Patents Assigned to Universal City Studios LLC
  • Patent number: 12134366
    Abstract: A system includes a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride and a restraint system coupled to the ride vehicle and including a lock having a detector that may receive a wireless signal. Receiving the wireless signal causes the lock to lock or unlock and the restraint system may secure a rider within the ride vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Steven C. Blum
  • Patent number: 12133134
    Abstract: An attraction system has a plurality of show effects, a handheld or wearable device, and a control system. The control system is configured to perform operations that include monitoring a parameter of the handheld or wearable device, determining that the parameter is indicative of an undesirable utilization of the attraction system, and controlling the handheld or wearable device, at least one show effect of the plurality of show effects, or both. The control system is also configured to provide guidance to change the parameter in response to the determination that the parameter is indicative of the undesirable utilization of the attraction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Victor Alexander Lugo, Daniel Matthew Freedman, Asli Soyler Akbas, James Anderson, Jared Cryder, Robert Jordan
  • Patent number: 12130961
    Abstract: A ride vehicle control system for a ride vehicle of an attraction includes multiple sensors that are configured to monitor a guest supported by the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle control system also includes an actuator system configured to couple to the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle control system further includes one or more processors that are configured to receive signals from the multiple sensors, wherein the signals are indicative of a position of the guest, a movement of the guest, or both. The one or more processors are also configured to determine an intended movement for the ride vehicle based on the signals and to control the actuator system to adjust a resistance to movement of the ride vehicle to facilitate the intended movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Justin Allen Hare, David Smith, Grace Catheryn Haynes, Humberto Augusto Kam
  • Patent number: 12130957
    Abstract: An interactive energy effect system that includes one or more sensors configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a user-associated object in the system. The interactive energy effect system also includes a system controller that receives the signal and generates a first and second set of instructions based on the signal. The system controller transmits the first instructions to an energy emission system to cause the energy emission system to reposition and activate an energy emitter. The system controller transmits the second instructions to a multi-layer display system to cause the multi-layer display system to move towards or away from the user-associated object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Giulianna Silva, Michael Tresaugue
  • Patent number: 12117525
    Abstract: A presence detection system includes a presence detection field of an amusement park attraction, multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, and a controller. The multiple transmitters send multiple light beams of multiple wavelengths and the multiple receivers receive the multiple light beams of the multiple wavelengths. The controller receives input from the multiple transmitters and receivers and determines presence of an object in the presence detection field based on an interruption of the multiple light beams as indicated by the input. The controller also determines reflected light beams of the multiple wavelengths, absorbed light beams of the multiple wavelengths, or both, based on the input. The controller determines the object as a known object or an unknown object based at least in part on the reflected light beams, the absorbed light beams, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Robert Clark
  • Patent number: 12112415
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an animated figure display system includes an animated figure having a body and a first tracker coupled to the body. The animated figure display system includes a projection surface having a second tracker coupled to the projection surface. The projection surface moves between a first position and a second position and the projection surface is at least partially concealed behind the animated figure in the first position. The animated figure display system includes a tracking camera that detects the first tracker and the second tracker and generates location data. A controller receives the location data and generates a control signal based on the location data. A projector receives the control signal indicative of image content from the controller and projects the image content onto the body of the animated figure and the external surface of the projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Michael David Russell, Jr., Harrison Smith, Daniel Roman Swando
  • Patent number: 12100292
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into an active playing area. The system also includes a sensing device that operates to receive the electromagnetic radiation after being reflected from a retro-reflective material of an article positioned in the active playing area and operable to generate data based on receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from a series of article positions. Further, the system includes a controller that operates to process the data generated by the sensing device to determine whether the series of article positions correlate to a stored gesture and output a control signal to actuate an effect when the series of article positions correlate to the stored gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Sameer Kawash, Justin Michael Schwartz, Steven C Blum
  • Patent number: 12096307
    Abstract: An augmented reality device receives beacon signals within a geographical area from beacons that facilitate determining a distance between the device and a respective beacon. The device sends beacon-related signals indicative of the beacon signals to a server, which determines the area of the device. The server determines markers within the area of the device, and sends marker signals and augmented reality content associated with the markers to the device. The device scans the area and outputs content associated with a marker it identifies based on the marker signals. As the device enters subsequent areas, it receives additional beacon signals from additional beacons, sends additional beacon-related signals, and receives additional marker signals and content. If there is insufficient storage space on the device to store the additional marker signals and content, the device deletes previous marker signals and associated content. The device stores the additional marker signals and content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Justin Allen Hare
  • Patent number: 12086819
    Abstract: A crowd management system includes at least one local controller associated with an attraction area of an individual attraction within a theme park. The crowd management system includes a transceiver of the at least one local controller, where the transceiver receives guests data via wireless signals from guest-associated devices within a detection range of the local controller. The crowd management system includes a remote central controller in communication with the at least one local controller and the guest-associated device. The remote central controller receives the guest data from the at least one local controller and determines one or more crowd metrics of the individual attraction based on the guest data. The remote central controller generates an activity command based on the one or more crowd metrics. The remote central controller transmits the activity command to at least one guest-associated device of the guest-associated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Wei Yeh, Travis Cossairt
  • Patent number: 12079384
    Abstract: A ride system may include a ride vehicle that supports a passenger and an attention tracker to determine a current direction of attention of the passenger. The ride system may also include a control system for maintaining an environment of the passenger. Maintaining the environment may include determining a set of content to be incorporated into the environment based at least in part on the current direction of attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Mark James Traynor, Robert Michael Jordan, Patrick John Goergen, David Smith
  • Patent number: 12067825
    Abstract: An amusement park access control system includes an amusement park area having an entrance. A unified access control device is positioned at the entrance and is configured to control guest access into the amusement park area. The unified access control device includes sensor modules and an access control module physically connected to one another to form a unified structure. The sensor modules scan the entrance to determine guest identification data. An access control computer system is communicatively coupled to the unified access control device and includes databases storing guest enrollment data and entitlement data associated with the guest enrollment data. The unified access control device identifies entitlements associated with the guest identification data based on a comparison between the guest identification data, the guest enrollment data, and the entitlement data, and controls guest access through the entrance based on the identified entitlements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Brett J. Conroy, Kyle P. Hanley, Bonnie J. Spivey, Mark J. Traynor
  • Patent number: 12064707
    Abstract: A three-dimensional display system includes a first display and a second display spaced apart from the first display having one or more light sources configured to emit light and to illuminate the first display, where the first display is at least partially transparent such that the second display is visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a special effect system disposed at least in part between the first display and the second display and is configured to be activated to cause a special effect to be visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first display, the second display, and the special effect system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Kaitlyn Marie Duffy, Mark James Traynor, Anthony Melo, Howard Bruce Mall, Yu Jen Lin, Nicholas Anthony Puglisi, Carin Harkins, Caitlin Berner, Samuel J. Knox, Shawn Wright, Suzanne Harris
  • Patent number: 12065099
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for securing a rider inside a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride. For example, the disclosed systems and methods include a restraint system (e.g., lap belt, harness, restraint bar (e.g., lap bar, shoulder bar), and the like) that includes a locking mechanism that is activated and deactivated remotely. The remote release locking mechanism includes redundant latches (e.g., a primary latch and at least one secondary, redundant latch) and encompasses a relatively small amount of components housed in a relatively small amount of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: James K. Simonelli, John D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 12061351
    Abstract: An interactive object system includes an interactive object and a source of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., an external source. A power harvesting device of the interactive object receives and harvests power from the electromagnetic radiation to power a special effect system of the interactive object. In an embodiment, the interactive object includes a retroreflective material that reflects electromagnetic radiation, which may be of a same or different wavelength as the electromagnetic radiation from which power is harvested. The interactive object system detects the reflected electromagnetic radiation, which may be used to trigger one or more additional actions related to the interactive object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Yeh, Rachel E. Rodgers, Travis Jon Cossairt
  • Patent number: 12060092
    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: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Luis Carlos Alarcon, Steven C. Blum, Michael David Russell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12050395
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) projection system includes a projector configured to output a projection of light to simulate a 3-D object, an opaque surface configured to receive the projection of light to simulate a portion of the 3-D object on the opaque surface, and a translucent scrim disposed at a boundary of the opaque surface and configured to receive the projection of light to simulate an extension of the 3-D object away from and beyond the boundary of the opaque surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Anthony A. Mecca
  • Patent number: 12043352
    Abstract: A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Byron Thomas Osborn, Eric Alan Vance, Pedro Lopez, Ryan Dale Walton, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 12042742
    Abstract: A system may include a virtual reality system configured to present one or more virtual objects via an electronic display. The system may also include one or more inflatable objects that correspond to the one or more virtual objects, such that the one or more inflatable objects matches one or more shapes of the one or more virtual objects. The system may also include a processor configured to cause at least one of the one or more inflatable objects to inflate based on feedback from the virtual reality system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cortelyou, Ross Osterman, Justin Schwartz, Amanda Zielkowski, Caitlin A. Correll, Darrin Hughes, Anisha Vyas
  • Patent number: 12030451
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, and system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle. The system includes a ride seat and a restraint system configured to restrain the passenger against the ride seat. The restraint system includes a crossbar for placing against the passenger, a support bar having a first support bar end coupled to the crossbar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted to an upper-rear portion of the ride seat, and a flap coupled to the support bar. The flap is configured to insert into, or extract from, a slot formed within a seat side structure when the support bar is rotated about the pivot and indicate whether the crossbar has attained a minimum closed position for restraining the passenger based on a position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Rachel Sarah Wilcox, James Anthony Bertoncello, Michael David Russell, Jr., Shawn Michael Kish
  • Patent number: 12032753
    Abstract: An entertainment system includes a user interactive device having an identification assembly configured to generate a pattern of light via reflective material, a camera configured to capture the pattern of light generated by the reflective material, and a controller having processing circuitry and a memory. The memory stores machine-readable instructions configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive an indication of the pattern of light and determine identification data associated with the user interactive device based on the pattern of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall, Jr.