Patents by Inventor Steven Blackmon

Steven Blackmon 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: 11861787
    Abstract: Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Cuneyt Ozdas, Luke Tilman Peterson, Steven Blackmon, Steven John Clohset
  • Publication number: 20230334761
    Abstract: Foveated rendering for rendering an image uses a ray tracing technique to process graphics data for a region of interest of the image, and a rasterisation technique is used to process graphics data for other regions of the image. A rendered image can be formed using the processed graphics data for the region of interest of the image and the processed graphics data for the other regions of the image. The region of interest may correspond to a foveal region of the image. Ray tracing naturally provides high detail and photo-realistic rendering, which human vision is particularly sensitive to in the foveal region; whereas rasterisation techniques are suited for providing temporal smoothing and anti-aliasing in a simple manner, and is therefore suited for use in the regions of the image that a user will see in the periphery of their vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
  • Publication number: 20230247305
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Patent number: 11682158
    Abstract: Foveated rendering for rendering an image uses a ray tracing technique to process graphics data for a region of interest of the image, and a rasterisation technique is used to process graphics data for other regions of the image. A rendered image can be formed using the processed graphics data for the region of interest of the image and the processed graphics data for the other regions of the image. The region of interest may correspond to a foveal region of the image. Ray tracing naturally provides high detail and photo-realistic rendering, which human vision is particularly sensitive to in the foveal region; whereas rasterisation techniques are suited for providing temporal smoothing and anti-aliasing in a simple manner, and is therefore suited for use in the regions of the image that a user will see in the periphery of their vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
  • Publication number: 20230186546
    Abstract: Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Cuneyt OZDAS, Luke Tilman PETERSON, Steven BLACKMON, Steven John CLOHSET
  • Patent number: 11570372
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Patent number: 11562526
    Abstract: Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Cuneyt Ozdas, Luke Tilman Peterson, Steven Blackmon, Steven John Clohset
  • Publication number: 20210183131
    Abstract: Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Cuneyt OZDAS, Luke Tilman PETERSON, Steven BLACKMON, Steven John CLOHSET
  • Patent number: 11010956
    Abstract: Foveated rendering for rendering an image uses a ray tracing technique to process graphics data for a region of interest of the image, and a rasterisation technique is used to process graphics data for other regions of the image. A rendered image can be formed using the processed graphics data for the region of interest of the image and the processed graphics data for the other regions of the image. The region of interest may correspond to a foveal region of the image. Ray tracing naturally provides high detail and photo-realistic rendering, which human vision is particularly sensitive to in the foveal region; whereas rasterisation techniques are suited for providing temporal smoothing and anti-aliasing in a simple manner, and is therefore suited for use in the regions of the image that a user will see in the periphery of their vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
  • Patent number: 10970912
    Abstract: Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Cuneyt Ozdas, Luke Tilman Peterson, Steven Blackmon, Steven John Clohset
  • Publication number: 20210037175
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Patent number: 10834328
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Publication number: 20190236834
    Abstract: Foveated rendering for rendering an image uses a ray tracing technique to process graphics data for a region of interest of the image, and a rasterisation technique is used to process graphics data for other regions of the image. A rendered image can be formed using the processed graphics data for the region of interest of the image and the processed graphics data for the other regions of the image. The region of interest may correspond to a foveal region of the image. Ray tracing naturally provides high detail and photo-realistic rendering, which human vision is particularly sensitive to in the foveal region; whereas rasterisation techniques are suited for providing temporal smoothing and anti-aliasing in a simple manner, and is therefore suited for use in the regions of the image that a user will see in the periphery of their vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
  • Publication number: 20190191069
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Patent number: 10200627
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Publication number: 20170169602
    Abstract: Foveated rendering for rendering an image uses a ray tracing technique to process graphics data for a region of interest of the image, and a rasterisation technique is used to process graphics data for other regions of the image. A rendered image can be formed using the processed graphics data for the region of interest of the image and the processed graphics data for the other regions of the image. The region of interest may correspond to a foveal region of the image. Ray tracing naturally provides high detail and photo-realistic rendering, which human vision is particularly sensitive to in the foveal region; whereas rasterisation techniques are suited for providing temporal smoothing and anti-aliasing in a simple manner, and is therefore suited for use in the regions of the image that a user will see in the periphery of their vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
  • Publication number: 20150294511
    Abstract: A user interface to a virtual camera for a 3-D rendering application provides various features. A rendering engine can continuously refine the image being displayed through the virtual camera, and the user interface can contain an element for indicating capture of the image as currently displayed, which causes saving of the currently displayed image. Autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) reticles can allow selection of objects in a 3-D scene, from which an image will be rendered, for each of AE and AF. A focal distance can be determined by identifying a 3-D object visible at a pixel overlapped by the AF reticle, and a current viewpoint. The AF reticle can be hidden in response to a depth of field selector being set to infinite depth of field. The AF and AE reticles can be linked and unlinked, allowing different 3-D objects for each of AF and AE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
  • Patent number: 9024253
    Abstract: A calibration system and method for calibrating a detector are disclosed. In one example, the calibration system comprises a plurality of radiation sources configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, a positioning mechanism disposed opposite the plurality of radiation sources, having a single degree of freedom with respect to the plurality of radiation sources, and an optical element coupled to the positioning mechanism, and configured to rotate to a plurality of calibration positions, the optical element in each of the plurality of calibration positions being configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from a corresponding radiation source and to reflect the electromagnetic radiation to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Howard M. De Ruyter, James Steven Blackmon
  • Patent number: 8970591
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method provides for iteratively taking passes of samples for each pixel of a set of pixels. Initially, the set of pixels can be all of the pixels of an image. For each pixel, an accumulated color at the beginning of a pass and at the end of a pass can be compared. If a difference between these is within a threshold, a convergence count, which begins at an initial value, is reduced. If the difference is not within the threshold, then the convergence count is reset. When the convergence count reaches a preset value, then the pixel is considered converged and removed from the set. However, if a pixel adjacent to a converged pixel fails a convergence test, then the converged pixel is reset to unconverged and returned to the set and at least a minimum number of additional sample passes are undertaken for that pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies, Limited
    Inventors: Cüneyt Özdas, Steven Blackmon
  • Publication number: 20140306959
    Abstract: Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Imagination Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cuneyt OZDAS, Luke Tilman PETERSON, Steven BLACKMON, Steven John CLOHSET