Optics: motion pictures – Special effects – Depth illusion
Patent
1982-06-16
1984-03-06
Hayes, Monroe H.
Optics: motion pictures
Special effects
Depth illusion
352 43, 352 85, 352123, G03B 2132
Patent
active
044350538
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCES
This invention is an improvement on the inventions disclosed in the U.S. patents to de Montebello, No. 3,428,393 and No. 3,462,313, and in the copending U.S. application of Edward A. Woloshuk et al., Ser. No. 86,383, filed Oct. 19, 1979, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the de Montebello patents identified above utilize a film strip comprising successive cross-sectional views of an object. The frames of the film strip are arranged in the order corresponding to the relationship of the successive cross-section. The film strip is moved through an optical system in which the frames are successively stroboscopically illuminated, one at a time, and the images produced by that illumination are projected on a rotating screen of spiral cross-section, rotatable about the axis of the spiral. In a modification, the screen is made up of segments of part-cylindrical contour, rotatable about an axis eccentric with respect to the axes of those contours. An observer of the rotating screen having persistence of vision sees all of the images projected into a three-dimensional space and thus gets a view of a transparent solid showing the internal structure of the object. The apparatus in de Montebello U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,393 masks out part of the images along a plane perpendicular to the planes of the successive photographs in a series, so that a cross-sectional image can be produced which is taken along a selected plane perpendicular to the planes of the original photographs.
The apparatus of the Woloshuk et al. application has the further capability of displaying a two-dimensional image taken along the plane of any selected original photograph. It can alternatively display a three-dimensional image cut along a selected plane at either or both ends of the stack of original cross-sectional views.
The present invention improves the apparatus of the de Montebello patents and of the Woloshuk et al. application by providing for a comparison of two or more successively presented three-dimensional images. In its simplest form, the apparatus presents two three-dimensional images alternately, so that the observer can make visual comparison of the two images. For example, the two images may be of a part of the human body in different positions. The extremes of movement of a ventricle and of the expansion of human lungs are illustrated. More complex forms of the present invention, using more than two three-dimensional images, can be employed so as to give an effect of animation, similar to that obtained in a two-dimensional moving picture, but with all three dimensions visible. Alternatively, a section taken along any of the three dimensions may be selected for presentation.
The cross-sectional views representing one of two images in the proper sequence are placed in a predetermined set of locations on the strip. The cross-sectional views representing the other image are placed in a different predetermined set of locations on the strip. The strip is placed on an endless carrier such as a transparent drum or belt, by which it is moved repeatedly through the optical system. The flashing of the stroboscope lamp is controlled to select one set of images or the other. One set of images is illuminated for several cycles of rotation of the film strip, and the illumination is then switched to the other set of images. The two sets of images are illuminated alternately, although the alternation may be stopped to allow continuous presentation of one image. If more than two sets of images are used, they may be illuminated in a predetermined repeated sequence, to present an appearance of motion. Again, the sequence may be stopped to present one image continuously.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective external view of an apparatus embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the
REFERENCES:
patent: 3077816 (1963-02-01), Hirsch
patent: 3262357 (1966-07-01), Warzynski et al.
patent: 3428393 (1969-02-01), Montebello
patent: 3454333 (1969-07-01), Wells
patent: 3462213 (1969-08-01), Montebello
Walz Gregory J.
Woloshuk Edward A.
Hayes Monroe H.
The Zyntrax Corporation
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