GB2595276A

GB2595276A - A foldable 3D hologram apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2595276A
Application number: GB2007531.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A H Al-Habaibeh Ahmed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-05-20
Filing date: 2020-05-20
Publication date: 2021-11-24
Also published as: GB202007531D0

Abstract

Apparatus providing 2D or 3D hologram visualisation using the Pepper’s Ghost technique, the image being displayed on a partly reflective, partly transparent surface 9. Two or more panels or frames 1,2,3 are capable of pivoting, detaching or disassembling to a flat arrangement in order to facilitate easier storage or transport. Preferably the image is produced by means of a digital or analogue screen or monitor 4 that is removably attached to the top panel 1. The apparatus may be secured when assembled and also when deconstructed for stowage by one or more of mechanical, magnetic, hydraulic and pneumatic means.

Description

A Foldable 3D Hologram Apparatus This invention relates to a foldable hologram, a mixed reality display apparatus which enables the user to fold the apparatus to a suitcase-like or a briefcase-like for portability and unfold it for normal use. The 3D hologram enables the user to visualise 3D images and interact with real objects at the same time. The 3D imaging technology is based on the reflection of a monitor image on a semitransparent and semi-reflective surface in the form of one surface or a pyramid-like shape. This gives the impression to users that the object they see is flying in 3D space.

There are commercially available 3D hologram apparatus, but they have no foldability features. The large size commercial ones that are used in exhibitions are non-foldable and hence they are difficult to transport without special handling equipment. There are some small scale systems for mobiles and tables and they are based on flexible reflectors or a simple table-like that is not foldable.

The foldable 3D hologram apparatus allows the main pivoted structural components and parts to be folded into a suitcase or to a flat-pack structure for ease of store and transportation and then unfolded to be erected to a fully working system. This could be either bespoke-made structure or a combination of a base and a foldable standard laptop that can be attached to the base to create the 3D hologram apparatus.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 presents an example of the unfolded or erected 3D hologram apparatus and also show how the digital monitor, in the form of a computer screen, tablet or mobile phone, is located and the semi-transparent semi-reflective surfaces in the form of a pyramid; Figure 2 presents an example of the hologram apparatus with semi-transparent and semi-reflective surface; Figure 3 presents the erected hologram structure with the semi-transparent and semi-reflective surface removed to enable the folding of the apparatus; Figure 4 presents the situation when the screen or digital monitor component of the structure is folded; Figure 5 presents the situation when the base-structure folded into the rest of the component to form a suitcase or briefcase with a handle; Figure 6 presents the folded apparatus with added stability feet; Figure 7 presents the reflector-components including semi-transparent and semi-reflective surfaces to be folded or disassembled and stored within the apparatus folded structure; Figure 8 presents how a standard laptop, or a foldable computer system, with foldable screen and keyboard structure which can be attached to a base-component to form the main structure of the 3D hologram apparatus; Figure 9 presents the attachment mechanism where the laptop keyboard component can be gently attached to the base to form the main structure of the 3D hologram apparatus; Figure 10 presents the base for the foldable computer or standard laptop with the laptop and the semi-reflective and semi-transparent surfaces structure removed; Figure 11 presents the main principle of operation of the 3D hologram apparatus including the image with real component in mixed reality vision.

In Figure 1 component (1) presents the top panel which contains the monitor (4) or the image light source supported by a vertical panel or frame (2) which is attached to a base component (11) that is attached to a base panel (3) to construct the main structure. Panel (1) the base (13) for the monitor (4) which can be attached permanently or fixed temperately via a sliding or a clip-on feature; the grooves (4) are utilised to recess the combined hinges and the locking mechanisms (7) when the system is folded. The combined hinges and locking mechanism for the base (6) are integrated in the panel (3) for folding. The images are reflected via a pyramid-like structure (5) of partially transparent and partially reflective surfaces (9), that enables the visualization of the hologram from three perpendicular directions, which can be folded or detached and it is attached to the base via a groove (10) in the panel and a cover component (8) which contains a light source to enhance the visualisation of the hologram. To allow the system to completely fold in suitcase or briefcase like, additional auxiliary components, such as component (12), are used to enable the adjustment of the system. The pyramid-like structure (5) or partially transparent and partially reflective surfaces could utilised magnetic material frames to support the stability or to be used as means of erecting the structure by means of magnets.

Figure 2 presents the same system of Figure 1 but with the use of only one reflective surface (9) which can be used to visualise the hologram from one direction only.

Figure 3 presents the removal of the pyramid-like components (5) of Figure land any partially reflective and partially transparent surfaces (9) to allow the main structure to be folded.

Figure 4 presents the folding process of the top panel (1) which contains the monitor (4) to form semi-folded structure. The handle (15) is shown which can be permanently or temporarily attached to panel (1), and possibly other panels such as (2) and (3) to ease handling; additional handles can also be utilised in different locations for ease of handling and transportation using one or more person.

Figure 5 shows the completely folded structure in the form of a suitcase or a briefcase where now the three main panels or frames (1), (2) and (3) are folded to form a flat-pack structure to reduce significantly the volume. Latch mechanisms (16) can be permanently or temporarily attached to panel (3) and panels (1) and (2) to allow the safe transportation of the system as in any commercially available normal suitcase or a briefcase.

Figure 6 presents the folded structure with other axillary components (17) to provide stability to the briefcase-like folded apparatus. Wheels can also be attached to the apparatus to allow less-able people to move the apparatus for transportation; such wheels could also include Castor wheels.

Figure 7 presents the pyramid-like structure (5) and the cover (8) when folded and dismantled to be stored as part of the main folded components for transportation. Components (17) can be used as a rotating locking mechanism to secure the components in place.

Figure 8 presents a modified idea, which replaces panels (1) and (2) of Figure 1, with a standard foldable laptop computer where the screen panel (18) becomes the top panel and the keyboard panel (19) becomes the vertical panel. The laptop can be secured mechanically by means of two relatively smaller panels (20) and (21) that can be brought closer together my mechanical fasteners (22) to keep the laptop stable in position be applying pressure to create the necessary friction. If the laptop pivot is not rigid enough to allow stable use, a cube-like detachable small structure can be introduced as a clip-on at the edge of the laptop to avoid the screen from closing when it is in position. The keyboard of the laptop could be covered with a simple sheet of materials to allow a better visualisation of the hologram image.

Figure 9 explains further the attachment mechanism where the two components (20) and (21) are covered by soft and flexible material (23) and (24) to prevent any damage to the laptop structure. In this examples, component (20) is attached to panel (3); but also the design could be that component (21) is fixed and (20) is the movable one.

Figure 10 presents the main panel (3) with the mechanical attachment for foldable laptop use with the pyramid-like component (5) removed.

Figure 11 presents the concept of operation of the 3D hologram system where the image (25) from the screen or monitor (4) is reflected on the partially transparent and partially reflective surface (9) to create the image hologram (26) for the user (27). The cover component (8) includes a light which enhances visualization of the 3D effect and real objects (28) can be included to provide mixed reality system.

Claims

Claims 1. A foldable apparatus which provides 2D or 3D hologram visualisation by means of reflecting an image of digital or analogue nature on one or more partially-reflective and partially-transparent surface, where the structure of the said apparatus which consists of two or more pivoted panels or frames can be folded, and any other non-pivoted panels or frames can be detached or disassembled, to form a flat-pack structure with reduced total volume in comparison to the functioning conditions; where other non-structural components can be dismantled, detached or folded to be part of the said flat-pack folded structure or to form a separate entity for storage and transportation; where the said structural pivoted panels or frames, or non-pivoted structural panels or frames, can be made rigid and stable when unfolded or erected via the use of one or a combination of mechanical, magnetic, hydraulic and pneumatic means.
2. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where the image is produced by a digital or analogue screen or monitor which can be attached and detached from the apparatus main panels or frames by means of a sliding mechanism or a clip-on design via mechanical or magnetic means.
3. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where the flat-pack folded structure of the apparatus resembles a suitcase or a briefcase with one or more handles or straps to enable the handling and transportation of the said folded apparatus and a latching magnetic or mechanical mechanism to secure the folding structure.
4. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where the hinge and locking mechanism utilised to enable the folding and unfolding or erecting of the structure's said pivoted panels is either separate components or one integrated component with dual functions.
5. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where the folded or unfolded apparatus utilises one wheel or more that could be freely rotating and revolving around one or more axes or locked in position in one or more of the said axes.
6. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where the one or more partially-reflective and partially-transparent surface is erected via the use of grooves in the base of the structure and further embedded grooves for further stability in structural cap to enhance steadiness of the said surfaces.
7. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where the one or more partially-reflective and partially-transparent surface has a magnetic material frame and is erected via the use of magnetic forces to provide stability.
8. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where mechanical or magnetic latches are utilised to provide a locking mechanism to keep the components in a stable flat-pack form.
9. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where a foldable pivoted computer system, such as a portable laptop, where the monitor or the screen of the said computer system is kept perpendicular to the rest of the computer structure, such as the keyboard, by means of mechanical friction or locking mechanical mechanism and is fixed in position relative to a base structure by means of mechanical fixtures that comprises soft and flexible surfaces to allow stability of the computer system by means of mechanical friction to create 3D hologram apparatus with the inclusion of one or more partially-reflective and partially-transparent surface.
10. A foldable apparatus as in claims land 9, where some of the computer system structure or components is covered by additional material by means of mechanical or magnetic fixtures to enhance the visualisation of the hologram image.
11. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where real objects can be integrated with visual images to provide mixed reality presentation.
12. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where auxiliary panels, components and frames are utilised to enable the apparatus be folded and unfolded depending on the type of hinges and locking mechanisms used in the design.
13. A foldable apparatus as in claim 1, where auxiliary panels, components and frames are utilised to enable the apparatus be folded and unfolded and provide stability in both said situations.