Mirror illusion system and method

Abstract

The show effect system may include a first mirror coupled to a first actuator and mounted on a wall, a second mirror coupled to a second actuator and mounted on the wall adjacent to the first mirror, and sensors configured to monitor a viewing area for observing the first and second mirrors, the sensors configured to provide sensor data related to guests in the viewing area. The show effect system may also include a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the sensors. Based on the sensor data, the controller may determine that a guest is in a given location within the viewing area and instruct the first actuator to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror to exclude that location from its reflection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 525,271, filed Jul. 6, 2023, entitled “MIRROR ILLUSION SYSTEMS AND METHODS,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Background Art

[0002] This section is intended to introduce to the reader various aspects that may be related to the various aspects of the present disclosure described and / or claimed below. This disclosure is thought to help provide background information to the reader to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Thus, it should be understood that this description is to be read from this perspective and is not an admission of prior art.

[0003] At any location in amusement parks and other entertainment facilities, special effects can be used to help guests immerse themselves in the experience of rides or attractions. An immersive environment can include three-dimensional (3D) props and large props, robotic or mechanical elements, and / or display surfaces presenting media. For example, an amusement park can provide show effects to guests. The show effects can include visual illusions such as a guest disappearing in a mirror reflection. With show effects, an amusement park can provide a creative way to entertain guests, such as presenting visual illusions in a convincing manner.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following presents an overview of certain embodiments disclosed herein. These aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief overview of these particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the present disclosure can encompass various aspects that may not be defined below.

[0005] In one embodiment, the show effect system may include a first mirror coupled to a first actuator and mounted on a wall, a second mirror coupled to a second actuator and mounted adjacent to the first mirror, and sensors configured to provide sensor data related to guests in a viewing area. The show effect system may also include a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the sensors. The controller may, based on the sensor data, determine whether or not a guest is in the viewing area and instruct the first actuator to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror to change the reflection of the mirror seen by the guest.

[0006] In one embodiment, a non-temporary computer-readable medium, when executed by one or more processors, may include instructions that cause one or more processors to receive sensor data from sensors that monitor guest activity; determine the guest's position relative to the show effects system based on the sensor data; and instruct at least one actuator of the show effects system to adjust the position or orientation of at least one mirror of the show effects system, thereby changing the reflection of the mirror seen by the guest and excluding the guest's reflection in at least one mirror.

[0007] In one embodiment, an attraction system for an attraction may include a first mirror, a second mirror, and one or more actuators configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both. The attraction system may also include one or more sensors that track the position of a guest within the attraction system, and a controller that receives sensor data indicating the guest's position from the one or more sensors, determines a target angle between the first mirror and the second mirror to exclude the guest's reflection from the reflection of the first mirror and / or the second mirror based on the guest's position, and can instruct one or more actuators to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both based on the target angle.

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, where similar letters throughout the drawings represent similar parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an amusement park attraction system according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0010] [Figure 2] This is a schematic front view of the attraction system of Figure 1, including a show effects system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0011] [Figure 3] This is a schematic overview of the attraction system shown in Figure 1, including a show effects system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0012] [Figure 4] This is a schematic front view of the attraction system of Figure 1, including a show effects system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0013] [Figure 5] This is a schematic front view of the attraction system of Figure 1, including a show effects system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0014] [Figure 6] This is a schematic side view of the attraction system of Figure 1, including a show effects system, according to one aspect of this disclosure.

[0015] [Figure 7] This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method or process for operating the attraction system shown in Figure 1, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] One or more specific embodiments are described below. Not all features of actual implementations are described herein in order to provide a concise description of these embodiments. It should be recognized that, as with any industrial design or design project, the development of any such actual implementation will require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the specific goals of the developers, including compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary between implementations. Furthermore, it should be recognized that while such development work can be complex and time-consuming, it is still a routine task of design, fabrication, and manufacturing for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0017] When describing elements of the various embodiments of this disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to indicate that there is one or more elements. The terms “equipped with,” “contains,” and “have” are intended to be comprehensive and to indicate that there may be further elements other than those described. In addition, it should be noted that any reference in this disclosure to “one embodiment” or “one embodiment” is not intended to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments incorporating similarly referred features.

[0018] This disclosure is directed toward providing show effects for entertainment purposes. For example, these embodiments can be employed to entertain guests in an amusement park. An amusement park can include a variety of features to entertain guests, such as rides (e.g., roller coasters), theatrical shows, set designs, performers, and / or decorative elements. Show effects can be used to supplement or complement these features, for example, to provide guests with a more immersive and / or unique experience. For example, show effects can be presented together with real-world objects to provide guests with an interactive experience.

[0019] An attraction system may include a show effects system configured to present show effects, such as disappearing illusions, that give guests an immersive and / or unique experience. To present show effects, the show effects system may include two mirrors parallel to each other on a first wall. As those skilled in the art will understand, the use of the term “parallel” is in general orientation and not strictly mathematical. Thus, those skilled in the art will understand that the mirrors are generally aligned in substantially parallel orientations, as judged by the average observer. The show effects system may also include one or more objects on a second wall, which may be adjacent to or opposite the first wall. In one embodiment, the first wall may be a first wall portion, and the second wall may be a second wall portion of the same curved wall. The field of view reflected by the mirrors may include the second wall and one or more objects. In addition, guests may approach the show effects system and see their own and / or one or more objects reflected in the two mirrors.

[0020] A show effect system can be configured such that a guest can see a mirrored image of one or more objects, but can no longer see their own mirrored image within the mirror. For example, each mirror can be coupled to one or more actuators that adjust the position and / or orientation of the mirror. By adjusting the position or orientation of the mirror, the field of view reflected by the mirror can be adjusted. If the mirrored image excludes the guest, the observer may appear as if they have vanished. In addition, the vanishing effect can be presented in conjunction with a distraction such as a loud sound, a flash of light, or another distraction that causes the guest to briefly look away from the mirror. Thus, embodiments of this disclosure are directed toward a show effect system that provides a realistic illusion effect. In some embodiments, two mirrors can be replaced with multiple mirrors, a single mirror with flexible joints, or another arrangement of one or more mirrors, which allow for adjustment of position or orientation to achieve a desired change in the field of view reflected by one or more mirrors seen by the guest. References to field of view in this disclosure refer to the mirrored image of the mirror as perceived by the guest (i.e., an image such as a scene reflected by the mirror). A reference to a mirror's reflection corresponds to an image reflected by the mirror so that the guest can see it from a specific location. For example, a guest (at a specific location) may perceive a first scene reflected from the mirror (i.e., in each reflection of the mirror) when the mirror is in a first configuration (e.g., position and / or orientation), and may perceive a second scene, different from the first scene, when the mirror is in a second configuration different from the first configuration.

[0021] With the above in mind, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an amusement park attraction system 50 according to the present disclosure. As an example, the guest area 52 can include a path (e.g., a walkway, a queue, a line) through which guests 54 can proceed. As another example, the guest area 52 can include a space (e.g., a seating area) where guests 54 can be located to watch a performance. As a further example, the guest area 52 can include a vehicle that can move and carry guests 54 throughout the attraction system 50.

[0022] Furthermore, the attraction system 50 can include an attraction portion 56 that can provide entertainment to guests 54. The attraction portion 56 can include a ride (e.g., a dark ride), a haunted house, an escape room, a theater, a maze, etc. The attraction portion 56 can include a show effect system 58 that can provide a show effect to guests 54. For example, the attraction portion 56 can be a haunted house attraction that includes a passage for guests 54 to cross the attraction portion 56. Furthermore, the attraction portion 56 can include a passage that leads guests 54 to the show effect system 58. In a particular case, the attraction portion 56 can include a marker or indicator for positioning guests 54 with respect to the show effect system 58 in order to provide a visually realistic illusion to guests 54. For example, in a first configuration, guests 54 can be positioned to view a mirror image from the show effect system 58 that includes a mirror image of guests 54 and the surrounding walls of the attraction portion 56. Next, in a second configuration, guests 54 can no longer view their own mirror image in the show effect system 58 but can continue to view the mirror image of the surrounding walls. Thus, the show effect system 58 can provide a realistic, disappearing illusion to guests 54.

[0023] In another example, the attraction section 56 could be a theater, where guests 54 could participate in an intimate show with one or more actors. For example, guests 54 could recognize that the actors are playing fictional characters (e.g., wizards, vampires, ghosts) based on the actors' actions and / or the interaction between the actors and the show effects system 58. That is, guests 54 might not perceive their own reflection in the show effects system 58, which could indicate a vampire. In a particular case, an actor could interact with a guest 54, after which the guest 54 might not see their own reflection in the show effects system 58, which could indicate that the guest 54 has transformed into a fictional character. In this way, the show effects system 58 can provide guests 54 with an interactive experience. While the exemplary show effects system 58 is located within the attraction section 56, in one embodiment the show effects system 58 may be located within the guest area 52.

[0024] Returning to the special effect system 58, the special effect system 58 can provide special effects such as the illusion of disappearance to the guest(s) 54. For this purpose, the special effect system 58 can include one or more mirror(s) 60, one or more object(s) 62, one or more actuator(s) 64, one or more sensor(s) 66, and / or an output device 67. One or more mirror(s) 60 can be attached to the first wall of the attraction portion 56 and can reflect light within the attraction portion 56. For example, each of the one or more mirror(s) 60 can reflect light in a specific direction. What the mirror reflects and what the guest(s) 54 sees can be based on the position and / or orientation of the mirror(s) 60 within the attraction portion 56. For this purpose, the one or more mirror(s) 60 can be made of glass, plastic, polymer material, semi-reflective material, reflective material, etc. For example, the guest(s) 54 can be positioned in front of the one or more mirror(s) 60, and the guest(s) 54 can see their own reflection and the reflection of one or more walls adjacent to and / or opposite the first wall. In addition, the guest(s) 54 can see the reflection of other guest(s) 54 positioned in front of the one or more mirror(s) 60.

[0025] The show effects system 58 may also include one or more objects 62 positioned on a second wall of the attraction section 56. The second wall may be adjacent to the first wall and within the field of view of one or more mirrors 60. Thus, one or more objects 62 mounted on the second wall may be reflected by the one or more mirrors 60 and seen by the guests 54. In another example, the second wall may be directly opposite the first wall, and the guests 54 may see a reflection of the object 62 through the one or more mirrors 60. One or more objects 62 may include displays (e.g., liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode (LED) displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, micro-LEDs, projectors), projectors, screens, light sources, paintings, decorations, show props, animated figures, etc. For example, one or more objects 62 may be a digital display that receives image data and displays the image. In another example, one or more objects 62 could include show props such as paintings, clocks, figurines, or books. In a particular case, one or more objects 62 could be coupled to an actuator that adjusts the position and / or orientation of the one or more objects 62 to provide a realistic show effect to the guest(s) 54. This can be done to complement the effect caused by adjusting the mirror 60. Similar adjustments can be made to images on an electronic display. For example, changing the field of view mirrored by the mirror 60 may cause the mirrored features (e.g., objects 62 or displayed images) to appear to move away from or out of the center of the mirrored scene. To counteract this and enhance the immersion of the show effect, the features could move together or towards the center of the mirrored scene to counteract the perceived receding motion caused by the change in the mirrored field of view.

[0026] In addition, one or more mirrors 60 can each be coupled to one or more actuators 64. Each of the actuators 64 can adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60. The position and / or orientation of each mirror 60 can be adjusted by rotating, orienting, and / or linearly translating each of the mirrors 60 between a first position and a second position. In the first position, one or more mirrors 60 can be coplanar with a first wall. In the second position, one or more mirrors 60 may be angled relative to the first wall, angled so as to form an angle between two or three or more mirrors 60, and / or angled so as to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60. For this purpose, the one or more actuators 64 may include linear actuators, cam-type mechanical devices, pneumatic actuators, rotating devices, and the like. In one example, one or more actuators 64 can utilize linear motion to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60.

[0027] Additionally or alternatively, one or more actuators 64 can each be coupled to one or more objects 62. For example, in a first position, one or more objects 62 can be positioned on a first portion of a second wall. To provide a realistic show effect, the position and / or orientation of one or more objects 62 can be adjusted based on the adjusted position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60. For example, one or more objects 62 can move horizontally, taking into account the adjusted position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60. In another example, one or more objects 62 can rotate, so that one or more objects 62 may not appear to be moving to the guest 54 during the show effect.

[0028] The show effects system 58 may also include one or more sensors 66 for determining guest attributes such as the movement of the guest(s) 54, the facial features of the guest(s) 54, and the guest's position and / or orientation relative to the show effects system 58. For example, one or more sensors 66 may be positioned to monitor guest(s) activities related to the guest(s) 54, such as the movement of body components (e.g., head, arms, legs) and / or the distance between the guest(s) 54 and one or more mirrors 60. One or more sensors 66 may also determine the guest(s) 54's eye movements, gaze, viewpoint, etc. For this purpose, one or more sensors 66 may include cameras (e.g., optical cameras, 3D cameras, infrared (IR) cameras, depth-based cameras), position sensors (e.g., sonar sensors, radar sensors, laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR) sensors), time-of-flight sensors, etc. For example, one or more sensors 66 can generate video data of a guest(s) 54 (e.g., an IR spectrum invisible to the guest(s) 54). In another example, one or more sensors 66 can track one or more attributes of the guest(s) 54 (e.g., facial features, height, eye height). In addition, one or more sensors 66 can determine the visual cone of the guest(s) 54 when viewing the show effects system 58. In yet another example, one or more sensors 66 can include proximity sensors to determine the position of the guest(s) 54 relative to the show effects system 58. In yet another example, one or more sensors 66 can include a computer vision system that tracks the longitudinal and lateral positions of the guest(s) 54 relative to the show effects system 58.

[0029] The show effects system 58 may also include an output device 67. The output device 67 can provide visual and / or acoustic effects. For this purpose, the output device 67 may include a strobe light, LED, OLED, flashing device, speaker, smoke system, etc. For example, the output device 67 may be a strobe light that provides a sudden flash of light to cause a guest(s) 54 to have their line of sight to one or more mirrors 60. Additionally or alternatively, the flash may temporarily prevent the guest(s) 54 from looking at one or more mirrors 60, thereby obstructing their line of sight. In another example, the output device 67 may provide a loud sound to prevent the guest(s) 54 from looking at one or more mirrors 60. Additionally or alternatively, an actor(s) may create a distraction to distract the guest(s) 54 from looking at one or more mirrors 60. For example, actors can approach and interact with guests 54.

[0030] The attraction system 50 may include, or be coupled with, a controller 68 (e.g., a control system, an automatic controller, a programmable controller, an electronic controller, a control circuit, a cloud computing system) configured to operate the show effects system 58 to provide guests 54 with an interactive experience. For example, the controller 68 may be communicatively coupled to one or more objects 62, one or more actuators 64, one or more sensors 66, and / or output devices 67 (e.g., via one or more cables, via wireless communication (e.g., via transmitters, receivers, transceivers)). The controller 68 may include memory 70 (representing one or more memories) and processing circuits or processors 72 (representing one or more processors). Memory 70 may include volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM) and / or non-volatile memory such as read-only memory (ROM), optical drives, hard disk drives, semiconductor drives, or any other non-temporary computer-readable medium containing instructions to operate the show effects system 58. The processor 72 may be configured to execute such instructions. For example, the processor 72 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. In certain cases, the controller 68 may include one or more controllers that are communicatively coupled and can individually or collectively perform the operations described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 68 may include one or more processors 72 and / or one or more memories 70 that can individually or collectively perform the operations described herein.

[0031] In one embodiment, the controller 68 can receive sensor data from one or more sensors 66, operate to determine the visual cone and / or position of the guest(s) 54 relative to one or more mirrors 60, and send control signals to one or more actuators 64 instructing them to generate a show effect. For example, the controller 68 can receive sensor data from proximity sensors to determine the position and / or orientation of the guest(s) 54 relative to one or more mirrors 60. Based on the position and / or orientation of the guest(s) 54, along with established data on human visual ability, the controller 68 can determine the visual cone of the guest(s) 54. In another example, the controller 68 can determine the number of guest(s) 54 that interact with (e.g., view) one or more mirrors 60. In addition, the controller 68 can use image analysis technology to determine the facial features and / or eye movements (e.g., blinking) of the guest(s) 54, and instruct the controller 68 to generate show effects during the blinking of the guest(s) 54.

[0032] To produce a realistic show effect for the guest(s) 54, the controller 68 can instruct one or more actuators 64 to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more objects 62. The guest(s) 54 can see a mirrored image of the object(s) 62 when one or more mirrors 60 are in a first position and a second position. For example, the position and / or orientation of the object(s) 62 can be adjusted from a first position to a second position, and the mirrored image of the object(s) 62 in the mirror(s) 60 will appear to the guest(s) 54 that it has not moved. In certain cases, the object(s) 62 may be a display (e.g., an electronic display system), and the controller 68 can generate and send image data to the display to update the displayed image content. For example, the updated image content could be a similar image content that has been shifted or rotated in one direction so that it appears as if the position and / or orientation of one or more objects 62 has been changed.

[0033] While this embodiment can operate without any generated distractions, in certain embodiments, the controller 68 can instruct the output device 67 to provide a distraction to the guest(s) 54, diverting the guest(s) 54 from looking at one or more mirrors 60. For this purpose, the controller 68 can instruct the output device 67 to generate visual and / or acoustic outputs to divert the guest's attention from one or more mirrors 60. While diverting the guest's attention from one or more mirrors 60, the controller 68 can send instructions to one or more actuators 64 to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60. For example, one or more actuators 64 can move one or more mirrors 60 from a first position to a second position, thereby adjusting the reflection from one or more mirrors 60 that the guest(s) 54 sees. In this way, the controller 68 can instruct the generation of show effects to create an immersive environment for the guest(s) 54.

[0034] Next, the controller 68 can instruct one or more actuators 64 to reset the show effect system 58 by returning one or more mirrors 60 from a second position to a first position. For example, one or more actuators 64 can adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors 60 so that they are parallel to each other. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 68 can instruct one or more actuators 64 to move one or more objects 62 from a second position to a first position. In this way, the controller 68 can reset the show effect system 58 in preparation for subsequent guest interactions.

[0035] Figure 2 is a schematic front perspective view of an attraction system 50 including a show effects system 58 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In detail, the show effects system 58 can transition from a first configuration 90A to a second configuration 90B, as indicated by arrow 92. Exemplarily, a guest approaches the show effects system 58 and can see their own reflection (e.g., a first mirroring element 94) in the first configuration 90A, and cannot see their own reflection in the second configuration 90B. As illustrated, the show effects system 58 includes one mirror 60 that transitions between the first configuration 90A and the second configuration 90B, and one sensor 66 positioned to monitor the guest's attributes. With respect to the guest's viewpoint, the mirror 60 appears unchanged from the first configuration 90A to the second configuration 90B. As further described herein, the position and / or orientation of the mirror 90 are adjusted to provide show effects. For this purpose, the mirror 60 may include hinges that allow rotation of a first part and a second part of the mirror 60, and the mirror 60 may be coupled to one or more actuators that can adjust the position and / or orientation of the first part, the second part, or both. Sensor 66 can monitor the guest's position and / or orientation relative to the show effect system 58, the guest's facial features, the guest's eye movements, etc. For example, sensor 66 can determine whether the guest is within a designated area adjacent to the show effect system 58. If the guest is not within the designated area, the show effect system 58 may remain in the first configuration 90A without providing the guest with a show effect. If the guest is within the designated area, the show effect system 58 may be instructed to generate a show effect for the guest by transitioning from the first configuration 90A to the second configuration 90B. Such a transition may be activated by the show effect system 58 upon detection of the guest's eye blink or other triggers (e.g., visual or acoustic diversion).

[0036] In the first configuration 90A, the guest is positioned in front of the mirror 60 and can see reflections which are a first reflection element 94 (for example, a reflection of themselves) and a second reflection element 96 (for example, a reflection of one or more objects in the background area). As shown, the first reflection element 94 may include a reflection of the guest, and the second reflection element 96 may include a reflection of one or more objects mounted on the second wall of the attraction section. The reflections may also include a part of the second wall, one or more additional guests in the attraction section, one or more actors in the attraction section, and so on.

[0037] In certain embodiments, the show effects system 58 may provide a diversion that can temporarily block the line of sight between the guest and the mirror 60. For example, a controller may instruct an output device to generate a visual diversion and / or an acoustic diversion. A visual diversion may be a sudden flash of light reflected by the mirror 60, blocking the line of sight between the guest and the mirror 60. In one example, an acoustic diversion may be an explosion or loud noise that causes the guest to turn their back on the show effects system 58. In yet another example, the diversion may include both a visual and an acoustic diversion. The diversion may include both a flash of light and a loud noise, which may cause the guest to disconnect from the show effects system 58.

[0038] In certain cases, the show effect system 58 can determine a guest's blinking pattern and transition from a first configuration 90A to a second configuration 90B during the blink. The transition based on the detected blink can be performed with or without diversion. In one embodiment, a guest may wear shutter glasses 98 that periodically obstruct the guest's line of sight. For example, the shutter glasses may include one or more shutters (e.g., louvers) that open and close to provide the guest with an interactive experience. The shutter glasses 98 can be communicatively coupled to a controller 68, and the timing of the shutter glasses 98's operation can be synchronized with the timing of the actuators 64. For example, when the shutter glasses 98 close, the controller 68 can instruct one or more actuators to adjust the position and / or orientation of a first and a second part of a mirror 60. In this way, the guest can see a show effect or a realistic disappearing illusion. In certain cases, multiple guests can interact with the show effect system 58 simultaneously. Each guest may wear shutter glasses to see the show effect. For example, the shutter glasses 98 can be synchronized so that the shutter glasses close together, and one or more actuators adjust the position and / or orientation of the mirror 60, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the mirror 60 is a single flexible mirror or a hinged mirror component, and the actuator may be a single actuator that bends the flexible mirror or causes bending or rotation around a hinge between the mirror components; however, in other embodiments, the mirror 60 may include multiple mirrors, as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0039] In the second configuration 90B, the guest(s) can remain positioned in front of the mirror 60 but cannot see the first mirroring element 94 (for example, a reflection of the guest). The position and / or orientation of the mirror 60 can be adjusted, which can adjust the reflection from the mirror 60 that the guest sees. For example, the first mirroring element 94 may become invisible with respect to the guest's viewpoint. In addition, due to a change in the position of the second mirroring element 96 based on the change in the position and / or orientation of the mirror 60, the second mirroring element 96 may appear to remain in the same position with respect to the guest's viewpoint. For this purpose, one or more actuators can adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more objects(s) such that the guest perceives that the second mirroring element 96 has not moved. In other embodiments, one or more objects can be displays that can use updated image data to produce a similar effect. In this way, the guest(s) can perceive that their own reflection has disappeared, but the reflection of the attraction portion has not changed, between the first configuration 90A and the second configuration 90B. In this way, the show effects system 58 can provide guests with an interactive and / or immersive experience.

[0040] Figure 3 is a schematic overhead view of an attraction system 50 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In detail, the show effects system 58 can transition from a first configuration 90A to a second configuration 90B, as indicated by arrow 92. As shown, the show effects system 58 includes two mirrors 60 (referred to separately as the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B). In the first configuration 90A, the mirrors 60 can be parallel, and the guest 54 can see their own reflection and the reflection of one or more objects. In the second configuration 90B, the position and / or orientation of the two mirrors 60 can be adjusted so that the guest 54 cannot see their own reflection but can continue to see the reflection of one or more objects. In other embodiments, the two mirrors 60 can be adjusted so that the guest 54 can see their own reflection but cannot see the reflection of one or more objects. In fact, the reflection seen by guest 54 from mirror 60 can be adjusted as desired based on the position and / or orientation of each mirror 60.

[0041] Returning to the first configuration 90A, the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60B can be mounted parallel to the first wall of the attraction section. For example, the edge 122 of the first mirror 60, 60A can be adjacent to the edge 124 of the second mirror 60, 60B. Although not shown, the seam between the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B can be concealed by a flexible and / or reflective material that looks visually similar to the mirror 60. In other embodiments, the seam can be concealed by show props such as spiderwebs, fake blood, glitter, or cards. In this way, the guest 54 can see the two mirrors as one continuous mirror. The first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B can reflect light within the attraction section 56 to create a mirrored image that the guest 54 sees. For example, each of the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B may contain a reflection 120 that the guest 54 sees, which may depend on the position and / or orientation of each mirror 60. The reflection 120 may be the area of ​​the attraction portion as seen from the guest 54's viewpoint, reflected from the two mirrors 60. As shown, the reflection 120 may extend from the second edges 122, 122B of the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second edges 124, 124B of the second mirrors 60, 60B. That is, the reflection 120 may include the guest 54.

[0042] The show effect system 58 may include markers 126 for positioning a guest(s) 54 relative to a mirror 60, and positioning at a marker can function as a trigger to initiate a specific system operation. For example, the markers 126 may be lines on the floor of the attraction section 56 and serve as guides for where the guest(s) 54 should stand or sit. The guest(s) 54 may be positioned at or around the location of the markers 126 to view the show effect. For example, the guest(s) 54 may have an inferred or estimated visual cone 128 when viewing the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B. The visual cone 128 may be a portion of the mirror 60 from which the guest(s) 54 can have an unobstructed view. As illustrated, the guest(s) 54 may have a visual cone 128 extending from the second edge 122, 122B of the first mirrors 60, 60A to the second edge 124, 124B of the second mirrors 60, 60B. In other words, the visual cone 128 can cover reflections from the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B. In the first configuration 90A, the guest 54 can see their own reflection in mirror 60.

[0043] In the second configuration 90B, the position and / or orientation of the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or the second mirrors 60, 60B can be adjusted, thereby changing the reflection 120 of the mirrors 60 seen by the guest in order to provide show effects such as the illusion of disappearing. For example, the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B can be oriented at a predetermined angle 130 relative to each other and to the first wall. As shown in the figure, the second edges 122, 122B of the first mirrors 60, 60A are positioned at a predetermined angle adjacent to the first wall, and the second edges 124, 124B of the second mirrors 60, 60B are positioned at a predetermined angle adjacent to the first wall. In this way, an angle 130 is formed between the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B. The magnitude of the angle 130 used to achieve the illusion in the second configuration 90B may depend on the position and / or orientation of the guest 54 relative to the mirror 60. The angle 130 between the two mirrors 60 may decrease as the distance between the guest 54 and the mirror 60 increases. For example, the guest 54 may be positioned 10-15 feet away from the mirror 60, and the angle 130 may be reduced by only 10 degrees (e.g., from 180 degrees or parallel orientation). In another example, the guest 54 may be positioned 1-5 feet away from the mirror 60, and the angle 130 may be reduced by only 25 degrees.

[0044] This adjustment may cause the mirrored images 120 of the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or the second mirrors 60, 60B to be shifted in the opposite direction to the position of the guest 54. As shown in the illustration, the mirrored image 120 of the first mirrors 60, 60A may be shifted to the left relative to the guest's viewpoint, and the mirrored image 120 of the second mirrors 60, 60B may be shifted to the right relative to the guest's viewpoint. Thus, the mirrored images 120 of the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B may not include the guest 54.

[0045] The illustrated embodiment involves adjusting the position and / or orientation of both the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B, but the show effect system 58 may adjust the position and / or orientation of either the first mirrors 60, 60A or the second mirrors 60, 60B. For example, a guest 54 may stand on the edge of the first mirrors 60, 60A. Based on the position and / or orientation of the guest 54, the show effect system 58 may adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirrors 60, 60A so that the field of view 120 does not include the guest 54. In addition, the show effect system 58 may include three or more mirrors 60. For example, the show effect system 58 may include three or more, four or more, five or more, or six or more mirrors to provide a show effect.

[0046] Figure 4 is a schematic front view of an attraction system 50 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the show effect system 58 includes mirrors 60 (referred to individually as the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B) coupled to actuators 64 (referred to individually as the first actuator 64, 64A and the second actuator 64, 64B). The mirrors 60 may appear to guests as a single continuous mirror, but the mirrors 60 can be formed by the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B coupled by a hinge 160. The hinge 160 can provide a pivot axis for one or more mirrors 60 to pivot. As shown, the hinge 160 can be coupled along the first edges 122, 122A of the first mirror 60, 60A and the first edges 124, 124A of the second mirror 60, 60B. Thus, the first mirrors 60, 60A can pivot in a first direction around the hinge 160, and the second mirrors 60, 60B can pivot in a second direction around the hinge 160 that is opposite to the first direction. In this way, the angle between the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B (for example, the angle 130 described with respect to Figure 3) may be small, and the field of view 120 of each mirror 60 can be adjusted to provide a show effect. In certain cases, the second edges 122, 122B of the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or the second edges 124, 124B of the second mirrors 60, 60B can be rotatably coupled to the first wall of the attraction section 56.

[0047] In certain cases, the hinge 160 can be concealed and / or hidden from the guest's view by polymer films, lighting effects, and decorations such as fake spiderwebs, imitation blood, threads of light, woven threads, or cloth. For example, a polyester film having similar visual properties to the mirror 60 can conceal the hinge 160 between the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B from the guest's view. In another example, leaves can be used to conceal the hinge 160. In addition, the lighting within the attraction section 56 can be dimmed to conceal the hinge 160. In this way, the guest can see the first mirror 60, 60A and the second mirror 60, 60B as one continuous mirror. In certain embodiments, the show effect system 58 may include multiple mirrors to provide a show effect. In this way, the hinge between each mirror can be concealed from the guest's view using polyester films, decorations, lighting effects, etc.

[0048] To adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or the second mirrors 60, 60B, each of the mirrors 60 can be coupled to its respective actuator 64. Exemplaryly, the first actuators 64, 64A can be coupled to the edge of the first mirrors 60, 60A which may be adjacent to the hinge 160, and the second actuators 64, 64B can be coupled to the edge of the second mirrors 60, 60B which may be adjacent to the hinge 160. The first actuators 64, 64A and / or the second actuators 64, 64B can utilize linear motion to move the hinge 160 toward the guest(s) 54. For example, the controller 68 can instruct the first actuators 64, 64A to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirrors 60, 60A by pushing the first edge(s) 122, 122A toward the guest(s) 54 and / or away from the first wall. The controller 68 can determine a target angle between the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B, and can instruct the first actuators 64, 64A to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first edges 122, 122A based on the target angle. In addition, the controller 68 can instruct the second actuators 64, 64B to adjust the position and / or orientation of the second mirrors 60, 60B by pushing or pulling the first edges 124, 124A of the second mirrors 60, 60B. The controller 68 can simultaneously instruct the first actuators 64, 64A and the second actuators 64, 64B to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirrors 60, 60A and the second mirrors 60, 60B, respectively. Furthermore, the actuator 64 can be a single actuator that acts on the hinge 160 to move between the angles of the opposing hinge joints.

[0049] Figure 5 is a schematic front view of an attraction system 50 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The attraction system 50 is substantially similar to the schematic diagram of the attraction system 50 of Figure 4, except that the actuators 64 (referred to separately as first actuators 64, 64A and second actuators 64, 64B) are coupled to the edges of the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or second mirrors 60, 60B opposite to the hinges 160. As shown, the first actuators 64, 64A can be coupled to the second edges 122, 122B of the first mirrors 60, 60A, and the second actuators 64, 64B can be coupled to the second edges 124, 124B of the second mirrors 60, 60B. The actuator 64 can be a rotating device that adjusts the position and / or orientation of the second edges 122, 122B of the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or the second edges 124, 124B of the second mirrors 60, 60B, respectively.

[0050] Figure 6 is a schematic side view of an attraction system 50 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the show effect system 58 may include mirrors 60 (which may be the first mirrors 60, 60A and / or the second mirrors 60, 60B as described with respect to Figure 2-6) coupled to actuators 64 (which may be first actuators 64, 64A and / or second actuators 64, 64B). As described above in this specification, the actuators 64 may be coupled to the edges of the mirrors 60. In certain cases, the actuators 64 may be coupled to the surface of the mirrors 60, for example, the surface facing the first wall of the attraction section 56.

[0051] As illustrated, the actuator 64 can utilize linear motion to adjust the position and / or orientation of the mirror 60 from a first position associated with a first configuration to a second position associated with a second configuration (or vice versa). For example, the actuator 64 can push the edge of the mirror 60 away from the first wall (e.g., to a first position) and / or pull the edge of the mirror 60 towards the first wall (e.g., to a second position). In other cases, the actuator 64 can utilize rotational motion to adjust the position and / or orientation of the mirror 60 between, for example, a first position and a second position. That is, the actuator 64 can be coupled to the surface of the mirror 60 and rotate the mirror 60 to a target angle and / or target position. In this way, the show effect system 58 can provide a show effect to guests.

[0052] Figure 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 180 for operating an attraction system to generate show effects according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Any suitable device (e.g., the processor 72 of the controller 68 shown in Figure 1-6, in conjunction with other system components) can perform each method. In one embodiment, each method can be performed by executing instructions stored in a tangible, non-temporary, computer-readable medium (e.g., the memory 70 of the controller 68 shown in Figure 1-6). For example, each method may be performed at least partially by one or more software components, one or more software applications, etc. Although each method is described using a particular sequence of operations, additional operations may be performed, the described operations may be performed in a different order than shown, and / or certain described operations may be skipped or not performed at all.

[0053] In block 182, the controller can receive sensor data indicating one or more characteristics of the guest. For example, a guest may approach the show effects system and see a mirror containing a first mirror element and a second mirror element. The first mirror element may be a mirror of the guest, and the second mirror element may be a mirror of an attraction part, such as a second wall, one or more objects, show props, or one or more actors. For example, the controller can receive sensor data and determine the guest's attributes. These attributes may include the guest's position and / or orientation, height, eye level, and facial features. Based on the sensor data, the controller can determine the guest's position and / or orientation relative to one or more mirrors. In one example, the controller can determine the guest's position based on one or more markers on the floor of the attraction part. For example, image data from a camera can be used to confirm that the guest is on or near one or more markers. In another example, the controller can determine whether the guest is within a designated area of ​​the show effects system. In yet another example, the controller may determine the guest's visual cone (e.g., line of sight) to determine the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors in the show effect system. In one embodiment, the controller may determine the guest's blinking pattern to determine the timing of providing the show effect.

[0054] In block 184, the controller may send a first control signal to the show effect system to generate a show effect. This can be done after the guest's proper positioning has been confirmed (for example, after the guest's position on a mark has been detected). The controller may instruct actuators to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors, thereby adjusting the mirroring of one or more mirrors. Thus, the guest can not see the first mirrored element and can only see the second mirrored element. The show effect can be provided during periods when the guest's eye contact with the show effect system is interrupted. In other words, the show effect can be provided when the line of sight between the guest and one or more mirrors is interrupted. In one embodiment, such an interruption in eye contact can be detected by monitoring the guest's blinking. That is, the show effect can be provided when the guest closes their eyes during a blink. In other embodiments, the controller may instruct an output device to provide a diversion to interrupt the guest's eye contact with one or more mirrors. The output device may provide a visual diversion, an acoustic diversion, or both. In this way, guests may temporarily interrupt eye contact with one or more mirrors. When guests look at one or more mirrors again, they will not be able to see their own reflection, but they will be able to see reflections of the attraction itself, one or more objects, one or more actors, etc.

[0055] In block 186, the controller can send a second control signal to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more objects. For example, the controller can instruct an additional actuator to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more objects. For example, the additional actuator can move one or more objects toward the center of the attraction section, taking into account the adjusted field of view of one or more mirrors. Mirrored features of the background can actually change position in response to changes in the field of view, so they may appear to remain in place, and the actual features will be present and visible even if the guest turns around. For this purpose, the additional actuator may include a mechanical sliding part that moves one or more objects from a first position to a second position within the attraction section. In one embodiment, the second wall of the attraction section may be a display. Thus, the controller can generate image data based on the adjusted field of view of one or more mirrors and instruct the display to display updated image content. In another embodiment, the second wall may be a screen, and the controller can send updated image data to a projector to correct the adjusted reflection of the mirrors as seen by the guest. In yet another embodiment, the controller can send a signal to an output device to adjust the lighting of the second wall. In this way, one or more objects and / or reflections of the second wall that the guest sees may appear unchanged. In certain embodiments, method 100 can skip block 186 and proceed to 188, for example, if the show effect system does not include additional actuators, one or more objects, etc.

[0056] In block 188, the controller can send a third control signal to reset the show effects system. For example, the show effects system can continuously receive guest throughput. After a guest leaves the show effects system, the controller can instruct actuators and / or additional actuators to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more mirrors and / or one or more objects. The actuators can adjust the position of one or more mirrors from a second position (e.g., angled orientation) to a first position (e.g., parallel orientation). Additionally or alternatively, additional actuators can adjust the position of one or more objects from a second position to a first position. In this way, the show effects system can be prepared to provide show effects to subsequent guests, thereby creating an interactive and immersive experience.

[0057] While only specific features of this disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of many variations and modifications. Therefore, it should be understood that all such variations and modifications, which fall within the true spirit of the invention, are protected by the appended claims.

[0058] The claimed technologies described herein refer to and apply to tangible objects and specific examples of a practical nature that are not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical, but which certainly improve the art. Furthermore, if any of the claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as "...means for performing [function]" or "...steps for performing [function]," such elements should be interpreted in accordance with 112(f) of the U.S. Patent Act. On the other hand, any claim containing elements designated in any other form should not be interpreted in accordance with 112(f) of the U.S. Patent Act.

Claims

1. A first mirror is coupled to a first actuator and mounted on a wall, A second mirror is coupled to a second actuator and mounted on the wall adjacent to the first mirror, A sensor configured to monitor a viewing area from which a guest can observe the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the sensor is configured to provide sensor data related to the guest in the viewing area, The first actuator, the second actuator, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, A show effect system comprising, The aforementioned controller, Based on the aforementioned sensor data, it is determined that the guest is in a predetermined location within the viewing area. The first actuator is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror in order to exclude the location from the first reflection of the first mirror. A show effects system configured in such a way.

2. The aforementioned controller, The second actuator is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of the second mirror in order to exclude the location from the second reflection of the second mirror. The show effect system according to claim 1, configured as described above.

3. The sensor is configured to monitor the guest's movements, and the controller is configured Based on the location where the guest is, the target angle between the first mirror and the second mirror is determined. Based on the target angle, the first actuator is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror. The second actuator is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of the second mirror based on the target angle. The show effect system according to claim 2, configured as follows.

4. The show effect system according to claim 2, wherein the first mirror and the second mirror are rotatably connected by a hinge, the first actuator is coupled to the edge of the first mirror facing the hinge, and the second actuator is coupled to the edge of the second mirror facing the hinge.

5. The show effect system according to claim 4, wherein the first actuator is configured to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror in a first direction, and the second actuator is configured to adjust the position or orientation of the second mirror in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The controller comprises an object coupled to an additional actuator and mounted on the opposite side of the first mirror and the second mirror, In response to the first actuator adjusting the position or orientation of the first mirror to exclude the location from the first reflection of the first mirror, the additional actuator is instructed to adjust the position of the object to keep the object within the field of view of the first mirror. The show effect system according to claim 1, configured as described above.

7. The controller comprises a display mounted on the opposite side of the first mirror and the second mirror, In response to the first actuator adjusting the position or orientation of the first mirror to exclude the location from the first reflection of the first mirror, the system instructs the display to adjust the image data to maintain the image on the display within the field of view of the first mirror. The show effect system according to claim 1, configured as described above.

8. The system includes a projector configured to project image content onto the projection surface opposite the first mirror and the second mirror, and the controller is configured Generate image data to project onto an additional wall on the opposite side of the aforementioned wall. In response to determining that the guest is at the aforementioned location, the image data is updated with the updated image data. In parallel with instructing the first actuator to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror, the projector is instructed to project the updated image data. The show effect system according to claim 1, configured as described above.

9. The sensor is configured to monitor the blinking of the guest's eyes, and the controller is configured Based on the blinking of the guest's eyes, an instruction is given to the first actuator. The show effect system according to claim 1, configured as described above.

10. The controller comprises an output device configured to emit a visual diversion, an acoustic diversion, or both, Before instructing the first actuator to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror to exclude the location from the first reflection of the first mirror, instruct the output device to emit the visual diversion, the acoustic diversion, or both. The show effect system according to claim 1, configured as described above.

11. A non-temporary computer-readable medium, which, when executed by one or more processors, to the one or more processors, We receive sensor data from sensors that monitor guest behavior. Based on the aforementioned sensor data, the guest's position relative to the show effect system is determined. The position or orientation of at least one mirror of the show effect system is adjusted, and at least one actuator of the show effect system is instructed to adjust the reflection of the at least one mirror to exclude the guest based on the guest's position. A non-temporary computer-readable medium containing instructions configured to cause a certain action.

12. When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors will: The first actuator is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of the first mirror. The second actuator is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of the second mirror. A non-temporary computer-readable medium according to claim 11, configured to cause such a thing to happen.

13. When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors will: Determine the distance between the guest and the show effect system. Based on the aforementioned distance, the target angle between the first mirror and the second mirror is determined. A non-temporary computer-readable medium according to claim 12, configured to cause such a thing to happen.

14. When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors will: Based on the fact that the reflection of at least one of the mirrors is adjusted to exclude the guest, an additional actuator of the show effect system is instructed to adjust the position or orientation of an object in the show effect system, or Based on the reflection of the at least one mirror adjusted to exclude the guest, the display is instructed to move the image. A non-temporary computer-readable medium according to claim 11, configured to cause such a thing to happen.

15. When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors will: The non-transient computer-readable medium according to claim 11, configured to initiate media distraction or to detect blinking of the guest's eyes before instructing the at least one actuator of the show effects system to adjust the position or orientation of the at least one mirror of the show effects system to adjust the reflection of the at least one mirror of the show effects system to exclude the guest based on the guest's position.

16. The first mirror and, The second mirror, One or more actuators configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both; One or more sensors configured to track the location of guests within the attraction, Controller and An attraction system for an attraction, comprising: The aforementioned controller, The sensor receives sensor data indicating the guest's location from the one or more sensors mentioned above. Based on the guest's position, a target angle is determined between the first mirror and the second mirror in order to exclude the guest's position from the first reflection of the first mirror and / or the second mirror. Based on the target angle, one or more actuators are instructed to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both. An attraction system that is structured in such a way.

17. The controller includes an output device configured to produce visual effects, sound effects, or both, Before instructing one or more actuators to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both, based on the target angle, instruct the output device to emit the visual effect, the audio effect, or both. The attraction system according to claim 16, configured as described above.

18. The sensor data includes the blinks detected by the guest, and the controller, During the blink of the guest, one or more actuators are instructed to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both. The attraction system according to claim 16, configured as described above.

19. The controller comprises shutter glasses worn by the guest and configured to temporarily obstruct the guest's vision, Determine the shutter timing of the aforementioned shutter glasses, During the closing period of the shutter glasses, one or more actuators are instructed to adjust the position and / or orientation of the first mirror, the second mirror, or both. The attraction system according to claim 16, configured as described above.

20. The attraction system according to claim 16, wherein the one or more actuators include a first actuator coupled to the first mirror and a second actuator coupled to the second mirror.

Images