a projector configured to project an image. The lensed display system includes a lens formed of a glass, crystalline, or polymer material. The lens includes a first surface, wherein the first surface is configured to face toward the projector and at least a portion of the first surface comprises a coating configured to display the projected image. The lens includes a second surface, wherein the second surface is configured to face away from the projector and is configured to enable a user to view the image projected onto the coating through the second surface. The lensed display system also includes a cover configured to couple to the lens.

Various refinements of the features noted above may be undertaken in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. Further, to the extent that certain terms such as parallel, perpendicular, and so forth are used herein, it should be understood that these terms allow for certain deviations from a strict mathematical definition, for example, to allow for deviations associated with manufacturing imperfections and associated tolerances.

The present disclosure relates generally to lensed display systems and methods, and, more particularly, to lensed display systems capable of generating displays for amusement park attractions and experiences. The attractions may include any type of ride system that is designed to entertain a passenger, such as an attraction that includes a ride vehicle that travels along a path, an attraction that includes a room or theatre with stationary or moving seats for passengers to sit in while the passengers watch a video, or the like. In particular, the lensed display systems render a display that has similar visual effects (e.g., depth effect, parallax, 3D effect) as in hologram images, but without the challenges and/or costs associated with providing such hologram images. Additionally, while the disclosed embodiments generally discuss lensed display systems that are used for entertainment purposes, the disclosed embodiments may also apply to lensed display systems that are used for any other suitable purpose.

With the foregoing in mind,FIG.1is a lensed display system100including a projector102and a lens106, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The projector102may project an image104(e.g., still image, video image) onto a curved (i.e., spherical) outer surface (e.g., coated surface having a coating108) of the lens106. The projector102may be a still image projector, a video projector, or any other suitable type of projector. In certain embodiments, the projector102may be a rear projector (e.g., capable of reversing the image104projected) and/or may be positioned on an opposite side of the lens106from a user110, as shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lens106is a spherical lens (e.g., having the curved outer surface positioned at a radius from a center). As shown, the spherical lens may be a solid sphere. In some embodiments, the lens106may have a diameter of at least 7 centimeters (cm) (e.g., 8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm). The lens106may be formed from any suitable transparent material. The lens106may be formed of a glass material. Alternatively, the lens106may be formed of a crystalline material, polymer material, or any other suitable material having a refractive index within a range of 1 to 2. In certain embodiments, a refractive index of the lens106may be within a range, such as a range of approximately 1 to 2, 1.2 to 1.8, or 1.4 to 1.6. In some embodiments, a reflectance of the lens106may be equal to or less than approximately ten percent, five percent, or three percent. In certain embodiments, a transmission of the lens106may be equal to or greater than approximately eighty percent, ninety percent, or ninety-five percent.

The lens106may include the coating108on the curved outer surface of the lens106. The coating108may be applied over at least a portion (e.g., approximately five percent, ten percent, twenty percent) of the curved outer surface of the lens106. The coating108may be a projection paint painted onto the curved outer surface of the lens106, a projection film adhered onto the curved outer surface of the lens106, or any other type of coating that enables display of the image104projected by the projector102. In certain embodiments, the coating108may be a rear projection coating that enables the image104to pass through the coating108and to be viewable by the user110(e.g., on the opposite side of the lens106, as shown).

In this way, the user110may view the image104through the lens106. As shown, a first portion of the curved outer surface having the coating108may face toward the projector102and a second portion of the curved outer surface may face away from the projector102(and toward the user110, while the user110is present). The first portion of the curved outer surface may be disposed between the projector102and the second portion of the curved outer surface. For example, the user110may view the image104by looking through the second portion of the curved outer surface of the lens106that is opposite from the first portion of the curved outer surface. The lens106may distort the image104projected onto the coating108. As a result, the image104may appear (e.g., to the user110) to be displayed inside an interior of the lens106. Additionally or alternatively, the lens106may warp the image104and generate a three-dimensional effect for the image104. It should be appreciated that the lens106may have various other configurations. For example, the lens106may include any suitable curved outer surface and may be any suitable double convex lens or equiconvex lens (e.g., having a first radius of curvature at a first surface equal to a second radius of curvature at a second surface). In some embodiments, the user110may view the image104as part of an attraction, such as while the user110is within a ride vehicle.

FIG.2is a lensed display system200including a projector202and a lens206. The projector202may project an image204(e.g., still image, video image) onto a surface (e.g., coated surface) of the lens206. The projector202may be a still image projector, a video projector, or any other suitable type of projector. In certain embodiments, the projector202may be a rear projector (e.g., capable of reversing the image204projected) and/or may be positioned on an opposite side of the lens206from a user208, as shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lens206is a hemispherical lens (e.g., having a curved (e.g., spherical) outer surface positioned at a radius from a center; half of a sphere; spherical segment). As shown, the lens206may be a solid hemisphere or spherical segment. Thus, the lens206may be a plano-convex lens. For example, the lens206may include a first, planar surface facing toward the projector202and a second, convex surface (e.g., the curved outer surface) facing away from the projector202(and toward the user208, while the user208is present). In certain embodiments, the first, planar surface may be disposed between the projector202and the second, convex surface. Alternatively, the lens206may contain a hollow cavity (e.g., recess) within an interior of the lens206. Thus, instead of the first, planar surface facing toward the projector202, the lens206may include a first, curved inner surface (e.g., concave surface) facing toward the projector202.

In some embodiments, the lens206may have a diameter of at least 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, or 30 cm. The lens206may be formed from any suitable transparent material. The lens206may be formed of a glass material. Alternatively, the lens206may be formed of a crystalline material, polymer material, or any other suitable material having a refractive index between 1 to 2. In certain embodiments, a refractive index of the lens206may be within a range, such as a range of approximately 1 to 2, 1.2 to 1.8, or 1.4 to 1.6. In some embodiments, a reflectance of the lens206may be equal to or less than approximately ten percent, five percent, or three percent. In certain embodiments, a transmission of the lens206may be equal to or greater than approximately eighty percent, ninety percent, or ninety-five percent.

The lens206may include the coating on the first, planar surface of the lens206. For example, the coating may be applied to at least a portion of the first, planar surface of the lens206. The coating may be a projection paint painted onto the first, planar surface of the lens106, a projection film adhered onto the first, planar surface of the lens106, or any other type of coating that enables display of the image204projected by the projector202. In certain embodiments, the coating may be a rear projection coating that enables the image204to pass through the coating and be viewable by the user208(e.g., on the opposite side of the lens206). As noted above, instead of the first, planar surface facing toward the projector202, the lens206may include a first, curved inner surface (e.g., concave surface) facing toward the projector202. In such cases, the lens206may include the coating on the first, curved inner surface.

In this way, the user208may view the image204through the lens206. In some embodiments, the first surface (e.g., the first, planar surface; the first, curved inner surface) of the lens206having the coating may face toward the projector202and the second surface (e.g., the second, convex surface; the curved outer surface) may face away from the projector202(and toward the user208, while the user208is present). The first surface may be disposed between the projector202and the second surface. For example, the user208may view the image204that is projected onto the first surface by looking through the second surface of the lens206that is opposite from the first surface. The lens206may distort the image204projected onto the coating. As a result, the image204may appear (e.g., to the user208) to be displayed inside an interior of the lens206. Additionally or alternatively, the lens206may warp the image204and generate a three-dimensional effect for the image204. In some embodiments, the user208may view the image204as part of an attraction, such as while the user208is within a ride vehicle.

With the foregoing in mind,FIG.3illustrates a lensed display system210including a lens212and a cover216. The lens212ofFIG.3may be similar to the lens206inFIG.2. Indeed, the lens212ofFIG.3may include any of the features of the lens206ofFIG.2(e.g., a hollow cavity formed by a first, curved [e.g., spherical] inner surface), and the lens206ofFIG.2may include any of the features of the lens212ofFIG.3(e.g., a first, planar surface having a coating214). Furthermore, the lens212ofFIG.3(with or without the cover216ofFIG.3) may be used in the lensed display system200ofFIG.2in place of the lens206ofFIG.2.

In some embodiments, the lensed display system210may include the cover216. As shown, the cover216may have a hemispherical shape or may be a spherical segment. In certain embodiments, the cover216may be a hemispherical shell including an interior cavity (e.g., hollow cavity or recess). In some embodiments, the cover216may be formed of a glass material, a crystalline material, or a thermoplastic material. For example, the cover216may be formed of an acrylic material. In certain embodiments, a reflectance of the cover216may be equal to or less than approximately ten percent, five percent, or three percent. In some embodiments, a transmission of the cover216may be equal to or greater than approximately eighty percent, ninety percent, or ninety-five percent). In certain embodiments, a refractive index of the cover216may be within a range, such as a range of approximately 1 to 2, 1.2 to 1.8, or 1.4 to 1.6. The cover216may be coupled to the lens212(e.g., via an adhesive). In some embodiments, when joined together, the lens212and the cover216may form a spherical shape (e.g., form a complete sphere; have substantially equal radii). The cover216may enable an image projected by a projector, such as the projector202inFIG.2, positioned on one side of the lensed display system210to pass through the cover216and to be displayed on the coating214for visualization by a user (e.g., on another side of the lensed display system210, on the opposite side of the lens212from the projector; looking through the second, curved surface of the lens212) without any appreciable distortion of the image. As a result, the image may appear (e.g., to the user) to be displayed inside an interior of the lens212.

The cover216may be formed by molding, milling, or any other suitable formation process. For example, the cover216may be formed of a resin poured into a mold. Additionally or alternatively, at least a portion of the cover216may be milled to remove additional material from the cover216. For example, the cover216may be formed into the hemispherical shell by milling the interior cavity into the cover216.

FIG.4illustrates a lensed display system300including a lens304and a set of projectors302A,302B,302C (collectively referred to as projectors302). The projectors302may be still image projectors, video projectors, or any other suitable type of projectors. In certain embodiments, the projectors302may be rear projectors (e.g., capable of reversing the image projected) and/or may be positioned on an opposite side of the lens304from a user. As shown, each of the projectors302may project light in a respective, different direction (e.g., a first projector may project light centered about a first axis and a second projector may project light centered about a second axis that is different from the first axis). Such embodiments may enable a user to view images (e.g., a first image via the first projector and a second image via the second projector, and the first image and the second image may be the same or different from one another) while the user stands at different positions relative to the lens304and/or may enable multiple users to view the images while the users stand at different positions relative to the lens304.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lens304is a spherical shell. For example, the lens304includes a curved (e.g., spherical) outer surface306(e.g., radially-outer surface) that is at least a portion of a sphere, such as at least one half (e.g., two-thirds, three-quarters, four-fifths) of a sphere. The lens304may include a hollow cavity310disposed within an interior of the lens304. The hollow cavity310of the lens304may be formed by milling at least a portion of the lens304. In certain embodiments, the lens304may include an opening through which the projectors302project an image.

The lens304may include the curved outer surface306and a curved (e.g., spherical) inner surface308(e.g., radially-inner surface). In certain embodiments, the curved outer surface306may face away from the projectors302(e.g., and toward the user, while the user is present) and the curved inner surface308may face toward the projectors302. The curved inner surface308may be disposed between the projectors302and the curved outer surface306. For example, the user may view the image by looking through the curved outer surface306. The lens304may have a diameter of at least 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, or 30 cm. The lens304may have a thickness312(e.g., radial thickness) measured between the curved outer surface306and the curved inner surface308. The thickness312may be equal to or greater than approximately 2 cm (e.g., 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm). In certain embodiments, the thickness312of the lens304may be uniform. Alternatively, the thickness312may vary throughout the lens304(e.g., a smallest thickness may be located at a portion directly opposite the projectors302).

The curved inner surface308may include a coating314. For example, the coating314may be applied to at least a portion of the curved inner surface308. The coating314may be a projection paint painted onto the curved outer surface of the lens306, a projection film adhered onto the curved outer surface of the lens306, or any other type of coating that enables display of an image projected by the projectors302. In certain embodiments, the coating314may be a rear projection coating that enables an image to pass through the coating314and to be viewable by a user (e.g., on an opposite side of the coating314and the lens304from the projectors302).

In this way, a user may view an image through the lens304. In particular, the lens304may distort the image projected onto the coating314. As a result, the image may appear (e.g., to the user) to be displayed inside an interior of the lens304. Additionally or alternatively, the lens304may warp the image and generate a three-dimensional effect for the image. In some embodiments, the user may view the image as part of an attraction, such as while the user is within a ride vehicle.