Disney Patents
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The Walt Disney Company is an entertainment company focused on media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive games. The company's media holdings include ESPN (partial ownership), the Disney channels, ABC Family and A&E Television Networks (partial ownership). The company also operates Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani, the Disney Cruise Line, and has partial ownership interests in Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney. Tokyo Disneyland is operated by an independent company that licenses Disney intellectual property and pays royalties based on revenues. Disney also produces live-action and animated motion pictures, direct-to-video content, musical recordings and live stage plays, and distributes Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Touchstone films.
Disney Patents by Type
- Disney Patents Granted: Disney patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Disney Patent Applications: Disney patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Patent number: 9325956
Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for calibrating a projector. The method includes receiving by a processing element one or more mapping images. After receiving the images, the method includes defining by the processing element a non-linear color mapping function, the color mapping function mapping pixels between the projector and a camera used to capture the mapping images. The method then includes determining by the processing element a compensation image using the color mapping function. The compensation image corresponds to an input image and takes into account variations in the surface onto which the input image is to be projected.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 13, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventor:
Anselm Grundhofer
Patent number: 9325602
Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for providing low-risk deployment of a web service. In one implementation, such a method includes testing the web service on one or more virtual machines assigned to a testing environment of the system, and reassigning the one or more virtual machines to a production environment of the system configured to service live traffic for the web service. The method also includes hosting the web service using the same one or more virtual machines used to test the web service.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey Stroomer, Philip James-Roxby, Raul Rangel
Patent number: 9324161
Abstract: Methods for content-aware image compression are disclosed. One method comprises the steps of non-uniformly downscaling an original input image according to a saliency map, creating a residual image, encoding the residual image and downscaled input image, and transmitting the residual image and downscaled input image. The encoded image components are transmitted to a receiver. Downscaling may be performed using an aspect ratio that is automatically calculated from the saliency map. The saliency map may be based on an algorithm specified at an encoder or on regions of interest selected by a plurality of users of receivers that receive the transmitted encoded image components.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Fabio Zünd, Yael Pritch, Alexander Sorkine Hornung, Thomas Gross
Patent number: 9325953
Abstract: There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Albert Cheng
Patent number: 9322653
Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for estimating a state-space controller from a set of video frames depicting a motion of an entity. The approach includes incrementally optimizing parameters of the state-space controller and changing a structure of the state-space controller based on expanding subsets of the set of video frames. In one embodiment, a controller-estimation application greedily selects, at every stage of the incremental optimization, structure and parameters of the controller which minimize an objective function. In another embodiment, the controller-estimation application re-optimizes, after the incremental optimization, all parameters of the state-space controller based on all of the video frames.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Leonid Sigal, Marek Vondrak, Jessica K. Hodgins
Patent number: 9317141
Abstract: A system adapted for selectively attracting an object to and moving the object on a surface. The system includes an oscillating element including a contact surface such as a computer tablet with a touch screen or a table with a ferrous surface. The system includes a drive (or vibration inducing) assembly coupled to the oscillating element operable to oscillate the oscillating element to linearly move the contact surface first in a first direction and second in a second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., along an X-axis or Y-axis). The system further includes a preferential friction assembly operating to first create an attractive force between the contact surface and the object and second to modify the attractive force. This causes the object to move with the contact surface when the attractive force is created and the contact surface to move relative to the object when the attractive force is modified.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Lanny S. Smoot, Quinn Y. Smithwick
Patent number: 9314934
Abstract: An arm assembly for use in a robot to provide gravity counterbalancing of the robot arms. The arm assembly includes an arm and a drive assembly. The arm assembly includes a differential interconnecting the drive assembly with the arm link. The differential is attached to a torso-side or upper end of the arm link, and the differential is adapted to provide gravity counterbalancing for the predefined mass of the arm link. A pair of half counterweights are provided and arranged to each move in one degree of freedom and to provide two equal counterweights to the differential's two inputs such as input gears, pulleys, or the like. The drive assembly includes two motors that are grounded. In some embodiments, both the motors and the counterweights are spaced apart from the robot's shoulder, i.e., spaced apart from the differential near the robot's pelvis or low in the torso.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
John P. Whitney
Patent number: 9317782
Abstract: There are provided systems and methods of incremental category embedding for categorization. One method including selecting one or more input categories from a plurality of input categories to be added to learned categories, determining at least one representative category from the learned categories for each input category from the one or more input categories, the at least one representative category representing the input category, and approximating the input category using the at least one representative category.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 12, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Sung Ju Hwang, Leonid Sigal
Patent number: 9317970
Abstract: Techniques are provided to model hair and skin. Multiscopic images are received that depict at least part of a subject having hair. The multiscopic images are analyzed to determine hairs depicted. Two-dimensional hair segments are generated that represent the hairs. Three-dimensional hair segments are generated based on the two-dimensional hair segments. A three-dimensional model of skin is generated based on the three-dimensional hair segments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 17, 2012
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignees:
Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zurich (Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich)
Inventors:
Thabo D. Beeler, Paul Beardsley, Robert Sumner, Bernd Bickel, Steve Marschner
Patent number: 9319649
Abstract: The present invention relates generally to adjusting projected images from a projector. A projected image is compensated to neutralize effects of a projection surface and optimized based on anticipated pixel drift movement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 13, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventor:
Anselm Grundhofer
Patent number: 9318116
Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for acoustic data reception. Playback of modified audio content is acoustically detected by a first receiving entity and a second receiving entity operatively connected to the first receiving entity via a network. The modified audio content is generated by encoding specified data into specified audio content such that the modified audio content satisfies a predefined signal constraint characterizing imperceptibility of any differences between playback of the specified audio content and playback of the modified audio content. The specified data is collaboratively decoded based on the acoustically detected playback of the modified audio content and by the first receiving entity and the second receiving entity using the network and according to a predefined diversity scheme.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 13, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Stefan Mangold
Patent number: 9317952
Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing distortions introduced by deformation of a surface with an existing parameterization. In one embodiment, the distortions are reduced over a user-specified convex region in texture space ensuring optimization is locally contained in areas of interest. A distortion minimization algorithm is presented that is guided by a user-supplied rigidity map of the specified region. In one embodiment, non-linear optimization is used to calculate the axis-aligned deformation of a non-uniform grid specified over the region's parameter space, so that when the space is remapped from the original to the deformed grid, the distortion of the rigid features is minimized. Since grids require minimal storage and the remapping from one grid to another entails minimal cost, grids can be precalculated for animation sequences and used for real-time texture space remapping that minimizes distortions on specified rigid features.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 19, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Charalampos Koniaris, Darren Cosker, Xiasong Yang, Kenneth John Mitchell, Iain Matthews
Publication number: 20160101359
Abstract: There is provided an interactive board for use with a user device having a touch screen. The interactive board includes a plurality of board pads, each of the plurality of board pads including a ground region interdigitated with a sense region, a user device region configured to receive the touch screen of the user device, the user device region including device region pads configured to transmit signals to the touch screen of the user device, a plurality of traces coupling the plurality of board pads to the device region pads, and a ground flap coupled to the ground region of each of the plurality of board pads, the ground flap configured to at least partially cover a back area of the user device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 26, 2015
Publication date:
April 14, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Benjamin Christen, Quinn Smithwick, Harout Jarchafjian, Jeffrey Voris, Jorge Alted
Publication number: 20160105710
Abstract: Media content, based on a predetermined set of constraints, from a content provider is delivered to a local cache of a user device before viewing the media. A client asset manager process resides in the user device, an asset list at the content provider site, and the media assets are located at a remote site.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 17, 2015
Publication date:
April 14, 2016
Applicant:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Scott F. Watson, Eric C. Haseltine, Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Robson, Aaron P. LaBerge, Adam T. Fritz
Publication number: 20160105716
Abstract: There is provided a method including rendering a gating media content segment presentation, providing a user interface to a user viewing the gating media content segment presentation, and determining two user interaction indices, including an under-threshold index and an over-threshold index, associated with the gating media content segment presentation. The method determines the under-threshold index using a first user interaction data measured before a threshold event and determines the over-threshold index using a second user interaction data measured after the threshold event, the threshold event occurs after beginning the rendering of the gating media content segment presentation and makes a user interactive mechanism selectable, the second user interaction data includes data corresponds to a user selection of the user interactive mechanism, and one of the under-threshold index and the over-threshold index is calculated using a user interaction with the user interface using an input device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 6, 2015
Publication date:
April 14, 2016
Applicant:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Ariff Sidi, Skarpi Hedinsson, Giuseppe Manzari, Yii Lih Liu
Publication number: 20160105707
Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include systems and methods for delivery of secondary content to a user device. The secondary content may comprise events synchronized to primary content. In a particular embodiment, the process may include: receiving a request from a user device to access secondary content associated with a primary content; determining whether the user device is entitled to receive the secondary content; and if the user device is entitled to receive the secondary content, providing the secondary content to the user device for the user device to play whenever the user watches the primary content. The secondary content comprises at least one of an audio track, and a subtitle file, and the audio track comprises at least one of an alternate language audio track not provided in the primary content, and an audio track with words omitted from the primary content.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 9, 2014
Publication date:
April 14, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
ALEXANDER CHEN, LEON SILVERMAN, EDWARD DRAKE
Patent number: 9313421
Abstract: A system and method for delaying a first version of a video feed from a video camera according to a first delay to generate a second version of the feed, supplying the first version to an insertion system, wherein the insertion system inserts an indicia into the first version to create an enhanced version with a second delay substantially matching the first delay and supplying the enhanced version and the second version to a production switcher, wherein the enhanced version and the second version supplied to the production switcher are synchronized with one another.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 21, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Nikhil Deshpande, Ximin Gong, Peter A. von Kaenel, James W. Appleby, II, Randy W. Sills, Sr.
Patent number: 9310769
Abstract: A holographic display system for generating a super hologram with full parallax in different fields of view in the horizontal and vertical directions. The system includes an array of holographic display devices, e.g., spatial light modulators (SLMs), operable to provide a plurality of holographic images of a scene from differing viewpoints of the scene. Each SLM is operated concurrently to output a narrow field of view, elemental hologram. The system includes coarse integral optics combining the holographic images into a single hologram (“super hologram”) viewable in a hologram image plane a distance from the course integral optics. The coarse integral optics combine the holographic images by providing angular tiling of the holographic images, e.g., bending the axes of parallel lenses. In this manner, the field of view, in one direction, of the super hologram is based on the number of holographic display devices provided in the array in one direction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 28, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventor:
Quinn Smithwick
Patent number: 9311658
Abstract: There is provided a media content server for inserting a location-based advertisement into an online media content. The media content server comprises a memory including an online media content for online access; a processor configured to receive a request from a client for the online media content; determine an IP address of the client based on the request; map the IP address to a local advertisement server serving an area corresponding to the IP address; request a local advertisement from the local advertisement server; provide the local advertisement to the client; and provide the online media content from the memory to the client. The online media content has a first and second sequential segments, and the local advertisement may be provided to the client after the first segment is provided and before the second segment is provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprise, Inc.
Inventors:
Ariff Sidi, Skarpi Hedinsson
Publication number: 20160096120
Abstract: An apparatus comprises a puppet device. The apparatus also comprises a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device. The control mechanism comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible. Further, another apparatus comprises an object. The apparatus also comprises an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 2, 2014
Publication date:
April 7, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Robert Scott Trowbridge, Akhil Madhani
Publication number: 20160096318
Abstract: A 3D printer system that allows a 3D object to be printed such that each portion or object element is constructed or designed to have a user-defined or user-selected material parameter such as varying elastic deformation. The 3D printer system stores a library of microstructures or cells that are each defined and designed to provide the desired material parameter and that can be combined during 3D printing to provide a portion or element of a printed 3D object having the material parameter. For example, a toy or figurine is printed using differing microstructures in its arms than its body to allow the arms to have a first elasticity (or softness) that differs from that of the body that is printed with microstructures providing a second elasticity. The use of microstructures allows the 3D printer system to operate to alter the effective deformation behavior of 3D objects printed using single-material.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 3, 2014
Publication date:
April 7, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
BERND BICKEL, CHRISTIAN SCHUMACHER, STEVE MARSCHNER
Publication number: 20160098998
Abstract: Systems and methods for voice searching media content based on metadata or subtitles are provided. Metadata associated with media content can be pre-processed at a media server. Upon receiving a vocal command representative of a search for an aspect of the media content, the media server performs a search for one or more portions of the media content relevant to the aspect of the media content being searched for. The media performs the search by matching the aspect of the media content being searched for with the pre-processed metadata.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 11, 2014
Publication date:
April 7, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
JING X. WANG, MARK ARANA, EDWARD DRAKE, ALEXANDER C. CHEN
Patent number: 9302184
Abstract: A traveling virtual pet game simulates a pet traveling between various geographic locations. As the pet travels, users interact with the virtual pet to aid the pet in acquiring traits associated with the geographic regions in which it travels and to observe traits that the pet has previously acquired.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Damon R. Beggs
Patent number: 9302185
Abstract: A method is provided for decision streams for synchronizing visual script language processing between networked computers. A master computing device may receive a remote kickoff stream indicating master nodes to be processed on a master graph, create a master decision stream using the remote kickoff stream, process master nodes of the master graph to populate the master decision stream with states and actions during the processing, and distribute the master decision stream to clients for synchronization of private graphs. The master and private graphs may be copies of the same visual script for implementing game logic, which may be created and edited using a graphical user interface (GUI). Nodes of the graphs can be marked as master, requiring global synchronization, or private, allowing immediate local processing with reduced latency. Thus, online game designers are empowered to balance the competing concerns of state synchronization and latency.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 14, 2012
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Matthew Dawson, Phil Knight, Kirk Baum
Patent number: 9305515
Abstract: A first proximity-based device at a content player receives content modification data from a second proximity-based device within a product and/or a product package when the product or product package is placed within a proximity to the first proximity-based device. A processor at the content player performs modified playback of media content based on the content modification data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 17, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Alex Chen, Evan Acosta, Edward Drake, Mark Arana
Patent number: 9304492
Abstract: A holographic display system for generating a super hologram with full parallax in different fields of view in the horizontal and vertical directions. The display system includes assemblies or subsystems each adapted to combine holographic displays and coarse integral displays to produce or display a coarse integral hologram. The display system is adapted to combine such displays or display systems to add more detail or information. For example, the display system can be assembled as if it were made up of “holographic bricks” that can be stacked and combined to provide a unique image/output. Briefly, the display system described herein teaches techniques for combining coarse integral holographic (CIH) displays in a seamless and scalable manner, e.g., a display system where multiple spatial light modulators (SLMs) can be placed or provided behind coarse integral optics.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 2013
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Quinn Y. Smithwick
Patent number: 9305144
Abstract: There is provided a system and method for a digital receipt for use with an interoperable keychest. There is provided a method for online registration of a digital receipt associated with a content, comprising performing a transaction to obtain from a first distributor the content encrypted by a title key and a first digital rights management (DRM) license usable with the first distributor to access the title key, receiving from the first distributor the digital receipt associated with the content including information relevant to the transaction, and transmitting the digital receipt to the interoperable keychest acting as a central key repository (CKR) for an online registration of the digital receipt associated with the content. Authorized media distributors may then generate new DRM licenses using the CKR, enabling interoperable content playback of the same universal file across different media distributors and clients.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Arnaud Robert
Patent number: 9306928
Abstract: There is presented a system and method for associating a domain transcendent identification (ID) of a user and a domain specific ID of the user, the system comprising an ID association server accessible by a plurality of secure domains over a network. The system also includes an ID associator application that when executed by ID association server is configured to receive a domain specific ID that associates the user to the secure domain, enter the domain specific ID in a domain transcendent ID record created for the user, generate a unique data associated with the domain transcendent ID record and identify a network location for submission of the unique data, send the unique data and the network location to the user, and associate the domain transcendent ID and the domain specific ID.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 6, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Arnaud Robert, Edward C. Drake
Patent number: 9299119
Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing a broadcast video with contextual data are disclosed, wherein the broadcast video is enhanced by graphical overlays. Synchronization is achieved by means of digital watermarking of the broadcast video in conjunction with the graphical-overlays. Exemplary embodiments embed a watermark bitstream into the broadcast video based on an overlay-template, characteristic of a corresponding overlay-graphic. The watermarked video is then transmitted over a communication link to a receiving-end including a detector. According to some embodiment, the embedder inserts the watermark bitstream into the overlay-graphics' regions of the video and the detector extracts the watermark bitstream based on information in the overlay-template and based on a restored version of the original overlay-graphics.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 24, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Smadar Gefen, Joseph DiGiovanni
Patent number: 9300901
Abstract: A system for augmenting the appearance of an object including a plurality of projectors. Each projector includes a light source and a lens in optical communication with the light source, where the lens focuses light emitted by the light source on the object. The system also includes a computer in communication with the plurality of projectors, the computer including a memory component and a processing element in communication with the memory component and the plurality of projectors. The processing element determines a plurality of images to create an augmented appearance of the object and provides the plurality of images to the plurality of projectors to project light corresponding to the plurality of images onto the object to create the augmented appearance of the object. After the images are projected onto the object, the augmented appearance of the objected is substantially the same regardless of a viewing angle for the object.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 4, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Anselm Grundhofer, Amit Bermano, Bernd Bickel, Philipp Bruschweiler, Markus Gross, Daisuke Iwai
Patent number: 9299185
Abstract: An enhanced system and method for rendering virtual surface is disclosed. A grid may be constructed in a world space to provide positions that facilitate the rendering of the virtual surface. The grid may be constructed by intersecting circular lines and radial lines. The distance of circular lines with respect to one another may be determined by intersecting tessellation level and binary tree. Motion caused by a viewpoint transformation may be compensated by adjusting the grid. Rotational change of the viewpoint may compensated by rotating the grid according a degree of grid edge. Translational change of the viewpoint may be compensated by moving or rotating the grid in a direction opposite to the translational change.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 12, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventor:
Huw Bowles
Patent number: 9294807
Abstract: Media content, based on a predetermined set of constraints, from a content provider is delivered to a local cache of a user device before viewing the media. A client asset manager process resides in the user device, an asset list at the content provider site, and the media assets are located at a remote site.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Scott F. Watson, Eric C. Haseltine, Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Robson, Aaron P. LaBerge, Adam T. Fritz
Patent number: 9289337
Abstract: A curved wheelchair ramp for ride vehicles of an amusement park attraction, ride, or other environment is provided. In one embodiment, the wheelchair ramp is maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the wheelchair ramp may form a door to the ride vehicle. In the extended position, the wheelchair ramp extends, in a curve, between an access opening of the ride vehicle to a station platform. In various embodiments, the ramp may have a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The segments may fold together or may nest together.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 16, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Joel L. Fritsche, Don Robert Hilsen, William Lawrence Wolf, Charles Albert Flueck
Patent number: 9289969
Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods used to form a three dimensional (3D) article having a printed layer thereon. The 3D articles are capable of displaying rear projected images, effectively as a 3D “screen” for displaying an image or a movie. The 3D articles are used as standalone articles or as a portion of an animatronic figure. The articles are made by forming a substantially planar thermoformable laminate including a rear projection screen material, printing and curing a radiation curable ink onto one or both sides of the laminate, and thermoforming to impart a shape to the laminate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Dolce Lin Wang, Thomas F. LaDuke
Patent number: 9294466
Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to authenticating an identity of users desiring access to an application program and determining whether an authenticated user is authorized to access one or more aspects of the application program.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 19, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Doron Grinstein
Patent number: 9292786
Abstract: A robot, such as a bipedal robot, that includes three or more rigid links such as two legs and a pelvis. The robot includes joints pivotally connecting pairs of the rigid links and an actuator associated with each of the joints. The robot includes a universal balancing controller with an output feedback control module providing control signals to selectively drive the actuators to balance the robot on a support element which may be configured to provide a dynamic, unstable environment or to provide a static, stable environment. During use, the control signals are generated in response to processing of global robot data from sensors associated with the rigid links or the joints. The control signals are generated by the output feedback control module without any need for measurements of the support element or without any measurement of a dynamic environment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 3, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Umashankar Nagarajan, Katsu Yumane
Patent number: 9292957
Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for portable virtual characters such as virtual characters. One embodiment provides a method for providing a virtual character, including: storing, in device memory, a listing of at least one mobile device having at least one device component selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a camera, and a microphone; and transferring, using a processor, to a mobile device information to permit an instantiation of a mobile device version of a virtual character on the mobile device, the instantiation of the virtual character on the mobile device including at least one virtual character attribute matching the at least one device component selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a camera, and a microphone. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 16, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
William Valentine Zajac, III
Patent number: 9285951
Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to facilitate avatar personalization in a virtual environment. A request to generate an avatar in the virtual environment to represent a requesting entity is received. Data pertaining to the requesting entity is retrieved, the data not specifying any visual appearance of the avatar. A proposed avatar is generated based on the retrieved data. The proposed avatar is output to the requesting entity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Steven Makofsky, Paul Cutsinger
Patent number: 9288564
Abstract: Integrated audio-visual systems are provided. Such integrated audio-visual systems are capable of reproducing sound frequencies without compromising visual characteristics. In particular, a surface of the acoustic diaphragm also serves as the image projection screen. Such surface may be made of materials capable of reflecting light and converting audio signals simultaneously. The surface may be integrated with electromagnetic conductive materials or nanomaterials. In response to an audio signal, the surface is driven by various driving mechanism to create acoustic vibration. Any number of audio zones may be created on the surface and the audio emanation areas may be customized for the desired application.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 8, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Norbert Faerstain, Michael Kern, James Hurrell
Patent number: 9285660
Abstract: The embodiments presented herein describe integrating a projector in a book to display images or animations on one or more pages of the book. Specifically, the book may include a projector that is arranged in the form factor of the book. The book may also contain one or more mirrors that reflect an image from the projector onto a desired location on a page in the book. In one embodiment, the image is projected from the rear of the book onto a back side of the page that is opposite the front side of the page facing the user. So long as the material of the page is sufficiently translucent, the image projected on the back side of the page will be visible to the user looking at the front side of the page.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 11, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Eric C. Haseltine, Katie M. Bassett
Patent number: 9288252
Abstract: Method, system, and computer program product to manage traffic in a web services cluster using a programmable reverse proxy, by providing the reverse proxy in the cluster, the cluster hosting web services, defining, in a routing table in the reverse proxy, stacks and a weight for each stack, each stack including at least one version of a web service, receiving, at the reverse proxy, a URL requesting to access a web service, selecting one of a first stack and a second stack based on the weights of each stack, the first stack specifying a first version of the web service, the second stack specifying a second version of the web service, each of the first stack and the second stack selected at least once in a plurality of requests, and generating, at the reverse proxy, a URL directed to the version of the web service specified by the selected stack.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey D. Stroomer, Philip Bryn James-Roxby, Sean A. Kelly, Raul E. Rangel
Publication number: 20160067922
Abstract: An apparatus for building a three dimensional (3D) object using volumetric addition. The apparatus includes a print chamber containing a volume of a curable resin. The apparatus includes a first and second curing energy sources outputting first and second beams of energy. The apparatus includes a controller operating targeting mechanisms to align the beams of energy to sequentially intersect at a plurality of curing positions associated with build volumes of a digital model of the 3D object. The energy sources may be lasers generating a desired amount of heat when their beams are crossed. The curable resin may be a heat-curable fluid curing when heated into a curing temperature range, and the amount of heat provided by intersected pairs of the first and second beams heats volumes of the heat-curable fluid, proximate to each of the curing positions only, to a temperature in the curing temperature range.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 9, 2014
Publication date:
March 10, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
JEFFREY VORIS, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN, JORGE ALTED, DAVID W. CRAWFORD
Publication number: 20160067927
Abstract: A method for operating a three dimensional (3D) printer to limit unauthorized copying and provide authentication of 3D objects printed from authorized models fabricated on 3D printers. The method includes providing a digital file defining a 3D model of an object to the 3D printer. The 3D model includes a model of an identification (ID) element. The method includes processing the digital file to define print layers of the 3D model, and a number of the print layers include layers of the model of the ID element. The method involves operating the 3D printer to print the layers to form a 3D object with an integrally formed ID element. The ID element is embedded within object elements of the 3D object. The integrally formed ID element may be a radio frequency ID (RFID) tag providing identification data when read by an RFD reader scanning the 3D object.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 9, 2014
Publication date:
March 10, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Jeffrey VORIS, Benjamin Foster CHRISTEN, Jorge ALTED, David W. CRAWFORD
Publication number: 20160067740
Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) for printing a 3D object without the need for printing support structure for overhanging or cantilevered portions of the 3D object. The 3D printer includes a print head with a nozzle for extruding print material and a build plate with an upper surface receiving the print material extruded from the nozzle, whereby the 3D object is formed on the upper surface of the build plate. The 3D printer includes a tilt adjustment mechanism tilting the build plate about at least one axis to orient the upper surface and the 3D object relative to the nozzle during the extruding of the print material. The tilting can be performed such that a previously extruded portion of the print material is vertically aligned with the nozzle to receive the print material extruded to form an overhanging element of the 3D object.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 9, 2014
Publication date:
March 10, 2016
Applicant:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
JEFFREY VORIS, BENJAMIN FOSTER CHRISTEN, JORGE ALTED, DAVID W. CRAWFORD
Patent number: 9282348
Abstract: There is provided a content based partitioning system and a method for use in performing content based partitioning of digital media content. In one implementation, such a content based partitioning system includes a system processor, a system memory, and a content based partitioning module stored in the system memory. The content based partitioning module, under control of the system processor, is configured to receive encoded digital media content corresponding to the digital media content, to receive encoding parameters used to encode the encoded digital media content, and to utilize the encoding parameters and the encoded digital media content to identify partition boundaries in the encoded digital media content.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 13, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventor:
Arnaud Robert
Patent number: 9280848
Abstract: Rendering a scene with participating media is done by generating a depth map from a camera viewpoint and a shadow map from a light source, converting the shadow map using epipolar rectification to form a rectified shadow map (or generating the rectified shadow map directly), generating an approximation to visibility terms in a scattering integral, then computing a 1D min-max mipmap or other acceleration data structure for rectified shadow map rows and traversing that mipmap/data structure to find lit segments to accumulate values for the scattering integral for specific camera rays, and generating rendered pixel values that take into account accumulated values for the scattering integral for the camera rays. The scattering near an epipole of the rectified shadow map might be done using brute force ray marching when the epipole is on or near the screen. The process can be implemented using a GPU for parallel operations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 24, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises Inc.
Inventors:
Jiawen Chen, Ilya Baran, Frédo Durand, Wojciech Jarosz
Patent number: 9279442
Abstract: An elastomeric cap for concealing a fastener used to secure an object (e.g., an elastomeric object such as foam padding or the like) to a substrate (e.g., frame, wall, etc.). A head of a fastener may be inserted through an aperture in one wall of the cap and into an internal cavity of the cap. A shank of the fastener may be at least partially inserted into or through an aperture of the object (e.g., and the substrate). A tool (e.g., screwdriver, torque wrench, etc) may be inserted through an opposing aperture in an opposing second wall of the cap and used to manipulate the fastener head and thus the shank to secure the object to the substrate via clamping of the object between the fastener head and opposing second wall of the cap on one hand and the substrate on the other hand.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISE, INC.
Inventors:
Mark A. Naylor, Laurel L. Skaggs, Charles D. Stricker, Jr.
Publication number: 20160063104
Abstract: There is provided a system and method for visual search in a video media player. There is provided a computing device for performing a visual search in video files comprising a display, a memory, a video media player application in the memory, and a processor configured to store into the memory search terms by allowing a user to visually select objects as search terms using a user interface on the display, initiate a search using the search terms, obtain search results comprising time offsets and play durations within the video files, each play duration containing at least one frame corresponding to the search terms, and display navigational controls in the user interface for presenting the search results, including selectable graphical thumbnail images or preview videos. A user can select objects via outlined, highlighted, or otherwise visually identified objects in a video frame, the selecting enabled by associated search metadata.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 4, 2015
Publication date:
March 3, 2016
Applicant:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Jonathan Barsook, Joven Matias, Cyrus Hoomani, Arun Ramagopal
Patent number: 9272224
Abstract: An amusement park ride adapted to provide passengers unobstructed lines of sight in turns and increased turn velocities. The ride includes a track and a ride vehicle. The ride vehicle includes a track connector assembly coupled to the track for movement along the ride path in a direction of travel. The vehicle also includes a vehicle base mounted to the track connector assembly to move with the track connector. The vehicle includes a bridge, or cantilever support arm or boom, extending from the vehicle base. The vehicle further includes a passenger compartment with one or more passenger seats. The passenger compartment is mounted to the bridge such that the seats and any passengers seated therein are spaced apart from the base at a cantilever distance. As a result, the passenger compartment has fore or aft cantilever mounting relative to the track connector assembly and relative to the vehicle base.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 6, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2016
Assignee:
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors:
Edward A. Nemeth, Spencer T. Banks, Derek Howard
Patent number: 9274637
Abstract: There is provided a system and method for displaying a traffic output synchronized with an automation output, the system including a display, a memory storing a user interface, and a processor configured to receive the traffic output, receive the automation output, synchronize the traffic output with the automation output, and display the traffic output synchronized with the automation output using the user interface on the display. The processor is further configured to advance each of the traffic output and the automation output being displayed by the user interface in real-time. Furthermore, the processor is further configured to update the traffic output being displayed by the user interface based on feedback from the automation output. The updating including marking each element in the traffic output as being aired correctly or not being aired correctly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 10, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2016
Assignee:
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Timpone, Glenn Godfrey, Jerry Rapella