Patents by Inventor Robert B. Engle
Robert B. Engle 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: 10339120Abstract: Systems and methods presented here allow recreation of prior scenes, even if assets used in the scenes have evolved over time. The systems and methods employ query of a database to obtain data for backup and retrieval, e.g., information about shots made at prior points in time, where a “shot” refers to a scene or associated set of sequential frames (a single image may also be considered a shot in some instances), rendered or not depending on context. In the VP-VCR systems and methods, information may be obtained about rendered scenes which allow knowledge and subsequent use of each asset employed in the scene, including its proper version and representation at the time of the rendering. Such may be employed not only to obtain prior versions of shots, but also to allow modification of assets in prior shots to obtain new effects.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Alan L. Davidson, Steve LaVietes, Blair J. Zajac, Jr., Robert B. Engle
-
Patent number: 9723294Abstract: Rendering a stereoscopic image of a 3-D environment, including: tracing a path of ray from a camera to a light source for every pixel in a view window; determining shading of all pixels in the view window; and adjusting the shading for all pixels to show horizontal displacement but substantially reduce vertical displacement in the stereoscopic image. Keywords include shading and horizontal displacement.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Robert B. Engle
-
Patent number: 9715756Abstract: Rendering a 3-D scene using bent ray, including; tracing a path of the bent ray from a camera to an object for each pixel in a view window, wherein the amount of bending in the bent ray is a function of the distance from the camera; rendering the each, pixel in the view window until all pixels in the view window have been rendered; and outputting the rendered view window as a rendered 3-D scene. Keywords include bent rays and object depth.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Robert B. Engle
-
Publication number: 20140279976Abstract: Systems and methods presented here allow recreation of prior scenes, even if assets used in the scenes have evolved over time. The systems and methods employ query of a database to obtain data for backup and retrieval, e.g., information about shots made at prior points in time, where a “shot” refers to a scene or associated set of sequential frames (a single image may also be considered a shot in some instances), rendered or not depending on context. In the VP-VCR systems and methods, information may be obtained about rendered scenes which allow knowledge and subsequent use of each asset employed in the scene, including its proper version and representation at the time of the rendering. Such may be employed not only to obtain prior versions of shots, but also to allow modification of assets in prior shots to obtain new effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicants: Sony Pictures Technologies Inc., Sony CorporationInventors: Alan L. Davidson, Steve LaVietes, Blair J. Zajac, Jr., Robert B. Engle
-
Publication number: 20140247265Abstract: Rendering a stereoscopic image of a 3-D environment, including: tracing a path of ray from a camera to a light source for every pixel in a view window; determining shading of all pixels in the view window; and adjusting the shading for all pixels to show horizontal displacement but substantially reduce vertical displacement in the stereoscopic image. Keywords include shading and horizontal displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicants: SONY PICTURES TECHNOLOGIES, INC., SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Robert B. Engle
-
Publication number: 20140240316Abstract: Rendering a 3-D scene using bent ray, including; tracing a path of the bent ray from a camera to an object for each pixel in a view window, wherein the amount of bending in the bent ray is a function of the distance from the camera; rendering the each, pixel in the view window until all pixels in the view window have been rendered; and outputting the rendered view window as a rendered 3-D scene. Keywords include bent rays and object depth.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicants: SONY PICTURES TECHNOLOGIES, INC., SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Robert B. Engle
-
Patent number: 8576228Abstract: Several embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use with node-based compositing to assist in the generation of a second eye or camera of a stereoscopic image. In one implementation, a method for use in 3D movie production comprises the steps: displaying composite nodes to a user, the composite nodes indicating how to composite a first plurality of rendered 2D elements into an output image, the rendered 2D elements and the plurality of composite nodes corresponding to a first eye of a 3D image; and receiving user input to add one or more transition nodes to the composite nodes, each transition node following a respective composite node and to be used for regeneration of one or more elements corresponding to the respective composite node, wherein the composite nodes and the one or more transition nodes are to be used to direct generation of a second eye of the 3D image.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Alan Davidson, Robert B. Engle, Layne Friedman
-
Patent number: 8564644Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for viewing and displaying 3D imagery. In one implementation, a method of displaying 3D imagery comprises receiving layout data comprising data representing a first camera, the first camera being non-editable; generating a first pair of a left camera and a right camera from the layout data based on the first camera, wherein the left camera and the right camera are editable; retrieving, from an external memory, streaming geometry data corresponding to the layout data; and generating the 3D imagery using the first pair of the left camera and the right camera and the streaming geometry data.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Robert B. Engle, Alan Davidson, Mylene Pepe
-
Patent number: 8471844Abstract: Method and systems are provided using streaming geometry in 3D imagery production. In one implementation a method for use in the display of 3D video images comprises receiving a first set of data corresponding to an output from a layout in a production pipeline, generating geometry data for one or more objects represented within the first set of data, merging the geometry data for each of the one or more objects to create one or more merged files, generating a table of contents, wherein the table of contents specifies the location of the geometry data for each of the one or more objects within the one or more merged files and storing the geometry data and the table of contents to a memory device for subsequent retrieval.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Alan Davidson, Robert B. Engle, Clint Chua
-
Publication number: 20090289941Abstract: Several embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for use with node-based compositing to assist in the generation of a second eye or camera of a stereoscopic image. In one implementation, a method for use in 3D movie production comprises the steps: displaying composite nodes to a user, the composite nodes indicating how to composite a first plurality of rendered 2D elements into an output image, the rendered 2D elements and the plurality of composite nodes corresponding to a first eye of a 3D image; and receiving user input to add one or more transition nodes to the composite nodes, each transition node following a respective composite node and to be used for regeneration of one or more elements corresponding to the respective composite node, wherein the composite nodes and the one or more transition nodes are to be used to direct generation of a second eye of the 3D image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Alan Davidson, Robert B. Engle, Layne Friedman
-
Publication number: 20090262108Abstract: Method and systems are provided using streaming geometry in 3D imagery production.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Alan Davidson, Robert B. Engle, Clint Chua
-
Publication number: 20090262184Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for viewing and displaying 3D imagery. In one implementation, a method of displaying 3D imagery comprises receiving layout data comprising data representing a first camera, the first camera being non-editable; generating a first pair of a left camera and a right camera from the layout data based on the first camera, wherein the left camera and the right camera are editable; retrieving, from an external memory, streaming geometry data corresponding to the layout data; and generating the 3D imagery using the first pair of the left camera and the right camera and the streaming geometry data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Robert B. Engle, Alan Davidson, Mylene Pepe
-
Patent number: 7427991Abstract: A system and process for digitally representing a plurality of surface-attached geometric objects on a model. The system and process comprises generating a plurality of particles and placing the plurality of particles on a surface of the model. A first plurality of curves are generated and placed at locations on the model. Characteristics are defined for the first plurality of curves. A second plurality of curves is interpolated from the first plurality of curves at locations of the particles. A plurality of surface-attached geometric objects is generated that replaces all of the particles and the second plurality of curves.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Armin Bruderlin, Jeffrey M. Chan, Robert B. Engle, Gokhan Kisacikoglu, Brian Steiner, David S. Tanner
-
Publication number: 20030179203Abstract: A system and process for digitally representing a plurality of surface-attached geometric objects on a model. The system and process comprises generating a plurality of particles and placing the plurality of particles on a surface of the model. A first plurality of curves are generated and placed at locations on the model. Characteristics are defined for the first plurality of curves. A second plurality of curves is interpolated from the first plurality of curves at locations of the particles. A plurality of surface-attached geometric objects is generated that replaces all of the particles and the second plurality of curves.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Armin Bruderlin, Jeffrey M. Chan, Robert B. Engle, Gokhan Kisacikoglu, Brian Steiner, David S. Tanner