The Walt Disney Company

Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation of America

Alcon Surgical, Inc.

Michael H Peterson

William G Adamson

William George Wiedefeld

William F Cote

Bruce S Johnson

John W Sogge

Ronald W Froelich

Kyle W Poor

Gordon E Liljegren

David W Spencer, Ii

B Thomas Craven

Christopher Brian Smith

Donald L Updyke, Jr

James S Wassell

John M Stuart

Multiple large screens on movable arms form a gateway beneath which viewers may walk. The screens slide up or down, i.e., toward or away from, the viewers walking below. The screens also pivot in a circular arc to sweep toward, or away from, the viewers. In one embodiment a number of vertical support beams are employed. Elongated arms are attached to the support beams at one end so that the arms can each be rotated about their attached ends. The arms also slide up and down the length of the support beams. Projection screens are attached to the arms so that the screens move as the arms move. In a more specific embodiment each screen is provided with a rear-projection projector for displaying images onto the screens. A computer is used to control the sliding and rotating of the support beams so that preprogrammed patterns can be executed. A computer is also used to control the projectors so that coordinated patterns of images are displayed on the screens.

Video gateway having movable screens

An electronic time fuse for controlling and initiating the explosion of an explosive is provided. The fuse comprises a timing circuit, an energy storage means, and a explosion initiation means. The fuse is initially connected through a two-wire interface to a local control unit (LCU). The LCU tests the integrity of the fuse, charges the energy storage means, measures the clock accuracy of the fuse, compensates for any inaccuracy of the fuse clock, loads timing information into the fuse, and commands the fuse to begin a timing sequence toward explosion. The fuse responds to LCU commands. The fuse ignores signals present on the two-wire interface for a period of time after the command to begin the timing sequence toward explosion is given. The fuse also monitors the status of the two-wire interface and the signals present on it and resets the fuse to an inert state if any irregularities are detected.

Electronic time fuze

A system and method for launching projectiles, such as fireworks projectiles, which explode in the air into a pyrotechnic display. The projectile includes a shell constructed from a binding agent and an explosive additive which explodes the shell into small particles. The explosive additive, which may be nitrocellulose, causes the exploded particles to be rapidly burned and consumed to form lightweight, inert flakes that fall harmlessly to the ground. The projectile is aimed and launched by a launcher using a compressed gas to rapidly expel the projectile from a launching tube. Once in the air at a predetermined location in the sky, an electronic fuse inside the projectile operates to detonate the projectile into its intended pyrotechnic display. The fuse is extremely accurate and enables detonation of the projectile at precise altitudes. An electronic control system controls launching and detonation of the projectiles in a precise and repeatable manner.

Precision fireworks display system having a decreased environmental

A pressure control system is disclosed for closely regulating the pressure level of a controlled volume. The system comprises first and second sources, a throttled valve for controlling the flow rate of the fluid between each of the first and second pressure sources and the controlled volume, and a feedback control. The throttled valve comprises a rotationally mounted cam, a housing for receiving the cam and including a chamber, a first port coupled to the first pressure source, a second port coupled to the controlled volume, and a third port coupled to the second pressure source. The cam has first and second cam surface portions for defining corresponding first and second transfer functions of fluid flow through the first and second ports, respectively. First and second metering needles are associated with the first and third ports respectively for throttling the fluid flows therethrough. The first and second metering needles are disposed to engage respectively the first and second cam surface portions. A transducer is associated with the controlled volume for providing an output signal indicative of the pressure level therein. A set point indicative of the desired pressure level within the controlled volume is entered into the feedback control, which compares the entered set point with the measured pressure level to determine that desired angular position of the cam with respect to the housing which will provide a corresponding desired rate of fluid flow through the first and second ports.

Proportional valve and pressure control system

Growing community of inventors

Glendale, CA, United States of America

Michael H Peterson