Patents Assigned to Universal City Studios LLC
  • Patent number: 12705994
    Abstract: A method of providing audio descriptions of landmarks includes causing a user device to capture an image via an imaging sensor of the user device, comparing the captured image to a reference image to identify a landmark that appears in the captured image, providing a prompt requesting a description associated with the identified landmark to a large language model (LLM), receiving an audio file of the description associated with the identified landmark, and providing the audio file of the description associated with the identified landmark to the one or more user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Alvaro Javier Lazaro Aguilar, Weiyi He, Ambar Aballo Ruiz, Paige Lynette Reiter, Thomas Owen Williams, Howard Bruce Mall
  • Patent number: 12703284
    Abstract: A ride vehicle system includes a seat configured to support a passenger in a ride vehicle. The seat includes a seat pan, and the seat pan includes a membrane defining an internal volume and an active fluid disposed within the internal volume. Additionally, the ride vehicle system includes a field generator configured to generate an applied field in the active fluid to change a property of the active fluid. The seat pan is configured to deform under a weight of the passenger to form a contour conformed to a shape of the passenger in an absence of the applied field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: David Gerard Majdali, Steven C. Blum
  • Patent number: 12702934
    Abstract: A ride system includes a ride vehicle made of a buoyant material configured to float in a liquid. A bogie of the ride system includes a vehicle support positioned under the ride vehicle, and the bogie is configured to travel along a track. An extender is coupled to the vehicle support and coupled to the ride vehicle. The extender is configured to transition between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration to allow the ride vehicle to float in the liquid within a range of motion relative to the vehicle support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Sarka Harrington, Eric Alan Vance
  • Patent number: 12703409
    Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Luis Carlos Alarcon, Steven C. Blum, Michael David Russell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12697562
    Abstract: A system for an entertainment venue includes an enclosure comprising a display surface, a light emitter disposed within the enclosure and configured to output a light, and a tube disposed within the enclosure. The tube is configured to receive the light and transmit the light through the display surface of the enclosure to form imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Clayton James Tripp, Gregory Addison Hill, Jr., Stephen Burnham Swift, Eli J. Romaire, Jonathan Harris Sangel, Alex Christopher Merryman, Anthony Joseph Domingo, Jeffrey Gontar Small, Camille Ann Smolucha
  • Patent number: 12697553
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatuses, and systems for implementing a vehicle system for amusement parks. A vehicle system can have one or more vehicles for carrying passengers. Each vehicle can be propelled via a propulsion assembly that is propelled by a flow of fluid. In some aspects, the propulsion assembly can provide one or more adjustable surfaces that extend into the flow of fluid in a trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Anne Kelley, Eric Allan Vance
  • Patent number: 12697715
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an articulated joint. The articulated joint includes a first rotatable joint member including a first socket cavity, and a second rotatable joint member including a second socket cavity. The articulated joint further includes an elongated member including a first end having a spherical shape and a second end having the spherical shape, the first end of the elongated member being moveably secured in the first socket cavity and the second end of the elongated member being moveably secured in the second socket cavity. The elongated member is configured to rotate the second rotatable joint member in response to a rotation of the first rotatable joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Anisha Vyas, Timothy J. Eck, Haz Minor, Phil Said, Le Phan, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 12701360
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling an emission of an audio track in a three-dimensional (3D) space. An audio system is configured to detect an emission of a first audio track via one or more speakers of a plurality of speakers, wherein the first audio track is associated with an attraction, and select a speaker of the plurality of speakers. The audio system is further configured to determine whether the selected speaker is within a predetermined distance from the attraction, determine whether the selected speaker is emitting a second audio track different from the first audio track if the selected speaker is within the predetermined distance from the attraction, and control the emission of the first audio track via the selected speaker if the selected speaker is not emitting the second audio track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Cole Paresh Hirapara
  • Patent number: 12688813
    Abstract: A display correction system including a display and a control system including processing circuitry and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine a first guest configuration in a ride vehicle during a first ride cycle, and determine a first view point based on the first guest configuration. The instructions are also configured to cause the processing circuitry to generate a first color correction layer based on the first view point and apply the first color correction layer to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Shellman Hall, Robert Roy Kipping
  • Patent number: 12678707
    Abstract: A special effect system may include a steam generator, a reheater, and a steam separator configured to generate dry steam. The steam generator is coupled to a show element comprising a one or more compartments. Steam from the steam generator passes through the reheater and the steam separator before entering the one or more compartments such that condensate is removed and cooling of the steam within the system between the steam generator and the show element is remedied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Michael Gordon, Matthew Robert Rossett
  • Patent number: 12682731
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a second RFID tag, one or more feedback devices configured to provide feedback to a guest, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to generate a first control signal that causes a first type of feedback via the one or more feedback devices in response to interaction between electromagnetic radiation having a first frequency and the first RFID tag and to generate a second control signal that causes a second type of feedback via the one or more feedback devices in response to interaction between electromagnetic radiation having a second frequency and the second RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Yeh, Travis Jon Cossairt
  • Patent number: 12678697
    Abstract: An attraction system includes a ride vehicle configured to move within the attraction system, a display coupled to the ride vehicle, and a control system communicatively coupled to the display. The control system is configured to determine a position and/or orientation of the display within the attraction system and operate the display to present an image based on the position and/or orientation of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel David Helmick, IV, Bryan Zebleckes
  • Patent number: 12678706
    Abstract: A reactive show action equipment system is disclosed, including show action equipment having one or more actuators and a special effects system coupled to the show action equipment. The special effects system includes an effects source and an effect emitter configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide a special effect. The reactive show action equipment system also includes a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the special effect or a characteristic impactful to the special effect and transmit data indicative of the characteristic. A control system is configured to receive the data indicative of the characteristic and instruct the one or more actuators based on the data indicative of the characteristic. In some embodiments, one or more components of the special effects system may be onboard the show action equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Eric Rae Parr, Gary Lynn Blumenstein, Jr., Kimberley Marie Gritzer, Keith Michael McVeen, Elias Varon, Sarah Anne Kelley, Eric Allan Vance
  • Patent number: 12670342
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag having a memory that stores identification information. The wearable device also has a power harvesting circuit configured to harness power from electromagnetic radiation. Further, the wearable device has a sensor coupled to the power harvesting circuit and configured to utilize the power to monitor a condition of the wearable device. Even further, the wearable device has a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and configured to write data indicative of the condition to the memory of the RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is configured to transmit the identification information and the data in response to receipt of the electromagnetic radiation from an RFID reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Yeh, Travis Jon Cossairt
  • Patent number: 12667791
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling movement of a shotgun gate in a ride system. A system is configured to identify one or more ride vehicles stopped at a platform, the platform including one or more shotgun gates respectively corresponding to one or more rows of the one or more ride vehicles, determine which row(s) of the one or more rows is in-service or out-of-service based on an identity of the one or more ride vehicles, instruct to remain closed at least one shotgun gate of the one or more shotgun gates corresponding to at least one row of the one or more rows determined to be out-of-service, and instruct to open any other shotgun gate of the one or more shotgun gates corresponding to at least one other row of the one or more rows determined to be in-service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Beatrice, Gregory Paul Habiak, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 12661600
    Abstract: An attraction system includes a sensor configured to determine a measured color property of a portion of an image projected by a projector onto a projection surface of the attraction system and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system is configured to receive, from the sensor, data indicative of the measured color property and operate the attraction system based on a comparison between the measured color property and a target color property associated with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Akiva Meir Krauthamer, Anthony Alexander Mecca
  • Patent number: 12661601
    Abstract: A show effect system of an amusement park attraction includes a prop component and a linkage system having an extension and a contactor system. The linkage system is configured to move relative to the prop component to move the extension toward the prop component and to cause engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, cause the prop component to move, via the engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, in conjunction with the extension, and block direct contact between the prop component and the extension. The extension is coupled to an animated figure such that the linkage system is configured to cause movement of the animated figure via the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Michael Lee Wadsworth, Darrin Hughes, Timothy J. Eck
  • Patent number: 12663653
    Abstract: An interface device is provided that is configured to allow viewing of three-dimensional (3-D) content when the interface device is worn. In certain embodiments, a wearable visualization device can be removably coupled to the interface device. The wearable visualization device, when in use, may provide additional viewing functionality, such as facilitating the viewing of augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Raij, Gregory Addison Hill, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12645420
    Abstract: Present systems and methods are directed to an entertainment system for an environment. The entertainment system includes a container configured to hold one or more user devices and a sensor configured to detect a presence of the one or more user devices in the container and to generate data indicative of the presence of the one or more user devices in the container. The entertainment system also includes one or more processors configured to identify the presence of the one or more user devices in the container based on the data, and in response to identifying the presence of the one or more user devices in the container based on the data, instruct the one or more user devices to play one or more audio tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Matthew Freedman, David Gerard Majdali, Brian Birney McQuillian
  • Patent number: 12646368
    Abstract: An amusement park attraction system includes a queue area and a controller configured to receive first sensor data indicative of one or more first notable attributes associated with a first group of guests in the queue area, receive second sensor data indicative of one or more second notable attributes associated with a second group of guests in the queue area, compare the first sensor data and the second sensor data to one another, determine a confidence score associated with a match between the first group of guests and the second group of guests based on comparison between the first sensor data and the second sensor data, and output a control signal in response to determining the confidence score exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
    Inventors: David John-Louis Alter, Robert Michael Jordan, Jonathan Michael Voss, Gregory Paul Habiak