Mirror illusion systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025010220-A1
Application number	US-202418440569-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 13, 2024
Priority date	Jul 6, 2023
Publication date	Jan 9, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A show effect system may include a first mirror coupled to a first actuator and mounted to a wall, a second mirror coupled to a second actuator and mounted to the wall adjacent to the first mirror, and a sensor configured to monitor a viewing area for observing the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the sensor is configured provide sensor data related to a guest within the viewing area. The show effect system may also include a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the sensor. The controller may determine the guest is in a location within the viewing area based on the sensor data and instruct the first actuator to adjust a position or an orientation of the first mirror to remove the location from a reflection of the first mirror.

First claim

1 . A show effect system comprising:
a first mirror coupled to a first actuator and mounted to a wall; a second mirror coupled to a second actuator and mounted to the wall adjacent to the first mirror; a sensor configured to monitor a viewing area from which a guest can observe the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the sensor is configured to provide sensor data related to the guest within the viewing area; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine the guest is in a location within the viewing area based on the sensor data; and
instruct the first actuator to adjust a position or an orientation of the first mirror to remove the location from a first reflection of the first mirror.

2 . The show effect system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
instruct the second actuator to adjust a position or an orientation of the second mirror to remove the location from a second reflection of the second mirror.

3 . The show effect system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is configured to monitor guest movement and the controller is configured to:
determine a target angle between the first mirror and the second mirror based on the location the guest is in; instruct the first actuator to adjust the position or the orientation of the first mirror based on the target angle; and instruct the second actuator to adjust the position or the orientation of the second mirror based on the target angle.

4 . The show effect system of claim 2 , wherein the first mirror and the second mirror are rotatably coupled by a hinge, and wherein the first actuator is coupled to an edge of the first mirror opposite the hinge and the second actuator is coupled to an edge of the second mirror opposite the hinge.

5 . The show effect system of claim 4 , wherein the first actuator is configured to adjust the position or the orientation of the first mirror in a first direction and the second actuator is configured to adjust the position or the orientation of the second mirror in a second direction opposite the first direction.

6 . The show effect system of claim 1 , comprising an object coupled to an additional actuator and mounted opposite the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the controller is configured to:
instruct the additional actuator to adjust a position of the object to keep the object in the field of view of the first mirror in response to the first actuator adjusting the position or the orientation of the first mirror to remove the location from the first reflection of the first mirror.

7 . The show effect system of claim 1 , comprising a display mounted opposite the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the controller is configured to:
instruct the display to adjust image data to keep imagery on the display in the field of view of the first mirror in response to the first actuator adjusting the position or the orientation of the first mirror to remove the location from the first reflection of the first mirror.

8 . The show effect system of claim 1 , comprising a projector configured to project image content onto a projection surface opposite the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the controller is configured to:
generate image data for projection onto an additional wall opposite the wall; update the image data to updated image data in response to determining the guest is in the location; and instruct the projector to project the updated image data in parallel with instructing the first actuator to adjust the position or the orientation of the first mirror.

9 . The show effect system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to monitor eye blinking of the guest, wherein the controller is configured to:
instruct the first actuator based on eye blinking of the guest.

10 . The show effect system of claim 1 , comprising an output device configured to emit a visual diversion, an audio diversion, or both, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the output device to emit the visual diversion, the audio diversion, or both prior to instructing the first actuator to adjust the position or the orientation of the first mirror to remove the location from the first reflection of the first mirror.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
receive sensor data from a sensor monitoring guest activity; determine a position of a guest relative to a show effect system based on the sensor data; and instruct at least one actuator of the show effect system to adjust a position or an orientation of at least one mirror of the show effect system to adjust a reflection of the at least one mirror to exclude the guest based on the position of the guest.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
instruct a first actuator to adjust a position or the orientation of a first mirror; and instruct a second actuator to adjust a position or the orientation of a second mirror.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
determine a distance between the guest and the show effect system; and determine a target angle between the first mirror and the second mirror based on the distance.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
instruct an additional actuator of the show effect system to adjust a position or an orientation of an object of the show effect system based on the reflection of the at least one mirror being adjusted to exclude the guest; or instruct a display to move imagery based on the reflection of the at least one mirror being adjusted to exclude the guest.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to initiate a media distraction or detect an eye blink of the guest prior to instructing the at least one actuator of the show effect system to adjust the position or the orientation of the at least one mirror of the show effect system to adjust the reflection of the at least one mirror to exclude the guest based on the position of the guest.

16 . An attraction system for an attraction, the attraction system comprising:
a first mirror; a second mirror; one or more actuators configured to adjust positioning and/or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both; one or more sensors configured to track a position of a guest within the attraction; and a controller configured to:
receive, from the one or more sensors, sensor data indicative of the position of the guest;
determine a target angle between the first mirror and the second mirror to exclude the position of the guest from a first reflection of the first mirror and/or the second mirror based on the position of the guest; and
instruct the one or more actuators to adjust the positioning and/or the orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both based on the target angle.

17 . The attraction system of claim 16 , comprising an output

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Krauthamer Akiva Meir
• Garnier Timothy Fitzgerald
• Jeromin Aaron Chandler
• Boxer Eric Ross

Classifications

• G02B27/0093

  with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking · CPC title

• G02B26/0816

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• A63G31/00

  Amusement arrangements · CPC title

• A63J21/00 Primary

  Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers · CPC title

• A63J5/00 Primary

  Auxiliaries for producing special effects on stages, or in circuses or arenas · CPC title