System and method for providing show effects to an attraction system - Patents.com

Abstract

The show effects system may include a plasma tube configured to generate an electric arc within the plasma tube and a light strip extending along the plasma tube. The light strip may include a number of light emitters configured to output light through the plasma tube to backlight the electric arc generated by the plasma tube.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present technology, which are described and / or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. As such, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an admission of prior art.

[0002] Amusement parks and other entertainment venues may use special effects to help immerse guests in the experience of a ride or attraction. An immersive environment may include three-dimensional (3D) props, set pieces or robotic or mechanical elements, electrical or chemical elements, and / or display surfaces presenting media. For example, an immersive environment may be provided through show components that operate to create light show effects that have the appearance of visual electrical effects (e.g., electric arcs or plasma generation). However, it is currently recognized that current approaches to emulate the appearance and / or aesthetics of visual electrical effects are limited. Thus, improvements are desired to replicate the appearance of visual electrical effects to provide a more realistic, appropriate, and / or desirable interactive experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the subject matter may include a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

[0004] In one embodiment, a show effects system includes a plasma tube configured to generate an electric arc within the plasma tube, and a light strip extending along the plasma tube, the light strip including a plurality of light emitters configured to output light through the plasma tube and backlight the electric arc generated by the plasma tube.

[0005] In one embodiment, the attraction system includes a plasma tube configured to generate an electric arc within the plasma tube, a light strip extending along the plasma tube, and a vehicle configured to move along a path proximate to at least a portion of the plasma tube and the light strip. The light strip is configured to output light through the plasma tube and into the electric arc generated by the plasma tube.

[0006] In some embodiments, the show effects system includes a plasma tube with a switch configured to apply a voltage to generate an electric arc within an interior volume and a light strip configured to output light. The light strip is oriented through the plasma tube to output light onto the electric arc generated within the interior volume of the plasma tube. The show effects system may include a controller communicatively connected to the plasma tube and the light strip. The controller is configured to perform operations including directing the switch to apply a voltage to generate the electric arc and directing the light strip to output light.

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like features represent like parts throughout the figures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an attraction system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a show effects system of an attraction system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a show effects system of an attraction system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a close-up view of an embodiment of a show effects system of an attraction system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for operating a show effects system of an attraction system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0009] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. In addition, it should be understood that reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure is not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the described features.

[0010] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. In order to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation may be described herein. In the development of any actual implementation, as with any engineering or design project, it should be understood that many implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's particular goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints that vary from implementation to implementation. Moreover, such development efforts may be complex and time-consuming, but are a routine part of the business of design, fabrication and manufacturing for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0011] The present disclosure is directed to providing show effects for an amusement or theme park. An amusement park may include a variety of features to entertain guests, such as rides (e.g., roller coasters), dramatic shows, set designs, performers, and / or decorative elements. Show effects may be used to supplement or complement the features, such as to provide a more immersive and / or unique experience for guests. For example, show effects may be provided that emulate real-world elements to provide a more realistic atmosphere for guests.

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a show effect system for providing electrical, plasma, or lightning effects in a realistic manner. For example, the show effect system may include a plasma tube, a light strip extending along the plasma tube, and a light source. A light source pressure may be applied within the plasma tube to generate one or more electrical arcs. The light strip may provide a light effect that moves along the plasma tube to represent the direction of electrical arc generation. In this manner, the light effect provided by the light strip may enhance the appearance of the electrical arc generated by the plasma tube, such as by providing a more vibrant and / or chaotic electrical element. In this manner, the plasma tube and the light strip may collectively provide a unique and / or realistic visualization of electrical effects to amusement park guests.

[0013] With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an amusement park attraction system 50. For example, the attraction system 50 may include a roller coaster, a motion simulator, a water ride, a walk-through attraction (e.g., a maze), and the like. The attraction system 50 may include a guest area 52 in which various guests 53 may be located. In some embodiments, the guest area 52 may include an open space, such as a walkable area (e.g., a queue or a waiting line), in which guests may enter, exit, or otherwise move within the attraction system 50. The attraction system 50 may also include show effects 54 that may operate to enhance the guest experience provided by the attraction system 50. For example, the show effects 54 may include light effects, movable objects (e.g., robots), smoke effects, sound effects, and the like. Although the show effects are located outside of the guest area 52 in the illustrated attraction system 50, the show effects 54 may be located at least partially within the guest area 52 in additional or alternative attraction systems 50.

[0014] The attraction system 50 may also include a ride 56, which may have a vehicle 58. The ride 56 may include, for example, a roller coaster, a water ride, a motion simulator, a dark ride, and the like. To this end, the vehicle 58 may move (e.g., translate, rotate, swivel) around a motion base and / or along a track of the attraction system 50, in an embodiment. In additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle 58 may remain stationary within the attraction system 50. One or more guests 53 may be positioned within the vehicle 58. As an example, the guest 53 may enter the vehicle 58 from the guest area 52 and / or exit the vehicle 58 from the guest area 52 to move between the guest area 52 and the ride 56. The ride 56 may entertain the guest 53 through the movement of the vehicle 58, such as by providing a certain sense of movement to the guest 53. Additionally or alternatively, the show effects 54 may entertain the guest positioned within the vehicle 58, such as by providing realistic visual and / or audio effects. In this manner, show effects 54 may be controlled to entertain guests 53 in both guest area 52 and rides 56 .

[0015] In some embodiments, the show effect 54 can include a combination of electric, plasma, and light effects. For example, the show effect 54 can include a plasma tube configured to generate one or more electric arcs via a voltage applied to the plasma tube. The show effect 54 can also include a light strip or light source that extends along the plasma tube and emits light toward (e.g., into) the plasma tube to illuminate the plasma tube, thereby backlighting the electric arc generated within the plasma tube to the viewing guest. For example, the light provided by the light strip can enhance the appearance of the electric arc, such as by adjusting (e.g., increasing, amplifying) the shape, intensity, and / or size of the electric arc as perceived by the guest viewer. Thus, the plasma arc and the light strip can work in conjunction with each other to create a unique visual electric effect. As a specific example, light emitters (e.g., light emitting diodes) on the light strip can be arranged in a row and pulsed in sequence to provide the appearance of linear movement of associated light in a direction, which when combined with the plasma arc of the plasma tube creates the visual perception of an electric arc traveling along a direction. As can be appreciated, other movements and arrangements of the lights in the light strip can create other perceptions (e.g., color changes, size changes, divergence of light as different lights are activated / deactivated, etc.).

[0016] The attraction system 50 may also include a control system 64 (e.g., an automated or programmable controller) configured to operate the rides 56 and / or the show effects 54. The control system 64 may include a memory 66 and a processing circuit 68. The memory 66 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), an optical drive, a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive, or any other non-transitory computer-readable medium that contains instructions to operate the attraction system 50. The processing circuit 68 may be configured to execute such instructions. For example, the processing circuit 68 may include one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more general purpose processors, or any combination thereof.

[0017] A control system 64 may be communicatively connected to the show effects 54 and the rides 56. For example, the control system 64 may control the movement of the vehicles 58 within the attraction system 50 and / or various outputs provided by the show effects 54. In some embodiments, the control system 64 may set, adjust, and / or modify one or more parameters of the show effects 54, such as to control the appearance of the visual electrical effects provided by the show effects 54. In some examples, the show control system 64 may operate the show effects 54 so that the visual electrical effects appear to move or move in a particular manner relative to the vehicles 58. For example, the control system 64 may cause the light strip to sequentially output light to light emitters positioned along the length of the light strip to represent the movement of light along the light strip and to illuminate different locations along the plasma tube (e.g., backlight different portions or sections of the electrical arc in the plasma tube). Such movement of the light strip in conjunction with the provision of the electrical arc may be depicted or perceived by a viewer as a movement or direction of the electrical arc generated in the plasma tube. Additionally, the electric arc may appear to move adjacent to and / or along with the vehicle 58 such that a guest 53 positioned within the vehicle 58 may view an enhanced electric arc within the plasma tube. As another example, the control system 64 may adjust the voltage applied within the plasma tube (e.g., increase or decrease the frequency and / or magnitude of the voltage) to change the variability of the electric arc generated within the plasma tube. For example, adjusting the voltage may change the appearance (amount, intensity, stability, flickering) of the electric arc generated within the plasma tube. As a further example, the appearance of the electric arc may be based on air pressure within the plasma tube, and the control system 64 may adjust the air pressure to change the appearance of the electric arc. Additionally, the control system 64 may adjust the appearance of the light provided by the light strip, such as adjusting the intensity, color, and / or area illuminated. Adjusting the appearance of the light may further adjust the appearance or perception of the electric arc generated within the plasma tube.The control system 64 can also adjust the appearance of the visual electrical effects in any other suitable manner to provide a particular experience to the vehicles 58 and / or guests 53 in the guest area 52 via the show effects 54. The luminaries (e.g., light emitting diodes) can be placed at specific locations on the light strip to enable specific patterns of operation (e.g., a pattern of illumination that appears to branch electrically like natural lighting). In some embodiments, the luminaries on the light strip can define a grid that allows selective operation (illumination) to provide animation.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system 96 (e.g., attraction system 50 of FIG. 1 ) including a show effects system 98 having a plasma tube 100 (e.g., a series of connected tube segments operated individually), a light output 104 provided by a light source 105 (e.g., a light strip), and one or more electric arcs 106 generated within the plasma tube 100. In an embodiment, the plasma tube 100 may contain a gas (e.g., a noble gas), and the electric arc 106 may be generated when a high voltage may be applied within the plasma tube 100. Additionally, the plasma tube 100 may have an air pressure to facilitate the generation of the electric arc 106 (e.g., a low air pressure to reduce the voltage threshold for generating the electric arc 106). The plasma tube 100 may be formed from certain materials, such as glass or acrylic, configured to withstand the heat created by generating the electric arc 106.

[0019] The attraction system 96 may also include a vehicle 102 (e.g., vehicle 56 of FIG. 1 ) that may be directed toward the show effects system 98 to allow the guest 53 of the vehicle 102 to view the electric arc 106. In some embodiments, the vehicle 102 may be in close proximity to at least a portion of the plasma tube 100. For example, the attraction system 96 may include a track or path 108 that extends in close proximity to the plasma tube 100 (e.g., on a first side of the plasma tube 100), and a control system 64, which may be part of and / or communicatively coupled to the show effects system 98, may direct the vehicle 102 to move along the track 108 (e.g., along a first side of the plasma tube 100) and in close proximity to the plasma tube 100.

[0020] Additionally, the show effects system 98 may include a light strip as the light source 105, the light strip configured to provide a light output 104. The light output 104 may enhance the appearance of the electric arc 106. That is, the light output 104 may backlight the electric arc 106 by transmitting through the plasma tube 100 to illuminate a portion of the electric arc 106. By way of example, the light output 104 may create a perception of spanning or overlapping multiple electric arcs 106 to depict an increased intensity of the electric arc 106, an increased visibility of the electric arc 106, and / or an increased electrical conduction created through the generated electric arc 106. From the perspective of the guest 53 of the vehicle 102, the light output 104 may backlight or be transmitted from behind the electric arc 106 to illuminate a portion of the electric arc 106. To this end, a light strip (which is representative of any of a variety of controlled light sources 105 that may be positioned proximate to the plasma tube 105) may direct light to or through the plasma tube 100 and backlight or illuminate the electric arc 106 via the light outputs 104. For example, the light strip may also extend along the plasma tube 100 (e.g., a second side of the plasma tube 100, opposite the first side). In one embodiment, the control system 64 may direct the light strip to sequentially provide light outputs 104 that appear to move along the plasma tube 100 to give the appearance of a direction and / or movement of the electric arc 106 along the plasma tube 108. For example, the movement of the light outputs 104 along the plasma tube 108 may correspond to the movement of the vehicle 102 along the track 108. That is, the perceived light movement (e.g., generated by the successive activation / deactivation of light elements positioned in a line) may track along the same direction of movement as the vehicle 102 and / or with the vehicle 102.To this end, the control system 64 can determine a position of the vehicle 102 relative to the plasma tubes 100 (e.g., the vehicle 102 is proximate to a first section of the plasma tubes 100) and cause the light strip to output light based on the position of the vehicle 102 relative to the plasma tubes 100 (e.g., cause the light strip to provide a light output 104 at the first section of the plasma tubes 100 where the vehicle 102 is located). In additional or further embodiments, another visual effect (e.g., video) may be provided to the guest 53, and the control system 64 can control the light output 104 provided by the light strip based on (e.g., in coordination with) the other visual effect. For example, the control system 64 can correspond the visualization of the light output 104 to the visualization of the other visual effect such that the visual electrical effects and other visual effects provided by the show effects system 98 provide an enhanced visual experience for the guest.

[0021] The control system 64 can additionally or alternatively control characteristics of the electric arc 106 generated within the plasma tube 100. In one example, the plasma tube 100 can also include a switch 110 that cooperates with the plasma tube 100 to control certain operating characteristics. For example, the switch 110 can control the frequency and / or amplitude of the voltage applied within the plasma tube 100 to adjust the electric arc 106 generated within the plasma tube 100. For example, the control system 64 can utilize the switch 110 to adjust the operating voltage to change the variability of the electric arc 106. In one example, reducing the frequency and / or amplitude of the voltage can reduce the variability of the electric arc 106, such as by reducing the amount of the electric arc 106 that is oriented, forming the electric arc 106 with a more stable, smoother, more horizontal, and / or more continuous shape, and / or reducing the frequency at which the electric arc 106 is generated. In another example, increasing the frequency and / or amplitude of the voltage can increase the variability of the electric arcs 106, such as by increasing the amount of electric arcs 106 generated, forming electric arcs 106 having a more irregular or non-uniform shape (e.g., a zigzag shape, multiple electric arcs branching off from each other), and / or increasing the frequency at which the electric arcs 106 are generated.

[0022] The control system 64 may further be configured to adjust the air pressure within the plasma tube 100. For example, the plasma tube 100 may include an actuator 112 communicatively coupled to the control system 64 and configured to increase or decrease the pressure within the plasma tube 100. By way of example, the actuator 112 may be configured to activate a pump that directs a fluid (e.g., air, mixed gas) into and / or out of the plasma tube 100. The control system 64 may instruct the actuator 112 to direct a fluid into the plasma tube 100 to increase the pressure within the plasma tube 100, and the control system 64 may instruct the actuator 112 to direct a fluid out of the plasma tube 100 to decrease the pressure within the plasma tube 100. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator 112 may include or be configured to adjust any other suitable components, such as valves, to adjust the pressure within the plasma tube 100.

[0023] In one embodiment, the control system 64 may be configured to operate the switch 110 and the actuator 112 in coordination with one another. To this end, the system 64 may be configured to instruct the switch 110 to apply a particular voltage based on the air pressure in the plasma tube, and / or the control system 64 may be configured to instruct the actuator 112 to adjust the pressure in the plasma tube 100 based on the voltage applied by the switch 110. In a particular example, the control system 64 may instruct the actuator 112 to adjust the air pressure in the plasma tube 100 to ½ atmosphere (atm) and apply a voltage having an amplitude of 20,000 volts to generate the electric arc 106 based on the ½ atm pressure in the plasma tube 100. In another example, the control system 64 can instruct the actuator 112 to adjust the air pressure in the plasma tube 100 to ⅛ atmosphere and instruct the switch 110 to apply a voltage having an amplitude of 10,000 volts to generate the electric arc 106 based on the ⅛ atm pressure in the plasma tube 100. Additionally, the control system 64 can instruct the switch 110 to apply a voltage having an amplitude that varies linearly or non-linearly based on the air pressure in the plasma tube 100.

[0024] In some embodiments, the electric arc 106 generated via the show effects system 98 may have a blue, white, and / or silver color. Additionally, the plasma tube 100 may be coated with a gel, paint, or any suitable substance that may adjust the visualized color of the electric arc 106 by the guest 53. For example, the coating of the plasma tube 100 may further enhance the location of the electric arc and / or change the color of the electric arc 106 (e.g., to a color other than blue, white, or silver). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the coating of the plasma tube 100 may be dynamically adjusted (e.g., via the control system 64) to change the color of the electric arc 106 visibly by the guest 53 while the vehicle 102 is moving along the plasma tube 100. The color of the light output 104 may also include any suitable color, such as a color that matches the color of the electric arc 106. Additionally, the control system 64 may operate the light strip to adjust the color of the light output 104 provided by the light strip. In some embodiments, the front side of the plasma tube 100 (the side facing the viewing guest) may be clear or tinted, and the back side of the plasma tube 100 may be translucent (e.g., frosted), such that the light source 105 (e.g., light strip) may not be visible to the guest viewing through the plasma tube 100. That is, the light source 105 may be camouflaged by being placed behind a light transmitting portion (e.g., a coated side).

[0025] 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a show effect system 98. The illustrated show effect system 98 includes a plasma tube 100, a light source 105, a support system 130, a plurality of electric arcs 106 present in each of the plasma tubes 100, and a light output 104. The support system 130 may be configured to couple to the plasma tube 100 and position the plasma tube in a desired manner. By way of example, the support system 130 may include a pedestal that may be secured to a base 132 (e.g., a floor) and coupled to the plasma tube 100. The pedestal may be configured to support the weight of the plasma tube 100 and limit the movement of the plasma tube 100 relative to the base 132. In further or alternative embodiments, the support system 130 may include another suitable component or feature, such as a pedestal, fastener, hook, adhesive, weld, etc., that is connected to the plasma tube 100 and configured to position the plasma tube 100 within the attraction system. For example, the support system 130 may limit the movement of the plasma tube 100 relative to other components of the attraction system, such as a wall (e.g., a side wall), a ceiling, and / or a track. The support system 130 may be obscured or hidden from viewing by guests (e.g., via another prop or show effect in the attraction system) to give the plasma tube 100 a more realistic approach to the theme of the attraction.

[0026] In one embodiment, the plasma tube 100 may include a first plasma tube section 134a and a second plasma tube section 134b, which may be separate components configured to couple together. Each of the plasma tube sections 134a, 134b may include a respective interior volume, and the plasma tube sections 134 may be coupled together such that the interior volumes form an overall enclosed volume that extends through the plasma tube sections 134. The electric arc 106 may be generated within the overall enclosed volume. That is, the electric arc 106 may extend through each of the plasma tube sections 134 during operation of the show effects system 98. A coupler 136 (sleeve, fastener) may be used to couple the first plasma tube section 134a and the second plasma tube section 134b together, such as by attaching to each end of the plasma tube sections 134. In an embodiment, the coupler 136 may not affect the visualization of the electric arc 106 and / or the light output 104. As an example, the coupler 136 may be formed from a transparent or translucent material that may not alter the appearance of the electric arc 106 and / or the light output 104 through the plasma tube 100. As another example, the coupler 136 may be obscured by one or more components of the attraction system, such as other show effects and / or props. Although the illustrated embodiment includes two plasma tube sections 134, further or alternative embodiments may include any suitable number of plasma tube sections 134, such as more than two plasma tube sections 134 coupled together. Further embodiments of the plasma tube 100 may include a unitary plasma tube section having a continuous enclosed volume in which the electric arc 106 may be generated.

[0027] 4 is a close-up view of an embodiment of a show effect system 98. The illustrated show effect system 98 includes a plasma tube 100, an electric arc 106 frozen within the plasma tube 100, a light output 104, and a light source 105 (e.g., a light strip). The light source 105 may include a base 162 and a light emitter 164 (e.g., an LED, CFL, incandescent bulb) coupled to the base 162. The base 162 may be positioned proximate to the plasma tube 100 to position the light emitter 164 along the plasma tube 100. In one embodiment, the light source 105 is mounted or attached to the plasma tube 100 (e.g., via the base 162). Each light emitter 164 may be configured to output light into or through the plasma tube 100 to illuminate or backlight an electric arc within the plasma tube 100. For example, the light emitter 164 may include a light bulb or any suitable component configured to output light into the plasma tube 100.

[0028] The plasma tube 100 may include a frosted portion 166 that may increase the opacity of the plasma tube 100. In some embodiments, an additional component (e.g., a separate component having a frosted portion) is coupled to the plasma tube 100 to implement the frosted portion 166. In further or alternative embodiments, the plasma tube 100 may be chemically or mechanically modified to include the frosted portion 166. That is, the frosted portion 166 may be integral to the plasma tube 100. As one example, a paint, gel, or film may be applied to the plasma tube 100 (e.g., the side of the plasma tube 100 opposite where the vehicle or guest is positioned). In another example, the plasma tube 100 may be sandblasted to create a dimpled surface on the plasma tube to form the frosted portion 166 on the plasma tube 100. In a further example, the plasma tube 100 may be acid etched to form the frosted portion 166. The light source 105 may be arranged to orient the light emitter 164 to face the frosted portion 162 of the plasma tube 100, so that the light emitter 164 can direct light to the plasma tube 100 through the frosted portion 166 of the plasma tube 100. In this manner, the light emitter 164 may transmit light to and through the frosted portion 166 and direct the light to the plasma tube 100 and the electric arc 106. The frosted portion 166 may reduce the transparency or translucency of the plasma tube 100 (e.g., increase the opacity) and scatter the light output 104 from the light source 105 to create a soft appearance of the light output 104 that illuminates the electric arc 106. For example, the frosted portion 166 may distribute the light intensity throughout a portion of the plasma tube 100, blurring the appearance of the light output 104 to avoid concentrating the light in a limited or focal area of ​​the plasma tube 100.

[0029] The light source 105 may be positioned to be offset a distance 168 from the plasma tube 100 to create a gap or space between the light emitter 164 and the plasma tube 100. The offset between the light emitter 164 and the plasma tube 100 may prevent the operation of the light source 105 and the plasma tube 100 from affecting each other. For example, the electric arc 106 generated within the plasma tube 100 and / or the light projected by the light emitter 164 have electromagnetic fields. A significant overlap of the electromagnetic fields may distort the appearance of the light output 104 provided by the light source 105 and / or affect the generation of the electric arc 106. For example, the electromagnetic field associated with the light source 105 may bias the electric arc 106 towards the light source 105. Positioning the light source 105 at a particular distance 168 above a low threshold distance (e.g., greater than 10 centimeters or 4 inches, greater than 12 centimeters or 5 inches) may prevent the operation of the plasma tube 100 and the light source 105 from affecting each other (e.g., distorting the appearance of the light output 104 and / or the electric arc 106).

[0030] In another embodiment, the light source 105 may be positioned behind or further away from the plasma tube 100 at a low threshold distance. The distance 168 may depend on the size of the plasma tube 100. That is, increasing the radius of the plasma tube 100 may exponentially increase the electromagnetic field. Thus, a plasma tube 100 with a larger radius may generate an electric arc 106 that creates a larger electromagnetic field. Thus, the distance 168 may be larger for a plasma tube 100 with a larger radius to reduce overlap between the respective electromagnetic fields associated with the electric arc 106 and the light output 104. For example, the light source 105 may be offset 10 centimeters or 4 inches from a plasma tube 100 with a radius of 7.5 centimeters or 3 inches. In another example, the light source 105 may be offset 5 centimeters or 2 inches from a plasma tube 100 with a radius of 1.25 centimeters or 0.5 inches. Additionally or alternatively, a shield may be implemented to reduce the effects of the electromagnetic field. The shield may be made of glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, acetate, or any other suitable material, and the shield may be transparent to avoid affecting the appearance of the light output 104 and / or the electric arc 106. The shield may also prevent other factors, such as environmental characteristics and / or other show effects, from affecting the appearance of the light output 104 and / or the electric arc 106, yet still maintain the visual electric effects produced by the show effects system 98.

[0031] It should also be noted that the distance 168 may be less than the high threshold distance to avoid directing light that should be directed through the plasma tube 100 to the periphery of the plasma tube 100. Additionally, a higher distance 168 may increase the beam spread, distribution, or area of ​​the light output 104 projected from the light emitter 164. At a high threshold distance (e.g., 20 centimeters or 8 inches for a plasma tube 100 having a radius of 7.5 centimeters or 3 inches), the size of the beam spread may be greater than a dimension, such as a diameter, of the plasma tube 100 such that the light output 104 is visible from the periphery of the plasma tube 100. Thus, the distance 168 may be less than the high threshold to limit the size of the beam spread (e.g., within the dimensions of the plasma tube 100) to reduce the visibility of the light output 104 from the periphery of the plasma tube 100. In other words, the light source 105 may be positioned within a high threshold distance to focus the light output 104 within the dimensions of the plasma tube 100 and prevent the light output 104 from passing around the plasma tube 100. Additionally or alternatively, separate features or components may be incorporated to prevent the light output 104 from being directed around the plasma tube 100. As an example, the light emitter 164 may include trim (e.g., baffle trim, reflector trim) or be positioned within a recessed portion to reduce the beam spread of the projected light output 104, such as by reducing the beam angle associated with the light emitter 164. As another example, a panel or plate that can polarize and / or absorb light may be implemented (e.g., coupled to the base 162, coupled to the plasma tube 100) to prevent the movement of the light output 104 around the plasma tube 100, thereby preventing the visualization of the light output 104 from around the plasma tube 100. Concentrating the light output 104 within the plasma tube 100 and preventing visualization of the light output 104 from around the plasma tube 100 can provide a realistic appearance that the light output 104 is produced via an electric arc 106 rather than a light source 105 or another external light emitter.

[0032] The control system 64 may be communicatively coupled to the light source 105 and may operate the light source 105 to depict the light output 104 as moving along the plasma tube 100. To this end, the control system 64 may instruct the light emitters 164 to output light sequentially along the light source 105. For example, the control system 64 may instruct a subset of the light emitters 164 to output light, instruct a subset of the light emitters 164 to discontinue outputting light, instruct a subset of the emitters 164 to cease outputting light, and then instruct a proximate subset of the light emitters 164 to output light. Such operation may cause the light output 104 to appear to move in a direction 170 to illuminate or backlight different portions or lengths of the electric arc 106 within the plasma tube 100. In some embodiments, the control system 64 may be configured to receive a video file and may instruct to output light based on the video file. For example, each light emitter 164 may be mapped to a particular pixel (e.g., a pixel at a particular location within a frame of a video file), and the control system 64 may instruct the light emitter 164 to output light based on the color of the corresponding pixel in the video file. As an example, the video file may depict the movement of white colored light in a particular direction, where a white coloring of the pixel may represent the emission of white colored light in the pixel. Thus, a different set of pixels may be colored white for various frames of the video file to depict the movement of white colored light. The control system 64 may cause one of the light emitters 164 to output light in response to its corresponding pixel being colored white for a particular frame of the video file. The control system 64 may also cause the light emitter 164 to prevent the output of light in response to a determination that its corresponding pixel is not colored white for another particular frame of the video file. Thus, the control system 64 may adjust the emission of light via the light emitter 164 for different frames of the video file. In this manner, the control system 64 may instruct the light emitters 164 to output light that corresponds to the movement of a white light in a particular direction depicted in the video file.In additional or alternative embodiments, the control system 64 can instruct the light emitters 164 to flash or blink to change the appearance of the electric arc 106 and / or the light output 104 to depict sparks, a sunset, or the like.

[0033] 5 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method or process 2000 of operating a show effects system for an attraction system. Any suitable device (e.g., processing circuitry 68 of control system 64 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4) may perform method 200. In one embodiment, method 200 may be implemented by executing instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium (e.g., memory 66 of control system 64). For example, method 200 may be performed at least in part by one or more software components, one or more software applications, etc. Although method 200 is described using a particular order of steps, additional steps may be performed, the described steps may be performed in an order different from that illustrated, and / or certain described steps may be skipped or not performed at all.

[0034] In block 202, a control system may cause operation of a plasma tube (e.g., plasma tube 100). In one example, the control system may instruct a switch (e.g., switch 110) to apply a voltage in the plasma tube. In another example, the control system may instruct an actuator (e.g., actuator 112) to adjust air pressure in the plasma tube. The air pressure in the plasma tube may affect a threshold voltage applied to generate an electric arc. Thus, the control system may instruct the switch to apply a voltage and instruct the actuator to adjust the air pressure in coordination with each other. In one embodiment, the control system may receive instructions (e.g., user input, sensor data) to operate a show effects system and generate an electric arc based on the instructions. For example, the instructions may be associated with generating an electric arc having a particular appearance and characteristics with a smooth edge. In response, the control system can instruct the switch to apply a voltage having a frequency below a threshold frequency and / or an amplitude below a threshold voltage, and / or instruct the actuator to increase the air pressure in the plasma tube above a threshold air pressure value to generate a smooth contoured electric arc. As an example, the control system can receive instructions via user input, such as during testing or calibration of the show effects system. As another example, the control system can receive instructions via preprogramming and can automatically cause operation of the plasma tube (e.g., without user input) based on the preprogramming.

[0035] In block 204, the control system can instruct the light strip or light sources (e.g., light source 105), or other light sources, to project light through the plasma tube. As an example, the light strip can include light emitters (e.g., light bulbs), and the control system can independently control each light emitter to output light. In an embodiment, the control system can receive an input and cause the light strip to project light through the plasma tube in response to the received input. For example, the input can include a video file including multiple frames, and the control system can pixel map each light emitter (e.g., light bulb) to a particular pixel in the video file, and the control system can cause the light emitter to output light or prevent the light emitter from outputting light based on the coloring of the pixels of the frames of the video file. In an embodiment, the control system can instruct the light emitters to sequentially output light along the plasma tube to depict the movement of light along the plasma tube. The coordinated operation of the plasma tube and the light strip can create a visual electrical effect that modifies the appearance of an electric arc generated in the plasma tube.

[0036] In block 206, the control system can direct the movement of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle 58, 102), such as along a track or path. In some embodiments, the control system can direct the movement of the vehicle based on the light projected via the light strip. The control system may include separate controllers (e.g., programmable logic controllers) for the vehicle and the light strip, but the controllers can communicate with each other or with a central controller for coordination. As an example, the control system can determine a first position associated with the light output via the light strip, the control system can determine a second position (e.g., a target position) of the vehicle based on or in response to the first position associated with the light, and the control system can command the vehicle to move to the second position. For example, the control system can move the vehicle with or in parallel to the movement of the depicted light projected via the light strip (e.g., to synchronize the movement of the vehicle with the movement of the depicted projected light). Additionally, the control system can command the vehicle to move, allowing a guest on the vehicle to view the electric arcs generated in the plasma tubes and the light projected via the light strip. Thus, the movement of the vehicle can be coordinated with the visual electrical effects to provide guests with an immersive ride experience through the visual electrical effects.

[0037] In another embodiment, the control system can direct the output of light through the light strip based on the motion of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle 58, 102). That is, the control system can determine a position associated with the motion of the vehicle, and the control system can direct the light strip to output light based on the position. For example, the control system can use data (e.g., pixel mapping instructions) that can associate each position of the vehicle with one or more light emitters to output light. Thus, based on the determined vehicle position (e.g., based on visualization of the vehicle on a track or path), the control system can determine an associated light emitter (e.g., a light bulb) and direct the light emitter to output light. As the vehicle moves along the track or path, the control system can determine an updated vehicle position, determine updated light emitters associated with the updated position, and direct the updated light emitter to output light (e.g., stop outputting light by a previous light emitter). Thus, based on the motion of the vehicle along the track or path, the control system can cause the light strip to output light sequentially along the plasma tubes, such as by activating or paralleling the motion of the vehicle along the path. For example, the control system can move the vehicle along with or parallel to the vehicle's motion along a track or route, providing guests with an immersive ride experience through visual electronic effects that burn to follow the vehicle.

[0038] While only certain features of the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure.

[0039] The techniques presented and claimed herein refer to and apply material objects and specific examples of a practical nature that demonstratively improve the technical field of the present invention, and are not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Moreover, if any claim appended at the end of this specification contains one or more elements specified as "means for [performing] [function]..." or "steps for [performing] [function]...", such elements are intended to be construed under 35 USC 112(f). However, for claims containing elements specified in any other manner, such elements are not intended to be construed under 35 USC 112(f).

Claims

1. 1. A show effects system, comprising: a plasma tube having an axial length greater than a width and configured to generate an electric arc within the plasma tube; a light strip extending along the axial length of the plasma tube, the light strip including a plurality of light emitters configured to output light through the plasma tube and backlight the electric arc generated by the plasma tube; Includes a show effects system.

2. The show effect system of claim 1 , wherein the plasma tube includes a frosted portion configured to diffuse the light output by the light strip.

3. The show effect system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light emitters of the light strip face the frosted portion and are configured to output the light through the plasma tube via the frosted portion.

4. The show effects system of claim 1 , comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the plasma tube, the controller configured to control operation of the plasma tube to generate the electric arc.

5. 5. The show effects system of claim 4, wherein the plasma tube includes a switch, and the controller is configured to operate the switch to control a frequency, an amplitude, or both, of a voltage applied to the plasma tube to generate the electric arc.

6. The controller directing the switch to increase the frequency, the amplitude, or both, of the voltage applied to the plasma tube to increase the variability of the electric arc generated by the plasma tube; directing the switch to reduce the frequency, the amplitude, or both, of the voltage applied to the plasma tube to reduce the variability of the electric arc generated by the plasma tube; 6. The show effects system of claim 5, configured to perform the following:

7. 10. The show effects system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller communicatively coupled to the light strip, the controller configured to direct the plurality of light emitters to sequentially output the light along the light strip.

8. 8. The show effect system of claim 7, comprising a vehicle, the controller being communicatively coupled to the vehicle, and the controller being configured to instruct the vehicle to move in coordination with the lights sequentially output along the light strip.

9. An attraction system, a plasma tube configured to generate an electric arc within the plasma tube; a light strip extending along the plasma tube and configured to output light through the plasma tube and illuminate the electric arc generated by the plasma tube; a vehicle configured to move along a path proximate to at least a portion of the plasma tube and the light strip; Attraction system, including:

10. 10. The attraction system of claim 9, wherein the light strip is positioned on a first side of the plasma tube and the vehicle moves along a second side of the plasma tube opposite the first side.

11. 10. The attraction system of claim 9, wherein the plasma tube includes a coating or coloring configured to change the visualized color of the light output by the light strip through the plasma tube.

12. 10. The attraction system of claim 9, wherein the light strip includes a plurality of light bulbs configured to output the light through the plasma tube, the light strip being positioned to offset the plurality of light bulbs from the plasma tube.

13. 13. The attraction system of claim 12, wherein the light strip includes a base, the plurality of light bulbs are coupled to the base, and the base is attached to the plasma tube.

14. a controller communicatively coupled to the light strip, the controller comprising: determining a position of the vehicle; directing the light output by the light strip based on the position of the vehicle; The attraction system of claim 9 , configured to execute the following:

15. 10. The attraction system of claim 9, wherein the plasma tube includes an actuator configured to adjust the pressure within the plasma tube, and the attraction system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator, the controller configured to direct the actuator to adjust the pressure within the plasma tube.

16. 1. A show effects system, comprising: a plasma tube having an axial length greater than a width, the plasma tube including a switch configured to apply a voltage to generate an electric arc within an interior volume of the plasma tube; a light strip external to the plasma tube and configured to output light, the light strip extending along an axial length of the plasma tube and oriented to output the light through the plasma tube to the electric arc generated within the interior volume of the plasma tube; a controller communicatively coupled to the plasma tube and the light strip, directing the switch to apply the voltage to generate the electric arc; and directing the light strip to output the light; a controller configured to perform operations including: Includes a show effects system.

17. 17. The show effects system of claim 16, wherein the plasma tube includes an actuator configured to adjust a pressure within the interior volume of the plasma tube, and the controller is configured to direct the switch to apply the voltage having a frequency, an amplitude, or both based on the pressure.

18. The controller is communicatively coupled to the actuator, the controller comprising: directing the actuator to adjust the pressure within the interior volume of the plasma tube to a first pressure; instructing the switch to apply the voltage having a first amplitude based on the first pressure within the interior volume of the plasma tube; directing the actuator to adjust the pressure within the interior volume of the plasma tube to a second pressure lower than the first pressure; directing the switch to apply the voltage having a second amplitude based on the second pressure within the interior volume of the plasma tube, the second amplitude being less than the first amplitude; 20. The show effects system of claim 17 configured to perform operations including:

19. The light strip includes a plurality of light emitters configured to output the light, and the controller: receiving a video file comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of pixels; mapping light emitters of the plurality of light emitters to pixels of the plurality of pixels; determining a respective color of each pixel of the plurality of pixels for each frame of the plurality of frames; instructing the plurality of light emitters to output the light based on the respective colors of the plurality of pixels corresponding to the plurality of light emitters; 17. The show effects system of claim 16 configured to perform operations including:

20. 17. The show effects system of claim 16, wherein the plasma tube includes a plurality of plasma tube sections and a coupler configured to couple the plurality of plasma tube sections to one another, the interior volume of the plasma tube extending through the plurality of plasma tube sections.

21. A show effect system as described in claim 16, including a vehicle, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the vehicle, and the controller is configured to instruct a light strip to output the light in coordination with movement of the vehicle.

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