Patents Assigned to Universal City Studios LLC
  • Patent number: 12293610
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a plurality of wearable devices and a virtual queue control system configured to maintain respective virtual queues for respective attractions and in communication with the plurality of virtual queuing attraction stations. The virtual queue control system is configured to receive communications from the plurality of virtual queuing stations and add guests to the respective virtual queues based on the communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Geraghty, Justin Michael Schwartz
  • Patent number: 12293121
    Abstract: A food and/or drink container includes an enclosure forming a space configured to receive a food and/or drink, a display coupled to the enclosure, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display. The processor is configured to receive an indication of a current location of the food and/or drink container and cause the display to output imagery based on the current location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Akiva Meir Krauthamer, Aaron Chandler Jeromin, Kimberly Anne Humphreys, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 12288423
    Abstract: A queue management system in accordance with present embodiments may include a data server system including a processor and memory. The queue management system may include an interface system of the data server system configured to receive a reservation request including an indication of a general time period of arrival of a guest to an area. Additionally, the queue management system may include a reservation right allotment system of the data server system configured to correlate a reservation slot for accessing an attraction to identification information for the guest. Further, the queue management system may include a detection system of the data server system configured to determine when a portable identification feature associated with the identification information has arrived to the area, and a reservation assignment system of the data server system configured to establish a reservation to access the attraction at a specific time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Justin Michael Schwartz, Ross Alan Osterman, Jeffrey Lamar Polk
  • Patent number: 12280320
    Abstract: A show system includes a rotatable beam assembly having a rotatable beam, a first track, a second track, and one or more motors. The show system also includes a first show element coupled to the first track to enable the first show element to translate along the first track and a second show element coupled to the second track to enable the second show element to translate along the second track. The show system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the rotatable beam assembly and configured to provide control signals to the one or more motors to rotate the rotatable beam to cause the first show element to rotate from a show location to a reset location and to cause the second show element to rotate from the reset location to the show location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Robert Clark
  • Patent number: 12276987
    Abstract: A system for guiding a vehicle is provided. The system includes multiple paths on a surface, wherein each path is defined by light projection characteristics of a respective light projection defining a respective path. The system also includes the vehicle. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect the light projection characteristic of the respective path of the multiple paths, and a controller guide the vehicle along the respective path with a light projection characteristic that matches an expected light projection characteristic that is assigned to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Chandler Jeromin, Akiva Meir Krauthamer
  • Patent number: 12268974
    Abstract: A wearable visualization device includes a housing, one or more lenses coupled to the housing and configured to display virtual features for visualization by a user of the wearable visualization device, and a cover coupled to the housing and configured to adjust between an extended configuration in which the cover extends over at least a portion of the one or more lenses and a retracted configuration in which the cover does not extend over at least the portion of the one or more lenses. The wearable visualization device also includes a controller and one or more sensors. The controller is configured to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors and to provide control signals to an actuator to adjust the cover between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration based on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wai Yin Chung, Douglas Evan Goodner, Justin Allen Hare, Andrew Raij, Jeffrey Scott Boyles
  • Patent number: 12266027
    Abstract: A check-in system includes an amusement park attraction associated with a check-in process. The check-in system also includes a database and a controller. The database stores data indicating availability of the amusement park attraction. The controller receives a request from a guest to attend the amusement park attraction. In response to the request, the controller sends one or more forms, one or more waivers, or both, to the guest. The controller also receives the one or more forms, one or more waivers, or both, after completion. Moreover, the controller verifies the one or more forms, the one or more waivers, or both, to be in compliance for the amusement park attraction. Furthermore, in response to determining compliance, the controller sends an entrance code to the guest, which indicates a verified status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Puglisi, Keirsten Kupiec
  • Patent number: 12267129
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a control system configured to output radio waves to an environment and a wearable device having an energy harvesting device configured to receive the radio waves and to harvest energy from the received radio waves. The wearable device also includes a processor and a sensor configured to detect a state of the wearable device and output a state signal to the processor. The processor is configured to output a device control signal based on the detected state signal. The wearable device further includes a communicator configured to receive the device control signal from the processor and to provide an output to the control system based on the state of the wearable device. At least the processor, the sensor, or the communicator receive power via the energy harvested by the energy harvesting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Yeh, Travis Jon Cossairt, Akiva Meir Krauthamer
  • Patent number: 12254391
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include guest activity detection devices configured to detect activity of guests of an amusement park, and to send data indicative of the detected activity; an artificial intelligence entity management system configured to analyze the data indicative of the activity of the guests, and to modify properties of guest-specific artificial intelligence entities based at least in part on the analyzed data indicative of the activity of the guests; and park features disposed within a physical environment of the amusement park and configured to be instructed by the guest-specific artificial intelligence entities to modify a guest experience for the guests of the amusement park in accordance with the properties of the guest-specific artificial intelligence entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Patrick John Goergen, Timothy Tryzbiak
  • Patent number: 12254717
    Abstract: An interactive portrait system includes a camera configured to capture imagery of an environment and a controller. The controller is configured to analyze the imagery to identify a guest in the environment, instruct an output device to provide an initial output to attempt to interact with the guest, and analyze the imagery to identify a behavior of the guest during the initial output, after the initial output, or both. The controller is also configured to evaluate the behavior of the guest using one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to determine whether the guest responded to the initial output. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the guest responded to the initial output, instruct the output device to provide an additional output to continue to attempt to interact with the guest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Robert Michael Jordan, Anthony Melo, Angelo Pagliuca, Brandon David Burnette, John Adams, Jacob David Allinson, Eric To Chan, Mark James Traynor
  • Patent number: 12254651
    Abstract: A ride system includes one or more sensors and a controller. The controller receives, from the one or more sensors, position data indicative of the position of a body and/or face of guest on the ride. Using the position data, the one or more controllers, determine a face direction, face rotation, or both of the guest, independent of sensor observations of the face direction and rotation. One or more features of the ride are controlled based upon the determined face direction and/or face rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Lin, Anthony Melo
  • Patent number: 12246447
    Abstract: An edible soft robot system may be used to display and/or interact with edible inflatable objects. In an embodiment, the edible inflatable object is configured to receive a fluid in an internal compartment. The edible inflatable object may be reversibly coupled to a container, wherein coupling the edible inflatable object to the container comprises aligning a port of the edible inflatable object to a fluid conduit to fluidically couple the internal compartment to the fluid conduit. A control system of the edible soft robot system is configured to receive instructions to adjust inflation of the internal compartment by activating fluid flow into or out of the internal compartment via the fluid conduit, wherein adjusting inflation of the internal compartment causes the edible inflatable object to actuate on or within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios, LLC.
    Inventors: Akiva Meir Krauthamer, Kimberly Anne Humphreys, Aaron Chandler Jeromin, Elam Kevin Hertzler, Timothy Fitzgerald Garnier
  • Patent number: 12248237
    Abstract: An attraction system of an amusement park includes a viewing area, a virtual area, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter is positioned to enable visibility of a portion of the viewing area through the beam splitter and visibility of a portion of the virtual area via reflection off the beam splitter. The attraction system also includes a controller configured to perform operations. The operations include generating image data that is distorted in correlation to a distortive parameter associated with a first element disposed in the viewing area. The distortive parameter is indicative of a distortion applied by the first element to light interacting with the first element. The operations also include transmitting the image data to cause display of a second element in the virtual area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Akiva Meir Krauthamer
  • Patent number: 12248154
    Abstract: An augmented reality, virtual reality, and/or mixed reality (AR/VR) system includes a wearable visualization assembly configured to be worn by a user and to display virtual features for visualization by the user during a ride stage of an attraction. The wearable visualization assembly includes a sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of an attachment status of the wearable visualization assembly on the user. The AR/VR system also includes a retraction assembly coupled to the wearable visualization assembly via a tether and configured to retrieve the tether. The AR/VR system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the retraction assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to actuate the retraction assembly to retrieve the tether to transition the wearable visualization assembly to a storage configuration in response to the feedback indicating that the wearable visualization assembly is in a detached configuration during the ride stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Brian Raij, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 12233531
    Abstract: An animated figure system includes an animated figure comprising a flexible skin layer, an actuating system coupled to a connection location of the flexible skin layer, and an automation controller. The automation controller is configured to access a digital model of the animated figure, in which the digital model comprises a vertex associated with the connection location, determine a first positioning of the vertex within the digital model, and control the actuating system to set a second positioning of the connection location based on the first positioning of the vertex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Akiva Meir Krauthamer, Aaron Chandler Jeromin, Elam Kevin Hertzler
  • Patent number: 12233349
    Abstract: A ride system includes a track and an overhung ride assembly. The overhung ride assembly includes a transport platform coupled to the track, a ride vehicle, and a heave system extending between the transport platform and the ride vehicle. The heave system is configured to heave the ride vehicle relative to the transport platform. The heave system includes an extendible tube defining a variable volume configured to store a gaseous fluid. The extendible tube is configured to extend in response to a lowering of the ride vehicle away from the transport platform by the heave system such that the gaseous fluid within the variable volume of the extendible tube provides a fluid force that biases the extendible tube toward a contracted configuration to assist the heave system with a lifting of the ride vehicle toward the transport platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Sandor Kernacs, Derek Morris, Trent Bitton, Trent Deem, Raleigh Cornwell, Greg Rude, John Stapleton
  • Patent number: 12229800
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include a venue system that includes a guest recognition system configured to recognize one or more guests in a venue, and a guest experience analysis system configured to receive data relating to the recognized one or more guests from the guest recognition system, to generate guest experience information relating to the recognized one or more guests based at least in part on the received data relating to the recognized one or more guests, and to transmit the guest experience information relating to the recognized one or more guests to an augmented reality display device for display on an augmented reality display of the augmented reality display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Mark James Traynor, David John-Louis Alter, Kyle Patrick Hanley, Jeffrey Lamar Polk, Brett James Conroy, Bonnie Jean Spivey
  • Patent number: 12216836
    Abstract: An interactive Pepper's Ghost system includes a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of an orientation of a handheld device. The Pepper's Ghost system also includes a controller configured to receive, from the sensor, sensor feedback corresponding to the parameter indicative of the orientation of the handheld device. The controller is configured to control a Pepper's Ghost visual effect based on the sensor feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Casey Guarasci, Xinyu Wang, Dylan Dawkins, Daniel Viruet, Austin Swink, Wilven Taveras
  • Patent number: 12212054
    Abstract: An interface in accordance with present embodiments includes a base and a theme portion disposed on the base. A first layer is disposed on the base and includes a mixture with metallic powder suspended within a translucent medium. A second layer is disposed on the base over the first layer and over the theme portion, and includes the mixture. A third layer is disposed on the base and on the theme portion over only portions of the second layer. The third layer includes paint and paint thinner. A fourth layer is disposed on the theme portion over the third layer and exposed portions of the second layer. The fourth layer also includes the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Swim, Jr., George Peter Gakoumis, Jr., Matthew Tangan Usi, Jason William Hawk, Anthony Louis Mandile, Brian Matthew Stuckey, Vanessa Rachael Luedtke, Douglas Evan Goodner
  • Patent number: 12210983
    Abstract: The virtual queue system includes a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor and is configured to receive a request, the request being associated with an individual guest, for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue in response to the request, receive ride schedule data for the attraction comprising information about a change in status of individual rides of the attraction, and determine a wait time for the individual guest for the attraction based at least on the position of the individual guest in the virtual queue, the ride schedule data, and historical guest throughput at the attraction. The virtual queue system is further configured to output a signal to a guest-associated device indicating the wait time for the attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Polk, Dave Derda, Thomas Martin Geraghty, Justin Michael Schwartz, Mark James Traynor