Patents Assigned to Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
  • Publication number: 20240412477
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for intelligently distributing virtual objects within a 3D virtual space using a voxel-based heat map. The approach is highly flexible and scalable, and a designer may guide the placement of virtual objects using parameters that reference the voxel-based heat map. This technique affords designers expansive creative control over a wide-array of scenarios that involve placing a virtual object into a virtual 3D space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Hitchcock, Emily Saunders
  • Publication number: 20240412717
    Abstract: Exemplary air amplifiers described herein can utilize a high-pressure stream of gas to accelerate a low-velocity stream of gas to provide a high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. This high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas can generate unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through the air amplifier. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can include a multi-stage noise suppression system to suppress, for example, diminish, re-tune, or even completely cancel, the unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through these exemplary air amplifiers. The multi-stage noise suppression system can include one or more absorption materials to passively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. The multi-stage noise suppression system described herein can generate one or more noise suppression waves to actively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert ANDERSON, Erik Hockman, Michael Rives
  • Patent number: 12160964
    Abstract: An exterior display system can be configured and arranged around a structure. The exterior display system includes a mechanical supporting structure configured and arranged about the exterior surface of the structure. This mechanical supporting structure can include various supporting structures and/or mounting structures which are configured and arranged to form a mechanical lattice framework. An electronic visual display device can be connected to the mechanical lattice framework to form the exterior display system. The electronic visual display device can include multiple electronic visual display panels which are connected to the mechanical lattice framework. Each of these multiple electronic visual display panels can include multiple groups of multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs), also referred to electronic LED disc assemblies, that are configured and arranged in a series of one or more rows and/or a series of one or more columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Luthwaite, Miguel Fontgivell AriƱo
  • Patent number: 12154600
    Abstract: A mechanical enclosure provides a mechanism for coupling a storage device to a computer system. The mechanical enclosure can be removably coupled to the computer system and can allow for coupling of the storage device to the computer system without using specialty cables and connectors. The mechanical enclosure can allow the storage device to be coupled to computer system without significantly degrading the speed at which the data stored within the storage device is downloaded onto the computer. The storage device can be inserted into the mechanical enclosure which couples the storage device to the mechanical enclosure. The mechanical enclosure can be inserted into the computer system which similarly couples the computer system to the mechanical enclosure to effectively couple the storage device and the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Sagotsky, John Michael Matreci, Michael Horace Graae
  • Publication number: 20240389200
    Abstract: A system for transporting a fluid from a fluid source to an effects pod to provide atmospheric effects to an audience in a venue can include a pipe assembly. The pipe assembly can include a pipe for fluid communication with the fluid source, a connector disposed at an end of the pipe to couple to at least one of a flexible conduit or another pipe assembly, and a pipe support coupled to the pipe, such that a lower portion of the pipe support contacts a ground surface to hold the pipe a distance above the ground surface. The pipe assembly can further include insulation abutting at least a portion of the pipe. Additionally, the pipe assembly can include a heat trace in contact with the pipe. The system can include a cart to transport the pipe assembly. A plurality of pipe assemblies can be connected in series to transport the fluid from the fluid source to the effects pod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Michael RIVES
  • Patent number: 12148092
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for utilizing non-RAM memory to implement large digital display emulations. An embodiment operates by generating, by an emulator device, a pixel map of a digital display, wherein the pixel map comprises a plurality of pixels representative of a plurality of light emitting elements arranged on a viewable surface of the large digital display. A distance and orientation of a virtual viewer to the viewable surface of the large digital display is generated and the emulator device emulates the large digital display based on the pixel map and the distance and the orientation of the virtual viewer and renders the digital content based on the emulated large digital display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: William Andrew Nolan, Michael Romaszewicz, Michael Rankin
  • Publication number: 20240377879
    Abstract: Real-world users of an event simulation system can playback a digital representation of an event that is mapped onto a virtual model of a real-world venue to simulate the event being presented at a real-world venue. As the real-world users are viewing this virtual event, these users can virtually interact with the virtual event, for example, move around the virtual event to view the virtual event at various locations and/or modify parameters, characteristics, and/or attributes of the virtual event. Thereafter, the event simulation system can propagate these modifications across multiple real-world users of the event simulation system to allow these real-world users to collaboratively interact with the virtual event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Vlad SPEARS, Sasha BRENMAN, Michael ROMASZEWICZ, Michael RANKIN, Emily SAUNDERS, Stephen HITCHCOCK, Ciera JONES
  • Patent number: 12143559
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for rendering a contiguous virtual space for a plurality of display devices. An embodiment operates by identifying a projection of a virtual camera onto a virtual plane and determining a display plane area based on an intersection of the projection of the virtual camera onto the virtual plane. Thereafter, a position for a plurality of virtual windows correlating to a plurality of real-world display devices on the display plane area is calculated based on (i) properties of the display devices and (ii) a focal length of the virtual camera. After placing the virtual windows their respective display plane area positions, content behind a virtual window is identified and provided to the corresponding real-world display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Ragan, Kurt Kaminski
  • Patent number: 12141934
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for mobile device tracking system within a VR simulation. The method includes determining a position and orientation of a mobile device tracking module (e.g., case) attached to a mobile device, calculating a position and orientation of the of the mobile device based at least partially on a position and orientation of a tracking module, simulating a real world environment, generating a virtual visualization of the mobile device and rendering a VR simulation based at least partially on the position and orientation of the display screen of the mobile device. The position and orientation of the display screen provides a virtual position and orientation of the display screen relative to a virtual origin within the VR simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Poynter, David E. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20240320894
    Abstract: A system and methods for providing interactive content to an audience is disclosed. In aspects, system implements methods to receive sensor data captured by one or more sensors affixed to a performer. A graphical visualization is rendered based on the sensor data. The graphical visualization is transmitted to one or more external devices associated with one or more members of the audience for incorporation into a application executing on the one or more external devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin POYNTER
  • Publication number: 20240323508
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, and method for accurately setting a focus flange depth and planarity of a camera lens. An aspect includes a lens housing with at least one camera lens, a camera body with an imaging plane, and a lens mount removably coupling the lens housing to the camera body via a coupling mechanism. At least one shim may be inserted between the lens mount and the camera body to adjust a depth, pitch, and yaw of the camera lens in the lens housing with respect to the imaging plane in the camera body. Each shim may comprise a body having an opening extending from an edge of the body to a center of the body. The opening of each shim is configured to receive the coupling mechanism such that the pitch and yaw may be adjusted without fully removing the lens housing from the camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Deanan DASILVA, Michael Graae, Bryan Guenther, John Michael Eric Mongelli, Timothy John Bierman, Logan Andrew McDermot
  • Patent number: 12101623
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for replicating a remote venue in a local venue. An embodiment operates by receiving original audio. Thereafter, the original stream of audio is modified to produce modified audio based on an audio profile unique to a remote venue smaller than the local venue. The audio profile comprises a virtual representation of the remote venue including (i) a virtual audio source corresponding to the local venue's audio source and configured to produce the original audio and (ii) a virtual reverberation point corresponding to a real-world location in the remote venue and the portion of the local venue. As such, the modified audio is determined based on receipt of the original audio from the reverberation point. Thus, after correlating the modified audio to the local venue's audio source, the modified audio is provided by the audio source to the portion of the local venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Elby, Erik Hockman
  • Patent number: 12094074
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for intelligently distributing virtual objects within a 3D virtual space using a voxel-based heat map. The approach is highly flexible and scalable, and a designer may guide the placement of virtual objects using parameters that reference the voxel-based heat map. This technique affords designers expansive creative control over a wide-array of scenarios that involve placing a virtual object into a virtual 3D space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Hitchcock, Emily Saunders
  • Patent number: 12086301
    Abstract: Real-world users of an event simulation system can playback a digital representation of an event that is mapped onto a virtual model of a real-world venue to simulate the event being presented at a real-world venue. As the real-world users are viewing this virtual event, these users can virtually interact with the virtual event, for example, move around the virtual event to view the virtual event at various locations and/or modify parameters, characteristics, and/or attributes of the virtual event. Thereafter, the event simulation system can propagate these modifications across multiple real-world users of the event simulation system to allow these real-world users to collaboratively interact with the virtual event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Spears, Sasha Brenman, Michael Romaszewicz, Michael Rankin, Emily Saunders, Stephen Hitchcock, Ciera Jones
  • Publication number: 20240296644
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can access one or more real-world images, also referred to as video, of one or more real-world user devices within a real-world environment. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can capture one or more real-world images, also referred to as video, of one or more tracking markers being displayed by the one or more real-world user devices. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can estimate position, orientation, for example, roll, pitch, and/or yaw, and/or motion of the one or more real-world devices in the real-world environment based upon the one or more tracking markers. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can render one or more virtual user devices to have substantially similar positions, substantially similar orientations, for example, rolls, pitches, and/or yaws, and/or substantially similar motions as the one or more real-world devices in the real-world environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: SPHERE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin POYNTER
  • Publication number: 20240286059
    Abstract: An air amplifier utilizes a high-pressure input stream of air to accelerate a low-velocity input stream of air to provide a high-velocity, high-volume output stream of air. A coupled air amplifier array includes multiple air amplifiers which couple their respective output streams of air to one another to form a single collective output stream of air. Multiple coupled air amplifier arrays can be utilized to form coupled air amplifier array systems to provide multiple collective output streams of air which can be focused toward to an audience within a venue. The coupled air amplifier array system can be implemented within atmospheric effects systems to provide atmospheric effects, such as wind, scent, and/or temperature to provide some examples, relating to an event. These atmospheric effects systems can present these atmospheric effects to the audience to enhance the immersion of the audience as they are viewing the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: SPHERE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert ANDERSON, Stuart ELBY, Erik HOCKMAN, Michael Allen RIVES, Jeffery Lynn WERTZ, Darik Wade BEAVER, Jason David ADAMS, Joshua Richard ANDERSON, Brian Andrew MAIER, Richard Neal FLEMING, Tony Leonard OXFORD
  • Patent number: 12058510
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for accurately mapping audio to a visual image on a display device. An embodiment operates by, based on an identified virtual representation of the remote venue, modifying audio received at a local venue to produce a first and second modified audio. Thereafter, the first and second modified audio is correlated to a first and second portion of a prestored image. Afterward, the first and second portion of the prestored image is presented on a first and second portion of the display device's curved screen, and the first and second modified audio is provided on a first and second audio device, respectively, such that the first and second modified audio is provided to the first and second regions of the local venue synchronously with the first and second portions of audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Elby, Erik Hockman
  • Patent number: 12058430
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, and method for accurately setting a focus flange depth and planarity of a camera lens. An aspect includes a lens housing with at least one camera lens, a camera body with an imaging plane, and a lens mount removably coupling the lens housing to the camera body via a coupling mechanism. At least one shim may be inserted between the lens mount and the camera body to adjust a depth, pitch, and yaw of the camera lens in the lens housing with respect to the imaging plane in the camera body. Each shim may comprise a body having an opening extending from an edge of the body to a center of the body. The opening of each shim is configured to receive the coupling mechanism such that the pitch and yaw may be adjusted without fully removing the lens housing from the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Deanan Dasilva, Michael Graae, Bryan Guenther, John Michael Eric Mongelli, Timothy John Bierman, Logan Andrew McDermot