GB2307561A - Strobing zoetrope light device eg for an audio disc or an amusement ride - Google Patents

Abstract

The zoetrope light device comprise a series of images illuminated stroboscopically to give an animated image. In one form, a series of sequential two or three dimensional images 3 (eg printed on audio disc or record, Fig 12), is rotated by a motor 5 and lit by a strobe light (or a light source 1 directed through a shutter 12). The light flashes at a rate equal to the rate that each portion of the image passes a fixed point so as to produce an animated image. The animated image can be projected onto a surface using a multi-directional mirror 8. In another form, the series of sequential images is arranged inside a tube 34 (Fig 17) rotating around the track 35 of a roller coaster and illuminated by strobe lights 36 or on a ferris wheel.

Description

STROBING ZOETROPE LIGHT DEVICE This invention relates to a machine that animates a two dimensional zoetropic image or a three dimensional zoetropic form using strobing or flashing 1light.

A zoetrope is a consecutive series of drawings that are rotated to produce an animation eftect. The drawings are placed in a cylinder or on a disc and are viewed through rotating slits to produce a strobing effect necessary for animation (see fig. 1 ) The designs are done in such a way that there appears to be a continuous motion such as a clown juggling or abstract shapes moving in different directions.

However zoetropes are awkwa.rd to see. As they are viewed through narrow slits the view is very restricted and the image is dull and blurred.

According to the present invention there is provided a strobing zoetrope light device in which a motor rotates a two or three dimensional zoetropic design. The design is illuminated bv strobing or shuttered flashing light at a frequency that matches the speed of the motor and repetitiun of the image. At the correct speed the image or form appears to animate.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of examples.

The first example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure two shows the arrangement of the zoetrope as d rotating transparency inside a projector.

Fieure three and four shows the ar-raneement ot the interchangeable zoetropes within the projector.

Figure five, six and seven shows the shuttered light rnechani sm.

Fieure eieht shows the rotating teeth and claw mechanism.

Referring to the drawing the unit comprises of a transparent zoetropic image made of film class or metal 3 that is mounted on a rotating ring 9. A motor 5 drives the zoetrope through teethed gears 10 or belt drive 11. The motor also drives a larder disc 4 that allows a number of different designs to be mounted in the unit at one time which can be rotated into position. A lamp 1 is directed through a shutter 2 or alternatively a strobe light is directed through the zoetropic design and focused on a surface via a lens 7. A multidirectional mirror 8 allows the image to be moved and protected on different surfaces.For a smoo animated movement a zoetrope with sixteen repetitions is rotated at around 56 rpm with a strobe or flashing light flashing at 15 flashes per second, These speeds can he finely tuned and memorised using a computer. By alter-ine the pitch of the motor and strobe the image can appear to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise and so generate a rhythm that mav also be memorised by computer. The light may be a strobe or a lamp placed behind a gate 12 with a shutter 13 14 or 15 which creates a sharp flash of light. As the design rotates it is illuminated momentarily. With a design containing sixteen repetitions the light flashes every 1/16th of its rotation in order to freeze the image and reveal the animation movements in the design.The imaee may be further sharpened by allowing the motor to move in steps; When the light flashes the image is static. Before the light flashes again the image rotates 1/16th and is illuminated again. This is achieved using a stepper motor or by advancing the design mechanically using a claw and teeth mechanism (fig 5) Between each flash the claw 16 pulls down one of the teeth 15 to advance the design one 1/16th to be in a static position for the next flash. The resulting animated image can be focussed remotely by connecting the focussing lens 7 to a threaded rail 6. Powered by a motor the thread rotates to draw the lens nearer or further from the design so that it can be focused on any plane.

The second example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure nine and ten show examples of a three dimensional zoetrope design.

Figure eleven shows the mechanism suitable for displavine a three dimensional zoetrope design.

Referring to the drawing a three dimensional zoetrope design 18 that is interchangeable with other designs is attached to a shaft 21. The design is rotated bv a motor 22 and lit by a strobe 23 the light of which is diffused evenly under the design by a frosted surface 19. At -the correct frequency as described in the first example the design will appear to animate.

The third example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: - Figure 12 shows a two dimensional zoetrope design printed on a record illuminated bv a strobe light.

Figure 13 shows a zoetropic design.

Referring to the drawing a two dimensional zoetropic design is printed onto the surface of a record which can be played normally on a record player. It is illuminated by a strobe light to cause an animation effect. Records rotate at 45 rpm or 33 rpm and the smoothest movements in the animation are achieved with a fast strobe - 900 flashes per minute (FPM) though many standard strobes flash much slower -450 FPM. These variables affect the amount of divisions that should occur in the zoetrope design which can be calculated using the following formula: Number of division FPM of strobe RPM of record In the case of a 45rpm record a design may be considered with the assumption that in discos the strobe lights usually flash around 500 FPM so a design with eleven repetitions would he most effective (fig 13).

The fourth example will now be described with reference to the accompanving drawing in which: - Figure fourteen shows a three dimensional zoetropic construction.

Figure fifteen shows the arrangement of fibre optic cables distributing the flashing light.

Referring to the drawing a shaft 25 is driven by a motor.

A three dimensional zoetropic design is mounted at its base.

Instead of being illuminated by a fixed strobe the structure contains very much smaller strobes positioned within the structure. These strobes are powered by cables which run up the central shaft to rotating contacts that allow the power to be fed as the shaft is rotatine. Each strobe is positioned so as to be part of the animation itself. The strobes can be concealed within semitransparent forms that are then illuminated from within as they animate. The form can also be lit using fibre optic cables. The fibres can be fed through the tube 25 and positioned in the necessarv zoetropic confieuration 27. At the top of the shaft the fibres are compacted together 28 infront of a strobe source which feeds the flashing light simultaneously to the tips of the fibres.

the fifth example wi ill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 16 shows the side view of an underground railway funnel.

Referring to the drawing screens 31 are placed at window heieht in a train tunnel or wall 30 spaced at intervals so that eight to fif teen screens would pass by every second. The intervals are dependant on the quality desired and the speed of trains through the section of tunnel or wall being used.

Each screen is a separate frame of a moving picture. The screens are static but the train moves bringing each frame into position. A sensor positioned on the train in line with the first window triggers the strobe lights that are positioned behind the screens. The screens are made of a translucent material that allows the strobe light to spread evenlv over the screen. Three dimensional objects can be used as an. alternative to screens. The resulting effect is to see a readable message or moving design outside the window of a moving train rollercoaster or other guided vehicle.

The sixth example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure seventeen shows a rotating tube surrounding a rollercoaster track.

Referring to the drawing a rollercoaster track 35 is surrounded by a tube 34. The tube is an elongated zoetropic form that is constructed from the base to the top of the ramp at the start of 8 roller coaster ride. The internal diameter of tube will allow 3 roller coaster and passengers to pass through safely without any danker of the rotation tube being within reach of outstretched hands. mall strobe lights 36 are positioned around the structure and on the track. The tube has a repeating zoetropic design running its leneth which can have additional three dimensional forms attached to it. This application allows the rapid and dynamic movement of large or small forms that would be very complex to achieve by other means.

The seventh example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure eighteen shows a zoetrope applied to a ferris wheel Referring to the drawling strobes are positioned on the face of a ferris wheel or other rotating amusement ride near it outer cir@umference. The zoetrope worke in the same w@ d@ in previous examples but the rotation i@ much @lowe@ using the formula from example three the amount of divisions will be much giedte@@ A felils wheel that @otates at 1 rpm using strobes with a 600 FPM flash rate would require 600 divisions. If the diameter of the ferris wheel is 30 metres then the strobe divisions would be every 15 centimetres which would allow for a finely repeated animated movement to be applied.

Claims (27)

1 A strobing zoetrope light device in which a motor rotates a two or three dimensional zoetropic design. The design is illuminated by strobing or shuttered flashing @ liit at a frequency that matches the speed of the motor dnd repetition of the image. At the correct speed the iniage or rot appears to animate.

2 A strobing zoetrope light device in which a linear transport system moves a viewer past a series of images illuminated by a stiohe light flashing at a frequency that matches the speed and intervals of the passing images so that they reappear in the same position as the previous image to create a moving image.

3 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a transparent glass, metal or plastic zoetropic design is placed intront of a shuttered or strobe light to be projected through a lens on to a surface.

4 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 wherein a motor rotates a zoetropic design using cogs or a drive belt.

5 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein means a provided to stop and start the rotation of the zoetrope using a stepper motor- or teeth and claw mechanism.

6 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in claim 5 wherein a zoetrope design rotates d fraction ot its rotation that is the fraction of the total amount of repetitions in its design and then stops rotating to to be illuminated momentarily before rotating a further fraction before being momentalily illuminated again and so repeating to cause an animation effect.

7 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein means are provided to allow a riumber or zoett-opes to be placed on a carousel that can rotate so as to place different designs infront of the light so@@@e

8 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein a flashing 1 ig!t is provided using b strobe light or a lamp that is flashed using a shutter

9 A strobing zoe-trope light device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein a shutter is provided that flashes at d speed greater than ten flashes per second.

10 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein a shutter is provided that has a small circular hole in the centre allows a sudden flash of light to pass through it.

11 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in claim 10 wherein a multidirectional mirror is provided to project the image onto different surfaces without the need to move the unit.

12 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 11 wherein means are provided to adjust the speed and pitch ot the motor and strobe light so as to affect the speed and rotation of the animation.

13 A strobe zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the optimum speeds and repetitions within the designs are determined by the formulae: Flashes per minute of light/strobe Number of divisions=Rotatations per minute of zoetrope

14 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 13 wherein means are provided to memorise the exact pitch and speeds of motor and strobe using a computer- so that different rhythms and effects can be achieved instantly.

15 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 14 wherein means are provided to focus the image using a lens that is attached to a motor driven thread that moves the lens towards or away from the zoetrope and so as to focus the image on any surface.

16 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in (Claim I wherein diffused strobe light illuminates a three dimensional zoetropic design.

17 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a zoetropic design is printed on a music record fot the purpose of animating with a strobe 1i6-ht.

18 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim I wherein a three dimensional zoetropic design contains strobe lights that rotate within its form.

19 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in laim 18 wherein a three dimensional zoetropic form contains litre optic cables fed through the shaft that deliver @ Lr troboscop@@ light to the tip of the form from a stationary strobe ligl-t

20 A strobing zoetropic light device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a sensor is mounted on a train that triggers a strobe light to flash when it passes by a series of strobes intended to illuminate a series of forms or two dimensional images.

21 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 20 wherein forms or two dimensional images are mounted outside the windows of a train on a wall or tunnel wall at intervals greater than 8 per second determined by the average speed of the train.

22 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 21 wherein a rotating zoetropic form in the shape of a tube surrounds a rollercoaster and rollercoaster track.

23 A strobing zoetropic light device as claimed in Claim 2) wherein bearing and r-otation means are provided to allow the tube to rotate at up to S8rpm.

24 A strobing zoetropic light device as claimed in Claim 23 wherein a tube is surrounded by b Lwo dimensional zoetropic image or a tube forms a frame within which three dimensional forms build up a tee dimensional oetropic image.

25 A strobing zoetrope light device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a two or three ditflensional zoetropic form is attdched to the outer circumterence or a ferries wheel or other rotating amusement ride.

2 A strobing oetrope light device as claimed in Claim 25 wherein strobe lights are placed within each division of the zoetrope attached to the ferris wheel or rotating amusement lide.

27 A strobing zoetrope light device substantially as described herein crritli reference to figures 1- of the accompanying drawing.