US3700792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer animation generating system
Assignee: Computer Image Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-04
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1989-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A system for automatically animating scenes viewed by a video camera and displaying the animated scenes. Animation can be collectively of the entire scene or separately of individual sections of the scene viewed by the video camera. Real time animation is selected from any of several pre-programmed animation sequences synchronized with the video camera.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee Harrison
- 👤 Francis J Honey
- 👤 Edwin J Tajchman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:13
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/06; G09G1/08; G09G1/12; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/12; G06G7/22; G06G7/26; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/272; H04N5/275; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/74; H04N9/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for producing animated images of a static or dynamic scene comprising a video camera for scanning the scene to be animated and for producing video signals representing the scene, a display device for displaying the animated image, the display device having deflection and video inputs, means for establishing deflection signals defining initial position of the displayed image, means for establishing deflection signals defining final position of the displayed image, means to modulate any or all the deflection signals for selective animated movement between initial and final positions of the displayed image, the generation of the deflection signals being synchronized with the generation of the video signals from the video camera representing the scene, and means for applying the video and modulated deflection signals to the video and deflection inputs respectively of the display device to produce a display of the animated image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for producing animated images of a static or dynamic scene comprising a video camera for scanning the scene to be animated and for producing video signals representing the scene, a display device for displaying the animated image, the display device having deflection and video inputs, means for establishing deflection signals defining initial position of the displayed image, means for establishing deflection signals defining final position of the displayed image, means to modulate any or all the deflection signals for selective animated movement between initial and final positions of the displayed image, the generation of the deflection signals being synchronized with the generation of the video signals from the video camera representing the scene, and means for applying the video and modulated deflection signals to the video and deflection inputs respectively of the display device to produce a display of the animated image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the modulating means includes means to modulate signals defining the entire display and means to modulate signals defining individual sections of the display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 whereIn the display device comprises a cathode ray tube having a movable beam, the system including means for controlling the scanning pattern of the display tube beam, and means to apply signals to the controlling means proportional to angles of rotation to rotate the display on the display tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 including means for adding voltages to the deflection signals to rotate the display.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for producing an animated display of a subject comprising a display device, the display device having a movable beam and horizontal and vertical controls for regulating the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the movable beam, means to establish intensity modulations and sweep program signals for the beam of the display device corresponding to reproduction of the subject in select individual sections, means to generate animation signals, means to combine the animation signals with the sweep program signals to animate the display, and means to vary the horizontal and vertical controls to position the display beam for separate animation of the individual sections of the subject.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for producing an animated display of a subject comprising a display device, the display device having a movable beam and horizontal and vertical controls for regulating the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the movable beam, means to establish intensity modulations and sweep program signals for the beam of the display device corresponding to reproduction of the subject in select individual sections, means to generate animation signals, means to combine the animation signals with the sweep program signals to animate the display, and means to vary the horizontal and vertical controls to position the display beam for separate animation of the individual sections of the subject.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 5 including means to program separate forms of animation signals, and means to selectively combine one or more of the animation signal forms with the sweep program signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the sweep program signals include signals defining the size of the subject, and including means for combining selected ones of the animation signals with selected ones of the size signals to produce animated variations in size of the display as one form of animation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 5 including means to modulate the intensities of color control grids separately in coincidence with animation of individual sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 5 including means to blank the beam of the display device during positioning of the beam between animation of individual sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 5 including means to vary the number of individual sections to be animated.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for producing an animated display of a subject comprising a display device, the display device having a movable beam, means to establish intensity modulations and sweep program signals for the beam of the display device corresponding to reproduction of the subject, means to generate animation signals, means to combine the animation signals with the sweep program signals to animate the display, and means to vary over time the degree to which the animation signals are combined with the sweep program signals in animating the display.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for producing an animated display of a subject comprising a display device, the display device having a movable beam, means to establish intensity modulations and sweep program signals for the beam of the display device corresponding to reproduction of the subject, means to generate animation signals, means to combine the animation signals with the sweep program signals to animate the display, and means to vary over time the degree to which the animation signals are combined with the sweep program signals in animating the display.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of animating a scene as displayed on the display screen of a display device comprising the steps of establishing the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam for reproduction of the scene, generating signals for modulating horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam in accordance with the animation sequence desired, combining the modulating signals with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals, and varying over time the degree to which the modulating signals are combined with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of animating a scene as displayed on the display screen of a display device comprising the steps of establishing the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam for reproduction of the scene, generating signals for modulating horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam in accordance with the animation sequence desired, combining the modulating signals with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals, and varying over time the degree to which the modulating signals are combined with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of animating a scene as displayed on the display screen of a display device comprising the steps of establishing the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam for reproduction of the scene divided into a select number of sections, generating signals for modulating the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam in accordance with the animation sequence desired, and selectively combining the modulating signals with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals corresponding to the individual sections of the scene.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of animating a scene as displayed on the display screen of a display device comprising the steps of establishing the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam for reproduction of the scene divided into a select number of sections, generating signals for modulating the horizontal and vertical sweeps of the display beam in accordance with the animation sequence desired, and selectively combining the modulating signals with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals corresponding to the individual sections of the scene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of adjusting the duration of the combination of the modulating signals with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of blanking the beam of the display device during switching between animation of individual sections of the scene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 includIng the step of varying over time the degree to which the the modulating signals are combined with the horizontal and vertical sweep signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer animation system comprising means to generate signals corresponding to initial position of a subject on a display tube, means to generate signals corresponding to final position of the subject on a display tube, means to generate signals corresponding to an animation pattern of movement of the subject from initial to final position, means to combine the initial position signals, final positions signals and animation pattern signals to control the position of the subject on a display tube as a function of such combination of signals, and means to vary the magnitude of influence of one or more of the individual signals on the combination of signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer animation system comprising means to generate signals corresponding to initial position of a subject on a display tube, means to generate signals corresponding to final position of the subject on a display tube, means to generate signals corresponding to an animation pattern of movement of the subject from initial to final position, means to combine the initial position signals, final positions signals and animation pattern signals to control the position of the subject on a display tube as a function of such combination of signals, and means to vary the magnitude of influence of one or more of the individual signals on the combination of signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer animation system of claim 17 including means to generate the said signals for individual sections of the subject, and means to combine the said signals for each individual section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer animation system of claim 18 including commutators for regulating the sequence of signal generation and signal combination corresponding to the sections of the subject.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer animation system of claim 19 including a section sequence control network having means for establishing the number of sections and means for establishing the relative size of each section.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer animation system of claim 17 including a video camera for generating video signals representing the subject, and a display tube having deflection and video inputs, the video signals and combination of signals being applied to the video and deflection inputs respectively of the display tube for displaying the output from the computer animation system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer animation system of claim 17 wherein the means to vary the influence of the individual signals includes a generator for generating a ramp signal, and means to multiply the initial position signals by the ramp signal prior to the said combination.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer animation system of claim 22 including means to multiply the animation pattern signal by the ramp signal prior to the said combination.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer animation system of claim 22 wherein the ramp signal is characterized as having a decreasing slope.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer animation system of claim 17 including means to vary the animation pattern signals.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of producing an animation sequence of a subject from a single still view of the subject comprising the steps of generating video signals representing each part of the subject as selectively divided into one or more parts; reproducing each of said parts of the subject on a separate raster section generated from parameter signals defining its size, shape, and position, the generation of each raster section being synchronized with the generation of the video signals representing the part of the subject produced thereon; and selectively modulating selected ones of the parameter signals to produce changes in selected ones of the raster sections; thereby producing corresponding changes in the parts of the subject reproduced thereon.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of producing an animation sequence of a subject from a single still view of the subject comprising the steps of generating video signals representing each part of the subject as selectively divided into one or more parts; reproducing each of said parts of the subject on a separate raster section generated from parameter signals defining its size, shape, and position, the generation of each raster section being synchronized with the generation of the video signals representing the part of the subject produced thereon; and selectively modulating selected ones of the parameter signals to produce changes in selected ones of the raster sections; thereby producing corresponding changes in the parts of the subject reproduced thereon.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of producing an animation sequence of a subject from a single still view of the subject comprising the steps of scanning each part of the subject as selectively divided into one or more parts to produce video signals representing each part, generating parameter signals defining the size, shape, and position of a raster section for each of said parts of the subject, combining the parameter input signals to generate, in synchronization with the generation of the video signals representing each part of the subject, time varying coordinate signals defining a raster section, modulating the intensity of the electron beam of an electron beam device with the video signals representing each part of the subject while simultaneously directing the scan pattern of the electron beam with the coordinate signals produced in synchronization thErewith to reproduce each part of the subject on a separate raster section, and selectively modulating selected ones of the parameter input signals, thereby producing corresponding changes in the scanning patterns of the electron beam, the raster sections produced thereby and the parts of the subject produced thereon.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of producing an animation sequence of a subject from a single still view of the subject comprising the steps of scanning each part of the subject as selectively divided into one or more parts to produce video signals representing each part, generating parameter signals defining the size, shape, and position of a raster section for each of said parts of the subject, combining the parameter input signals to generate, in synchronization with the generation of the video signals representing each part of the subject, time varying coordinate signals defining a raster section, modulating the intensity of the electron beam of an electron beam device with the video signals representing each part of the subject while simultaneously directing the scan pattern of the electron beam with the coordinate signals produced in synchronization thErewith to reproduce each part of the subject on a separate raster section, and selectively modulating selected ones of the parameter input signals, thereby producing corresponding changes in the scanning patterns of the electron beam, the raster sections produced thereby and the parts of the subject produced thereon.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for generating an animated image comprising analog network means having analog inputs and analog outputs, means associated with the analog network means for combining signals at its inputs to produce time varying coordinate signals at its outputs representing a particular scan pattern, means for establishing input signals at the analog inputs representing an initial scan pattern, means for establishing input signals at the analog inputs representing a final scan pattern, and means to selectively modulate the input signals for a selected duration of time to produce time varying coordinate output signals representing continuously changing scan patterns between initial and final scan patterns.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for generating an animated image comprising analog network means having analog inputs and analog outputs, means associated with the analog network means for combining signals at its inputs to produce time varying coordinate signals at its outputs representing a particular scan pattern, means for establishing input signals at the analog inputs representing an initial scan pattern, means for establishing input signals at the analog inputs representing a final scan pattern, and means to selectively modulate the input signals for a selected duration of time to produce time varying coordinate output signals representing continuously changing scan patterns between initial and final scan patterns.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 28 including means for generating video signals representing each part of a subject divided into a select number of parts, and means for producing a display of the subject in response to the video and time varying coordinate signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |