Projection apparatus and method for pepper's ghost illusion

An image projection apparatus, comprising:

• a projector, a frame or fixed mounting points, and an at least partially transparent screen;
• the frame or fixed mounting points being arranged to retain the screen under tension, such that the screen is inclined at an angle with respect to a plane of emission of light from the projector;
• the screen having a front surface arranged such that light emitted from the projector is reflected therefrom;
• and
• the projector being arranged to project an image such that light forming the image impinges upon the screen such that a virtual image is created from light reflected from the screen, the virtual image appearing to be located behind the screen, and wherein the frame comprises first and second retention members arranged to sandwich an edge region of the screen therebetween, and wherein a plurality of fixing means pass through the first retention member and through the screen and clamp the screen between the first and second retention members, and optionally locking means is provided adapted to lock the fixing means;
• wherein the screen is a polymeric transparent foil that is held taught and substantially wrinkle-free by the retention members, the retention members having generally parallel faces which clamp an edge region of the foil between them, and wherein individually variable foil tensioning mechanisms are provided at spaced apart locations around the periphery of the foil to enable the foil to have tensioning force independently varied at the said spaced apart locations around the periphery of the foil, and wherein the first and second retention members are connected to one or more flexible tensioning means, which extend from the frame or fixed mounting points to the foil-gripping members, the foil, flexible tensioning means and the frame or fixed mounting points lying in a common inclined plane, with the tension on the foil being applied in the plane of the flexible tensioning means, and the foil, the tensioning mechanisms comprising straps and ratchet strap tensioners, or straps and a friction-locking buckle arrangement.

An image projection apparatus, comprising:

• a projector, a frame or fixed mounting points, and an at least partially transparent screen;
• the frame or fixed mounting points being arranged to retain the screen under tension, such that the screen is inclined at an angle with respect to a plane of emission of light from the projector;
• the screen having a front surface arranged such that light emitted from the projector is reflected therefrom;
• and
• the projector being arranged to project an image such that light forming the image impinges upon the screen such that a virtual image is created from light reflected from the screen, the virtual image appearing to be located behind the screen, and wherein the frame comprises first and second retention members arranged to sandwich an edge region of the screen therebetween, the first and second retention members being connected to one or more flexible tensioning means, which extend from the frame or fixed mounting points, the foil, flexible tensioning means and the frame or fixed mounting points lying in a common inclined plane, with the tension on the foil being applied in the plane of the flexible tensioning means and the foil, and wherein a plurality of fixing means pass through the first retention member and through the screen and clamp the screen between the first and second retention members, optionally locking means is provided adapted to lock the fixing means, and the first and second retention members comprise respective openings therethrough arranged to collocate with openings in respective jaws of clamping members attached to tensioning straps.