KINETIC FLAME DEVICE
Granted: April 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130100686
An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying…
System and Method for Monochromatic Tinting Using Saturation Maps
Granted: April 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130100155
There are provided systems and methods for tinting an image by monochromatic tinting using saturation maps for use by an application providing a user interface supporting customizable tinted images. By using saturation map and a monochromatic value map derived from the image and configuring the saturation map to specify areas for tinting, a tint color can be applied to the image by a series of quickly processed arithmetic calculations. This provides a lightweight and high quality method…
MULTI-USER INTERACTION WITH HANDHELD PROJECTORS
Granted: April 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130100009
A device-mounted infrared (IR) camera and a hybrid visible/IR light projector may be used to project visible animation sequences along with invisible (to the naked eye) tracking signals, (e.g. a near IR fiducial marker). A software (or firmware) platform (either on the handheld device or to which the device communicates) may track multiple, independent projected images in relation to one another using the tracking signals when projected in the near-IR spectrum. The resulting system…
GRAVITY SLIDE RIDE
Granted: April 11, 2013
Application Number:
20130090175
A rotating hub ride configured to position passenger vehicles at different vehicle radii relative to the hub's axis of rotation. The ride includes curved support arms extending outward from the hub, with a first end coupled to the hub at a lower height than a second end of the arm. A vehicle is attached, via a mounting assembly, to each curved support arm to slide radially inward and outward on the arm in response to forces applied to the vehicle due to rotation of the hub, e.g., at two…
INTERSECTING PATH RIDE
Granted: April 11, 2013
Application Number:
20130087066
An intersecting path ride providing close vehicle interaction without risk of collision. The ride includes a track assembly defining first and second linear, open channels bisecting at a vehicle path intersection point. The ride includes first and second vehicle guides movable within the channels. The ride includes first and second vehicle subassemblies supported by the guides, and the vehicle subassemblies move or reciprocate with the guides along linear paths defined by the channels.…
System And Method For Providing A User Interface For Media Navigation By Attribute Compass
Granted: April 4, 2013
Application Number:
20130086498
There is provided a system and method for providing a user interface for media navigation by attribute compass. The system comprises a processor configured to show, on a display, a grid view of a plurality of media items. The processor is further configured to present, on the display, a plurality of attribute compasses associated with the media item selected from the plurality of media items, designate the selected media item as a pivot item upon receiving a selection of an attribute…
AUTOSTEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH ONE DIMENSIONAL (1D) RETROREFLECTIVE SCREEN
Granted: April 4, 2013
Application Number:
20130083291
An autostereoscopic apparatus for providing a 3D image to a viewer at a range of vertical eye locations. The apparatus includes a projection screen with a light receiving surface that is horizontally retroreflective and vertically diffusive. The apparatus includes a projector assembly including at least two projectors arranged side-by-side such that projection lenses of the projectors are horizontally aligned in a row. The apparatus includes a controller selectively operating the…
MULTI-LAYER PLENOPTIC DISPLAYS THAT COMBINE MULTIPLE EMISSIVE AND LIGHT MODULATING PLANES
Granted: April 4, 2013
Application Number:
20130082905
A multi-planar plenoptic display assembly with multiple spatially-varying light emitting and modulating planes. The display assembly includes at least one light emitting device and may include a modulating device used in conjunction according to display methods taught herein to display light field data. A display assembly controller may be used to render a light field with depth into a multi-planar plenoptic display assembly by assigning decomposed portions of the light field to the…
OPERATIONAL SPACE CONTROL OF RIGID-BODY DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING HUMANOID ROBOTS
Granted: March 28, 2013
Application Number:
20130079930
An operational space control solution is provided for rigid-body dynamical systems such as humanoid or legged robots. The solution includes an operational space controller that decomposes rigid body dynamics into task space dynamics and null space dynamics. Then, for systems that are fully actuated and have constraints, the controller provides control signals defining task space torques and null space torques for each actuator (e.g., a motor for a rotary joint between two rigid links).…
AIRPORT DIVESTMENT AND LUGGAGE CART
Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130069326
An airport cart adapted for carrying carry-on luggage and personal items divested prior to a security check point. The cart includes a lower luggage tray or shelf, and a pair of vertical supports extends upward from a rear portion of this tray or a horizontal portion of the cart frame. The cart may have dual handles extending rearward in a space-apart manner from the vertical supports such that the handles are parallel to each other and do not block vertical loading of the luggage tray.…
SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ROBOTIC CHARACTERS TO ENHANCE PHOTOGRAPHIC RESULTS
Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130073087
A method for controlling a robotic apparatus to produce desirable photographic results. The method includes, with a motor controller, first operating a robotics assembly to animate the robotic apparatus and, then, detecting an upcoming image capture. The method further includes, with the motor controller in response to the detecting of the upcoming image capture, second operating the robotics assembly to pose the robotic apparatus for the upcoming image capture. In some embodiments, the…
TRANSPARENT MULTI-VIEW MASK FOR 3D DISPLAY SYSTEMS
Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130069933
A multi-view mask apparatus for creating a three-dimensional (3D) display. The apparatus includes a relay lens assembly that is non-inverting of images passed through the relay lens assembly including images of background objects. The apparatus includes a mask display device concurrently displaying first and second mask content via the relay lens assembly. The first mask content is viewable from a first point of view (POV) and the second mask content is viewable from a second POV or the…
AIRPORT SECURITY SCREENING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130069759
A system for performing airport security screening of canyon bags and other separately scanned carry-on items such as electronics. The system includes a number of airport divestment and luggage carts. Each of the carts includes a frame with a lower support for receiving carry-on luggage, and the frame further supports security bins for receiving separately scannable items (such as a computing device). The system includes a 3D scanner scanning items passed through a scanning tunnel. The…
System and Method for Transmitting a Services List to a Playback Device
Granted: March 14, 2013
Application Number:
20130067527
There is provided a system and method for dynamically transmitting a services list to a playback device. The system comprises a display device, a playback device, and a mediator server with a mediator application. The mediator application is configured to receive, from the playback device, a service request for a services list, to send a services list for presenting on a display device in response to receiving the service request, to receive an activation request for at a third-party…
ROLE-PLAY SIMULATION ENGINE
Granted: March 14, 2013
Application Number:
20130066608
A coordination processor receives data from a simulated role-play environment. Further, the coordination processor composes an instruction to a performer to perform an action in the simulated role-play environment. In addition, the instruction is sent to an interface that provides the instruction to the performer.
REFLECTIVE AND REFRACTIVE SURFACES CONFIGURED TO PROJECT DESIRED CAUSTIC PATTERN
Granted: March 14, 2013
Application Number:
20130066596
Techniques are described for designing and manufacturing a surface that produces a desired image when illuminated by a light source. As described, the desired image may be decomposed into a collection of Gaussian kernels (referred to as Gaussians). A shape of a micropatch lens corresponding to each Gaussian may be determined, and the resulting micropatch lenses may be assembled to form a highly continuous surface that will cast an approximation of the desired image formed form the sum of…
PROJECTING ONTO AN UPPER SURFACE OF A BODY OF WATER
Granted: March 14, 2013
Application Number:
20130063702
A projection system for projecting light such as images or content upon a liquid surface such as a lake or pool surface. The system includes an agitation assembly selectively operable to agitate a portion of the upper surface of liquid to form a projection screen. The system includes a projector assembly projecting or focusing light onto the projection screen on the upper surface of the liquid. The liquid is translucent to light, but the projection screen on the upper surface reflects a…
TECHNIQUES FOR PROCESSING IMAGE DATA GENERATED FROM THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHIC MODELS
Granted: March 14, 2013
Application Number:
20130063418
Techniques are disclosed for creating animated video frames which include both computer generated elements and hand drawn elements. For example, a software tool may allows an artist to draw line work (or supply other 2D image data) to composite with an animation frame rendered from a three dimensional (3D) graphical model of an object. The software tool may be configured to determine how to animate such 2D image data provided for one frame in order to appear in subsequent (or prior)…
SYNTHESIZING VIEWS BASED ON IMAGE DOMAIN WARPING
Granted: March 7, 2013
Application Number:
20130057644
Techniques are disclosed for generating autostereoscopic video content. A multiscopic video frame is received that includes a first image and a second image. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a set of image characteristics. A mapping function is determined based on the set of image characteristics. At least a third image is generated based on the mapping function and added to the multiscopic video frame.
OMNITABLE RIDE SYSTEM
Granted: March 7, 2013
Application Number:
20130059670
A circular omnimover or omnitable ride system. The ride system includes a stationary, centrally-located platform for loading and unloading passengers. A turntable assembly is provided that includes a turntable with an upper surface substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the platform. The turntable has a centrally-located hole or passageway defined by an inner sidewall to receiving the non-rotating platform. Passenger vehicles are mounted along an outer edge of the turntable via…
