Patents by Inventor Kevin Wooley

Kevin Wooley 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).

  • Publication number: 20230326142
    Abstract: An immersive content presentation system and techniques that can detect and correct lighting artifacts caused by movements of one or more taking camera in a performance area consisting of multiple displays (e.g., LED or LCD displays). The techniques include capturing, with a camera, a plurality of images of a performer performing in a performance area at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment. Where the images of the virtual environment within a frustum of the camera are updated on the one or more displays based on movement of the camera, and images of the virtual environment outside of the frustum of the camera are not updated based on movement of the camera. The techniques further include generating content based on the plurality of captured images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD. LLC
    Inventors: Roger CORDES, Nicholas RASMUSSEN, Kevin WOOLEY, Rachel ROSE
  • Patent number: 11727644
    Abstract: An immersive content presentation system and techniques that can detect and correct lighting artifacts caused by movements of one or more taking camera in a performance area consisting of multiple displays (e.g., LED or LCD displays). The techniques include capturing, with a camera, a plurality of images of a performer performing in a performance area at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment. Where the images of the virtual environment within a frustum of the camera are updated on the one or more displays based on movement of the camera, and images of the virtual environment outside of the frustum of the camera are not updated based on movement of the camera. The techniques further include generating content based on the plurality of captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD. LLC
    Inventors: Roger Cordes, Nicholas Rasmussen, Kevin Wooley, Rachel Rose
  • Publication number: 20220005279
    Abstract: An immersive content presentation system and techniques that can detect and correct lighting artifacts caused by movements of one or more taking camera in a performance area consisting of multiple displays (e.g., LED or LCD displays). The techniques include capturing, with a camera, a plurality of images of a performer performing in a performance area at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment. Where the images of the virtual environment within a frustum of the camera are updated on the one or more displays based on movement of the camera, and images of the virtual environment outside of the frustum of the camera are not updated based on movement of the camera. The techniques further include generating content based on the plurality of captured images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD. LLC
    Inventors: Roger CORDES, Nicholas RASMUSSEN, Kevin WOOLEY, Rachel ROSE
  • Patent number: 11132837
    Abstract: An immersive content presentation system and techniques that can detect and correct lighting artifacts caused by movements of one or more taking camera in a performance area consisting of multiple displays (e.g., LED or LCD displays). The techniques include capturing, with a camera, a plurality of images of a performer performing in a performance area at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment. Where the images of the virtual environment within a frustum of the camera are updated on the one or more displays based on movement of the camera, and images of the virtual environment outside of the frustum of the camera are not updated based on movement of the camera. The techniques further include generating content based on the plurality of captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD. LLC
    Inventors: Roger Cordes, Nicholas Rasmussen, Kevin Wooley, Rachel Rose
  • Publication number: 20200145644
    Abstract: An immersive content presentation system and techniques that can detect and correct lighting artifacts caused by movements of one or more taking camera in a performance area consisting of multiple displays (e.g., LED or LCD displays). The techniques include capturing, with a camera, a plurality of images of a performer performing in a performance area at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment. Where the images of the virtual environment within a frustum of the camera are updated on the one or more displays based on movement of the camera, and images of the virtual environment outside of the frustum of the camera are not updated based on movement of the camera. The techniques further include generating content based on the plurality of captured images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD. LLC
    Inventors: Roger CORDES, Nicholas RASMUSSEN, Kevin WOOLEY, Rachel ROSE
  • Patent number: 10269169
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
  • Patent number: 10142561
    Abstract: A handheld device includes: an input control configured to control and modify a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera. A system includes: a computer system configured to execute program instructions for generating a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and handheld device configured to communicate with the computer system for controlling and modifying the virtual scene, the handheld device comprising: an input control configured to control and modify the virtual scene; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Spencer Reynolds, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley, Steve Sullivan, Adam Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 9792479
    Abstract: A method of motion capture may include accessing a 3D model of a subject, and associating the 3D model of the subject with a 2D representation of the subject in a plurality of frames. The method may also include identifying a change to the 2D representation of the subject between two or more of the plurality of frames, and deforming the 3D model in a virtual 3D space. In some embodiments, the deforming may be based on the identified change to the 2D representation and at least one constraint restricting how the 3D model can be deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Ronald Mallet, Kiran S. Bhat, Kevin Wooley
  • Patent number: 9781354
    Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Michael Sanders, Steve Sullivan, Spencer Reynolds, Brian Cantwell
  • Publication number: 20170195527
    Abstract: A handheld device includes: an input control configured to control and modify a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera. A system includes: a computer system configured to execute program instructions for generating a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and handheld device configured to communicate with the computer system for controlling and modifying the virtual scene, the handheld device comprising: an input control configured to control and modify the virtual scene; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Spencer Reynolds, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley, Steve Sullivan, Adam Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 9672417
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method of motion capture, the method includes tracking the motion of a dynamic object bearing a pattern configured such that a first portion of the patterns is tracked at a first resolution and a second portion of the pattern is tracked at a second resolution. The method further includes causing data representing the motion to be stored to a computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Ronald Mallet
  • Patent number: 9626786
    Abstract: A handheld device includes: an input control configured to control and modify a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera. A system includes: a computer system configured to execute program instructions for generating a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and handheld device configured to communicate with the computer system for controlling and modifying the virtual scene, the handheld device comprising: an input control configured to control and modify the virtual scene; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Spencer Reynolds, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley, Steve Sullivan, Adam Schnitzer
  • Publication number: 20160350961
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
  • Patent number: 9424679
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
  • Publication number: 20160227132
    Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Michael Sanders, Steve Sullivan, Spencer Reynolds, Brian Cantwell
  • Patent number: 9401025
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders
  • Patent number: 9324179
    Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Michael Sanders, Steve Sullivan, Spencer Reynolds, Brian Cantwell
  • Publication number: 20160110594
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method of motion capture, the method includes tracking the motion of a dynamic object bearing a pattern configured such that a first portion of the patterns is tracked at a first resolution and a second portion of the pattern is tracked at a second resolution. The method further includes causing data representing the motion to be stored to a computer readable medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Ronald Mallet
  • Patent number: 9256778
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method of motion capture, the method includes tracking the motion of a dynamic object bearing a pattern configured such that a first portion of the patterns is tracked at a first resolution and a second portion of the pattern is tracked at a second resolution. The method further includes causing data representing the motion to be stored to a computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Ronald Mallet
  • Publication number: 20160012598
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: STEVE SULLIVAN, KEVIN WOOLEY, BRETT A. ALLEN, MICHAEL SANDERS