Patents by Inventor DANIEL REETZ
DANIEL REETZ has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230305195Abstract: The invention relates to cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses. The cylindrical optical power of the lenses may be continuously tuned within at least ±10 diopters, without inducing any significant spherical aberration, or any other significant aberrations. The lenses feature a geometry that produces minimal or no spherical defocus. These cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses could be used to induce and/or correct cylindrical optical aberrations in adaptive optical systems, particularly in ophthalmologic applications related to objective and automatic assessment of the refractive error of the eye, without the need of receiving feedback from the subjects.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicants: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona, iCRx, Inc.Inventors: EROL OZGUR, DANIEL REETZ, FARHAD AKHOUNDI, GHOLAM PEYMAN
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Patent number: 11703617Abstract: The invention relates to cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses. The cylindrical optical power of the lenses may be continuously tuned within at least ±10 diopters, without inducing any significant spherical aberration, or any other significant aberrations. The lenses feature a geometry that produces minimal or no spherical defocus. These cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses could be used to induce and/or correct cylindrical optical aberrations in adaptive optical systems, particularly in ophthalmologic applications related to objective and automatic assessment of the refractive error of the eye, without the need of receiving feedback from the subjects.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Inventors: Erol Ozgur, Daniel Reetz, Farhad Akhoundi, Gholam Peyman
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Publication number: 20220163702Abstract: The invention relates to cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses. The cylindrical optical power of the lenses may be continuously tuned within at least ±10 diopters, without inducing any significant spherical aberration, or any other significant aberrations. The lenses feature a geometry that produces minimal or no spherical defocus. These cylindrical tunable fluidic lenses could be used to induce and/or correct cylindrical optical aberrations in adaptive optical systems, particularly in ophthalmologic applications related to objective and automatic assessment of the refractive error of the eye, without the need of receiving feedback from the subjects.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Erol Ozgur, Daniel Reetz, Farhad Akhoundi, Gholam Peyman
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Patent number: 10137616Abstract: A method of fabricating a skin system or its elements using a laser cutter. The laser cutter is controlled to perform multiple passes to selectively cut away layers of material on a surface of a sheet of cellular foam materials. Each layer of material to be removed is defined by a cut or texture pattern. The laser cutter is operated to cut deeper with each layer of material removed by setting a different resolution for the laser cutter for each layer. For example, a laser cutter may be selectively controlled to operate within a resolution range, and each layer defined by the same or different cut pattern is cut using a different resolution. The method includes associating lower resolution settings for the first or outer layers to remove a first depth of material from the skin sheet's surface and associating higher and higher resolution settings for additional layers.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Daniel Reetz, Philip John Jackson
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Patent number: 10038895Abstract: A three-dimensional coordinate position of a calibration device is determined. Further, a code is emitted to an image capture device. The code indicates the three-dimensional coordinate position of the calibration device. In addition, an image of light emitted from the calibration device is captured. The light includes the code. An image capture device three-dimensional coordinate position of the calibration device is calibrated according to the real world three-dimensional coordinate position of the calibration device indicated by the code.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Paul Beardsley, Anselm Grundhoefer, Daniel Reetz
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Patent number: 9778741Abstract: A method for providing a three dimensional (3D) drawing experience. The method includes capturing a 3D image of a participant and then processing this image to key the participant's image from a background. The keyed participant's image is mixed with a 3D background image such as frames or scenes from a 3D movie, and the mixed 3D image is projected on a projection screen. For example, left and right eye images may be projected from a pair of projectors with polarization films over the lenses, and the projection screen may be a polarization-maintaining surface such as a silver screen. The user moves a drawing instrument in space in front of the projection screen, and spatial tracking performed to generate a locus of 3D positions. These 3D positions are used to create a 3D drawing image that is projected with the 3D background and participant images in real time.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Quinn Y. Smithwick, Daniel Reetz, Michael J. Ilardi
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Patent number: 9656422Abstract: An apparatus or three dimensional (3D) printer is provided for generating a 3D object. The apparatus includes a print chamber and a liquid print matrix such as a photo-curing resin positioned in the print chamber. The apparatus includes an optical assembly focusing light into the print chamber in the form of a real image whose light initiates curing processes for a volume of the liquid print matrix to form the 3D object. The light focused into the print chamber has a wavelength within a wavelength curing range for the photo-curing resin. The real image may be formed using an optical assembly reflecting or redirecting and focusing light reflected from outer surfaces of an existing 3D object. The real image may also be provided in the form of a volumetric image displayed by a volumetric display device displaying planes of a 3D digital model or image of a 3D object.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Alexander Hsing, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20160107380Abstract: An apparatus or three dimensional (3D) printer is provided for generating a 3D object. The apparatus includes a print chamber and a liquid print matrix such as a photo-curing resin positioned in the print chamber. The apparatus includes an optical assembly focusing light into the print chamber in the form of a real image whose light initiates curing processes for a volume of the liquid print matrix to form the 3D object. The light focused into the print chamber has a wavelength within a wavelength curing range for the photo-curing resin. The real image may be formed using an optical assembly reflecting or redirecting and focusing light reflected from outer surfaces of an existing 3D object. The real image may also be provided in the form of a volumetric image displayed by a volumetric display device displaying planes of a 3D digital model or image of a 3D object.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Alexander Hsing, Daniel Reetz
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Patent number: 9182524Abstract: 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 projectors to project at least two differing point-of-view images. The projection screen may take a number of useful embodiments to implement the autostereoscopic apparatus. For example, the projection screen may include a bottom layer including a retroreflective film that is retroreflective at least in the horizontal direction such as a brightness enhancement film and a top layer formed of a transparent sheet of lenticular material arranged for vertical diffusing.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Quinn Smithwick, Lanny S. Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Patent number: 9179134Abstract: 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 display assembly for display or presentation by differing ones of the emitting elements and by operating a modulating device to provide a parallax barrier. In one embodiment, a projector is used with bi-state screens. In another embodiment, two automultiscopic displays (either parallax barrier or lenticular lenses) are overlaid with a beam splitter. In a further embodiment, an oscillating mirror is used to temporally and optically move one automultiscopic layer (either parallax barrier or lenses) through space.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Nicola V. Ranieri, Simon Heinzle, Quinn Smithwick, Markus Gross, Wojciech Matusik, Lanny Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20150241960Abstract: A method for providing a three dimensional (3D) drawing experience. The method includes capturing a 3D image of a participant and then processing this image to key the participant's image from a background. The keyed participant's image is mixed with a 3D background image such as frames or scenes from a 3D movie, and the mixed 3D image is projected on a projection screen. For example, left and right eye images may be projected from a pair of projectors with polarization films over the lenses, and the projection screen may be a polarization-maintaining surface such as a silver screen. The user moves a drawing instrument in space in front of the projection screen, and spatial tracking performed to generate a locus of 3D positions. These 3D positions are used to create a 3D drawing image that is projected with the 3D background and participant images in real time.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: LANNY S. SMOOT, QUINN Y. SMITHWICK, DANIEL REETZ, MICHAEL J. ILARDI
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Publication number: 20150091215Abstract: A method of fabricating a skin system or its elements using a laser cutter. The laser cutter is controlled to perform multiple passes to selectively cut away layers of material on a surface of a sheet of cellular foam materials. Each layer of material to be removed is defined by a cut or texture pattern. The laser cutter is operated to cut deeper with each layer of material removed by setting a different resolution for the laser cutter for each layer. For example, a laser cutter may be selectively controlled to operate within a resolution range, and each layer defined by the same or different cut pattern is cut using a different resolution. The method includes associating lower resolution settings for the first or outer layers to remove a first depth of material from the skin sheet's surface and associating higher and higher resolution settings for additional layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: DANIEL REETZ, Philip John Jackson
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Patent number: 8823702Abstract: An apparatus for generating volumetric images viewable without 3D eyewear. The apparatus includes an image display assembly displaying a first image at a first display time and a second image at a second display time (e.g., a number of planar or 2D images on a display screen/surface). The apparatus includes a flexible two-way mirror element (a varifocal beamsplitter). During operations, the first and second images from the display assembly are directed toward and then reflected from the back side of the mirror element. The apparatus also includes a hoop-shaped frame supporting a peripheral edge of the mirror element. A driver shakes the frame to resonate the mirror element between convex and concave shapes while it is used for reflecting the first and second images. The apparatus also includes a concave mirror positioned relative to the mirror element to receive the reflected first and second images.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Quinn Smithwick, Lanny Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20140198221Abstract: A three-dimensional coordinate position of a calibration device is determined. Further, a code is emitted to an image capture device. The code indicates the three-dimensional coordinate position of the calibration device. In addition, an image of light emitted from the calibration device is captured. The light includes the code. An image capture device three-dimensional coordinate position of the calibration device is calibrated according to the real world three-dimensional coordinate position of the calibration device indicated by the code.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Inventors: Paul Beardsley, Anselm Grundhoefer, Daniel Reetz
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Patent number: 8692738Abstract: An apparatus for displaying virtual objects within a physical set or scene. The apparatus includes a set assembly including at least one physical object, e.g., a background prop. A virtual object display assembly is provided with: a display element with a screen operable to display an image of an object; a beam splitter positioned at an angle between the screen and the set assembly; and a mask display element positioned within the set assembly at an image plane associated with the displayed image. The mask display element operates, when the display element operates to display the displayed image, to display a mask corresponding to the displayed image. The beam splitter is transmissive and reflective of light. The mask display element is positioned between the beam splitter and the physical object, and the displayed mask occludes a portion of the physical object and casts a shadow within the set assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Quinn Smithwick, Lanny S. Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20140028663Abstract: An apparatus for generating volumetric images viewable without 3D eyewear. The apparatus includes an image display assembly displaying a first image at a first display time and a second image at a second display time (e.g., a number of planar or 2D images on a display screen/surface). The apparatus includes a flexible two-way mirror element (a varifocal beamsplitter). During operations, the first and second images from the display assembly are directed toward and then reflected from the back side of the mirror element. The apparatus also includes a hoop-shaped frame supporting a peripheral edge of the mirror element. A driver shakes the frame to resonate the mirror element between convex and concave shapes while it is used for reflecting the first and second images. The apparatus also includes a concave mirror positioned relative to the mirror element to receive the reflected first and second images.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: QUINN SMITHWICK, LANNY SMOOT, DANIEL REETZ
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Patent number: 8525829Abstract: 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 first mask content is apparent from a first light source direction and the second mask content is apparent from a second light source direction. The relay lens assembly includes four lenticular sheets arranged into first and second pairs with adjacent back sides. The mask display device is disposed in one pair between two lenticular sheets and operated to display the first and second mask content as interlaced images under the lenticules.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Quinn Smithwick, Lanny S. Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20130083291Abstract: 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 projectors to project at least two differing point-of-view images. The projection screen may take a number of useful embodiments to implement the autostereoscopic apparatus. For example, the projection screen may include a bottom layer including a retroreflective film that is retroreflective at least in the horizontal direction such as a brightness enhancement film and a top layer formed of a transparent sheet of lenticular material arranged for vertical diffusing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Quinn Smithwick, Lanny S. Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20130069933Abstract: 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 first mask content is apparent from a first light source direction and the second mask content is apparent from a second light source direction. The relay lens assembly includes four lenticular sheets arranged into first and second pairs with adjacent back sides. The mask display device is disposed in one pair between two lenticular sheets and operated to display the first and second mask content as interlaced images under the lenticules.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Quinn Smithwick, Lanny S. Smoot, Daniel Reetz
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Publication number: 20120313839Abstract: An apparatus for displaying virtual objects within a physical set or scene. The apparatus includes a set assembly including at least one physical object, e.g., a background prop. A virtual object display assembly is provided with: a display element with a screen operable to display an image of an object; a beam splitter positioned at an angle between the screen and the set assembly; and a mask display element positioned within the set assembly at an image plane associated with the displayed image. The mask display element operates, when the display element operates to display the displayed image, to display a mask corresponding to the displayed image. The beam splitter is transmissive and reflective of light. The mask display element is positioned between the beam splitter and the physical object, and the displayed mask occludes a portion of the physical object and casts a shadow within the set assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: QUINN SMITHWICK, LANNY S. SMOOT, DANIEL REETZ