Other

The Walt Disney Company

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Strand Lighting Limited

The Bran Ferren Corporation

Bran Ferren

Charles F Harrison

Clinton B Hope

Robert J Kohut

Eric Charles Haseltine

Marshall M Monroe

Phillip Cullum

Kenneth R Wisner

Nicholas F Baum

Bruce M Schechter

A sound delivery system comprises at least one elongated speaker mounting element. A multiplicity of individual speakers are mounted in the mounting element to form a linear array of speakers with each speaker being adapted to radiate sound in a direction transverse to the array. The number of speakers and the spacing between them are selected so as to focus the sound emanated by the speakers by reducing dispersion of sound in the direction of the linear array. A device is also included for coupling audio signals to the speakers.

Linear speaker array

A latent image projection system, and related method, for displaying entertaining visual effects and optical illusions by projecting a polarization-encoded latent image onto a polarization-preserving viewing screen. The latent image is revealed using a polarized analyzer having its polarization direction aligned with a polarization direction associated with the latent image. A 'magic window' special effect is produced by sizing the analyzer to reveal only a portion of the latent image. A Pepper's Ghost image is created by orienting a dielectric plate so that its surface analyzes the latent image on the screen and superimposes it onto the image of a real object. A dielectric surface, such as a pond of water, placed between a viewer and the screen will analyze and reveal the latent image when the viewer views the reflection of the screen on the surface of the water. Selectively viewable subtitles for a movie are created by polarization encoding the light that illuminates the movie's film with alphanumeric images. The latent alphanumeric message are perceptible only to viewers viewing the screen using an analyzer.

Latent-image projection system and method

This disclosure relates to a sound system that provides high quality sound notwithstanding extreme background noise. Preferably implemented in amusement ride vehicles, such as roller coasters, the present sound system mounts left and right channel sets of speakers in each seat back, one on each side of a center section that supports the passenger's back. These speakers are mounted in a wing-back relationship, such that they direct their sound away from one another and toward laterally extending arms that extend forward from the seat back, outside of the speakers. These arms mount an inward-facing spherical reflector, which reflects and disperses sound toward a range of positions associated with height variance of the passenger. Using this arrangement, all passengers will experience the same high quality sound, whatever the passenger's height. The left and right channels speakers are each coaxially-mounted, two-way speakers. Of these, the larger (rear) bass speakers share a common speaker enclosure formed within the seat back, and both of the left and right channels are driven in common for bass. A passive driver cone is mounted at the top of the speaker enclosure, to optimize bass production and move air in the vicinity of the passenger's neck, to further enhance sound. Using the preferred device, high quality sound may be provided to each passenger of the vehicle, including sophisticated special effects and music, all of which beneficially contribute to the overall ride experience.

Sound system

A drinking fountain having a spout, a human actuatable valve for controlling the flow of water from the spout, a basin for collecting the water and a drain pipe. An audio system includes a speaker wherein the speaker is mounted to the drain pipe in such a manner as to direct soundwaves into the drain pipe. The audio system is responsive to actuation of the valves such that it plays an audible sound from the speaker in response to the actuation. The audio system may include a sequential sound source having a plurality of sound clips that are playable in response to respective actuations of the valve.

Drinking fountain with sound effects

A mobile robot is provided with a fluid conduit which is connected to an on board fluid-responsive turbine. An on board electric generator and/or hydraulic pump is connected to the mechanical output of the turbine such that power for the robot is generated when the turbine rotates due to the flow of fluid through the conduit. The fluid may then be expelled through a nozzle and used as an extinguishant, a propellant or a coolant.

Water powered mobile robot

In a television control room wherein a program director must observe a multiplicity of television monitors, the monitors are illuminated by ultraviolet light. The labels used to identify the input sources for the monitors may be made of an ultraviolet reflective material and the labeling indicia written in ultraviolet opaque ink. Alternatively, the label may be ultraviolet opaque and the ink ultraviolet reflective.

Apparatus for identifying television monitors

A method for enhancing the high frequency information of an object being viewed by a video camera, to detect edges and object detail more accurately by projecting a preselected optical pattern onto the surface of the object. As the spatial plane of the camera travels through the object space, the projected pattern follows, always remaining in focus with the moving plane. The sharp detail of the pattern adds to the high frequency information read by the camera when the viewed object comes into focus and peaks when the object is in focus.

Focus enhancing method

A process for producing a traveling matte by first converting a first picture including a foreground and a background image to an electronic form into computer memory. Then, converting a second background picture to electronic form and storing it into computer memory. The computer is then used to subtract one stored picture from the other to arrive at a difference image. The shade of the difference image is then changed to a uniform black color, thereby creating an electronic male matte having only black and white regions, which is stored in the computer memory. The computer is then used to change all black regions of the male matte to white regions and all white regions of the male matte to black regions, thereby creating a female matte, which is stored in computer memory. Finally, the stored male and female mattes are converted from electronic form to a photographic material, such as film.

Traveling matte extraction system

A beam steering mechanism for deflecting a light beam along any selected azimuth and elevational direction. The beam is movable without limitation about a pan axis and through a range of 180 degrees about a tilt axis, by drive motors that are rigidly mounted to a housing and are not bodily moved with the light beam. Movement about the pan axis is effected by rotation of a first mirror mounted in a first rotatable cylinder. Movement about the tilt axis is effected by rotation of a second mirror mounted in a second cylinder that is panned with the first cylinder and is itself mounted for rotation about the tilt axis.

Two-axis beam steering system for use in automated light fixtures

A beam steering mechanism for deflecting a light beam along any selected azimuth and elevational direction. The beam is movable without limitation about a pan axis and about a tilt axis, by drive motors that are rigidly mounted to a housing and are not bodily moved with the light beam. Movement about the pan axis is effected by rotation of a first mirror mounted in a first rotatable cylinder. Movement about the tilt axis is effected by rotation of a second mirror mounted in a second cylinder that is panned with the first cylinder and is itself mounted for rotation about the tilt axis.

A gas valve for providing a short duration, high volume gas pulse includes an outer chamber having an exhaust gas outlet at its front and an inner chamber which extends along the outer chamber, and terminates, at its forward end, in an opening aligned with the gas outlet of the outer chamber and spaced rearwardly therefrom. Within the inner chamber, a piston is mounted for front-to-rear reciprocal movement, and the length of the piston is selected to be greater than the distance between the valve outlet and inner chamber opening. The piston is provided with an intermediate forwardly-directed, peripheral seat, and the piston's front is dimensioned to close the exhaust gas outlet when the inner chamber is filled with gas at a moderate pressure, which forces the piston forward. The outer chamber can then be filled with a charge of gas at a high pressure. In order to fire the valve, the pressure in the inner chamber is released, whereupon the high pressure acting on the peripheral rim area of the piston urges the piston rearward. When the piston uncovers the valve outlet opening, the full pressure of the outer chamber charge acts on the front of the piston, and the piston is accelerated rapidly rearward, to fully open the exhaust gas outlet. The gas charge of the outer chamber is therefore rapidly discharged. Thereafter, the valve is once more closed by re-pressurizing the inner chamber, and the charge/discharge cycle may be repeated.

High speed, high volume gas pulse generator

A spatial imaging system includes a variable focus lens for scanning a visual field. The depth of field of the lens system is narrow relative to the range of the field to be scanned so that visual in-focus image planes of the entire field can be obtained as the focal plane is scanned in range. Detection of in-focus objects may be accomplished by converting the scanned image of each plane into electrical signals which can be filtered or otherwise discriminated to identify in-focus areas. The individual image planes may be stored in memory and processed to provide information of interest regarding the objects within the field of view. Such information may include identification, detection, color, shape, etc. and it exists in machine-usable form.

Growing community of inventors

East Hampton, NY, United States of America

Bran Ferren