Optical device and beam gun device using this optical device
AssigneeSega Enterprises, Ltd.
InventorsShingo Dote, Tatsuya Nishimura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical assembly is provided to simulate the emission of a light beam such as a laser, so that it appears to extend a considerable distance from the observer. The optical device can be advantageously integrated with a video game system or a simulated gun, and includes an arrangement of reflecting and semitransparent mirrors that can define a field of view, for example, of a target area, and can superimpose images of a light emitting unit so that a light beam can apparently extend to a target while maintaining a compact configuration.
Claims20
A simulated tracking and firing assembly such as an arcade game machine, comprising:
- means for simulating a tracking system for aiming at a simulated target area, including a housing having an optical viewing axis extending therein towards the target area;
- a first semitransparent mirror positioned in the housing for permitting an operator to view the target area through the semitransparent mirror;
- a first reflecting mirror optically aligned with the first semitransparent mirror to enable the transmission of images to the operator in an overlapping manner with the target area;
- a second semitransparent mirror optically aligned with the second reflecting mirror;
- a second reflecting mirror optically aligned with the second semitransparent mirror;
- a light emitting unit positioned between the second semitransparent mirror and the second reflecting mirror, and
- means for activating the light emitting unit, whereby the observer can view images of the light emitting unit through the first semitransparent mirror as images of the light emitting unit are reflected between the respective second semitransparent mirror and the second reflecting mirror to simulate a projection of images of the light emitting unit towards the target area.
A compact simulated tracking and firing assembly for an arcade game machine having a target area of animated graphics, comprising:
- means for simulating a tracking system for permitting a player to aim at the target area, including a housing defining a field of view of the target area and simulated controls of a firing mechanism;
- means for providing overlapping visual images of a simulated emission from a firing mechanism, including a first and a second half-mirror offset from each other along an optical axis to provide reflections between the first and second half-mirrors, and
- a light emitting body positioned between the half-mirrors in such a position that an observer can view a multiplicity of virtual images of the light emitting body as they are progressively reflected between the half-mirrors to simulate an emission towards the target area.
A compact simulated tracking and firing assembly for an arcade game machine having a target area of animated graphics, comprising:
- means for simulating a tracking system for permitting a player to aim at the target area, including a housing defining a field of view of the target area and simulated controls of a firing mechanism;
- means for providing overlapping visual images of a simulated emission from a firing mechanism, including an inclined reflection mirror, a Fresnel lens, and a plurality of light emitting bodies rectilinearly arranged adjacent the inclined reflection mirror so that a player can view a series of individual images of the light emitting bodies reflected from the inclined reflection mirror and realized by the Fresnel lens to simulate an emission towards the target area.
A compact simulated tracking and firing assembly for an arcade game machine having a target area of animated graphics, comprising:
- means for simulating a tracking system for permitting a player to aim at the target area, including a housing defining a field of view of the target area and simulated controls of a firing mechanism;
- means for providing visual images of a simulated emission from a firing mechanism, including:
- a first semitransparent mirror positioned in the housing;
- a second mirror positioned in the housing at a distance offset from the first mirror within the field of view to provide reflections between the first and second mirrors;
- a light emitting unit positioned between the first and second mirrors, and
- means for activating the light emitting unit, whereby the observer can view a multiplicity of virtual images of the light emitting unit through the first semitransparent mirror as the images are reflected between the respective mirrors to simulate an increased distance from the observer considerably beyond any offset distance between the first and second mirrors.
A simulated tracking and firing assembly such as an arcade game machine, comprising:
- means for simulating a tracking system for aiming at a simulated target area, including a housing having an optical viewing axis extending therein towards the target area;
- a first semitransparent mirror positioned in the housing for permitting an operator to view the target area through the semitransparent mirror;
- a lens optically positioned to provide an image for reflection off the first semitransparent mirror to an observer;
- a plurality of light emitting members optically positioned to be imaged through the lens;
- and
- a plurality of light reflecting luminous surfaces that are spaced between the light-emitting members and are positioned progressively closer together the greater the distance from the lens, whereby the images of the light emitting members will be superimposed on the target area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.