Patents by Inventor Lanny S. Smoot

Lanny S. Smoot 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: 20250117069
    Abstract: An interactive user experience system is disclosed. The system includes a processor, a display in electrical communication with the processor and configured to display a visual content of interactive content, a modular tile floor in electrical communication with the processor and including a plurality of tiles configured to move independently to induce or respond to a desired motion for a user in contact with the modular tile floor, a sensor in electrical communication with the processor. The sensor detects at least one of an orientation or a position of the user on the modular tile floor, and based on the detected orientation or position of the user, the processor modifies at least one of the visual content or a movement of the plurality of tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Jack Wetherell, Robert J. Bristow, Lanny S. Smoot, Alfredo M. Ayala, Michael Ryan Enriquez Arevalo, Frank D. Mezzatesta, III
  • Publication number: 20250117539
    Abstract: Systems and methods to simulate the movement and interaction of objects on modular omnidirectional actuated floors are disclosed herein. A system may include a processor configured to generate a set of particles along a boundary of a contact surface of an object on a modular floor including a plurality of tiles configured to move independently. The processor may also be configured to assign a linear velocity to each particle of the set of particles. The processor may also be configured to assign an angular velocity to each particle of the set of particles. The processor may also be configured to simulate the motion of the object on the modular floor based on the assigned linear and angular velocities. Additional systems and associated methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Jack Wetherell, Robert J. Bristow, Lanny S. Smoot, Frank D. Mezzatesta, III
  • Publication number: 20250114714
    Abstract: A system for moving passengers is disclosed. The system includes an auxiliary mobility platform including a plurality of tiles, the plurality of tiles includes a first plurality of tiles defining a loading region and a second plurality of tiles defining an intermediate region. The system also includes a carriage positioned on the auxiliary mobility platform and defining a passenger compartment, the carriage movable by the auxiliary mobility platform, and a carrier vehicle to support the carriage and movable along a predefined ride pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Douglas A. Fidaleo, Robert J. Bristow, Jack Wetherell
  • Publication number: 20240411064
    Abstract: A wide-angle, retroreflective real image display system that produces real images that can be viewed and interacted with by a group of people who can move about a space to view the real image. In one embodiment, the display system includes two or more stations each having their own retroreflector, beamsplitter, and displayed image or illuminated object. The stations, and their beamsplitters and retroreflectors are positioned adjacent at angular offsets or rotation angles, e.g., each neighboring or adjacent beamsplitter and retroreflector is rotated about an axis extending through the joining seam. The displayed images or illuminated objects are rotated at similar angles from each other to provide a retroreflective pyramid with co-located real images. In other embodiments, the display system uses a single retroreflector, beamsplitter, and displayed image or illuminated object but adds a pair of curved reflectors with matching shapes and sizes to provide an undistorted retroreflective real image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Quinn Y. Smithwick, Lanny S. Smoot, Michael Ilardi
  • Publication number: 20240331670
    Abstract: A system for simulating operation of a stringed instrument using a combination of water and light steams. The system includes a nozzle configured for outputting a falling laminar water stream. The system includes a light transmitter configured to inject light into a first end of the water stream and a light receiver configured to receive the light injected into the water stream and, in response, generate a signal. The system includes a controller configured for processing the signal and, in response to a lack of the signal, for operating an audio system to play a musical note or audio file. The system may include an optical fiber with a first end proximate to the nozzle oriented to receive the light injected into the water stream at the second end of the water stream, and the light receiver can be a photodetector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Robert J. Bristow, David James Myers, Gary A. Powell, Charles Jacob Sedor, Keith Jeffrey Mazzella, Steven I. Smith
  • Patent number: 11683551
    Abstract: There is provided systems and methods for performing actions based on light signatures. An exemplary system includes a light source, a light detector, a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of light signatures and a hardware processor. The hardware processor executes an executable code to illuminate, using the light source, a target object with a first light, collect, using the light detector, a second light being a reflection of the first light by the target object, match the second light with one of the plurality of light signatures, and perform an action in response to matching the second light with the one of the plurality of light signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Michael Holton
  • Publication number: 20210287030
    Abstract: There is provided systems and methods for performing actions based on light signatures. An exemplary system includes a light source, a light detector, a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of light signatures and a hardware processor. The hardware processor executes an executable code to illuminate, using the light source, a target object with a first light, collect, using the light detector, a second light being a reflection of the first light by the target object, match the second light with one of the plurality of light signatures, and perform an action in response to matching the second light with the one of the plurality of light signatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Michael Holton
  • Patent number: 11107129
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for performing an operation comprising detecting a first mobile device within a predefined proximity of a display device, receiving profile data from the first mobile device, identifying at least one rule for selecting media content based on the profile data, selecting, based on the at least one rule applied to the profile data, a first item of media content of a plurality of items of media content, and outputting the first item of media content for display on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Frazier Watson, Nitzan Katz, Lanny S. Smoot
  • Publication number: 20210256565
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for performing an operation comprising detecting a first mobile device within a predefined proximity of a display device, receiving profile data from the first mobile device, identifying at least one rule for selecting media content based on the profile data, selecting, based on the at least one rule applied to the profile data, a first item of media content of a plurality of items of media content, and outputting the first item of media content for display on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Scott Frazier WATSON, Nitzan KATZ, Lanny S. SMOOT
  • Patent number: 11080779
    Abstract: According to one implementation, an interactive retail venue includes a computing platform interactively linked to a display screen, a lighting system, an audio system, a dynamic product display unit, and multiple product sensors. The computing platform includes a hardware processor and a memory storing a venue orchestration software code. The hardware processor executes the venue orchestration software code to receive sensor data from the product sensors, determine respective locations of retail products within the interactive retail venue based on the sensor data, and present a multi-media entertainment featuring the retail products using the display screen, the lighting system, and the audio system. The hardware processor further executes the venue orchestration software code to concurrently activate the dynamic product display unit if at least one of the retail products is situated within a predetermined distance of the dynamic product display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Scott F. Watson, Nitzan Katz
  • Publication number: 20210233158
    Abstract: According to one implementation, an interactive retail venue includes a computing platform interactively linked to a display screen, a lighting system, an audio system, a dynamic product display unit, and multiple product sensors. The computing platform includes a hardware processor and a memory storing a venue orchestration software code. The hardware processor executes the venue orchestration software code to receive sensor data from the product sensors, determine respective locations of retail products within the interactive retail venue based on the sensor data, and present a multi-media entertainment featuring the retail products using the display screen, the lighting system, and the audio system. The hardware processor further executes the venue orchestration software code to concurrently activate the dynamic product display unit if at least one of the retail products is situated within a predetermined distance of the dynamic product display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Scott F. Watson, Nitzan Katz
  • Patent number: 11072075
    Abstract: A system for sensing and controlling eye contact for a robot. The system includes a robotic figure with a movable eye. The system includes a light source positioned in the robotic figure to output light through a light outlet of the eye. A light sensor is included that senses light striking surfaces in a physical space in which the robotic figure is positioned including the output light from the light source. The system includes an image processor processing output of the light sensor to identify a location of a target formed by the output light striking surfaces in the physical space and to identify a location of a face of a human. Further, the system includes a robot controller generating eye movement control signals based on the location of the target and the location of the face to position the eye to provide eye contact with the human observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David Loyal Christensen, Alexis P. Wieland, Lanny S. Smoot, Alfredo M. Ayala, Quinn Y. Smithwick, Kyna P. McIntosh, James R. Kennedy, Matthew K. Pan, Günter D. Niemeyer, Daniel De Jesus Campos Zamora, Sungjoon Choi
  • Patent number: 11062359
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for performing an operation comprising detecting a first mobile device within a predefined proximity of a display device, receiving profile data from the first mobile device, identifying at least one rule for selecting media content based on the profile data, selecting, based on the at least one rule applied to the profile data, a first item of media content of a plurality of items of media content, and outputting the first item of media content for display on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Frazier Watson, Nitzan Katz, Lanny S. Smoot
  • Patent number: 11055552
    Abstract: There is provided systems and methods for performing actions based on light signatures. An exemplary system includes a light source, a light detector, a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of light signatures and a hardware processor. The hardware processor executes an executable code to illuminate, using the light source, a target object with a first light, collect, using the light detector, a second light being a reflection of the first light by the target object, match the second light with one of the plurality of light signatures, and perform an action in response to matching the second light with the one of the plurality of light signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Michael Holton
  • Patent number: 10997649
    Abstract: According to one implementation, an interactive retail venue includes a computing platform interactively linked to a display screen, a lighting system, an audio system, a dynamic product display unit, and multiple product sensors. The computing platform includes a hardware processor and a memory storing a venue orchestration software code. The hardware processor executes the venue orchestration software code to receive sensor data from the product sensors, determine respective locations of retail products within the interactive retail venue based on the sensor data, and present a multi-media entertainment featuring the retail products using the display screen, the lighting system, and the audio system. The hardware processor further executes the venue orchestration software code to concurrently activate the dynamic product display unit if at least one of the retail products is situated within a predetermined distance of the dynamic product display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Scott F. Watson, Nitzan Katz
  • Publication number: 20210122055
    Abstract: A system for sensing and controlling eye contact for a robot. The system includes a robotic figure with a movable eye. The system includes a light source positioned in the robotic figure to output light through a light outlet of the eye. A light sensor is included that senses light striking surfaces in a physical space in which the robotic figure is positioned including the output light from the light source. The system includes an image processor processing output of the light sensor to identify a location of a target formed by the output light striking surfaces in the physical space and to identify a location of a face of a human. Further, the system includes a robot controller generating eye movement control signals based on the location of the target and the location of the face to position the eye to provide eye contact with the human observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: DAVID LOYAL CHRISTENSEN, ALEXIS P. WIELAND, LANNY S. SMOOT, ALFREDO M. AYALA, QUINN Y. SMITHWICK, KYNA P. MCINTOSH, JAMES R. KENNEDY, MATTHEW K. PAN, GÜNTER D. NIEMEYER, DANIEL DE JESUS CAMPOS ZAMORA, SUNGJOON CHOI
  • Patent number: 10827167
    Abstract: There is provided a system including a non-transitory memory storing an executable code and a hardware processor executing the code to receive a video content including a plurality of frames showing a scene from a perspective of a real camera, create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the scene using the plurality of frames, store the 3D model of the scene in the non-transitory memory, construct a synthetic view of the scene showing additional perspectives from one or more virtual cameras at one or more locations in the scene, transmit the synthetic view of the scene for being displayed on a display, display a scene of the video content on the display, track a position of a viewer moving in a room, and adjust the display of the scene being displayed on the display based on the position of the viewer in the room relative to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Watson, Lanny S. Smoot
  • Patent number: 10783567
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for automating customer assistance includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a venue inventory and activity guide software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the venue inventory and activity guide software code to receive a query from a customer of the retail venue, and determine if the query corresponds to either a retail product or an experience available at the retail venue. If the retail product or the experience is not available at the retail venue, the hardware processor executes the venue inventory and activity guide software code to generate a negative response. If the retail product or the experience is available at the retail venue, the hardware processor executes the venue inventory and activity guide software code to identify a location of the retail product or the experience, and guide the customer to the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Steven Makofsky, Scott F. Watson, Nitzan Katz
  • Patent number: D936514
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Robert J. Bristow
  • Patent number: D958792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Robert J. Bristow