Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Disney Enterprise, Inc.

Holger Irmler

Asa K Kalama

Alfredo Medina Ayala

Gary W Schnuckle

Philip John Jackson

Bryan S Tye

Raymond J Scanlon

Cory J Rouse

Akhil Jiten Madhani

Brent David Strong

Alexis Paul Wieland

James R Robertson

Frank Mezzatesta, Jr

Jamie Robertson

Lanny Starkes Smoot

Clifford W Wong

Michael John Ilardi

Michael Richard Honeck

Timothy J Eck

Ronit Slyper

Angela Jay

Christopher Cameron Stuart

Renée M Johnson

Andrew Stone

Renee M Johnson

David Desmarais

Tina Y Shioji

Abigail F Tamayo

David Frederick Beaudry

A method for facilitating and enhancing computer-based authoring of gesture definitions that are useful in controlling a walk-around character and other systems using gesture controls. The method includes, during performance of a gesture by a performer, collecting sets of raw sensor data each corresponding to differing parameters of the performance of the gesture. The method includes displaying a graphical user interface with a graphical plot of each of the sets of raw sensor data. The method includes receiving user input identifying which of the parameters to include in a gesture definition. The method includes, for the graphical plots associated with the chosen parameters receiving user input defining a starting position, an ending position, a maximum value, and a minimum value. The gesture may involve movement of a performer's arms, legs, hands, head, eyes, and so on in a particular manner.

Control system using aesthetically guided gesture recognition

A method for controlling a robotic apparatus to produce desirable photographic results. The method includes, with a motor controller, first operating a robotics assembly to animate the robotic apparatus and, then, detecting an upcoming image capture. The method further includes, with the motor controller in response to the detecting of the upcoming image capture, second operating the robotics assembly to pose the robotic apparatus for the upcoming image capture. In some embodiments, the detecting includes a sensor mounted on the robotic apparatus sensing a pre-flash of light from a red-eye effect reduction mechanism of a camera. In other cases, the detecting includes a sensor mounted on the robotics apparatus sensing a range finder signal from a range finder of a camera. The posing may include opening eyes, moving a mouth into a smile, or otherwise striking a pose that is held temporarily to facilitate image capture with a camera.

System for controlling robotic characters to enhance photographic results

A method and system are provided to synchronize an audio program output at a location remote to a site of a visual display such as a fireworks show, a water and light show, or other event or show with a large visual display visible from distances over which the originally sourced audio is delayed, degraded in quality, or lost. The method includes providing a live show including a visual display with components triggered by one or more control signals. The method further includes concurrently providing an audio output that may include playback of a soundtrack associated with the visual display with a sound system of a mobile device. The audio output is provided at a location that is remote from the site of the visual display, and the audio output is synchronized in time with the components of the visual display using the control signals or a preset start time.

System for synchronizing remotely delivered audio with live visual components

A control system for selectively operating a sound system provided in a walk-around character costume. e.g., to play audio files in an order defined by a dialog tree that can be navigated by a performer wearing the costume. The control system includes a trigger mechanism provided in the costume operable by a performer wearing the costume to generate and transmit at least one trigger signal to navigate through a dialog tree. A controller receives the trigger signal and transmits a control signal causing the sound system to playback pre-recorded dialog. The system includes a trigger processing module run by the controller for processing the trigger signal and, in response to such processing, for navigating pre-recorded audio for a show to select the set of pre-recorded dialog. The trigger mechanism includes a first and a second pressure sensor in a thumb and index finger of a glove of the costume.

Triggering control of audio for walk-around characters

A control system for interactively operating a show control system (audio plus data) provided in a walk-around character costume. The system includes an interactive controller wearable with the walk-around character costume. The system includes an audio base station and a host controller communicatively linked to the audio base station. The interactive controller and the audio base station communicate via a wireless communications link. The control system includes a speaker controlled by the interactive controller, and the host controller transmits data over the wireless communications link via the audio base station including commands to play an audio file and an animation file, stored in memory accessible by the interactive controller, with the speaker. The control system includes microphones, linked to the interactive controller, capturing sounds near the walk-around character costume, and the interactive controller transmits the captured sounds over the communications link to the host controller via the audio base station.

Full-duplex, wireless control system for interactive costumed characters

A method is provided for a simulated conversation by a pre-recorded audio navigator, with particular application to informational and entertainment settings. A monitor may utilize a navigation interface to select pre-recorded responses in the voice of a character represented by a performer. The pre-recorded responses may then be queued and sent to a speaker proximate to the performer. By careful organization of an audio database including audio buckets and script-based navigation with shifts for tailoring to specific guest user profiles and environmental contexts, a convincing and dynamic simulated conversation may be carried out while providing the monitor with a user-friendly navigation interface. Thus, highly specialized training is not necessary and flexible scaling to large-scale deployments is readily supported.

Simulated conversation by pre-recorded audio navigator

A walk-around character assembly or system with enhanced control functionality to provide a performer of a walk-around character the ability to silently and non-visibly trigger audio, animation, and/or special effects. A deflection monitoring (or chin movement) sensor is provided in the head portion of the character costume to detect predefined chin movements, e.g., a performer opening their mouth once or twice within a time period to limit false negatives/triggers. For example, a potentiometer or force sensor may be provided in the chin strap of a character head. The performer is able to trigger an audio response or to animate the mouth of the character head with relatively small movements of their jaw as a controller processes the sensor signals to determine when to generate control signals to operate sound equipment on the character costume.

Chin strap sensor for triggering control of walk-around characters

One embodiment may take the form of a flexible creation animated by magnets or electromagnets brought near the flexible creation. Iron particles blended with a flexible material of the flexible creation may interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets, causing the object or portions of the object to move toward or away from the controlling magnets, thereby animating the object.

Method and apparatus for control of a flexible material using magnetism

Realistic electronically controlled eyes for a figure such as a doll, toy, animatronic being, robot, etc., are provided by displaying a sequence of images simulating eye movement on an electronic display screen mounted to a portion of the figure. A convex lens, which serves to simulate the figure's eye, is mounted substantially in contact with a surface of the display screen system from which the light defining the sequence of images is emitted. To an observer looking at the convex surface of the lens, the lens appears as an eye characterized by realistic eye movement.

System and method for generating realistic eyes

A system for producing motions for an animatronic figure is disclosed. The system is configured to produce different types of motions in real-time and in a life-like manner. The motion software module forms a composite motion by combining the user-inputted motion with user-selected fixed sequences and/or with algorithmically calculated motion. The motions of the animatronic figure can further be filtered to produce motions that are life-like. Combined motions are formed by superimposing, modulating, or modifying component motions. Motions are filtered based on user-inputted commands and commands determined from a stimulus and filtered to create a life-like motion.

Computing environment that produces realistic motions for an animatronic figure

One particular implementation of the present invention may involve a flexible material infused with fine iron particles to form at least a portion of a flexible character or object. The flexible creation may be animated by one or more magnets or electromagnets brought near the flexible creation such that the iron particles blended with the flexible material may interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets. The infused iron particles may be attracted to the magnets, causing the object or portions of the object to move toward or away from the controlling magnets, thereby animating the object or portions of the object. Another implementation may use a magnetic field of a magnet to create an iron-infused flexible plant-like object that may be animated by a magnet. The object may be constructed of a flexible iron-infused material that is introduced into the magnetic field while the material is in a liquid or semi-liquid state. The iron filings blended within the flexible material may align with the magnetic field such that the object may take the shape of the magnetic field and hold that shape until the material has solidified.

Embodiments include systems and methods of accessing multimedia content. One embodiment includes a system for accessing multimedia data. The system includes a tangible object comprising at least one proximity device embedded within the tangible object. The tangible object is configured to provide identification information of the tangible object. The system further includes a reader configured to wirelessly detect the tangible object based upon the proximity device and receive the identification information. The system further includes a device configured to receive a signal from the reader in response to detecting the tangible object and configured to access multimedia data based upon the provided identification information.

System and method of virtually packaging multimedia

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method and/or system for generating a dynamic image based, at least in part, on attributes associated with one or more individuals.

System and/or method for combining images

A system for creating a flickering effect comprising a simulated candle housing, a light communicating channel on the housing, a source of ultraviolet light disposed in the channel, and a simulated flame having ultraviolet material thereon movable back and forth from its vertical axis mounted in the housing, the light focused on the simulated flame simulating a flickering flame.

System and method for generating a flickering flame effect

In one aspect, a supported walking system is disclosed, comprising a robotic walking figure and a wheeled support that at least partially supports the robotic walking figure. The supported walking system may be driven and controlled by a human operator. Computer algorithms automatically control the robot's walking functions so that it may step forwards, backwards, and sideways in synchronicity with the movements of the cart while driving and turning at varying speeds.

Growing community of inventors

Studio City, CA, United States of America

Holger Irmler