Apparatus and method for projection upon a three-dimensional object

An image display apparatus comprising:

• a three-dimensional object;
• a projector having a lens system and being aligned so as to project light upon the three-dimensional object, said projector including addressable light filter means for selectively filtering the light of the projector so that an image is projected upon the three-dimensional object;
• user interface means for receiving data from a user to create at least one region corresponding to said image;
• simplified guest interface means for selecting among regions corresponding to the three-dimensional object and for selectively changing the graphical content of a selected region;
• a color pattern generator that is responsive to the simplified guest interface means to selectively generate a current color pattern that may be painted in the selected region;
• and,
• data processing means responsive to the user interface means for creating regions for filling a region with the color pattern in response to the an impetus to draw or fill a region from the simplified guest interface means and in response to the color pattern generator, and for controlling the addressable light filter means to cause the projection of the image upon the three-dimensional object.

A method of projecting an image onto a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) entering region data into a user interface to create at least one region that corresponds to a portion of the object;
• (b) entering pattern data into a simplified guest interface to select a current pattern corresponding to a region;
• (c) processing the pattern data to generate an output representing an image corresponding to the object;
• (d) projecting the image onto the object such that selected patterns for each region are projected upon each portion of the object corresponding to said regions;
• and
• (e) controlling the projection in response to the output such that the projected image is updated to reflect new pattern data.

A method of projecting light onto a three-dimensional object comprising the steps of:

• (a) entering, via a user interface, graphics data defining a region corresponding to a portion the three-dimensional object;
• (b) retrieving data from a simplified guest interface indicative of a point on the object, said simplified guest interface being manipulable by a guest to identify various points on the object;
• (c) retrieving data entered by the guest at the simplified guest interface indicative of a decision by the guest to select a current color pattern to be projected upon the object and processing said data indicative of a decision to select a current color pattern;
• (d) retrieving data entered by the guest at the simplified guest interface indicative of a decision to project the current color pattern upon an area on the object and processing said data indicative of a decision to project the current color pattern upon an area of the object and said data indicative of a point on the object to select a region corresponding to said point and to paint that region with the current color pattern;
• (e) processing the data received to format an image containing the region to be projected upon the object;
• and
• (f) projecting the image upon the object.

An image display apparatus, comprising:

• a contoured, three-dimensional object;
• a user interface that generates a first group of electronic signals in response to input decisions of a user;
• a simplified guest interface, distinct from said user interface, that generates a second group of electronic signals in response to input decisions of a guest;
• a projector aligned to project a visual image upon said contoured, three-dimensional object;
• a data processor that is coupled to said user interface to receive said first group of electronic signals, and also to said simplified guest interface to receive said second group of electronic signals, said data processor having an output to said projector that is an electronic projection signal that defines said visual image and causes said projector to project the same in alignment upon said contoured, three-dimensional object, said data processor including
• software that directs said data processor to process said first group of electronic signals received from said user interface to generate parameters of an artwork file, said parameters corresponding to the contours of said contoured, three-dimensional object, software that causes said data processor to
• process said second group of electronic signals received from said simplified guest interface and said artwork file to define values of display variables associated within the parameters of said artwork file, and
• generate therefrom an electronic computer image that corresponds to said contoured, three-dimensional image by defining visual attributes to be imparted to locations upon said contoured, three-dimensional object in response to said defined values, and,
• software that generates said electronic projection signal from said electronic computer image and that causes said projector to project said visual image in response thereto.

A method of projecting a visual image onto a contoured, three-dimensional object, to thereby impart visual attributes to the contoured, three-dimensional object using a computer, associated memory and graphics software, a projector, a user interface and a simplified guest interface, said method comprising the steps of:

• entering data into the user interface to define a computer artwork file, including a plurality of regions that correspond to portions of the contoured, three-dimensional object;
• entering data into the simplified guest interface to select one of a location upon the contoured, three-dimensional object and a pattern to be associated with a preselected location, the preselected location defined by data also entered into the simplified guest interface;
• collecting a plurality of such data input to the simplified guest interface, such that a plurality of simplified guest interface are associated with preselected locations;
• processing the collected data with the computer and generating an electronic computer image that corresponds to the contoured, three-dimensional object, the electronic computer image representative of the selected patterns and associated locations;
• storing the electronic computer image in memory for subsequent modification;
• and,
• generating with the computer an electronic projection signal that causes the projector to project the visual image such that selected patterns are displayed upon their associated locations upon the contoured, three-dimensional object.

A method of projecting light onto a contoured, three-dimensional object using a computer, the computer having associated memory and running graphics software, a user interface that is adapted to be used in creating an artwork file, a simplified guest interface, distinct from the user interface, that permits a guest to select a pattern for projection onto a selected physical attribute of the contoured, three-dimensional object, and a projector that projects an image that is electronically generated by the computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• tracing an outline of the three-dimensional object with the user interface by interactively using the projector to project the outline onto the three-dimensional object, to thereby create a computer artwork file that defines parameters for graphics information that may be projected onto desired areas of the three-dimensional object;
• using the user interface to define regions bearing a spacial relationship to the outline and that thereby also correspond to locations on the contoured, three-dimensional object to thereby define further parameters of the artwork file;
• causing the computer to repeatedly format an electronic projection signal that represents a display image to be projected upon the contoured three-dimensional object, the display image sized and formatted such that projected regions align with their associated locations;
• projecting the display image represented by the electronic projection signal upon the contoured, three-dimensional object;
• and,
• providing the guest with the simplified guest interface to thereby allow the guest to select at least one of a location upon the contoured, three-dimensional object and a pattern (from among a pallet of patterns), and also to thereby allow the guest to indicate a decision to paint a selected location with a selected pattern.