IP Library Granted Patent US 12,145,079
Granted Patent B2
US 12,145,079 · App. 17/729,960 · Granted Nov 19, 2024

Size changing room illusion system and method

Inventors: Andrew Padua (Orlando, FL); Zane Jensch (Orlando, FL); Meridith Head (Orlando, FL)
Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
A63J15/00H05B45/10H05B47/115H05B47/155
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,145,079
App. No.
17/729,960
Granted
Nov 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for performing a shrinking room illusion includes a first group of perforated optics panels defining a first interior space. First lighting is configured to illuminate the first group of perforated optics panels from the first interior space. The system also includes a second group of panels defining a second interior space, wherein the first group of perforated optics panels are nested within the second interior space. Second lighting is configured to illuminate the second group of panels from within the second interior space and positioned beyond the first interior space. A controller of the system is configured to control the first lighting and the second lighting to transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and illuminating the second group of panels such that a visual illusion of transitioning between the first interior space and the second interior space is provided.

Claims (33)

1. A system for performing a size changing room illusion, the system comprising:

a first group of perforated optics panels defining a first interior space;

a first lighting configured to illuminate the first group of perforated optics panels from the first interior space;

a second group of panels defining a second interior space, wherein the first group of perforated optics panels are nested within the second interior space;

a second lighting configured to illuminate the second group of panels from within the second interior space and positioned beyond the first interior space; and

a controller configured to control the first lighting and the second lighting to transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and illuminating the second group of panels such that a visual illusion of transitioning between the first interior space and the second interior space is provided.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first lighting comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes and the second lighting comprises a second plurality of light emitting diodes.

3. The system of claim 1 , comprising one or more sensors configured to generate a trigger signal to trigger the controller to initiate the transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and the second group of panels.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a motion sensor, a position sensor, a weight sensor, a sound sensor, a light sensor, an image sensor, or any combination thereof configured to detect a presence of a ride vehicle or a guest entering or positioned within the first interior space.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first group of perforated optics panels comprises four side walls and a roof coupled together to define a room.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a third panel grouping defining a third interior space, wherein the second group of panels comprises perforated optics panels and is disposed within the third interior space; and

a third lighting configured to illuminate the third panel grouping from within the third interior space and positioned beyond the first interior space and the second interior space.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the third panel grouping comprises a third group of perforated optics panels.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second group of panels comprises a second graphic thereon that aligns with and is bigger than a first graphic on the first group of perforated optics panels.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the first lighting, then deactivate the first lighting, and then activate the second lighting to transition from illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels to illuminating the second group of panels such that a visual illusion of transitioning from the first interior space to the second interior space is provided.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the second lighting, then deactivate the second lighting, and then activate the first lighting to transition from illuminating the second group of panels to illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels such that a visual illusion of transitioning from the second interior space to the first interior space is provided.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first group of perforated optics panels comprises a one-way perforated vinyl layer.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first lighting and the second lighting to flash while transitioning between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and illuminating the second group of panels to create disorientation.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive an additional data, wherein the controller controls the transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and the second group of panels based on the additional data.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the additional data comprises a sound signal, a light signal, a vibration signal, a temperature signal, or any combination thereof.

15. A method for performing a shrinking room illusion, the method comprising:

using a first lighting to illuminate a first group of perforated optics panels, wherein the first group of perforated optics panels defines a first interior space, and wherein the first lighting is disposed within the first interior space;

using a second lighting to illuminate a second group of panels, wherein the second group of panels defines a second interior space, wherein the first group of perforated optics panels are nested within the second interior space, and wherein the second lighting is disposed within the second interior space and beyond the first interior space; and

using a controller to control the first lighting and the second lighting to transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and illuminating the second group of panels such that a visual illusion of transitioning between the first interior space and the second interior space is provided.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising receiving a trigger signal from one or more sensors, wherein the trigger signal is used to trigger the controller to initiate the transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and the second group of panels.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a motion sensor, a position sensor, a weight sensor, a sound sensor, a light sensor, or any combination thereof configured to detect a presence of a ride vehicle or a guest entering or positioned within the first interior space.

18. The method of claim 15 , comprising receiving an additional data, wherein the controller controls the transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and the second group of panels based on the additional data.

19. The method of claim 15 , comprising using a third lighting to illuminate a third panel grouping, wherein the third panel grouping defines a third interior space, wherein the second group of panels are nested within the third interior space, and wherein the third lighting is disposed within the third interior space and beyond the second interior space.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

using a first lighting to illuminate a first group of perforated optics panels, wherein the first group of perforated optics panels defines a first interior space, and wherein the first lighting is located in the first interior space;

using a second lighting to illuminate a second group of panels, wherein the second group of panels defines a second interior space, wherein the first group of perforated optics panels are nested within the second interior space, and wherein the second lighting is located in the second interior space and beyond the first interior space; and

using a controller to control the first lighting and the second lighting to transition between illuminating the first group of perforated optics panels and illuminating the second group of panels such that a visual illusion of transitioning between the first interior space and the second interior space is provided.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2022
From: PADUA, ANDREW; JENSCH, ZANE; HEAD, MERIDITH
To: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
Reel/Frame 059743/0897 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63305561 · Feb 1, 2022
Related Publication 20230241528A1 · Aug 3, 2023