Patents by Inventor Howard Bruce Mall

Howard Bruce Mall 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: 20240157264
    Abstract: An attraction system includes a projector configured to project imagery and a rotating assembly including a mirror, wherein the rotating assembly is positioned with respect to the projector such that the imagery projected by the projector deflects off the mirror and onto a projection surface, and the rotating assembly is configured to rotate the mirror to adjust a positioning of the imagery deflected onto the projection surface via the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick John Goergen, Howard Bruce Mall, Jr., Paige Lynette Reiter, Gregory Paul Habiak
  • Publication number: 20240141944
    Abstract: An attraction system includes a first component, a second component, a fastener configured to couple the first component to the second component, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a torque stripe extending between the fastener and a reference point of the attraction system, wherein the RFID tag is configured to emit a radio frequency (RF) signal in response to the torque stripe being unbroken, and an RFID reader configured to detect the RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall, JR.
  • Patent number: 11933914
    Abstract: An interactive system includes a device configured to output a signal toward a surface such that the signal reflects off the surface at an angle and along a path of travel, and such that an object that interrupts the path of travel of the signal causes a return signal to travel in a reverse direction along the path of travel for receipt by the device. The interactive system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the device. The control system is configured to receive data from the device, in which the data is associated with the receipt of the return signal by the device, and determine a position of the object relative to the device based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Griffin Tang, Howard Bruce Mall
  • Publication number: 20240083475
    Abstract: An attraction system includes a track, a support vehicle having a wheel assembly configured to adjustably engage the track and having a sensor configured to capture a characteristic of the attraction system. In addition, the attraction system comprises a control assembly configured to control the support vehicle to traverse the track via the wheel assembly and receive, from the sensor, sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the attraction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall, JR.
  • Publication number: 20240013599
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle locker comprises a controller including a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the controller to associate an autonomous vehicle locker with a guest at a first location, receive an indication that guest items are within a storage compartment, secure the storage compartment based on the indication, instruct the autonomous vehicle locker to travel to a second location, identify the guest from a plurality of guests at the second location, and instruct the autonomous vehicle locker to unlock the storage compartment in response to identifying the guest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Eric To Chan, Robert Michael Jordan, Howard Bruce Mall, JR., Mark James Traynor, Anthony Melo
  • Publication number: 20230351459
    Abstract: An interactive system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to identify one or more non-fungible tokens (NFTs) possessed by a user and to provide control signals to one or more output devices of a portable object based on the one or more NFTs. The one or more output devices include an actuator configured to drive movement of at least a portion of the portable object, a speaker configured to output sounds, a light emitter configured to emit light, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Michael Jordan, Howard Bruce Mall, Anthony Melo, Victor Alexander Lugo
  • Publication number: 20230347257
    Abstract: An interactive system for an amusement park attraction includes one or more processors configured to identify a non-fungible token (NFT) possessed by a user within the amusement park attraction. The one or more processors are also configured to transform the NFT into a derivative of the NFT based on context data for the amusement park attraction. The one or more processors are further configured to instruct display of the derivative of the NFT on a display screen within the amusement park attraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Michael Jordan, Gabriella Farrisi, Gargi Deb, Kristen Elizabeth Tan, Matthew Donald Dailey, Taylor Doris May Harris, Mark James Traynor, Howard Bruce Mall, JR., Victor Alexander Lugo, Anthony Melo
  • Publication number: 20230182035
    Abstract: A three-dimensional display system includes a first display and a second display spaced apart from the first display having one or more light sources configured to emit light and to illuminate the first display, where the first display is at least partially transparent such that the second display is visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a special effect system disposed at least in part between the first display and the second display and is configured to be activated to cause a special effect to be visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first display, the second display, and the special effect system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Kaitlyn Marie Duffy, Mark James Traynor, Anthony Melo, Howard Bruce Mall, Yu Jen Lin, Nicholas Anthony Puglisi, Carin Harkins, Caitlin Berner, Samuel J. Knox, Shawn Wright, Suzanne Harris
  • Patent number: 11590432
    Abstract: A three-dimensional display system includes a first display and a second display spaced apart from the first display having one or more light sources configured to emit light and to illuminate the first display, where the first display is at least partially transparent such that the second display is visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a special effect system disposed at least in part between the first display and the second display and is configured to be activated to cause a special effect to be visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first display, the second display, and the special effect system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Kaitlyn Marie Duffy, Mark James Traynor, Anthony Melo, Howard Bruce Mall, Yu Jen Lin, Nicholas Anthony Puglisi, Carin Harkins, Caitlin Berner, Samuel J. Knox, Shawn Wright, Suzanne Harris
  • Patent number: 11354862
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a video assembly comprising at least one camera positioned in a predetermined area and configured to transmit a real-time video feed of a physical location in the predetermined area. The monitoring system further includes a control system configured to receive the real-time video feed from the at least one camera. The control system includes a memory device and a processor configured to generate a virtual model of a predetermined area based on instructions stored on the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to incorporate the real-time video feed into the virtual model at a virtual location in the virtual model corresponding to the physical location in the predetermined area. The control system also includes a display unit configured to display the virtual model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall
  • Patent number: 11321554
    Abstract: Systems and methods may increase facial recognition throughput by reducing search data as a person traverses through a theme park. Systems and methods include storing facial identification data in a theme park database as guests enter a theme park and removing facial identification data in the theme park database as guests exit the theme park. In this manner, the theme park database includes facial identification data of guests inside the theme park, and not of guests who have left the theme park, thereby reducing the size of the theme park database as guests exit the theme park. Similarly, this approach may be implemented within each of the various areas of the theme park, such that the size of databases associated with each area of the park only includes entries corresponding to guests in the particular park area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Andrew Edelen, Howard Bruce Mall, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220096951
    Abstract: A three-dimensional display system includes a first display and a second display spaced apart from the first display having one or more light sources configured to emit light and to illuminate the first display, where the first display is at least partially transparent such that the second display is visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a special effect system disposed at least in part between the first display and the second display and is configured to be activated to cause a special effect to be visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first display, the second display, and the special effect system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kaitlyn Marie Duffy, Mark James Traynor, Anthony Melo, Howard Bruce Mall, Yu Jen Lin, Nicholas Anthony Puglisi, Carin Harkins, Caitlin Berner, Samuel J. Knox, Shawn Wright, Suzanne Harris
  • Publication number: 20210342616
    Abstract: An entertainment system includes a user interactive device having an identification assembly configured to generate a pattern of light via reflective material, a camera configured to capture the pattern of light generated by the reflective material, and a controller having processing circuitry and a memory. The memory stores machine-readable instructions configured to cause the processing circuitry to receive an indication of the pattern of light and determine identification data associated with the user interactive device based on the pattern of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210311165
    Abstract: An interactive system includes a device configured to output a signal toward a surface such that the signal reflects off the surface at an angle and along a path of travel, and such that an object that interrupts the path of travel of the signal causes a return signal to travel in a reverse direction along the path of travel for receipt by the device. The interactive system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the device. The control system is configured to receive data from the device, in which the data is associated with the receipt of the return signal by the device, and determine a position of the object relative to the device based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Griffin Tang, Howard Bruce Mall
  • Publication number: 20210240969
    Abstract: Systems and methods may increase facial recognition throughput by reducing search data as a person traverses through a theme park. Systems and methods include storing facial identification data in a theme park database as guests enter a theme park and removing facial identification data in the theme park database as guests exit the theme park. In this manner, the theme park database includes facial identification data of guests inside the theme park, and not of guests who have left the theme park, thereby reducing the size of the theme park database as guests exit the theme park. Similarly, this approach may be implemented within each of the various areas of the theme park, such that the size of databases associated with each area of the park only includes entries corresponding to guests in the particular park area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jacob Andrew Edelen, Howard Bruce Mall, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200388073
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a video assembly comprising at least one camera positioned in a predetermined area and configured to transmit a real-time video feed of a physical location in the predetermined area. The monitoring system further includes a control system configured to receive the real-time video feed from the at least one camera. The control system includes a memory device and a processor configured to generate a virtual model of a predetermined area based on instructions stored on the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to incorporate the real-time video feed into the virtual model at a virtual location in the virtual model corresponding to the physical location in the predetermined area. The control system also includes a display unit configured to display the virtual model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall
  • Patent number: 10827166
    Abstract: An image projection system may include a translucent or transparent projection screen and multiple lenticules disposed on or within the projection screen. The image projection system may also include a projector to project multiple images onto the projection screen. The images may include multiple views of a scene, and the projector may simultaneously project the images to generate a three-dimensional display of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Universal City Studio LLC
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall
  • Publication number: 20200137378
    Abstract: An image projection system may include a translucent or transparent projection screen and multiple lenticules disposed on or within the projection screen. The image projection system may also include a projector to project multiple images onto the projection screen. The images may include multiple views of a scene, and the projector may simultaneously project the images to generate a three-dimensional display of the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Howard Bruce Mall