Patents by Inventor David DiFrancesco

David DiFrancesco has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9197799
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: PIXAR
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark VandeWettering
  • Patent number: 9063345
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools. A doublet lenslet array element for use in light field imaging systems includes a first lenslet array element having a first plurality of lenslet array elements, and a second lenslet array element having a first plurality of lenslet array elements, wherein the first lenslet array element is coupled in close proximity to the second lenslet array element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: PIXAR
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark Vande Wettering, Tolis Deslis
  • Patent number: 9063323
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: PIXAR
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark Vande Wettering
  • Publication number: 20140132820
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark VandeWettering
  • Patent number: 8502909
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark VandeWettering, Peter Flowers
  • Patent number: 8368700
    Abstract: A method for specifying an animatronics unit includes receiving a force-based software model for the animatronics unit, receiving a kinematics-based software model for the animatronics unit, receiving animation data for animating the kinematics-based software model, wherein the animation data comprises artistically determined motions for the kinematics-based software model by a user, determining a plurality of driving signals in response to the animation data, animating the force-based software model of the animatronics unit in response to the plurality of driving signals, displaying animation of the force-based software model determined in response to the plurality of driving signals, and determining a specification for construction of the animatronics unit in response to animation of the force-based software model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Loren Carpenter, Oren Jacob, Warren Trezevant, Akhil J. Madhani, Alexis P. Wieland
  • Patent number: 8233693
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a reel of motion picture film including a first plurality of frames of film, the method includes receiving the first plurality of frames of motion picture film to determine a first plurality of digital data, receiving a second plurality of digital data associated with source data, comparing digital data from the first plurality of digital data to respective digital data of the second plurality of digital data to determine plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film, and recording the plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film in a log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Dominic Glynn, Hee Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20110273609
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark Vande Wettering
  • Publication number: 20110249341
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools. A doublet lenslet array element for use in light field imaging systems includes a first lenslet array element having a first plurality of lenslet array elements, and a second lenslet array element having a first plurality of lenslet array elements, wherein the first lenslet array element is coupled in close proximity to the second lenslet array element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark Vande Wettering, Tolis Deslis
  • Publication number: 20110169994
    Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Thomas Douglas Selkirk Duff, Mark VandeWettering, Peter Flowers
  • Patent number: 7787010
    Abstract: A method for recording video images onto film media includes orienting a flat panel display relative to a film recording device, receiving a first frame of video data and a second frame of video data, displaying a first display image on the flat panel data, wherein the first display image is determined in response to the first frame of video data, and while displaying the fist display image on the flat panel display, exposing a portion of the film media with the film recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventor: David DiFrancesco
  • Patent number: 7576830
    Abstract: A method for a film recorder includes displaying a plurality of images on a modified liquid crystal display movably coupled to the film recorder, wherein the modified liquid crystal display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel with only a single polarizing media layer, disposing a linearly polarizing filter in an optical path of the film recorder, orienting the linearly polarizing filter in a first orientation relative to the modified liquid crystal display panel to thereby configure the film recorder to receive the plurality of images as positive images, and orienting the linearly polarizing filter in a second orientation relative to the modified liquid crystal display panel to thereby configure the film recorder to receive the plurality of images as negative images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventor: David DiFrancesco
  • Patent number: 7463821
    Abstract: A method for forming an image transfer apparatus includes providing first image data to a flat-panel display, displaying a first output image on the flat-panel display in response to the first image data, wherein the first output image includes an optical distortion associated with a film disposed onto a front transparent media of the flat-panel display, recording the first output image onto film media with a film recorder movably coupled to the flat-panel display, producing a complementing image in response to the first output image as recorded on the film media, and disposing the complementing image on an optical path of the film recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Babak Sanii
  • Patent number: 7366349
    Abstract: A spectroscope includes a light source providing a first and a second range of wavelengths, a dispersion unit to receive light and to output the first and second range of wavelengths at different angles, a positioning mechanism to position the dispersion unit such that the first range of wavelengths is applied to a first patch of a frame of film, to position the dispersion unit such that the second range of wavelengths is applied to the first patch but not the second patch and the first range of wavelengths is applied to the second patch at a second time, and to position the dispersion unit such that the second range of wavelengths is applied to the second patch, a first detector to detect responses from the frame of film from the first patch, and a second detector to independently detect responses from the frame of film from the second patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Babak Sanii, David DiFrancesco
  • Publication number: 20070182815
    Abstract: A method for a film recorder includes displaying a plurality of images on a modified liquid crystal display movably coupled to the film recorder, wherein the modified liquid crystal display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel with only a single polarizing media layer, disposing a linearly polarizing filter in an optical path of the film recorder, orienting the linearly polarizing filter in a first orientation relative to the modified liquid crystal display panel to thereby configure the film recorder to receive the plurality of images as positive images, and orienting the linearly polarizing filter in a second orientation relative to the modified liquid crystal display panel to thereby configure the film recorder to receive the plurality of images as negative images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventor: David DiFrancesco
  • Publication number: 20060092484
    Abstract: A spectroscope includes a light source providing a first and a second range of wavelengths, a dispersion unit to receive light and to output the first and second range of wavelengths at different angles, a positioning mechanism to position the dispersion unit such that the first range of wavelengths is applied to a first patch of a frame of film, to position the dispersion unit such that the second range of wavelengths is applied to the first patch but not the second patch and the first range of wavelengths is applied to the second patch at a second time, and to position the dispersion unit such that the second range of wavelengths is applied to the second patch, a first detector to detect responses from the frame of film from the first patch, and a second detector to independently detect responses from the frame of film from the second patch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: Babak Sanii, David DiFrancesco
  • Publication number: 20040202445
    Abstract: A film recorder comprises a film recording device configured to expose a frame of film media, at least one flat panel display device configured to display at least one color component image associated with an image, and an alignment unit coupled to the film recording device and to the display device, wherein the alignment unit is used to position an optical axis of the flat panel display device with respect to an optical axis of the film recording device such that the film recording device can expose the film media to the plurality of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventor: David DiFrancesco
  • Publication number: 20040184762
    Abstract: A film recorder includes a film recording device configured to expose film media, a flat panel display device configured to display a plurality of images; and an alignment unit coupled to the film recording device and to the display device, wherein the alignment unit is used to position the flat panel display device with respect to the film recording device such that the film recording device can expose the film media to the plurality of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, James Burgess, Matthew Martin, Babak Sanii
  • Publication number: 20040184763
    Abstract: A method for recording video images onto film media includes orienting a flat panel display relative to a film recording device, receiving a first frame of video data and a second frame of video data, displaying a first display image on the flat panel data, wherein the first display image is determined in response to the first frame of video data, and while displaying the fist display image on the flat panel display, exposing a portion of the film media with the film recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventor: David DiFrancesco
  • Publication number: 20040184765
    Abstract: A method for forming an image transfer apparatus includes providing first image data to a flat-panel display, displaying a first output image on the flat-panel display in response to the first image data, wherein the first output image includes an optical distortion associated with a film disposed onto a front transparent media of the flat-panel display, recording the first output image onto film media with a film recorder movably coupled to the flat-panel display, producing a complementing image in response to the first output image as recorded on the film media, and disposing the complementing image on an optical path of the film recorder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: David DiFrancesco, Babak Sanii