Patents by Inventor Heidi A. Emanuel

Heidi A. Emanuel 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: 6437784
    Abstract: A set of tools provides the ability to generate computer-based representations of three-dimensional pieces and produce a representation of a combination of such pieces in a container such as a bowl. Tools such as the puff tool and flake tool change two-dimensional curves into three-dimensional pieces. Further tools are provided to bend, twist and shear three-dimensional pieces. A coating tool is used to create and modify a variety of coatings that are applied on top of cereal pieces to create frost, glaze and particulates. A container tool allows placement of pieces into a bowl. Pieces are randomized prior to dropping them into the bowl. Further tools continue to drop each piece and rotate them if necessary to avoid overlap. A computer rendered image is photorealistic but contains subtle differences that can be discerned upon close inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Nita M. Bentley, Heidi A. Emanuel, Ayron B. Glynn, Sheri M. Schellhaass, Achilles Dimitri Speliotopoulos