Abstract: A system and method of capturing a stereoscopic pair of images for use in forming a 3-D image of an object at a desired perceived position in a scene projected onto a dome surface. The first one of the stereoscopic pair of images is captured when the object is offset to the right of the desired perceived position in the scene. The second one of the stereoscopic pair of images is captured when the object is offset to the left of the desired perceived position in the scene. In this manner, positive parallax can be captured in front of a viewer, upward in an arc through the zenith of the dome, and beyond to the back of the dome. The system and method allows scenes projected onto a dome surface to contain positive parallax, and therefore allows objects to appear to be located beyond the dome surface when viewed in 3-D stereo, which was previously not possible.

Abstract: A method for secure payment transactions over a network between a support help desk computing system and a customer computing system is provided. The method includes establishing a chat session between the help desk and the customer using a chat application program; receiving a purchase order from the customer; communicating a unique URL payment link to the customer, wherein the URL payment link is configured for allowing the customer to establish communication with an order processing system to provide sensitive payment information to the order processing system; receiving the sensitive payment information at the order processing system communicated from the customer; encrypting the sensitive payment information; providing the encrypted sensitive payment information to the help desk, wherein the encrypted sensitive payment information is displayed in a masked format on a display of the help desk; and completing the purchase order using the encrypted sensitive payment information.

Abstract: A robotics process automation platform for developing and managing a workflow is provided. The platform includes development and operational databases stored in a memory, a development interface component, a control interface component, and a runner component. The development interface component is configured for creating a workflow and storing the workflow in the development database. The control interface component is configured for selecting the workflow stored in the development database and storing a copy of the workflow in the operational database. The runner component is configured for receiving instructions from the control interface component to store a copy of the workflow stored in the operational database in a memory of a virtual computing device, and downloading the workflow in the second memory. The runner component is also configured for instructing the virtual computing device to execute the workflow in association with the target application.

Abstract: A method for secure payment transactions over a network between a support help desk computing system and a customer computing system is provided. The method includes establishing a chat session between the help desk and the customer using a chat application program; receiving a purchase order from the customer; communicating a unique URL payment link to the customer, wherein the URL payment link is configured for allowing the customer to establish communication with an order processing system to provide sensitive payment information to the order processing system; receiving the sensitive payment information at the order processing system communicated from the customer; encrypting the sensitive payment information; providing the encrypted sensitive payment information to the help desk, wherein the encrypted sensitive payment information is displayed in a masked format on a display of the help desk; and completing the purchase order using the encrypted sensitive payment information.

Abstract: A system and method of capturing a stereoscopic pair of images for use in forming a 3-D image of an object at a desired perceived position in a scene projected onto a dome surface. The first one of the stereoscopic pair of images is captured when the object is offset to the right of the desired perceived position in the scene. The second one of the stereoscopic pair of images is captured when the object is offset to the left of the desired perceived position in the scene. In this manner, positive parallax can be captured in front of a viewer, upward in an arc through the zenith of the dome, and beyond to the back of the dome. The system and method allows scenes projected onto a dome surface to contain positive parallax, and therefore allows objects to appear to be located beyond the dome surface.

Abstract: A method for secure payment transactions over a network between a support help desk computing system and a customer computing system is provided. The method includes establishing a chat session between the help desk and the customer using a chat application program; receiving a purchase order from the customer; communicating a unique URL payment link to the customer, wherein the URL payment link is configured for allowing the customer to establish communication with an order processing system to provide sensitive payment information to the order processing system; receiving the sensitive payment information at the order processing system communicated from the customer; encrypting the sensitive payment information; providing the encrypted sensitive payment information to the help desk, wherein the encrypted sensitive payment information is displayed in a masked format on a display of the help desk; and completing the purchase order using the encrypted sensitive payment information.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing and repairing a first computing device that is not able to be booted due to a malfunction of the first computing device is provided. The method comprises providing a boot tool stored on a removable computer readable storage medium; allowing the first computing device to be booted using the boot tool; providing for communication between the first computing device and a remote help desk computing device over a network; remotely identifying the malfunction of the first computing device; and pushing at least one repair data file from the remote help desk computing device to the first computing device or downloading the at least one repair data file from the Internet using the first computing device, wherein the at least one repair data file is configured for repairing the first computing device so that the first computing device is bootable without use of the boot tool.

Abstract: A display system able to reduce interpixel intensity gaps caused by the use of pulsed laser sources having relatively short optimum pulse duration. The interpixel intensity gaps are reduced by temporally offsetting multiple laser pulses for a display pixel during a corresponding pixel-scan period. The temporally offset pulses for the display pixel are then scanned to different locations on a viewing surface such that the display pixel has an improved intensity distribution. Additional reduction in the interpixel gaps may be accomplished by de-focusing the temporally offset pulses in a scan direction, increasing the duty cycle of the source lasers, and shifting the location of alternating frames on the viewing surface.

Abstract: An image display system for displaying a planar image on a curved viewing surface, such as a theater dome, with minimized image distortion. In order to display the image, a virtual surface, which is a representation of the curved viewing surface, is textured with the image using an angular distribution to thereby form a textured virtual image. The textured virtual image is then displayed onto the curved viewing surface.

Abstract: A calibration method for a grating light modulator includes calibrating light reflective ribbons on the modulator on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The method further includes performing a dark-state calibration and a bright-state calibration for each pixel. Once completed, the results of the dark-state calibration and the bright-state calibration may be combined to ensure a smooth transition between a dark state and a bright state for each pixel.

Abstract: A projection system that includes a singe light modulation device and a plurality of light sources of different wavelengths. Each wavelength of light is incident on the light modulation device at a spatially distinct location and a temporally distinct time. The use of a scanning mirror allows the projection system to sequentially form, in full-color, each of the columns or rows of an image. The projection system is characterized by the reduction of color separation or the rainbow effect due to the rendering of each column or row in full color.

Abstract: A method for displaying a stereo eye image on a curved surface is disclosed. A mathematical model of a computer generated scene having a vertex may be generated. A mono vertex vector may be calculated normal to the curved surface at the vertex location on the curved surface to a center of a viewer position. A left vertex may be calculated by applying a cross product to the vertex vector and a viewer's eye position vector. A right vertex may be calculated into the frame buffer by applying the cross product to the vertex vector and a negative viewer's eye position vector. The calculated points may be projected onto a curved surface for viewing.

Abstract: A shuttering system for a scanning projector having a laser source, a grating light valve light modulator, and a light steering scanner includes a feedback system interconnecting the scanner with the light modulator. The feedback system is configured to deactivate the light modulator in case of scanner malfunction, so as to redirect laser light away from the scanner.

Abstract: A method for displaying a stereo eye image on a curved surface is disclosed. A mathematical model of a computer generated scene having a vertex may be generated. A mono vertex vector may be calculated normal to the curved surface at the vertex location on the curved surface to a center of a viewer position. A left vertex may be calculated by applying a cross product to the vertex vector and a viewer's eye position vector. A right vertex may be calculated into the frame buffer by applying the cross product to the vertex vector and a negative viewer's eye position vector. The calculated points may be projected onto a curved surface for viewing.

Abstract: An illumination system for transforming at least one laser light beam having a non-uniform distribution in a first axis and a second axis to a beam having a substantially uniform distribution in the first axis while preserving the non-uniform distribution in the second axis. The transformed beam may be imaged as a line image onto a one-dimensional light modulation device. The illumination system may comprise a light tunnel having two sides that interact with the at least one laser light beam in the first axis and two sides that do not interact with the light in the second axis.

Abstract: A method for reducing the transport delay in a computer image generator. The first step is dividing a single frame buffer into a plurality of screen bins. Next is storing primitives in each screen bin the primitives touch. Then the screen bins are rendered by row from top to bottom. Finally, at least one rendered screen bin is displayed from the single frame buffer before the rendering of all the screen bins has completed for the frame buffer. Preferably the step of displaying of the screen bins rendered should be started when the rendering is at least ½ completed. In some cases, the step of displaying of the screen bins rendered can be started after at least one row of screen bins has completed rendering. A hardware interlock can be used to ensure that the rendering process does not advance past the display process.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for converting a frequency of a coherent light source. A birefringent nonlinear material is cut at an angle for critical phase matching to form a rectangular parallelepiped biased nonlinear crystal. The nonlinear crystal cut at a biased angle can be placed at an angle in a coherent light beam to enable the beam to be directed through the crystal over a substantially optimal phase matching path while minimizing back reflection of the coherent light beam to the coherent light source.