Apparatus, method, and system for three-dimensional (3D) visualization of light for evaluation of playability, glare, and gaps

1. A method of producing virtual representations of light in a virtual 3D space comprising:

a. generating an initial virtual 3D space;

b. defining a virtual target area within the initial virtual 3D space;

c. defining locations and aiming angles for one or more virtual light sources within the initial virtual 3D space, each virtual light source having corresponding photometry;

d. generating a virtual representation of light within the initial virtual 3D space for each virtual light source along each defined aiming angle from each defined location, said virtual representations of light having a color determined, at least in part, by (i) the corresponding photometry, (ii) a defined trajectory of a virtual object in flight within the virtual 3D space, and (iii) a curvature of said virtual object in flight within the virtual 3D space;

e. such that a final virtual 3D space is generated which includes the virtual target area and a colored composite of generated virtual representations of light.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual target area includes a 2D plane and a 3D space proximate the 2D plane.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual representations of light are modified at any point the photometry intersect the trajectory along a defined viewpoint.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the modification of the virtual target area comprises modifying color, saturation, or perceived brightness.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual representations of light are colored representations of light incident on said virtual object in flight based on flux values of the corresponding photometry and hemispherical illuminance.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

a. identifying one or more undesirable lighting conditions;

b. setting a threshold relating to said undesirable lighting conditions;

c. identifying any portion of the colored composite of generated virtual representations of light which exceeds said threshold; and

d. identifying said portions or the corresponding virtual light sources differently than the remaining portions of the colored composite of generated virtual representations of light.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the undesirable lighting condition comprises perceived glare, and wherein the step of identifying any portion of the colored composite which exceeds said threshold or the corresponding virtual light sources comprises identifying any virtual light source which causes perceived glare at a defined position and viewing angle relative the virtual target area, and wherein the step of identifying said portions differently than the remaining portions of the colored composite comprises (i) coloring said identified virtual light sources a different color than the remaining portions of the colored composite or (ii) provide indicia indicating said identified virtual light sources.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the undesirable lighting condition comprises a lack of playability, and wherein the step of identifying any portion of the colored composite which exceeds said threshold or the corresponding virtual light sources comprises identifying any virtual light source which contributes a defined illuminance to an object in flight in the final virtual 3D space, and wherein the step of identifying said portions differently than the remaining portions of the colored composite comprises (i) coloring said identified virtual light sources a different color than the remaining portions of the colored composite or (ii) otherwise visually indicating said identified virtual light sources.

9. A method of producing virtual representations of light in a virtual 3D space comprising:

a. generating a virtual 3D space;

b. generating a virtual target area within said 3D space including a 2D plane and a 3D space above said 2D plane;

c. generating a first set of virtual light sources which illuminate said 2D plane of said virtual target area;

d. generating a second set of virtual light sources which illuminate said 3D space above said 2D plane of said virtual target area;

e. generating virtual representations of said illumination of said first and second set of virtual light sources; and

f. selectively hiding any of the virtual representations of illumination of said first and second set of virtual light sources; and

g. modifying said virtual representations, said virtual target area, or said virtual 3D space to indicate undesirable lighting conditions at the virtual target area wherein the undesirable lighting conditions comprise gaps between said virtual representations of illumination of the 2D plane and the 3D space of said virtual target area that intersect with a defined trajectory across the virtual 3D space; and wherein

h. the modifying said virtual representations, said virtual target area, or said virtual 3D space to indicate said undesirable lighting conditions comprises one or more of:

i. coloring some portion of the virtual light sources, virtual representations of illumination, or virtual target area illuminated by said virtual representations of illumination; and

ii. providing indicia identifying important virtual light sources, virtual representations of illumination, or portions of the virtual target area illuminated by said virtual representations of illumination.