SCULPTURAL IMAGING WITH OPTICAL TILES

摘要

Structures for representing images comprise a plurality of tile elements which, when illuminated by a light source, each direct an amount of light toward an observer at a viewing location dependent on their orientation angles. The orientation angles of each tile element may be selected based on a characteristic of a corresponding pixel of an image, such that the observer sees a representation of that image created by the varying amount of light directed to the viewing location by the tile elements.

主权项

1. A structure for representing a visual pattern, the structure comprising:
a plurality of tile elements held in a fixed relationship to one another, each of the tile elements representing a corresponding area of the visual pattern, each of the tile elements comprising a generally planar surface inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a reference plane, each of the tile elements having an orientation angle with respect to a reference direction, the orientation angle defined between projections, on the reference plane, of a line normal to the generally planar surface and a line parallel to the reference direction;wherein the orientation angle of each tile element is determined by a brightness of the corresponding area of the visual pattern,wherein the tile elements representing areas of the visual pattern with different brightnesses have different orientation angles, andwherein the tile elements reflect light incident thereon to present luminance characteristics which vary based on a viewing location of an observer.