Patents by Inventor Douglas J. McKnight

Douglas J. McKnight 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: 20130235284
    Abstract: Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8488243
    Abstract: Stereoscopic display systems including a position-tracking system that determine the position of the stereoscopic eyewear worn by a viewer. An exemplary embodiment of the eyewear includes retro-reflective reflectors that are illuminated by an infrared illuminator proximate to or optically co-axial with a capturing camera. Suppression reflections from other reflective features in the vicinity may be achieved by control of the polarization of the infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: RealID Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. McKnight, Michael G. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8425041
    Abstract: Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8403488
    Abstract: Projection systems and methods for providing stereoscopic images viewed through passive polarizing eyewear. The systems relate to projectors that create left and right eye images simultaneously and often as side-by-side images on the image modulator. The systems act to superimpose the spatially separated images on a projection screen with alternate polarization states. The embodiments are best suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8405708
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively blurring parts of an image set according to differences in disparity between successive images. As a result, the one-dimensional ‘ringing’ edge artifacts, intrinsic to autostereoscopic displays, are hidden, thereby improving the perceived image quality of a multi-view autostereoscopic image. The method may involve detecting regions of disparity between adjacent views, and then blurring those regions by weighted local pixel averaging. The relationship between the blur radius and the disparity is preferentially non-linear to maintain sharpness of low disparity regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20130002996
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and related methods for avoiding liquid crystal molecule twisting through local boundary orientation relevant to the alignment direction of liquid crystal structures. In one embodiment, a segmented polarization control panel may comprise a plurality of segment electrodes corresponding to a plurality of display segments of the sequentially scanning display. The plurality of segment electrodes comprise liquid crystals therein, and are arranged contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan. Electrode boundaries are created between adjacent segment electrodes, where each may be cascaded substantially parallel and perpendicular to a liquid crystal alignment direction of liquid crystals located within the segments. Preventing twisting by the disclosed techniques is particularly attractive in active retarder display systems employing fast striped pi-cell modulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: REALD INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20120293753
    Abstract: An improved drive scheme for a segmented polarizing modulator (or Polarization Control Panel) for use in an electronic stereoscopic display. The segmented polarization modulator segments are arranged contiguously in a direction of the sequential scan. The liquid crystal material used in each segment is driven in a manner to reduce the visibility of segment boundaries, by applying a positive or negative transition voltage (+T or ?T volts) for a short period of time prior to applying +H and ?H drive voltages. Optionally, the transition voltage may also be applied in transitioning from +H and ?H drive voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. McKnight, Michael G. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20120236240
    Abstract: Liquid crystal devices may include electrode segments that are spaced apart and have a gap therebetween. A bridge layer may be disposed in the gap and configured to have a resistance that is operable provide a substantially equipotential region proximate to the gap portion while still allowing the electrode segments to be substantially isolated electrically. The disclosed liquid crystal devices may have reduced visual artifacts and may be configured to be a liquid crystal display, a polarization control panel, or a switch having liquid crystal cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. McKnight, Michael G. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20110164194
    Abstract: This disclosure primarily concerns 3D stereoscopic displays that provide alternately polarized left and right eye images encoded with a modulating LC polarization control panel (PCP) attached to the front of the display. Viewers then wear polarization analyzing eyewear to correctly see the different images. More specifically, the disclosure introduces global LC electrical reset during the addressing of liquid crystal time-sequential stereoscopic displays in order to reduce left/right eye contamination. LC materials in general do not respond fast enough with conventional addressing schemes to provide independent left and right eye images at the desired flicker-free, rate of sixty frames per second per eye. This disclosure and its embodiments may overcome this limitation, and also may address motion blur limitations, by driving pixels to a common LC state as part of the addressing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: REALD INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20100328561
    Abstract: Projection systems and methods for providing stereoscopic images viewed through passive polarizing eyewear. The systems relate to projectors that create left and right eye images simultaneously and often as side-by-side images on the image modulator. The systems act to superimpose the spatially separated images on a projection screen with alternate polarization states. The embodiments are best suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: REALD INC.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20100260268
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to stereoscopic images and stereoscopic video signals, and more specifically relates to encoding, distributing, and decoding stereoscopic images and stereoscopic video signals for use in television and high definition television systems, teleconferencing, picture phones, computer video transmission, digital cinema, as well as in other applications that include storage and/or transmission, over any suitable medium, of still or moving stereoscopic images, or combinations of moving and still stereoscopic images, in a form that is compatible with existing infrastructure, without requiring additional system functionality, while providing a means to allow higher resolution images to be distributed while maintaining compatibility with the existing infrastructure. The techniques hereof can be employed, for example, for distributing stereo 3D movies via optical disk, satellite, broadcast, cable, or internet, using current infrastructure, to consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Cowan, Douglas J. McKnight, Bradley W. Walker, Mike Perkins, Michael G. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20100208044
    Abstract: Encoding left and right eye stereoscopic image pairs into a color coded ‘anaglyph’ image allows for 3-D viewing through colored eyewear. The color mapping may be tailored locally to specific eyewear and display hardware and generates anaglyph output from distributed full-color left and right eye stereoscopic data. In an exemplary embodiment, determination of eyewear may involve viewer interaction through visual inspection of displayed calibration images or by other means. Left and right eye data may be mapped onto high quality anaglyph images. The overall approach attempts to provide a consistent, good quality stereoscopic experience for different displays and eyewear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Joshua L. Greer, Douglas J. McKnight, Matt D. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20100141856
    Abstract: Proposed are various embodiments of projection systems that generally provide stereoscopic images. The projection systems act to split a spatially separated image in a stereoscopic image frame and superimpose the left- and right-eye images on a projection screen with orthogonal polarization states. The embodiments are generally well suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and may use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20100103516
    Abstract: Stereoscopic display systems including a position-tracking system that determine the position of the stereoscopic eyewear worn by a viewer. An exemplary embodiment of the eyewear includes retro-reflective reflectors that are illuminated by an infrared illuminator proximate to or optically co-axial with a capturing camera. Suppression reflections from other reflective features in the vicinity may be achieved by control of the polarization of the infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventors: Douglas J. McKnight, Michael G. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20100097545
    Abstract: Disclosed are various lenticular display systems that include either a color filter array (CFA) or a colored lens array that is spaced from the pixels of an underlying display panel. In an embodiment, the CFA of a lenticular display may be operable to provides a locally ‘static color’ reproduction of images as a function of viewing angle. It may also enable the resolution of the CFA to be relatively coarse. Both separating the CFA from the panel and reducing the resolution significantly may reduce the system cost and allow higher resolution to be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Real D
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20100040280
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reduction of ghost images in stereoscopic images. This disclosure provides a ghost compensation apparatus and methods that detect affected regions where ghosting may occur in a stereoscopic image, yet where conventional ghost compensation techniques are ineffective because there is insufficient luminance overhead to conduct a conventional ghost compensation process. Luminance values are modified in such regions prior to applying a ghost compensation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventor: Douglas J. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20100039698
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to autostereoscopic display systems operable to provide increased number of views and related methods. One embodiment of the display systems comprises a light-modulating display panel comprising a first set of colored subpixels and a second set of colored subpixels, and the number of subpixels in the first set of colored subpixels is greater than the number of subpixels in the second set of colored subpixels. The display system further comprises a lenticular sheet disposed in light paths of the colored subpixels of the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20100002073
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively blurring parts of an image set according to differences in disparity between successive images. As a result, the one-dimensional ‘ringing’ edge artifacts, intrinsic to autostereoscopic displays, are hidden, thereby improving the perceived image quality of a multi-view autostereoscopic image. The method may involve detecting regions of disparity between adjacent views, and then blurring those regions by weighted local pixel averaging. The relationship between the blur radius and the disparity is preferentially non-linear to maintain sharpness of low disparity regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: REAL D
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Patent number: 7359023
    Abstract: A display system comprises an electro-optic layer having first and second opposite major surfaces, a first electrode proximate the first surface of the electro-optic layer, and an electrode array. The electrode array includes a first plurality of pixel electrodes operatively coupled to the electro-optic layer proximate it's second surface and is separated from the first electrode by a first optical path length. The electrode array also includes a second plurality of pixel electrodes operatively coupled to the electro-optic layer proximate it's second surface and is separated from the first electrode by a second optical path length. The first and second pluralities of pixel electrodes form an irregular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Compound Photonics U.S. Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas J. McKnight
  • Patent number: 6890786
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fabricating a light modulation system having a semiconductor substrate. In one exemplary method, an optical layer is applied over a semiconductor substrate which includes a plurality of integrated circuits. Each of these integrated circuits is capable of creating a separate display device. A protective layer is then applied over the optical layer. The plurality of integrated circuits is then singulated. Various other embodiments of apparatuses and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Brillian Corporation
    Inventors: Tobias W. Walker, Douglas J. McKnight, Kam Wan