Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080316031 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VIRTUALLY PACKAGING MULTIMEDIA - Embodiments include systems and methods of accessing multimedia content. One embodiment includes a system for accessing multimedia data. The system includes a tangible object comprising at least one proximity device embedded within the tangible object. The tangible object is configured to provide identification information of the tangible object. The system further includes a reader configured to wirelessly detect the tangible object based upon the proximity device and receive the identification information. The system further includes a device configured to receive a signal from the reader in response to detecting the tangible object and configured to access multimedia data based upon the provided identification information. | 12-25-2008 |
20090136157 | System and/or Method for Combining Images - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method and/or system for generating a dynamic image based, at least in part, on attributes associated with one or more individuals. | 05-28-2009 |
20100167620 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL USING MAGNETISM - One particular implementation of the present invention may involve a flexible material infused with fine iron particles to form at least a portion of a flexible character or object. The flexible creation may be animated by one or more magnets or electromagnets brought near the flexible creation such that the iron particles blended with the flexible material may interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets. The infused iron particles may be attracted to the magnets, causing the object or portions of the object to move toward or away from the controlling magnets, thereby animating the object or portions of the object. Another implementation may use a magnetic field of a magnet to create an iron-infused flexible plant-like object that may be animated by a magnet. The object may be constructed of a flexible iron-infused material that is introduced into the magnetic field while the material is in a liquid or semi-liquid state. The iron filings blended within the flexible material may align with the magnetic field such that the object may take the shape of the magnetic field and hold that shape until the material has solidified. | 07-01-2010 |
20110177753 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING REALISTIC EYES - Realistic electronically controlled eyes for a figure such as a doll, toy, animatronic being, robot, etc., are provided by displaying a sequence of images simulating eye movement on an electronic display screen mounted to a portion of the figure. A convex lens, which serves to simulate the figure's eye, is mounted substantially in contact with a surface of the display screen system from which the light defining the sequence of images is emitted. To an observer looking at the convex surface of the lens, the lens appears as an eye characterized by realistic eye movement. | 07-21-2011 |
20130005492 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL USING MAGNETISM - One embodiment may take the form of a flexible creation animated by magnets or electromagnets brought near the flexible creation. Iron particles blended with a flexible material of the flexible creation may interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets, causing the object or portions of the object to move toward or away from the controlling magnets, thereby animating the object. | 01-03-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130073087 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ROBOTIC CHARACTERS TO ENHANCE PHOTOGRAPHIC RESULTS - 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 detecting includes a sensor mounted on the robotic apparatus sensing a pre-flash of light from a red-eye effect reduction mechanism of a camera. In other cases, the detecting includes a sensor mounted on the robotics apparatus sensing a range finder signal from a range finder of a camera. The posing may include opening eyes, moving a mouth into a smile, or otherwise striking a pose that is held temporarily to facilitate image capture with a camera. | 03-21-2013 |
20130226588 | Simulated Conversation by Pre-Recorded Audio Navigator - A method is provided for a simulated conversation by a pre-recorded audio navigator, with particular application to informational and entertainment settings. A monitor may utilize a navigation interface to select pre-recorded responses in the voice of a character represented by a performer. The pre-recorded responses may then be queued and sent to a speaker proximate to the performer. By careful organization of an audio database including audio buckets and script-based navigation with shifts for tailoring to specific guest user profiles and environmental contexts, a convincing and dynamic simulated conversation may be carried out while providing the monitor with a user-friendly navigation interface. Thus, highly specialized training is not necessary and flexible scaling to large-scale deployments is readily supported. | 08-29-2013 |
20140106642 | CHIN STRAP SENSOR FOR TRIGGERING CONTROL OF WALK-AROUND CHARACTERS - A walk-around character assembly or system with enhanced control functionality to provide a performer of a walk-around character the ability to silently and non-visibly trigger audio, animation, and/or special effects. A deflection monitoring (or chin movement) sensor is provided in the head portion of the character costume to detect predefined chin movements, e.g., a performer opening their mouth once or twice within a time period to limit false negatives/triggers. For example, a potentiometer or force sensor may be provided in the chin strap of a character head. The performer is able to trigger an audio response or to animate the mouth of the character head with relatively small movements of their jaw as a controller processes the sensor signals to determine when to generate control signals to operate sound equipment on the character costume. | 04-17-2014 |
20140358263 | TRIGGERING CONTROL OF AUDIO FOR WALK-AROUND CHARACTERS - A control system for selectively operating a sound system provided in a walk-around character costume. e.g., to play audio files in an order defined by a dialog tree that can be navigated by a performer wearing the costume. The control system includes a trigger mechanism provided in the costume operable by a performer wearing the costume to generate and transmit at least one trigger signal to navigate through a dialog tree. A controller receives the trigger signal and transmits a control signal causing the sound system to playback pre-recorded dialog. The system includes a trigger processing module run by the controller for processing the trigger signal and, in response to such processing, for navigating pre-recorded audio for a show to select the set of pre-recorded dialog. The trigger mechanism includes a first and a second pressure sensor in a thumb and index finger of a glove of the costume. | 12-04-2014 |