IP Library Granted Patent US 12664928
Granted Patent B2
US 12664928 · App. 18/151,313 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Communication stage and virtual production systems

Inventors: Steve H. Mcnelley (San Juan Capistrano, CA); Jeffrey S. Machtig (Lake Forest, CA)
G09G3/32G06T19/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12664928
App. No.
18/151,313
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Enterprise communication display systems enable life-like images for videoconferencing and entertainment productions. Life-like images appear in a 3D environment where imaged people are visible through the use of specially configured see-through displays. Various sportsbook venues with presentational displays showing life-size images of people is revealed including venues that serve multiple purposes. Further, a black void illusion is described and is applicable to numerous displays including event and live theater stages and movie theaters. Further, virtual production stages serving a dual mode use of creating life-size images of people to be seen by an audience. Numerous inventive features are described enabling and advancing the black void illusion. Virtual stage lighting is disclosed for simulating stage lights and coordination of virtual stage lights with real stage lights for live and recorded performances.

Claims (29)

1 . A virtual production display system, comprising:

a vertically oriented LED image display with an image screen in a room facing a group of observers, the image display positioned at a first wall of the room with the image screen facing the observers;

a black continuous surface upon the image screen presenting no visual reference point and thereby unrecognizable to the observers as an image screen, the black continuous surface observed directly by the observers;

a stage positioned at a bottom of the image screen; and

an imaged person imaged on the image screen in a first modality of use, said imaged person is proportionally life-size and that imaged person observed by the observers as residing in a depth of a black void, and in a second modality of use presenting a virtual scenery to be captured by a camera for a virtual production.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: an interactive transmission system enabling the imaged person at a remote location and the observers in the room to interact by at least one of seeing and hearing each other.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: the imaged person being at least one of live and recorded, and presented at least one of in the room and a plethora of rooms.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein in the second modality of use the stage floor is an image display and presents a portion of the virtual scenery.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaged person interacts with a live person on the stage and both are captured by the camera in the virtual production.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual scenery and the camera movements are coordinated together.

7 . A virtual production display system, comprising:

a vertically oriented LED image display with an image screen in a room facing a group of observers, the image display positioned at a first wall of the room with the image screen facing the observers;

a stage positioned at a bottom of the image screen; and

a proportionally life-size imaged person imaged amongst a black continuous surface upon the image screen presenting no visual reference point and thereby unrecognizable to the observers as an image screen, the black continuous surface observed directly by the observers on the image screen in a first modality of use, and in a second modality of use presenting a virtual scenery to be captured by a camera for a virtual production.

8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising: an interactive transmission system enabling the imaged person at a remote location and the observers in the room to interact by at least one of seeing and hearing each other.

9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising: the imaged person being at least one of live and recorded, and presented at least one of in the room and a plethora of rooms.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein in the second modality of use the stage floor is an image display and presents a portion of the virtual scenery.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the imaged person interacts with a live person on the stage and both are captured by the camera in the virtual production.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the virtual scenery and the camera movements are coordinated together.

13 . A virtual production display system, comprising:

a vertically oriented LED image display with an image screen in a room facing a group of observers, the image display positioned at a first wall of the room with the image screen facing the observers;

a black continuous surface upon the image screen presenting no visual reference point and thereby unrecognizable to the observers as an image screen, the black continuous surface observed directly by the observers;

a stage positioned at a bottom of the image screen; and

an imaged person imaged on the image screen in a first modality of use, said imaged person is proportionally life-size and that imaged person observed by the observers as residing in a virtual scenery imaged upon the image screen and amongst the black continuous surface, and in a second modality of use presenting the virtual scenery to be captured by a camera for a virtual production.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising: an interactive transmission system enabling the imaged person at a remote location and the observers in the room to interact by at least one of seeing and hearing each other.

15 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising: the imaged person being at least one of live and recorded, and presented at least one of in the room and a plethora of rooms.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein in the second modality of use the stage floor is an image display and presents a portion of the virtual scenery.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the imaged person interacts with a live person on the stage and both are captured by the camera in the virtual production.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the virtual scenery and the camera movements are coordinated together.