Patents by Inventor Peter M. Nofz

Peter M. Nofz 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).

  • Wheel motion control input device for animation system
    Patent number: 7038660
    Abstract: An input device for a computer graphics system provides a plurality of wheels that control movement of a virtual camera. The input device can be readily used by professional camerman without knowledge or training on CG animation software tools. The input device comprises a housing having at least one wheel operatively coupled to at least one outer surface of the housing. The at least one wheel has an axially coupled shaft that is driven rotationally by manipulation of the wheel. Circuitry contained within the housing and operatively coupled to the shaft generates a control signal corresponding to rotational motion of the at least one wheel. The control signal is thereby provided to the animation processor to control the virtual camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Eric Titcomb, Peter M. Nofz, Bruce Eugene Dobrin, Ronald Albert Fischer, Jerome Chen
  • Wheel motion control input device for animation system
    Publication number: 20040178988
    Abstract: An input device for a computer graphics system provides a plurality of wheels that control movement of a virtual camera. The input device can be readily used by professional camerman without knowledge or training on CG animation software tools. The input device comprises a housing having at least one wheel operatively coupled to at least one outer surface of the housing. The at least one wheel has an axially coupled shaft that is driven rotationally by manipulation of the wheel. Circuitry contained within the housing and operatively coupled to the shaft generates a control signal corresponding to rotational motion of the at least one wheel. The control signal is thereby provided to the animation processor to control the virtual camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Eric Titcomb, Peter M. Nofz, Bruce Eugene Dobrin, Ronald Albert Fischer, Jerome Chen