Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for generating reservoir models including the SOC nature of the Earth's crust. The methods employ seismic emission tomography (SET) to generate three dimensional models of a formation providing permeability without the need for traditional reservoir modeling techniques and allowing for the identification of naturally-occurring permeability pathways that provide accurate and precise locations for the efficient recovery of hydrocarbons or other fluids.

Abstract: A method for immersively displaying a scanned environment of a region to a set of users in a training environment wearing augmented reality head display units. The training environment includes a pseudo-GPS system, which allows position tracking over time. This enables rehearsing military operations before they occur.

Abstract: Pointers are added to a 3D volumetric dataset to help the user visualize the direction of blood flow. A 3D volume containing at least one blood vessel is created. Next, the direction of the blood flow is determined. Next, at least pointer is placed into the 3D volume in an aligned fashion with the direction of blood flow such that the 3D volume is modified. Next, the modified 3D volume is displayed on a head display unit, such as an augmented reality or virtual reality display. Next, at least one pointer is advanced to a new position for additional modification of the 3D imaging volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an angiographic simulation is disclosed. A vascular structure is segmented within a 3D imaging dataset, such as a CT scan or MRI scan. The voxels corresponding to virtual contrast are placed within the segmented vascular structure. Multi-phase simulations can be performed to track contrast flow through the vascular tree. Some embodiments comprises inserting virtual contrast in conjunction with performing a deformity of the vascular structure.

Abstract: Pointers are added to a 3D volumetric dataset to help the user visualize the direction of blood flow. A 3D volume containing at least one blood vessel is created. Next, the direction of the blood flow is determined. Next, at least pointer is placed into the 3D volume in an aligned fashion with the direction of blood flow such that the 3D volume is modified. Next, the modified 3D volume is displayed on a head display unit, such as an augmented reality or virtual reality display. Next, at least one pointer is advanced to a new position for additional modification of the 3D imaging volume.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for operating a laser attraction. Aspects include instructing a plurality of laser transmitters to each emit a laser beam, each of the emitted laser beams being detected by a particular receiver device. In addition, a signal may be received that indicates that one of the laser beams has been broken. In an aspect, the signal may be received from a receiver device that is associated with the broken laser beam. Further, the receiver device may be instructed to illuminate a light source when the laser beam is broken, the light source being part of the receiver device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a collapsible ring light assembly comprising: a first arcuate tubular member and a second arcuate tubular member. The arcuate tubular members can be attached to and detached from each other. Each arcuate tubular member includes a plurality of standard light sockets adapted for use with a wide variety of bulbs. The ring light assembly has a diameter of at least about 24 inches.

Abstract: A computer-animated scene is shaded using a point in a point cloud. The point represents a sample location on a surface primitive of an object in the scene. The surface primitive lies at least partially within a camera viewing frustum of a virtual camera, which has a focal point. A sample location distance, which is a near plane distance of the camera viewing frustum or the length of a line between the sample location on the surface primitive and the focal point of the virtual camera, is determined. A solid angle of the surface primitive subtended at the focal point of the virtual camera is obtained. A desired point area of the point in the point cloud is determined based on the sample location distance and the solid angle. The scene is shaded using the desired point area of the point in the point cloud.

Abstract: This invention relates to a collapsible ring light assembly comprising: a first arcuate tubular member and a second arcuate tubular member. The arcuate tubular members can be attached to and detached from each other. Each arcuate tubular member includes a plurality of standard light sockets adapted for use with a wide variety of bulbs. The ring light assembly has a diameter of at least about 24 inches.

Abstract: An automated entrance device includes a housing and a first and second panel operably coupled to the housing. The panels are positioned approximately at a 90° angle to each other. The first panel and the second panel rotate together from a first position to a second position to allow entrance to a user. After allowing a user to enter, the panels reset to the first position ready to selectively allow entrance to additional users.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems that allow a user to reposition or size a graphics item or background such that a portion of the graphics item resides outside the background. This permits tailored operating spaces based on user preference and allowable conditions, which are particularly useful with display devices having a large display area.

Abstract: A technique for rendering an image of hair in a computer-generated scene is described. The scene includes a virtual light source and a hair virtual object comprising a material model. A hair shading function partly defining the material model is accessed. A set of random values is generated. The hair shading function is importance sampled by converting the set of random values into a set of light direction samples based on a Cauchy distribution. The probability density function of each converted light direction sample uses a Cauchy distribution. A light color value and a hair color value are computed for each light direction sample of the set of light direction samples. The light color values and the hair color values are weighted to determine a set of weighted values. A characteristic of a pixel representing part of the virtual object is determined based on the set of weighted values.

Abstract: A computer-animated scene is shaded by a computing system having an in-core memory and coupled to one or more out-of-core storage devices. The scene is comprised of shading locations on a surface element of an object in the scene. A point cloud representation of the scene is generated. An octree data structure based on the point cloud representation of the scene is generated. To generate the octree data structure, the Morton code for each point in the point cloud representation of the scene is computed. The points are then sorted based on the Morton code, recursively subdivided to find at most a threshold number of nodes, and written to the one or more out-of-core storage devices. The shading locations are then shaded based on the nodes written to the out-of-core storage devices.

Abstract: A high dynamic range (HDR) video can be compressed using inter-frame or intra-frame compression. The compression results in multiple encoded macroblocks and associated residual images. The residual images can be lossy compressed by mapping floating point image data values of the residual image from a light linear space to a perceptually linear space using a first non-linear mapping function. A value in the light linear space is proportionate to the power of a light source, and a value in the perceptually linear space is proportionate to a visual perceived brightness. Floating point discrete cosine transform (DCT) frequency coefficients of the floating point image data values of the residual image are determined. The floating point DCT frequency coefficients are quantized. The quantized floating point DCT frequency coefficients are compressed. The compression of the quantized floating point DCT frequency coefficients is lossless. The compressed quantized floating point DCT frequency coefficients are stored.

Abstract: A display device capable of displaying a plurality of projection images is provided. The display device includes a light source within a base and a plurality of projection outputs. Each projection output comprises an optical modulation device and a projection lens system. The light source includes a switch and a plurality of light sources such as lasers or LEDs with different color to one another. The switch receives and diverts light beams from the light sources in a predetermined sequential order to the plurality of projection outputs.

Abstract: Described herein are devices that provide projection-type video output in a portable and flexible design. The design includes a projection chamber, a base, and an interface that permits relative positioning between the projection chamber and base. The base maintains the position of the display device. The projection chamber includes components responsible for the production of images based on received video data and components responsible for the projection of those images. Relative pointing between the projection chamber and base allows the projection chamber to be pointed—and an output projected image to be positioned—with minimal effort.

Abstract: This invention provides systems and methods that allow a user to change the size of a background used with a graphics-based user interface. This enables tailored background sizes based on user preference and allowable conditions, which are particularly useful with display devices having a large display area. By custom sizing a background to current conditions, a user may navigate an image among obstacles at a receiving surface and obstacles along a projection path between a projection lens and receiving surface. In addition, a user may customize the background size on a large LCD screen according to more suitable dimensions for an image used in the background or to a personal preference, thereby creating a personalized look and feel for the graphics-based user interface. One embodiment of the present invention defines a usable area for a graphics-based user interface according to the current size of the background.

Abstract: A projection display device that includes a set of light source units (e.g., lasers or LEDs) and a control mechanism that monitors performance of each of the units, as well as external factors, e.g., time, ambient temperature, etc. is provided. The control mechanism may dynamically adjust each light source unit, for example, to maximize longevity. In operation, an optical modulator is configured to selectively transmit light produced by a subset of the light source units according to video data included in a video signal provided to the projection-type display device. A projection lens system is configured to project light transmitted by the optical modulator along a projection path. A sensor detects real time readings related to the performance of the set of light source units. In accordance with the readings, a control circuitry dynamically controls the laser set to dynamically vary the luminance of the set of light source units.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods that enable advertisement on mobile computing applications are provided. More specifically, described herein are devices and methods that are capable of delivering relatively more friendly advertising information to a user while causing less interference on graphics-based user interfaces of such devices. Integral projector modules which may be embedded in mobile computing devices are also provided. These modules may be capable of externally projecting advertising content upon most any surface.