Patents by Inventor Warren C. Couvillion, Jr.

Warren C. Couvillion, Jr. 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: 20100077959
    Abstract: A virtual coatings application system realistically simulates airless spray painting. The system generally includes a display screen on which is defined a virtual surface that is intended to be virtually painted or coated by the user. The user operates the instrumented airless spray gun controller which is instrumented with a tracking device and an electronic on/off switch for the trigger. The system also has a motion tracking system that tracks the position and orientation of the airless spray gun controller with respect to the virtual surface defined on the display screen. Simulation software generates virtual spray pattern data in response to the setup parameters and the position and orientation of the airless spray gun controller with respect to the virtual surface. Virtual spray pattern images are displayed in real time on the display screen in accordance with the accumulation of virtual spray pattern data at each location on the virtual surface. The primary purpose of the system is to enhance training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jeremiah G. Treloar, Christopher A. Lampe, Jason M. Ebensberger, Michael J. Bolick, John Whiting, Richard J. Klein, II, Eric C. Peterson, Chad J. Zalkin, Warren C. Couvillion, JR., Stephen R. Gray
  • Patent number: 7381152
    Abstract: A virtual reality system transposes a user's position and movement in real space to virtual space. The virtual reality system includes a locomotion interface that outputs signals indicative of a user's position in real space. The locomotion interface includes a pressure-sensing mat having a base layer, a plurality of pressure sensing elements formed over the base layer, and a top layer formed over the plurality of pressure-sensing elements. The plurality of pressure sensing elements output a signal indicative of pressure applied to the top layer. A virtual reality processor uses the signals output by the locomotion interface to produce an output indicative of the user's position in the virtual space corresponding to the user's position and movement in the real space. A display uses the output from the virtual reality processor to produce an image of the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Warren C. Couvillion, Jr., Roger R. Lopez, Jian Ling
  • Patent number: 6916273
    Abstract: A virtual reality system transposes a user's position and movement in real space to virtual space. The virtual reality system includes a locomotion interface that outputs signals indicative of a user's position in real space. The locomotion interface includes a pressure-sensing mat having a base layer, a plurality of pressure sensing elements and a heating/refrigeration layer formed over the base layer, and a top layer formed over the plurality of pressure-sensing elements. The plurality of pressure sensing elements output a signal indicative of pressure applied to the top layer. A virtual reality processor uses the signals output by the locomotion interface to produce an output indicative of the user's position in the virtual space corresponding to the user's position and movement in the real space. A display uses the output from the virtual reality processor to produce an image of the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Warren C. Couvillion, Jr., Roger R. Lopez, Jian Ling