초록 ▼

In an aspect, an apparatus and method are provided for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape. The apparatus includes a screen, an intermediate body, a plurality of lights, and a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of lights. The controller is operable to turn the

In an aspect, an apparatus and method are provided for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape. The apparatus includes a screen, an intermediate body, a plurality of lights, and a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of lights. The controller is operable to turn the plurality of lights on and off in at least one of: a selected order, a combination, and a simultaneous operation of all of the lights. The intermediate body and the plurality of lights are positioned relative to said screen such that the intermediate body is positioned between the screen and the plurality of lights and such that said plurality of lights are operable to project a plurality of unique outlines of at least portions of the intermediate body onto the screen to generate an illusion of animation of the subject shape.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of generating an illusion of animation of a subject shape, comprising: providing a screen;providing an intermediate body and a plurality of lights;positioning said intermediate body and plurality of lights into fixed positions relative to said screen such that the intermediate body is po

1. A method of generating an illusion of animation of a subject shape, comprising: providing a screen;providing an intermediate body and a plurality of lights;positioning said intermediate body and plurality of lights into fixed positions relative to said screen such that the intermediate body is positioned between the screen and the plurality of lights and such that each light in the plurality of lights is operable to project a unique outline of said intermediate body onto said screen, said unique outline depicting the subject shape in a unique position of that subject shape;illuminating a first one or more of the plurality of lights to generate a first projection of the intermediate body, showing a first outline on the screen which is the subject shape in a first position; andilluminating a second one or more of the plurality of lights to generate a second projection of the intermediate body, showing a second outline on the screen which differs from the first outline, which is the subject shape in a second position, thereby generating an illusion of animation of the subject shape. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen is translucent. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the screen has a viewing side and a lights-side, the viewing side being opposite the lights-side and the lights-side facing the lights; andthe screen has a translucency selected such that each unique outline of the plurality of unique outlines projected onto the screen is visible to a user of the apparatus viewing the screen from said viewing side. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen has a translucency selected such that the intermediate body is substantially invisible through the screen. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate body includes a plurality of non-coplanar outline surfaces oriented relative to each of the screen and the plurality of lights such that at least a portion of light emitted by each light in the plurality of lights, when that light is turned on, is obstructed by at least one of said surfaces and is thereby prevented from shining directly onto the screen. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate body includes at least one of: an opaque, a translucent, a transparent, and a colored material. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one light in the plurality of lights includes is a colored light. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the method includes providing a position sensor in electronic communication with a controller, said position sensor being operable to detect an orientation of said screen, said controller being in electronic communication with the plurality of lights; andprogramming said controller to be operable to operate the plurality of lights in response to changes of said orientation so as to project each unique outline in the plurality of unique outlines at a pre-determined orientation of the screen for that unique outline. 9. An apparatus for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape, comprising: a screen;an intermediate body;a plurality of lights; anda controller in electronic communication with said plurality of lights, said controller being operable to turn the plurality of lights on and off in at least one of: a selected order, a combination, and a simultaneous operation of all of the lights;said intermediate body and plurality of lights being fixed relative to said screen such that: a) said intermediate body is positioned between the screen and the plurality of lights,b) when at least one first light in the plurality of lights is operated, the at least one first light projects a first projection of the intermediate body, showing a first outline on the screen which is the subject shape in a first position, andc) when at least one second light in the plurality of lights is operated, the at least one second light projects a second projection of the intermediate body, showing a second outline on the screen which differs from the first outline, and which is the subject shape in a second position. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the screen includes at least one material selected from a group of translucent and transparent materials. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the screen has a viewing side and a lights side, the viewing side is opposite the lights side and the lights side faces the plurality of lights; andthe screen has a translucency selected such that each outline of the intermediate body projected onto the screen is visible to a user of the apparatus viewing the screen from said viewing side. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translucency of the screen is selected such that the intermediate body is substantially invisible to said user viewing the screen from said viewing side. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the subject shape includes at least one of: a mouth, an eye, an eyebrow, and a heart of said toy. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the screen is disposed in place of at least one feature of the toy. 15. An apparatus for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape, comprising: a translucent body having a viewing side and a lights side opposite the viewing side;an intermediate body;a plurality of lights disposed on the lights side of said translucent body, said intermediate body being positioned between said translucent body and said plurality of lights such that when at least one light in the plurality of lights is turned on, a silhouette of the intermediate body is visible through the translucent body from the viewing side of the translucent body; and a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of lights, wherein the controller is programmed to:illuminate a first one or more of the plurality of lights to generate a first projection of the intermediate body, showing a first silhouette on the screen which is a subject shape in a first position, andilluminate a second one or more of the plurality of lights to generate a second projection of the intermediate body, showing a second silhouette on the screen which differs from the first silhouette, which is the subject shape in a second position, thereby generating an illusion of animation of the subject shape. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the intermediate body and the plurality of lights are positioned fixedly relative to said translucent body. 17. The apparatus claim 15, wherein the apparatus is implemented with a toy, a surface of the toy includes the translucent body, and the subject shape represents a part of the toy to be represented as being animated. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus includes a position sensor in electronic communication with the controller, wherein said position sensor is operable to detect an orientation of the apparatus, and said controller is operable to turn said lights on and off in response to changes of said orientation.