Patents by Inventor Mark Bolas

Mark Bolas 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: 8432436
    Abstract: An interactive, autostereoscopic system for displaying an object in 3D includes a mirror configured to spin around a vertical axis when actuated by a motor, a high speed video projector, and a processing system including a graphics card interfaced to the video projector. An anisotropic reflector is bonded onto an inclined surface of the mirror. The video projector projects video signals of the object from the projector onto the inclined surface of the mirror while the mirror is spinning, so that light rays representing the video signals are redirected toward a field of view of a 360 degree range. The processing system renders the redirected light rays so as to interactively generate a horizontal-parallax 3D display of the object. Vertical parallax can be included in the display by adjusting vertically the displayed views of the object, in response to tracking of viewer motion by a tracking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Andrew Jones, Mark Bolas, Ian McDowall
  • Publication number: 20130021457
    Abstract: The multi-person stereo display system permits several independent viewers to see different stereo images on a single projection surface. This is accomplished through the innovative use of video multiplexing, software, control electronics, and special viewing glasses. The system is particularly useful in situations where the viewers see computer generated images from their own independent perspectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Patent number: 8223197
    Abstract: The multi-person stereo display system permits several independent viewers to see different stereo images on a single projection surface. This is accomplished through the innovative use of video multiplexing, software, control electronics, and special viewing glasses. The system is particularly useful in situations where the viewers see computer generated images from their own independent perspectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20120050606
    Abstract: A controllable lighting system may include a plurality of light source groups, a group controller for each light source group, a master controller, and a network communication system. Each group controller may be configured to control the light sources in its light source group based on a group control command. The master controller may be configured to receive a master control command relating to the light sources and to issue a group control command to each of the group controllers that collectively effectuate compliance with the master control command. The network communication system may be configured to communicate the group control commands from the master controller to the group controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Xueming Yu, Mark Bolas, Graham Fyffe, Jay Busch, Pieter Peers, Abhijeet Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20110310466
    Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Patent number: 8009349
    Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20100067573
    Abstract: A method for projecting sequences of images from a standard digital source by packing the binary bit planes of an image is conveyed. The method enables 24× frame rates from a standard source using standard electrical interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20100002288
    Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20090185030
    Abstract: The multi-person stereo display system permits several independent viewers to see different stereo images on a single projection surface. This is accomplished through the innovative use of video multiplexing, software, control electronics, and special viewing glasses. The system is particularly useful in situations where the viewers see computer generated images from their own independent perspectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20090052838
    Abstract: The configuration of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20080297593
    Abstract: An interactive, autostereoscopic system for displaying an object in 3D includes a mirror configured to spin around a vertical axis when actuated by a motor, a high speed video projector, and a processing system including a graphics card interfaced to the video projector. An anisotropic reflector is bonded onto an inclined surface of the mirror. The video projector projects video signals of the object from the projector onto the inclined surface of the mirror while the mirror is spinning, so that light rays representing the video signals are redirected toward a field of view of a 360 degree range. The processing system renders the redirected light rays so as to interactively generate a horizontal-parallax 3D display of the object. Vertical parallax can be included in the display by adjusting vertically the displayed views of the object, in response to tracking of viewer motion by a tracking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Andrew Jones, Mark Bolas, Ian McDowall
  • Publication number: 20080193022
    Abstract: A method for projecting sequences of images from a standard digital source by packing the binary bit planes of an image is conveyed. The method enables 24× frame rates from a standard source using standard electrical interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20070291186
    Abstract: A rear projection imaging system with an image warping distortion correction system using a camera and processing unit to generate a warping map that corrects for image distortion. The warping map is generated in an iterative process by displaying a known pattern on a viewing screen and, through the use of a camera, having a microprocessor determine the location and shape of the pattern on the screen. The microprocessor then compares the displayed image to the original reference image, calculates the distortion effects present in the projection optics, and generates a warping map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20070177106
    Abstract: A LCoS projection display system using two LCoS chips and a variable color filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20070115397
    Abstract: A projection display including a calibration bezel which forms a visual fiducial at the edge of a display screen. The calibration bezel may form a complete or partial border around the display screen and may be oriented at an angle to the display screen. Thus, a comparatively larger angle exists between light rays emanating from the bezel to the camera than in a conventional setup that has a surface planar with respect to the display screen. This makes it easier for electronics to locate the edge of the display in images captured by the camera, facilitating a more efficient camera setup process and an improved picture alignment process. The calibration bezel further allows electronics to quickly locate and see images at the perimeter that defines the edge of a large screen rear projection monitor screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Bolas, Ian McDowall
  • Publication number: 20070115361
    Abstract: A video projection calibration technique includes a first camera to view the video display screen from the projector side, and a second camera to view the video display screen from the viewing side. The first camera may be a lower resolution than the second camera. The combination of the two cameras permits the transfer functions of the projection system and the first camera to be characterized and reduced to a warping transform that may be stored by the control system. The presence of the warping transform would permit the lower resolution, first camera to perform image realignment after the video projection system is in use by an end user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Bolas, Ian McDowall
  • Publication number: 20060257019
    Abstract: A method for increasing the signal to noise ratio in systems which employ 3 dimensional patterns projected from a projector and imaged by an electronic image sensor is conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20060098168
    Abstract: A rear projection imaging system with an image warping distortion correction system using a camera and processing unit to generate a warping map that corrects for image distortion. The warping map is generated in an iterative process by displaying a known pattern on a viewing screen and, through the use of a camera, having a microprocessor determine the location and shape of the pattern on the screen. The microprocessor then compares the displayed image to the original reference image, calculates the distortion effects present in the projection optics, and generates a warping map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20060087621
    Abstract: A LCoS projection display system using two LCoS chips and software or firmware to control the chips so that any defects in the first chip that result in incorrectly displayed pixels are corrected by production of compensating illumination provided by the second LCoS chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Publication number: 20060067304
    Abstract: A system for supplying streaming media or other media sources to clients, said system providing for selection of internet based audio content providers based on arbitrarily assigned numbers that function as proxies for the URL or IP address of the audio content providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas, Scott Smith, Mary McCann