Patents by Inventor Donald A. McMullen

Donald A. McMullen 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).

  • Publication number: 20240121367
    Abstract: Systems for displaying images in a cinema setting can include components to reduce screen-door effect. The systems can include an array of light emitting sources or other active sources of light. In one example, the light emitting source emit pixels of light to a projection lens to project an image represented by the projection lens and a baffle and an aperture stop can block part of the light from the sources that exceeds an allowable cone angle of acceptable of the system. In another example, a display includes the array of light emitting sources and additional elements, such as diffuser elements, positioned in front of the array of light emitting sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Barry Silverstein, Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Steven Charles Read, Denis Tremblay, Anton Leonard Baljet, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Andrew F. Kurtz, John W. Bowron
  • Patent number: 11889234
    Abstract: Systems for displaying images in a cinema setting can include components to reduce screen-door effect. The systems can include an array of light emitting sources (102) or other active sources of light. In one example, the light emitting source emit pixels of light to a projection lens (124) to project an image represented by the projection lens and a baffle (150) and an aperture stop (118) can block part of the light from the sources that exceeds an allowable cone angle of acceptable of the system. In another example, a display includes the array of light emitting sources and additional elements, such as diffuser elements, positioned in front of the array of light emitting sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Barry Silverstein, Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Steven Charles Read, Denis Tremblay, Anton Leonard Baljet, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Andrew F. Kurtz, John W. Bowron
  • Patent number: 11376518
    Abstract: Light emitting displays can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrate a sound system to achieve immersive conditions in cinema theatres. The cinema screen can include a matrix of light emitters and a diffuser sheet. The matrix of light emitters is configured to form a light-emitting area of the cinema screen. The diffuser sheet includes one or more perforations, and can be positioned between the matrix of light emitters and an audience area in the theatre. The diffuser sheet is positioned with respect to the matrix of light emitters such that the one or more perforations are configured to prevent light outputted by the light emitters from being viewable in the audience area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Publication number: 20220184520
    Abstract: Light emitting displays can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrate a sound system to achieve immersive conditions in cinema theatres. In an example, a theatre includes a viewer seating area, an active display, and one or more sound wave emitters. The active display includes light emitting elements configured to output, toward the viewer seating area, light representing a visual presentation. The one or more sound wave emitters can be positioned proximate to the viewer seating area. The one or more sound wave emitters are configured to output, toward the active display, sound waves corresponding to at least a portion of sound for the visual presentation. The active display can be positioned to reflect, toward the viewer seating area, the sound waves from the one or more sound wave emitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Publication number: 20210211618
    Abstract: Systems for displaying images in a cinema setting can include components to reduce screen-door effect. The systems can include an array of light emitting sources (102) or other active sources of light. In one example, the light emitting source emit pixels of light to a projection lens (124) to project an image represented by the projection lens and a baffle (150) and an aperture stop (118) can block part of the light from the sources that exceeds an allowable cone angle of acceptable of the system. In another example, a display includes the array of light emitting sources and additional elements, such as diffuser elements, positioned in front of the array of light emitting sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Barry Silverstein, Steen Svendstorp Iversen, Steven Charles Read, Denis Tremblay, Anton Leonard Baljet, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Andrew F. Kurtz, John W. Bowron
  • Publication number: 20210001242
    Abstract: Light emitting displays can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrate a sound system to achieve immersive conditions in cinema theatres. The cinema screen can include a matrix of light emitters and a diffuser sheet. The matrix of light emitters is configured to form a light-emitting area of the cinema screen. The diffuser sheet includes one or more perforations, and can be positioned between the matrix of light emitters and an audience area in the theatre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Patent number: 10807016
    Abstract: Light emitting displays and sound systems can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrates a sound system to achieve the same or better immersive conditions in cinema theatres with front projection cinema screens. The screen can be active with light emitters, rather than passive and reflect light projected from a projector. Spaces are formed between adjacent light emitters in the display to allow for sound waves to pass from sound wave emitters positioned behind the screen to a cinema seating area in front of the screen. Loudspeakers may be positioned in the spaces. Diffusers or other structures may be positioned proximate to a front of the screen to facilitate visual performance. In addition or in the alternative, loudspeakers can be positioned in each seat of the viewing seating area that produce sound waves that appear to be coming from a non-seating location in the theatre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Publication number: 20190308114
    Abstract: Light emitting displays and sound systems can be used in cinemas for cinema presentations that integrates a sound system to achieve the same or better immersive conditions in cinema theatres with front projection cinema screens. The screen can be active with light emitters, rather than passive and reflect light projected from a projector. Spaces are formed between adjacent light emitters in the display to allow for sound waves to pass from sound wave emitters positioned behind the screen to a cinema seating area in front of the screen. Loudspeakers may be positioned in the spaces. Diffusers or other structures may be positioned proximate to a front of the screen to facilitate visual performance. In addition or in the alternative, loudspeakers can be positioned in each seat of the viewing seating area that produce sound waves that appear to be coming from a non-seating location in the theatre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Denis Tremblay, Steven Charles Read, Barry David Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey, Antanas Matthew Broga
  • Patent number: 6227510
    Abstract: A holder for a hand-size container for use in conjunction with a portable chair. The holder comprises an integral body portion and a clamping means for attaching the holder to the portable chair. The integral body portion consists of an annular band having an inside diameter sized to receive a hand-held container, first and second arcuate legs, and a horizontal double-beam-flange member which cooperate to securely and removably hold and support a container placed within the annular band. The annular band may include a discontinuity to accommodate the passage through the annular band of a protruding part of the container, for example, a cup handle. The clamping means is affixed to an end of the horizontal double-beam-flange member so as to provide a means for removably attaching the holder to a portable chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Donald A. McMullen, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4270724
    Abstract: A device to enhance the utility of a folding chair in outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing and the like, comprising a bracket member attachable to a portion of said chair and extendible therefrom to provide secure detachable support for a fishing pole holder, a drink holder and an ashtray or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Inventor: Donald A. McMullen