Patents by Inventor Patrick Devin Boyle

Patrick Devin Boyle 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: 20190030442
    Abstract: A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path, a ride vehicle, and a projection system. The tunnel includes a first end and a second end and is curved between the first and second ends. The vehicle ride path extends within the tunnel from an entrance at the first end of the tunnel to an intermediate position within the tunnel. The second end of the tunnel is not visible from the intermediate position. The ride vehicle travels along the vehicle ride path and decelerates as the ride vehicle approaches the intermediate position. The projection system projects images onto one or more walls of the tunnel, such that the images are synchronized with the deceleration of the ride vehicle and a perceived speed of the ride vehicle, as perceived by a guest in the ride vehicle, exceeds an actual speed of the ride vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Publication number: 20190001230
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of ride vehicle modules, where each of the plurality of ride vehicle modules includes an interlock system configured to perform linking operations to join to other ride vehicle modules to form a cluster and delinking operations to separate from the other ride vehicle modules throughout a ride, control circuitry configured to control the interlock system and movement of the respective ride vehicle module independently or as a part of the cluster, and communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with the other ride vehicle modules internal and/or external to the cluster. The cluster may change sizes throughout the ride by performing linking and delinking operations as desired. A method for changing the size of clusters of ride vehicle modules throughout a ride is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Patent number: 10124266
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a plurality of vehicles having vehicle interface circuitry and configured to accommodate one or more riders. In certain embodiments, a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is configured to receive respective inputs from the one or more riders via the vehicle interface circuitry, and wherein the respective inputs are related to one or more game features of a game environment; and a game controller configured to receive information from the vehicle interface circuitry related to the respective inputs; and provide instructions to modify the game environment based on at least one of the respective inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Universal City Sudios LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Devin Boyle, Ross Alan Osterman
  • Patent number: 10105609
    Abstract: An apparatus for an amusement park includes a bogie system positioned on a track. The bogie system directs motion along the track. The apparatus also includes an arm extending radially outward from the bogie system. The arm is rotatably coupled to a body of the bogie system. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a vehicle positioned on the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Devin Boyle, Keith Michael McVeen, Eric A. Vance, Thierry Coup
  • Patent number: 10099149
    Abstract: A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path in the tunnel, an entrance disposed at a first end of the tunnel, a second end of the tunnel, one or more walls of the tunnel, and a projection system to project images onto the one or more walls of the tunnel. The tunnel is curved such that the second end of the tunnel is not visible at an intermediate position between the first end of the tunnel and the second end of the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Patent number: 10086299
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of ride vehicle modules, where each of the plurality of ride vehicle modules includes an interlock system configured to perform linking operations to join to other ride vehicle modules to form a cluster and delinking operations to separate from the other ride vehicle modules throughout a ride, control circuitry configured to control the interlock system and movement of the respective ride vehicle module independently or as a part of the cluster, and communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with the other ride vehicle modules internal and/or external to the cluster. The cluster may change sizes throughout the ride by performing linking and delinking operations as desired. A method for changing the size of clusters of ride vehicle modules throughout a ride is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Publication number: 20180253905
    Abstract: A ride system for an amusement park includes a ride vehicle configured to accommodate a rider and configured to travel along a ride path, a head mounted display configured to be worn by the rider, and a control system. The control system is configured to display a virtual instruction to the rider via the head mounted display, receive a signal from a user input device associated with the rider, determine that the signal received from the user input device corresponds to the virtual instruction, and trigger a movement of the ride vehicle in response to determining that the signal corresponds to the virtual instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Sean David McCracken, Eric Lawrence Merz, Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Publication number: 20180214774
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a surface that displays a plurality of images related to a game, a vehicle comprising interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the rider related to a vehicle path on the surface, wherein the vehicle operates according to the input to move on the surface on the vehicle path, and a controller that determines that the vehicle has moved over a first image of the plurality of images while on the vehicle path based on a signal from the vehicle, the surface, an external sensor, or a combination thereof; provides instructions to display circuitry associated with the surface to change the first image when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path; and updates a score associated with the vehicle when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Patent number: 9943759
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a surface that displays a plurality of images related to a game, a vehicle comprising interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the rider related to a vehicle path on the surface, wherein the vehicle operates according to the input to move on the surface on the vehicle path, and a controller that determines that the vehicle has moved over a first image of the plurality of images while on the vehicle path based on a signal from the vehicle, the surface, an external sensor, or a combination thereof; provides instructions to display circuitry associated with the surface to change the first image when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path; and updates a score associated with the vehicle when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Publication number: 20170095742
    Abstract: A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path in the tunnel, an entrance disposed at a first end of the tunnel, a second end of the tunnel, one or more walls of the tunnel, and a projection system to project images onto the one or more walls of the tunnel. The tunnel is curved such that the second end of the tunnel is not visible at an intermediate position between the first end of the tunnel and the second end of the tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Patent number: 9586151
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a theater ride system includes a processor, a center platform, actuation arms, and maneuverable seating areas. Each maneuverable seating area of at least a first subset of the maneuverable seating areas is coupled to a respective portion of the center platform via a respective actuator arm of the actuation arms. The processor is configured to control the actuator arms to position the maneuverable seating areas in a uniform theater configuration such that each of the maneuverable seating areas is adjacent to at least one other of the maneuverable seating areas and the center platform to resemble stationary seating sections of a theater at a beginning of a show, move the maneuverable seating areas into different configurations during the show, and position the maneuverable seating areas in the uniform theater configuration near an end of the show.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Publication number: 20160287999
    Abstract: An apparatus for an amusement park includes a bogie system positioned on a track. The bogie system directs motion along the track. The apparatus also includes an arm extending radially outward from the bogie system. The arm is rotatably coupled to a body of the bogie system. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a vehicle positioned on the arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Devin Boyle, Keith Michael McVeen, Eric A. Vance, Thierry Coup
  • Publication number: 20160089610
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a plurality of vehicles having vehicle interface circuitry and configured to accommodate one or more riders. In certain embodiments, a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is configured to receive respective inputs from the one or more riders via the vehicle interface circuitry, and wherein the respective inputs are related to one or more game features of a game environment; and a game controller configured to receive information from the vehicle interface circuitry related to the respective inputs; and provide instructions to modify the game environment based on at least one of the respective inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Devin Boyle, Ross Alan Osterman
  • Publication number: 20160045833
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of ride vehicle modules, where each of the plurality of ride vehicle modules includes an interlock system configured to perform linking operations to join to other ride vehicle modules to form a cluster and delinking operations to separate from the other ride vehicle modules throughout a ride, control circuitry configured to control the interlock system and movement of the respective ride vehicle module independently or as a part of the cluster, and communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with the other ride vehicle modules internal and/or external to the cluster. The cluster may change sizes throughout the ride by performing linking and delinking operations as desired. A method for changing the size of clusters of ride vehicle modules throughout a ride is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Publication number: 20150360127
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a surface that displays a plurality of images related to a game, a vehicle comprising interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the rider related to a vehicle path on the surface, wherein the vehicle operates according to the input to move on the surface on the vehicle path, and a controller that determines that the vehicle has moved over a first image of the plurality of images while on the vehicle path based on a signal from the vehicle, the surface, an external sensor, or a combination thereof; provides instructions to display circuitry associated with the surface to change the first image when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path; and updates a score associated with the vehicle when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle