Eric B Gregory

US Patent:

7836086, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Apr 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/738953

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Mike Ferris - Oakland CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707793

Abstract:

A unified mechanism of scene description includes layering and cross-referencing relationships. The scene description specifies components using one or more layers. A layer includes an opinion of value for one or more attributes of one or more components. A layer can be sparsely populated with opinions of attribute values for only portions of components' attributes. Layers express opinions of value for an attribute using the semantic structure associated with the attribute. The scene description organizes layers in a layer hierarchy, which determines a layer stacking order. The layer stacking order specifies the compositing of opinions of attribute values to determine the complete authored state of the component. The layer stacking order enables attributes of components to be selectively overridden without disturbing other attribute values. Cross-referencing relationships enable encapsulation and reuse of components.

US Patent:

7836087, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Jun 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/759919

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Michael Ferris - Oakland CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707793

Abstract:

The components of a computer graphics scene can be organized using multiple independent graphs. Each component can include graph relationship attributes specifying its location in one or more graphs. Graph can be utilized for any purpose within the digital production pipeline. A component can include any number of graph relationship attributes. The number and type of graph relationship attributes can be different for each component. Software tools can access one or more graphs to determine structural or functional relationships between components. Software tools can enforce policies for a graph independent of other graphs. Software tools can optimize the components of a graph independent of other graphs. A graph relationship attribute of a component can include optional parameter data to specify properties of the relationship between two or more components. Layer data structures including opinions of value can specify graph relationships.

US Patent:

7917535, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

Mar 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/042249

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Michael Ferris - Sunnyvale CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Timothy S. Milliron - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707791, 707802

Abstract:

Components are presented to users based on the components' assigned task memberships. The tasks represents the different activities performed by users within a digital production pipeline. Each stage of the digital production pipeline may be associated with a task. Additional user-defined tasks may be defined as needed to further distinguish components. Attributes of components are associated with one or more tasks when the component is authored. Task memberships may be inherited from parent components or overridden. A user interface includes a task selection menu to receive a selection of one or more tasks from the user. The task selection is used to filter components, so that the user interface presents only relevant information to users. Component attribute values and task associations can be expressed using layer data structures. Task restrictions of layers allow layers to only specify values of components that match the task associations of the layer.

US Patent:

8279239, Oct 2, 2012

Filed:

Mar 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/396320

Inventors:

Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar Animation Studio - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 11/80
G06T 19/00

US Classification:

345647

Abstract:

A method allowing for quick manipulation of weight values associated with points on a polygonal mesh that is to be deformed. A point on the polygonal mesh may be selected by the user. Then, a solution space of possible positions for the selected point may be calculated by solving a deformation model for a range of weight values. A graphical representation of the solution space may be provided, such as a locus of possible positions for the selected point, where each point on the locus corresponds to a particular weight value. Manipulation of these weight values, and hence, the deformation of the polygonal mesh, may be achieved simply by selecting a position on the locus. The mesh may be updated to reflect the weight corresponding to the selected position.

US Patent:

8363055, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Nov 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/272997

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Michael Ferris - Sunnyvale CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Timothy S. Milliron - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 11/00

US Classification:

345473, 345474

Abstract:

Multiple time scales enable animations over multiple shots. Time-dependent data is specified with reference to time references. Data expressed in different time references may be combined to form animations, shots, and sequences of shots. Time transformations specifying mappings between time references are used to combine data expressed in different time references. Data can be viewed in arbitrary time references. Editing data specifying a sequence of shots may be used as a time reference for viewing data expressed in other time references. Data expressed in one time reference may be rearranged according to another time reference to indicate time reference relationships. Data authored in one time reference may be viewed and modified in another time reference. Modifications are converted from the viewing time reference to the data's original time reference for updating data. Time-dependent data may be expressed in layer data structures.

US Patent:

8566736, Oct 22, 2013

Filed:

Jan 19, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/356060

Inventors:

Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Michael Ferris - Sunnyvale CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Timothy S. Milliron - Oakland CA, US
Brad Andalman - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715771, 715764

Abstract:

A user interface presents views of entities and their attributes relative to any subset of associated parameters. A view may present views of entities as a function of one or more parameters. A selection of a subset of entities in one view with respect to parameters may be presented in another view with respect to different parameters. Entities may be manipulated in any supplemental view to change their values or their parameter associations. A view may present components and parameters associated with layers or any subset of layers and/or after layer compositing. A view can include resolved values of components and their attributes. A supplemental view may include visual indicators to indicate the layer or other parameter defining its resolved value. Hierarchical relationships may be presented in views, with ancestor entities expanded within a view to show its descendent entities or collapsed to hide its descendent entities.

US Patent:

20070001343, Jan 4, 2007

Filed:

Feb 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/061768

Inventors:

Leonard Pulman - Palos Verdes Estates CA, US
Eric Gregory - Lakewood CA, US
Ehtisham Ashai - Carson CA, US

International Classification:

B28B 7/22

US Classification:

264255000

Abstract:

Watercraft can be manufactured from a blush-resistant gel coat composition which in its cured state resists long-term water immersion. The cured gel coat composition forms an outer opaque layer in a multilayer (e.g., two-layer) laminate, and is made from an unsaturated polyester resin, reactive diluent, and sufficient pigment to provide an opaque cured coating. The composition is sufficiently free of extender filler so that the cured coating will not exhibit blushing after 6 hours immersion in 66 C. water.

US Patent:

20190322059, Oct 24, 2019

Filed:

Apr 18, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/388601

Inventors:

- San Francisco CA, US
Eric Gregory - San Francisco CA, US
Gregory E. James - San Francisco CA, US
Jonathan Worthy Hollander - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Seriforge, Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B29C 70/34
B29C 70/54

Abstract:

Implementations include a system including a preform fabrication apparatus and method for creating composite preforms through a process of determining a preform shape and number of layers required to assemble the preform and using a preform layer assembly apparatus to provide a number of functions such as receiving and holding a composite layer, shaping the composite layer, pressing composite layer onto a preform support structure, forming the composite layer into a preform shape, etc. Multiple composite layers may be picked up, held, shaped, and applied to a preform by the assembly apparatus. The assembly apparatus includes a flexible membrane settable to a deformable shape and a rigid state such that flexible membrane may be configured to be deformed into an assembly shape, which is then held in a rigid state. The flexible membrane may be used to apply pressure to an article to conform the article to the assembly shape.