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).
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Patent number: 11861787Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 14, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Cuneyt Ozdas, Luke Tilman Peterson, Steven Blackmon, Steven John Clohset
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Publication number: 20230334761Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
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Publication number: 20230247305Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Patent number: 11682158Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
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Publication number: 20230186546Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Cuneyt OZDAS, Luke Tilman PETERSON, Steven BLACKMON, Steven John CLOHSET
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Patent number: 11570372Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Patent number: 11562526Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Cuneyt Ozdas, Luke Tilman Peterson, Steven Blackmon, Steven John Clohset
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Publication number: 20210183131Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Cuneyt OZDAS, Luke Tilman PETERSON, Steven BLACKMON, Steven John CLOHSET
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Patent number: 11010956Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
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Patent number: 10970912Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Cuneyt Ozdas, Luke Tilman Peterson, Steven Blackmon, Steven John Clohset
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Publication number: 20210037175Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Patent number: 10834328Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Publication number: 20190236834Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
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Publication number: 20190191069Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Patent number: 10200627Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Imagination Technologies LimitedInventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Publication number: 20170169602Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Steven Blackmon, Luke T. Peterson, Cuneyt Ozdas, Steven J. Clohset
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Publication number: 20150294511Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Suguru Nishioka, James McCombe, Steven Blackmon
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Patent number: 9024253Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Howard M. De Ruyter, James Steven Blackmon
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Patent number: 8970591Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Imagination Technologies, LimitedInventors: Cüneyt Özdas, Steven Blackmon
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Publication number: 20140306959Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: Imagination Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Cuneyt OZDAS, Luke Tilman PETERSON, Steven BLACKMON, Steven John CLOHSET