Did You Know...
...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7349568 | Method and apparatus for handling stereoscopic images utilizing parallax images An image acquiring unit acquires a two-dimensional image from a digital camera and a stereoscopic image from a stereo image storage, and sends those images to a pixel replacing unit. The pixel replacing unit replaces pixels, among the two-dimensional image, correspo... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7286764 | Reconfigurable modulator-based optical add-and-drop multiplexer An optical add and drop multiplexer system comprising a first module for providing a first signal; a second module for providing a second signal; and a modulator for receiving a channel of the first signal at a first location, the first location configured to actuat... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7280707 | Registration of separations Images may be registered using temporal (time-based) and spatial information. In a film implementation, because film is a sequence of frames, using information from neighboring frames may enable a temporally smoother visual experience. In addition, it may be benefic... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7231632 | System for reducing the number of programs necessary to render an image A system for reducing memory and computational requirements of graphics operations. The system provides techniques for combining otherwise individual operations to apply filters to images. A combined filter emerging from the combination spares the processor time and... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7218339 | Eternalism, a method for creating an appearance of sustained three-dimensional motion-direction of unlimited duration, using a finite number of pictures The method uses three pictures, A, B and C, two of which are substantially similar pictures having images, A, B, and one that is dissimilar, usually a solid color, C. Continuous movement is created by repetitively viewing the series A, B, C. Additionally, each pictu... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7177081 | High contrast grating light valve type device A grating light valve has with a plurality of spaced reflective ribbons are spatially arranged over a substrate with reflective surfaces. The grating light valve is configured to optimized the conditions for constructive and destructive interference with an incident... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7142232 | System and apparatus for recording and projecting 3-dimensional images A system for the production of a second three-dimensional image magnified from a first three-dimensional image in substantially the same proportions, including a first active optical system for creating from the three-dimensional image, a first two-dimensional array... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7068372 | MEMS interferometer-based reconfigurable optical add-and-drop multiplexor The interferometer comprises a beam splitter, a mirror and a phase modulator. The beam splitter splits a signal into a first portion and a second portion. The mirror reflects the first portion. The first portion includes an optical path length, which is fixed. The p... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7057819 | High contrast tilting ribbon blazed grating The light modulator includes elongated elements and a support structure coupled to the elongated elements. Each element includes one or more lengthwise slits within an active optical area, and a light reflective planar surface with the light reflective planar surfac... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7054515 | Diffractive light modulator-based dynamic equalizer with integrated spectral monitor An integrated device of the present invention comprises free-space optics, a bi-directional multiplexor/de-multiplexor, a diffractive light modulator, a beam splitter, an optical performance monitor, and a controller. The free-space optics collimate, transform and i... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7049164 | Microelectronic mechanical system and methods The current invention provides for encapsulated release structures, intermediates thereof and methods for their fabrication. The multi-layer structure has a capping layer, that preferably comprises silicon oxide and/or silicon nitride, and which is formed over an et... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7042611 | Pre-deflected bias ribbons A modulator for and a method of modulating an incident beam of light including means for supporting a plurality of active elements and a plurality of bias elements, each active and bias element including a light reflective planar surface with the light reflective pl... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7030902 | Eternalism, a method for creating an appearance of sustained three-dimensional motion-direction of unlimited duration, using a finite number of pictures The method uses three pictures, A, B and C, two of which are substantially similar pictures having images, A, B, and one that is dissimilar, usually a solid color, C. Continuous movement is created by repetitively viewing the series A, B, C. Additionally, each pictu... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7027202 | Silicon substrate as a light modulator sacrificial layer An optical MEM device is fabricated with a patterned device layer formed on a silicon wafer. Preferably, the patterned device layer is patterned with plurality of ribbons and/or access trenches. The central portion of the ribbon is released from the silicon wafer us... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7016011 | Generating image data An apparatus, method, system, and article of manufacture provide the ability to process image data in a computer system. A user-operable representation of at least one image-processing function is configured with an adjustable opacity. The user-operable representati... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6956995 | Optical communication arrangement An arrangement for optical communication comprises an optical coupler, an opto-electronic board, and an optical fiber. The optical fiber comprises a first refraction surface, a second refraction surface, and an internal reflector. The first refraction surface has a ... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6950121 | 3D camera A method and apparatus for providing inexpensive and accurate electrical synchronization between the individual cameras within a 3D or stereoscopic video camera is disclosed. The method and apparatus use a common clock pulse to both cameras and a frame reset pulse g... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6947613 | Wavelength selective switch and equalizer A device comprising a light modulator including a plurality of elements wherein each element is selectively operable such that the plurality of elements are dynamically configurable to combine selected ones of a plurality of grating periods such that selected portio... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6934070 | Chirped optical MEM device A light modulator comprises a series of ribbons divided by a series of gaps. Sequences of consecutive ribbons and gaps are grouped together to form a plurality of pixels that are configured to process a respective plurality of wavelengths. The spacing from center-li... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6927891 | Tilt-able grating plane for improved crosstalk in 1×N blaze switches A light modulator includes elongated elements arranged parallel to each other. Each elongated element includes a light reflective planar surface with the light reflective planar surfaces configured in a first grating plane. A support structure is coupled to the elon... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6928207 | Apparatus for selectively blocking WDM channels An apparatus for selective blocking WDM channels comprises a light modulator, a diffraction grating, and a transform lens. The light modulator comprises an array of pixels. Each pixel of the light modulator is selectively operable to direct light into a first mode a... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6922272 | Method and apparatus for leveling thermal stress variations in multi-layer MEMS devices A MEMS device such as a grating light valve™ light modulator is athermalized such that the force required to deflect the movable portion of the MEMS device remains constant over a range of temperatures. In MEMS embodiments directed to a grating light valve™ ligh... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6908201 | Micro-support structures A MEM device in accordance with the invention comprises one or more movable micro-structures which are preferably ribbon structures or cantilever structures. The ribbon structures or cantilever structures are preferably coupled to a substrate structure through one o... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6909543 | Foveated display system An improved theater geometry which is capable of providing improved image resolution and improved image contrast over prior systems is achieved with a unique projection geometry and image re-mapping technique. The projected image is provided with a continuously vari... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6313865 | Method and apparatus for implementing a panoptic camera system A panoptic camera system that can be used to capture all the light from a hemisphere viewing angle is disclosed. The panoptic camera comprises a main reflecting mirror that reflects light from an entire hemisphere onto an image capture mechanism. The main... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6198524 | Polarizing system for motion visual depth effects A system for creating the perception of visual depth in scenery comprising lateral movements. A polarizing projection filter 21 controls the plane of polarization of projected light. The plane of polarization is changed by changing the orientation of the ... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6144440 | Color and motion based depth effects The current invention discloses methods for using laterally moving objects and laterally moving backgrounds in colored live scenes to create the perception of depth when scenes are viewed with viewer glasses having lens or filters of two different colors.... | 11/07/2000 |
| 5991551 | Autostereoscopic imaging apparatus and method using a parallax scanning lens aperture A lens aperture of an autostereoscopic camera is moved in a parallax scanning pattern through a plurality of disparity positions offset from the optical axis of the camera lens. Images of a scene being photographed, as viewed through the lens aperture in ... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5964064 | Theater with multiple screen three dimensional film projection system A theater includes an audience seating area, a stage and at least three projection screens. Multiple film projectors simultaneously project a three dimensional film onto the three projection screens. Three dimensional film elements appear to move seamless... | 10/12/1999 |
| 5940167 | Process and apparatus for displaying an animated image A process for displaying an animated likeness of the face of a character, includes the steps of (a) providing a face screen having a three-dimensional representation of the face of the character; (b) making a projectable image of the face of the character... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5933664 | Method of using a parallax scanning lens aperture in a range-finding application A lens aperture of an autostereoscopic camera is moved in a parallax scanning pattern through a plurality of disparity positions offset from the optical axis of the camera lens. Images of a scene being photographed, as viewed through the lens aperture in ... | 08/03/1999 |
| 5886771 | Polarizing system for motion visual depth effects A system for creating the perception of visual depth in two dimensional single image displays. A polarizing projection filter 1c provides means to control the plane of polarization of projected imagery. The plane of polarization is changed by changing the... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5883695 | Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic images with single sensor Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic images for motion picture or TV using a single sensor or camera and a single lens. In carrying out the method of the invention, the camera lens is caused to rotate about an axis defined by the optical path o... | 03/16/1999 |
| 5751397 | Color motion depth effect system A method for creating the perception of visual depth in two dimensional displays. A filter or lens of one color (for example red) covers the left eye of a viewer and a lens of another color (for example green) covers the right eye. Objects moving in eithe... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5678089 | Autostereoscopic imaging apparatus and method using a parallax scanning lens aperture A lens aperture of an autostereoscopic camera is moved in a parallax scanning pattern through a plurality of disparity positions offset from the optical axis of the camera lens. Images of a scene being photographed, as viewed through the lens aperture in ... | 10/14/1997 |
| 5469295 | Dual polarizing reflection filter three dimensional image creation and display system A system and method of collecting and displaying images of isolated persons or objects in three dimensions; whereby isolated images of persons or objects (106) are collected on film or video by digitally removing the background and replacing it with black... | 11/21/1995 |
| 5159362 | Dimensional transformation system and related method of creating visual effects A dimensional transformation apparatus and related method for creating visual effects for use in live and prerecorded entertainment. The system engages an elastic projection screen with a three-dimensional object that corresponds to visual effects to be p... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5121977 | Apparatus for raising and lowering the lower screen mask in a motion picture theater The device described here allows for the raising or lowering of the mask which sits along the bottom edge of the screen in a motion picture theater and, along with the top and two side masks, frames the entire screen. The lower mask is supported by a numb... | 06/16/1992 |
| 5099320 | Method of and installation for the production of orthostereoscopic images An apparatus for the production of relief (three-dimensional) images includes a single objection lens and a lenticular grating with a series of cylindrical elementary lenses. An imaging surface is located behind the lenticular grating. Each lens in the gr... | 03/24/1992 |
| 5026152 | Enhanced cinema system An enhanced cinema system for use with a movie screen using a fog-like gas released from a plurality of retractable shafts having slits. The plurality of shafts may spin to generate a fog effect with the fog-like gas escaping from the slits. A movie proje... | 06/25/1991 |
