Abstract: The present disclosure relates to non-emissive modular light-diffuser devices that selectively revealing reflective material and that can be utilized in applications ranging from wearable electronics to large format displays. For example, by applying power, the modular light-diffuser devices can switch from a light-scattering state and a non-light-scattering state to reveal reflective material beneath. In particular, a modular light-diffuser device can utilize dual inputs to provide an alternating low-voltage current to a PDLC film layer (e.g., by rotating the direction of electrical polarity), thus, significantly extending the life of the modular light-diffuser device. In addition, multiple modular light-diffuser devices can be grouped and added to objects (e.g., clothing, fashion accessories, or large format displays) to form patterns, designs, and animations based on the modular light-diffuser devices changing states.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate accurate augmented reality objects based on tracking a writing device in relation to a real-world surface. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can detect an initial location of a writing device, and further track movement of the writing device on a real-world surface based on one or more sensory inputs. For example, disclosed systems and methods can generate an augmented reality object based on pressure detected at a tip of a writing device, based on orientation of the writing device, based on motion detector elements of the writing device (e.g., reflective materials, emitters, or object tracking shapes), and/or optical sensors. The systems and methods further render augmented reality objects within an augmented reality environment that appear on the real-world surface based on tracking the movement of the writing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate and present a digital overlay over a view of a tangible object within a display case. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can synchronize a switchable diffuser element with a display screen and one or more light sources to alternate between a scatter state and a transparent state based on a display rate. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods can alternate the display screen between an emissive state (for displaying an emitted digital image) and an attenuating state (for displaying a transparency mask image). By synchronously toggling the display screen and the diffuser element between states, the disclosed systems can present a digital overlay superimposed over a view the inside of the display case.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate accurate augmented reality objects based on tracking a writing device in relation to a real-world surface. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can detect an initial location of a writing device, and further track movement of the writing device on a real-world surface based on one or more sensory inputs. For example, disclosed systems and methods can generate an augmented reality object based on pressure detected at a tip of a writing device, based on orientation of the writing device, based on motion detector elements of the writing device (e.g., reflective materials, emitters, or object tracking shapes), and/or optical sensors. The systems and methods further render augmented reality objects within an augmented reality environment that appear on the real-world surface based on tracking the movement of the writing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate and present a digital overlay over a view of a tangible object within a display case. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can synchronize a switchable diffuser element with a display screen and one or more light sources to alternate between a scatter state and a transparent state based on a display rate. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods can alternate the display screen between an emissive state (for displaying an emitted digital image) and an attenuating state (for displaying a transparency mask image). By synchronously toggling the display screen and the diffuser element between states, the disclosed systems can present a digital overlay superimposed over a view the inside of the display case.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate accurate augmented reality objects based on tracking a writing device in relation to a real-world surface. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can detect an initial location of a writing device, and further track movement of the writing device on a real-world surface based on one or more sensory inputs. For example, disclosed systems and methods can generate an augmented reality object based on pressure detected at a tip of a writing device, based on orientation of the writing device, based on motion detector elements of the writing device (e.g., reflective materials, emitters, or object tracking shapes), and/or optical sensors. The systems and methods further render augmented reality objects within an augmented reality environment that appear on the real-world surface based on tracking the movement of the writing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate accurate augmented reality objects based on tracking a writing device in relation to a real-world surface. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can detect an initial location of a writing device, and further track movement of the writing device on a real-world surface based on one or more sensory inputs. For example, disclosed systems and methods can generate an augmented reality object based on pressure detected at a tip of a writing device, based on orientation of the writing device, based on motion detector elements of the writing device (e.g., reflective materials, emitters, or object tracking shapes), and/or optical sensors. The systems and methods further render augmented reality objects within an augmented reality environment that appear on the real-world surface based on tracking the movement of the writing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate and present a digital overlay over a view of a tangible object within a display case. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can synchronize a switchable diffuser element with a display screen and one or more light sources to alternate between a scatter state and a transparent state based on a display rate. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods can alternate the display screen between an emissive state (for displaying an emitted digital image) and an attenuating state (for displaying a transparency mask image). By synchronously toggling the display screen and the diffuser element between states, the disclosed systems can present a digital overlay superimposed over a view the inside of the display case.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that is capable of independently modulating the transparency and emissive color of individual pixels that comprise an electronic display. Modulating the transparency of a transmissive layer allows a darkened or semi-darkened foreground field to be provided on the display. Modulating the color of an emissive layer further makes controllable the brightness and color of the foreground field. When these parameters are controlled, the display can generate partially transparent or opaque graphical elements that appear over the scene behind the display. In some embodiments separate emissive layers are provided on the front and back side of a central transmissive layer, thereby allowing different graphical information to be provided on the front and back side of the display. In other embodiments multiple transmissive and emissive layers can be stacked together, thereby allowing three-dimensional imagery to be generated without the need for viewers to use specialized viewing glasses.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that is capable of independently modulating the transparency and emissive color of individual pixels that comprise an electronic display. Modulating the transparency of a transmissive layer allows a darkened or semi-darkened foreground field to be provided on the display. Modulating the color of an emissive layer further makes controllable the brightness and color of the foreground field. When these parameters are controlled, the display can generate partially transparent or opaque graphical elements that appear over the scene behind the display. In some embodiments separate emissive layers are provided on the front and back side of a central transmissive layer, thereby allowing different graphical information to be provided on the front and back side of the display. In other embodiments multiple transmissive and emissive layers can be stacked together, thereby allowing three-dimensional imagery to be generated without the need for viewers to use specialized viewing glasses.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating curved extrusions. A user interface may be provided via which the value of one or more extrusion parameters and/or a reference point may be changed. The extrusion parameters may include a depth parameter that controls the amount of extrusion, an X angle parameter that controls the angle of bend in the X direction, a Y angle parameter that controls the angle of bend in the Y direction, a scale parameter that controls the scale factor, and a twist parameter that controls the angle of extrusion twist. A weight function for changing one or more of the extrusion parameters non-uniformly along the sweep path may also be provided. An extrusion may be generated from an initial 2D object according to the set of extrusion parameters and the reference point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for hidden surface removal with soft occlusion. Soft occlusion methods are described that treat surfaces as having a degree of uncertainty in depth. The soft occlusion methods may, for example, be used to remove artifacts from rendered images due to nearly coplanar surfaces or to render novel effects such as soft intersections between objects including consistent shadows and other global illumination effects. The soft occlusion methods may compute the ‘expected’ or average image given depth probability density functions. This has the effect of visually blending together surfaces that are close together in depth, leading to soft intersections. The computation of soft occlusion may be achieved analytically, for certain probability density functions, or stochastically. The stochastic soft occlusion methods extend the approach to a probability distribution of models, which allows for the effects of shadows and other global illumination effects to be included.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for rendering an artwork comprising a plurality of surfaces, wherein the plurality of surfaces comprises a plurality of semi-transparent surfaces unsorted in depth. An identifier of the nearest semi-transparent surface may be determined and stored in a stencil count of a stencil buffer. The depth of the second nearest semi-transparent surface may be determined using a stencil test based on the stencil count to bypass the nearest semi-transparent surface. The second nearest semi-transparent surface may be rendered to an image buffer, and the nearest semi-transparent surface may be rendered to the image buffer.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for distortion-based mask generation. A respective distortion metric may be determined at each location of a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object. The two-dimensional representation may be based on a view of the three-dimensional object. Each respective distortion metric may indicate a degree of distortion in a mapping between the respective location in the two-dimensional representation and a corresponding location in a surface texture of the three-dimensional object. The visual representation of the respective distortion metric at one or more of the plurality of locations may be displayed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for synthesizing element arrangements from an example. Embodiments may synthesize element arrangement patterns from an example arrangement. Embodiments may combine a texture synthesis technique based on local neighborhood comparison of an example and a target with procedural modeling based on local growth. Given an example, connectivity of elements may be constructed to get neighborhoods information of each element. A synthesis process may start with a single seed and expand the synthesized pattern by placing new elements at seed locations one by one. A reference element may be selected from the example that has neighborhood features that are most similar to neighborhood features of the target seed in the synthesized pattern. A non-rotation mode, a rotation mode, and a flow field mode may be provided. A painting tool, a flow field tool, and a boundary tool may be provided.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for rendering an artwork comprising a plurality of surfaces, wherein the plurality of surfaces comprises a plurality of semi-transparent surfaces unsorted in depth. An identifier of the nearest semi-transparent surface may be determined and stored in a stencil count of a stencil buffer. The depth of the second nearest semi-transparent surface may be determined using a stencil test based on the stencil count to bypass the nearest semi-transparent surface. The second nearest semi-transparent surface may be rendered to an image buffer, and the nearest semi-transparent surface may be rendered to the image buffer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for hidden surface removal with soft occlusion. Soft occlusion methods are described that treat surfaces as having a degree of uncertainty in depth. The soft occlusion methods may, for example, be used to remove artifacts from rendered images due to nearly coplanar surfaces or to render novel effects such as soft intersections between objects including consistent shadows and other global illumination effects. The soft occlusion methods may compute the ‘expected’ or average image given depth probability density functions. This has the effect of visually blending together surfaces that are close together in depth, leading to soft intersections. The computation of soft occlusion may be achieved analytically, for certain probability density functions, or stochastically. The stochastic soft occlusion methods extend the approach to a probability distribution of models, which allows for the effects of shadows and other global illumination effects to be included.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for distortion-based mask generation. A respective distortion metric may be determined at each location of a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object. The two-dimensional representation may be based on a view of the three-dimensional object. Each respective distortion metric may indicate a degree of distortion in a mapping between the respective location in the two-dimensional representation and a corresponding location in a surface texture of the three-dimensional object. The visual representation of the respective distortion metric at one or more of the plurality of locations may be displayed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating curved extrusions. A user interface may be provided via which the value of one or more extrusion parameters and/or a reference point may be changed. The extrusion parameters may include a depth parameter that controls the amount of extrusion, an X angle parameter that controls the angle of bend in the X direction, a Y angle parameter that controls the angle of bend in the Y direction, a scale parameter that controls the scale factor, and a twist parameter that controls the angle of extrusion twist. A weight function for changing one or more of the extrusion parameters non-uniformly along the sweep path may also be provided. An extrusion may be generated from an initial 2D object according to the set of extrusion parameters and the reference point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for diffuse indirect illumination computation using progressive interleaved irradiance sampling. Embodiments may implement a method that amortizes the cost of computing the irradiance integral for diffuse indirect illumination both temporally and spatially in screen space. For each pixel, only one secondary ray is fired. By carefully arranging different secondary ray directions for different pixels according to a sampling sequence, embodiments may filter the noisy estimate so that each pixel receives a relatively uniform coverage of the integrated hemisphere. Some embodiments may use a bilateral filter so that the geometric discontinuities are respected. The sequence may continue to a higher-level of stratification in each frame. This ensures that the rendering is converging to a noise-free result.