Animated window system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020184864-A1
Application number	US-201816215438-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 10, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An animated window system may include a projection surface configured to display at least one image to a viewer on a viewer side of the projection surface, wherein the projection surface comprises a tinted material. The animated window system may also include a projector spaced apart from the projection surface, wherein the projector is configured to project the at least one image onto a rear side of the projection surface, the rear side opposing the viewer side and a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is configured to provide the at least one image to the projector to be projected onto the projection surface.

First claim

1 . An animated window system comprising:
a projection surface configured to display at least one image to a viewer on a viewer side of the projection surface, wherein the projection surface comprises a tinted material; a projector spaced apart from the projection surface, wherein the projector is configured to project the at least one image onto a rear side of the projection surface, the rear side opposing the viewer side; and a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is configured to provide the at least one image to the projector to be projected onto the projection surface.

2 . The animated window system of claim 1 , wherein the tinted material of the projection surface is 50-80% opaque.

3 . The animated window system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transition between a first individual image and a second individual image of the at least one image to create an animation effect on the projection surface, wherein the first individual image and the second individual image of the at least one image depict different scenes of a stained glass window.

4 . The animated window system of claim 3 , wherein the projection surface is tinted only in areas of the projection surface that correspond to portions of the second individual image that change relative to the first individual image to create the animation effect.

5 . The animated window system of claim 1 , wherein the projection surface comprises a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers comprising a projection layer disposed on the rear side of the projection surface and a transparent glass layer disposed on the viewer side of the projection surface.

6 . The animated window system of claim 1 , wherein the projection surface comprises a material with light diffusing properties.

7 . The animated window system of claim 6 , wherein the projection surface comprises a matte acrylic material.

8 . The animated window system of claim 6 , wherein the projection surface comprises a P95 acrylic material.

9 . The animated window system of claim 1 , comprising a movement mechanism coupled to the projector and communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the movement mechanism is configured to vary a location or angle of the projector relative to the projection surface based at least in part on signals received from the controller.

10 . The animated window system of claim 1 , comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer disposed between the projector and the projection surface and communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the LCD layer is configured to display additional black color in areas of the projection surface corresponding to dark or black in the at least one image.

11 . An animated window system comprising:
a projection surface configured to display an image to a viewer on a viewer side of the projection surface, wherein the projection surface comprises a tinted material; a projector configured to project the image onto a rear side of the projection surface via rear projection; a haptic feedback system comprising a plurality of haptic actuators associated with the projection surface; and a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is configured to output signals to the projector to cause the image to be projected onto the projection surface, and wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to the haptic feedback system indicative of an activation pattern of the plurality of haptic actuators based at least in part on the projected image.

12 . The animated window system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the activation pattern to activate haptic actuators at locations corresponding to window dividers in the projected image.

13 . The animated window system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the projector to transition from projecting the image to projecting one or more additional images to generate an animation effect, and wherein the controller is configured to update the instructions indicative of the activation pattern of the plurality of haptic actuators based at least in part on the projected one or more additional images.

14 . The animated window system of claim 13 , comprising a touch interactive frame disposed around the projection surface and communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the touch interactive frame comprises a plurality of infrared (IR) sensors disposed on opposite sides of the touch interactive frame and configured to detect when and where the projection surface is touched on the viewer side, and wherein the controller is configured to control the animation effect, the activation pattern of the plurality of haptic actuators, or both based at least in part on signals received from the touch interactive frame indicative of when and where the projection surface is touched by the viewer.

15 . The animated window system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of haptic actuators comprises a plurality of pegs or fluid-filled cells, and wherein each haptic actuator of the plurality of haptic actuators is individually addressable by the controller.

16 . The animated window system of claim 11 , wherein the activation pattern of the plurality of haptic actuators is configured to modify the projection surface on the viewer side to provide tactile information corresponding to at least a portion of the projected image.

17 . The animated window system of claim 11 , comprising a fluid supply and one or more conduits, wherein the one or more conduits are disposed along the projection surface and configured to provide a fluid to the viewer side of the projection surface, wherein the one or more conduits are disposed along portions of the projection surface where the projected image is static, the one or more conduits are coupled to a mechanism configured to move the one or more conduits to track along particular portions of the projected image where the projected image is animated, or both, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the fluid supply to supply fluid to the one or more conduits, cause movement of the one or more conduits, or both based at least in part on the projected image.

18 . A method, comprising:
projecting a first image onto a projection surface, wherein the projection surface comprises a tinted material; projecting a second image onto the projection surface subsequent to projecting the first image to cause an animation effect, wherein the second image comprises one or more unchanged regions that are present in the first image and one or more changed regions that are not present in the first image; receiving a signal relating to a user interaction with the projection surface; and controlling activation of a special effects system based on the received signal, wherein activation of the special effects system causes a special effects material to be emitted from an opening formed in the projection surface or from a conduit disposed on or in the projection surface, and wherein a location of the opening or the conduit corresponds to an unchanged region of the one or more unchanged regions of the projected second image.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising activating one or more haptic actuators based on the received signal.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the unchanged region corresponds to a dark or black portion of the projected first image and the projected second image.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the tinted material comprises

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Garnier Timothy Fitzgerald
• Krauthamer Akiva Meir
• Usi Matthew
• Batra Simran V
• Majdali David

Classifications

• G03F1/66

  Containers specially adapted for masks, mask blanks or pellicles; Preparation thereof · CPC title

• G03F7/70741 Primary

  Handling masks outside exposure position, e.g. reticle libraries · CPC title

• H10P72/53

  using optical controlling means · CPC title

• H10P72/3404

  Storage means · CPC title

• H10P72/3406

  involving removal of lid, door or cover · CPC title