Sculptural Imaging With Optical Tiles
AssigneeQuin Media Arts and Sciences Inc.
InventorRoderick Thomas Quin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to structures for representing images by directing light at a viewer. In order to represent an image, a structure is provided comprising a plurality of tile elements (22) which, when illuminated by a light source, each direct an amount of light toward an observer at a viewing location dependent on their orientation angles. The orientation angles of each tile element (22) may be selected based on a visual characteristic of a corresponding pixel of the image, such that the observer sees a representation of that image created by the varying amount of light directed to the viewing location by the tile elements (22).
Claims40
A structure for representing an image having a plurality of pixels, the structure comprising:
- a plurality of tile elements held in a fixed relationship to one another, each of the tile elements comprising a generally planar surface inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a reference plane, each of the tile elements corresponding to at least one pixel of the image and having an orientation angle with respect to a reference direction, the orientation angle defined between projections, on the reference plane, of:
- a line normal to the generally planar surface;
- and
- a line parallel to the reference direction, wherein the orientation angle is determined by a characteristic of the corresponding at least one pixel.
A structure for representing an image having a plurality of pixels, the structure comprising:
- a plurality of tile elements held in a controlled relationship to one another, each of the tile elements comprising a generally planar surface inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a reference plane, each of the tile elements corresponding to at least one pixel of the image and having an orientation angle with respect to a reference direction, the orientation angle defined between projections, on the reference plane, of:
- a line normal to the generally planar surface;
- and
- a line parallel to the reference direction,
- wherein the orientation angle is determined by a characteristic of the corresponding at least one pixel;
- and
- a plurality of actuators for dynamically varying the orientation angles of the tile elements under control of a control system, each actuator being coupled to one of the tile elements such that each tile element is moveable to have any one of a plurality of different orientation angles.
A method of representing an image having a plurality of pixels, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of tile elements held in a controlled relationship to one another, each of the plurality of tile elements corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pixels and having a generally planar surface;
- determining an incident light direction;
- and
- orienting each tile element such that the generally planar surface is inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a reference plane, and such that a projection of a line normal to the generally planar surface on the reference plane and a projection of the incident light direction on the reference plane define an orientation angle, wherein the orientation angle of each tile element is determined by a characteristic of the corresponding at least one pixel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.