NZ330763A

NZ330763A - Device for representing moving images in two planes located one behind the other

Info

Publication number: NZ330763A
Application number: NZ330763A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Uwe Maass
Original assignee: Uwe Maass
Priority date: 1996-10-22
Filing date: 1997-10-22
Publication date: 1999-04-29
Also published as: AU4949097A; NO982782L; ATE212448T1; EP0880722B1; CZ198398A3; WO1998018114A1; CN1211333A; JP4063884B2; EP0880722A2; DE59706181D1; KR19990076599A; CA2239816A1; JP2000514575A; PL327287A1; NO982782D0; SK285370B6; SK87198A3; DE29618319U1

Abstract

A device is disclosed for representing two moving images. For that purpose, two image generators (14, 16) are arranged at a 90 DEG angle to one another and are oriented towards a beam splitter (22). A concave mirror (24) and a Fresnel lens (26) are located at the sides of the beam splitter (22) opposite to the image generators (14, 16). An observer sees two images floating freely in space one behind the other. The images may for example be a publicity film and a corporation logo.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand No. International No. 330763 PCT/EP97/05834 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 22.10.1996; Complete Specification Filed: 22.10.1997 Classification:^) G09F9/46; G02B27/22 Publication date: 29 April 1999 Journal No.: 143S NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Device for representing moving images in planes located one behind the other Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: UWE MAASS, a German citizen of Lindlarer Strasse 107, D-51491, Overath, Federal Republic of Germany 3307 WO 98/18114 PCT/EP97/05834 DEVICE FOR REPRESENTING MOVING IMAGES IN PLANES DISPOSED 5 ONE BEHIND THE OTHER The invention concerns a device for representing two moving images © in two planes disposed one behind the other, having two image generators, a beam splitter disposed at an acute angle in the optical path of the two 10 image generators, and using a concave mirror. A device which represents an image floating freely in space so that it appears to the observer as a virtual image is known (DE-U 295 15 955). That device has in a hollow cylinder at least one image generator, in the optical path of which a beam splitter extends at 45°. In the side of the 15 beam splitter which is remote from the image generator the hollow cylinder has a viewing window. For an observer who is in front of the viewing window the image appears to lie behind the beam splitter. The observer sees only that single image. Generally this is a moving image which is comparable to a film. The known device makes use of the physical principle 20 that any automobile driver experiences on the windshield of his vehicle. An article which is lying on the storage surface in front of the windshield is reflected therein in such a fashion that - as viewed in the direction of travel - it appears to the automobile driver to be lying in front of the windshield. In the known device the article to be represented is projected 25 by the image generator onto the beam splitter which corresponds to the windshield and it is then reflected in the beam splitter in such a way that it appears to the observer to be disposed behind the beam splitter. The article appears as a virtual image. The observer does not see the reflection effect at the beam splitter. He only sees the article floating 30 freely in space. Also known is a device (DE 195 29 936 Al). which imparts to the observer a real image and a virtual image of an article. That device includes a beam splitter, a screen acting as a mirror and a partially reflecting, light-transmissive plate. The real image appears to !of- t:i. 1 7 0 i'' T'"'. \ L L Jr 'J* * % iw ^ W 330763 the observer in front of that plate and the virtual ima^- appears behind it. The inventor set himself the object of providing a device which represents two different moving images in two planes which are disposed one behind the other. Taking the known device as described in the opening part of this specification as his basic starting point, that object is attained in accordance with the invention in that the two image generators are disposed at an angle of 90° relative to each other, the beam splitter faces with its one side towards the first image generator and the second image generator and is at an angle of 45° relative to the longitudinal centre lines thereof, a concave mirror is disposed on the side of the beam splitter which is remote from the second image generator in the optical path of that image generator and a Fresnel lens is disposed on the side of the beam splitter which is remote from the first and second image generators in the common optical path of both image generators. The observer views by way of the Fresnel lens and the beam splitter onto the so-called first image generator. It is disposed directly in the field of view of the observer in the so-called rear plane. Depending on the use of the device that image generator shows for example a teaching or instructional film or also an advertising film. The so-called second image generator projects its image through the beam splitter onto the concave mirror. It projects it back onto the beam splitter which after rotation through 90° reflects it onto the Fresnel lens and thus the observer. It appears to the observer as a virtual image floating freely in space in front of the Fresnel lens. Depending on the use of the device the second image generator shows for example a teacher or instructor when dealing with a teaching or instructional film or a corporate logo when dealing with an advertising film, the teacher or instructor or the corporate logo respectively then appearing in the foreground in front of the film in the background. The observer thus experiences the rare spectacle that he sees a film in the background as in the state of the art and in front of that background, in the foreground, a virtual image, floating freely in space. 3307 n That virtual image is produced by the co-operation of the beam splitter, the concave mirror and the Fresnel lens. The dimensions and optical data of the beam splitter, the concave mirror and the Fresnel lens can be matched to each other in such a way that the observer sees the virtual 5 image in a large angular range of up to 60°. In other words the observer can move towards the left and the right in front of the device and continuously sees the virtual image. As stated the first image generator shows the image which is in the rear plane from the point of view of the observer and the second image 10 generator shows the image which is in the front plane from the point of view of the observer. The beam splitter desirably involves a transparency or light transmission ratio of 50%. It may be a pane of glass. In the above-described known device the beam splitter comprises a sheet which is 15 stretched taut. The use of a pane of glass which is less expensive is sufficient for the purposes according to the invention. The beam splitter has an edge length of 50 x 50 cm. The two image generators are desirably of a rectangular shape with a diagonal of 6 to 76 cm. They involve television picture tubes or normal 20 monitors. They can be controlled in any way. They are desirably digital in operation. The concave mirror advantageously involves an immersion depth of 4 to 18 cm. The Fresnel lens desirably involves a focal length of 6 to 20 cm. 25 The invention will now be further described by means of the example of the embodiment diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing. The device includes a housing 12 and therein the first image generator 14 and the second image generator 16. The first image generator 14 is actuated by a control device or a memory 18 and the second image 30 generator 16 is actuated by a control device or a memory 20. A beam splitter 22 is disposed in the optical path of the two image generators 14 and 16. The concave mirror 24 is disposed above the beam splitter 22 and a r, f L L J- 9 330763 at the top side of the housing 12. The Fresnel lens 26 is disposed in front of the beam splitter 22 or. when viewing the Figure, to the left of the beam splitter 22. The virtual image 28 occurs floating freely in space in front of the Fresnel lens 26 or. when looking at the Figure, to the left 5 of the Fresnel lens 26. The observer is positioned in front of the Fresnel lens 26 or, when looking at the Figure, to the left thereof. The view of the observer goes directly to the first image generator 14 by way of the Fresnel lens 26 and the beam splitter 22. The observer sees the image of the first image 10 generator 14 in the plane thereof or in the background. The Fresnel lens 26 or the beam splitter 22 do not adversely affect the view onto the first image generator 14. The situation is different with the image produced by the second image generator 16. That image appears to the observer as a virtual image 28 in front of the Fresnel lens 26, in a condition of 15 floating freely in space. In addition to the fact that the device represents two moving images in two planes which are disposed one behind the other, the observer also experiences an illusion. The illusion is that the virtual image 28 is floating freely in space. A projection screen, a picture screen or the 20 like is not to be seen nor can it be touched with a hand. The observer can equally not touch the virtual image. 330763 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> CLAIMS A device for representing two moving images in two planes disposed one behind the other having two image generators, a beam splitter disposed at an acute angle in the optical path of the two image generators, and using a concave mirror, wherein the two image generators are at an angle of 90° relative to each other, the beam splitter ■ faces with its one side towards the first and the second image generators and is at an angle of 45° to the longitudinal centre lines thereof, a concave mirror is disposed on the side of the beam splitter , which is remote from the second image generator , in the optical path of said image generator , and a Fresnel lens is disposed on the side of the beam splitter , which is remote from the first and second image generators , in the common optical path of the two image generators A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first image generator shows the image which is in the rear plane from the point of view of an observer. A device as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second image generator shows the image which is in the front plane from the point of view of an observer. A device as set forth in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein splitter ) has a transparency of 50%. the beam A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein an edge length of 50 x 50 cm. the beam splitter has IN lELLEO'iuA.r.'.orLnTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 7 MAR 1999 RECEIVED 330763 6. A device as set forth in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the two im age generators are of a rectangular shape and have a diagonal of 6 to 76 cm. 7. A device as set forth in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the concave mirror has an immersion depth of 4 to 18 cm. 8. A device as set forth in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the Fresnel lens ' has a focal length of 6 to 20 cm. 9. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ©VO °FcM/Ws iNTELLtCruALriSoPLRTYOFFicP 0FN.Z. 1 7 MAR 1999 RECEIVED </div>