Patents by Inventor George T Katanics

George T Katanics 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: 6268865
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for painting 3-D objects and producing computer-assisted animated films are disclosed. After a 3-D model of an object is generated, a view of the object is selected for painting. An artist applies brush strokes to paint the selected view in 2-D space. The brush strokes are mapped to generate 3-D brush strokes. These 3-D brush strokes are then projected onto the 2-D views in the animation sequence, generating projected 2-D brush strokes which are used to paint the views in the animation sequence. Additional views may be selected that reveal surfaces that were occluded in the previously selected view. The artist applies additional brush strokes to paint the previously occluded areas. These additional brush strokes are mapped, and are used with the original brush strokes to re-generate the painted views in the animation sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Daniels, Anastasios Lappas, George T Katanics
  • Patent number: 5405152
    Abstract: An interactive video game with physical feedback is described. A plurality of icons are provided on a display. Each icon represents one of a plurality of players. A plurality of positioning devices, one for each player, are provided in front of the display. Each player stands on the positioning device, and the positioning device reacts to shifts in weight of the player and tilts in the direction in which the player shifts. Movement of the positioning device causes the display icon corresponding to the positioning device to move accordingly. Each player attempts to cause collisions with the icons of other players and avoid the icons of players attempting to cause collisions. In one embodiment, each player begins with a predetermined number of points. A player on the receiving end of a collision loses points, A player causing a collision does not lose points. At the end of a predetermined time period, the player with the most points is the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventors: George T. Katanics, Philip A. Groves
  • Patent number: 5353074
    Abstract: A computer controlled animation projection system is described. The system permits the projection of animated images onto a three dimensional projection surface, whether or not the surface is originally designed as a projection surface. The system comprises an animation source that can be edited using a processing means, a projection means, and an interface for coupling the animation source to the projection means. In operation of the present invention, a projection surface is selected, and an animation sequence is projected onto the projection surface. Portions of the projection surface upon which no image is to be projected are identified. Using a paint program, the background or projected frame is edited to "black out" those regions of the projected image that are projected onto those identified portions. This is done while the image is still being projected, so that the changes are viewed as they are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventors: Raymond D. Jones, Christopher M. Wagner, George T. Katanics