George T Katanics

US Patent:

54051525, Apr 11, 1995

Filed:

Jun 8, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/071745

Inventors:

George T. Katanics - Burbank CA
Philip A. Groves - Glendora CA

Assignee:

The Walt Disney Company - Burbank CA

International Classification:

A63F 922

US Classification:

273438

Abstract:

An interactive video game with physical feedback is described. A plurality of icons are provided on a display. Each icon represents one of a plurality of players. A plurality of positioning devices, one for each player, are provided in front of the display. Each player stands on the positioning device, and the positioning device reacts to shifts in weight of the player and tilts in the direction in which the player shifts. Movement of the positioning device causes the display icon corresponding to the positioning device to move accordingly. Each player attempts to cause collisions with the icons of other players and avoid the icons of players attempting to cause collisions. In one embodiment, each player begins with a predetermined number of points. A player on the receiving end of a collision loses points, A player causing a collision does not lose points. At the end of a predetermined time period, the player with the most points is the winner.

US Patent:

62688650, Jul 31, 2001

Filed:

Feb 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/019343

Inventors:

Eric Daniels - Glendale CA
Anastasios Lappas - Pasadena CA
George T Katanics - Burbank CA

Assignee:

Disney Enterprises, Inc. - Burbank CA

International Classification:

G06T 1570
G06T 1500
G06T 1300

US Classification:

345430

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for painting 3-D objects and producing computer-assisted animated films are disclosed. After a 3-D model of an object is generated, a view of the object is selected for painting. An artist applies brush strokes to paint the selected view in 2-D space. The brush strokes are mapped to generate 3-D brush strokes. These 3-D brush strokes are then projected onto the 2-D views in the animation sequence, generating projected 2-D brush strokes which are used to paint the views in the animation sequence. Additional views may be selected that reveal surfaces that were occluded in the previously selected view. The artist applies additional brush strokes to paint the previously occluded areas. These additional brush strokes are mapped, and are used with the original brush strokes to re-generate the painted views in the animation sequence. A pixel color of a brush stroke may be determined based on the size, color, degree of opacity, degree of softness, pen pressures, pixel location, and brush profile.

US Patent:

53530748, Oct 4, 1994

Filed:

May 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/888544

Inventors:

Raymond D. Jones - Lake Elizabeth CA
Christopher M. Wagner - Saugus CA
George T. Katanics - Burbank CA

Assignee:

The Walt Disney Company - Burbank CA

International Classification:

G03B 2100
G03B 2100

US Classification:

353122

Abstract:

A computer controlled animation projection system is described. The system permits the projection of animated images onto a three dimensional projection surface, whether or not the surface is originally designed as a projection surface. The system comprises an animation source that can be edited using a processing means, a projection means, and an interface for coupling the animation source to the projection means. In operation of the present invention, a projection surface is selected, and an animation sequence is projected onto the projection surface. Portions of the projection surface upon which no image is to be projected are identified. Using a paint program, the background or projected frame is edited to "black out" those regions of the projected image that are projected onto those identified portions. This is done while the image is still being projected, so that the changes are viewed as they are made. The regions of the projected image corresponding to the identified portions of the projection surface are colored black (no light) so that no light is projected onto those identified portions.