Computer-assisted animation construction system using source poses within a pose transformation space

Claim 2

In a computer animation system, a process for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a transformation of an object, the process comprising: selecting a plurality of source poses for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, defining a pose transformation space dependent upon the number of said selected source poses, assigning each said source pose to a point within said pose transformation space, traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path, calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said source pose points, generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is determined by its distance to said selected point, and storing said constructed pose for use in an animation drawing.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said pose transformation space is two-dimensional.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein said pose transformation space is a polygon and said source poses are assigned to vertices of said polygon.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein said pose transformation space is a triangle.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein said pose transformation space is three-dimensional.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5 wherein said pose transformation space is a polyhedron.

Claim 8

The process of claim 6 wherein said pose transformation space is substantially the shape of a tetrahedron and one source pose is assigned to each of the four vertices of said tetrahedron.

Claim 9

The process of claim 7 further comprising monitoring the rate of motion of said input device and using said rate to control the rate of change of an animation sequence comprising a transformation of the form of said object utilizing a plurality of said constructed poses.

Claim 10

The process of claim 8 further comprising displaying a velocity profile for said motion of said input device, said velocity profile comprising a graphical representation of said rate of change of said animation during said transformation of said object.

Claim 11

The process of claim 9 further comprising modifying said displayed velocity profile using said input device to adjust said rate of change of said animation sequence.

Claim 12

The process of claim 8 wherein each said constructed pose is used in a frame of animation in said animation sequence.

Claim 13

The process of claim 8 wherein said rate of change of said animation sequence is directly proportional to said rate of motion of said input device.

Claim 14

The process of claim 1 wherein said pose transformation space is six-dimensional.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the rate of motion of said input device and using said rate to control the rate of change of an animation sequence comprising a transformation of the form of said object utilizing a plurality of said constructed poses.

Claim 16

The process of claim 14 further comprising displaying a velocity profile for said motion of said input device, said velocity profile comprising a graphical representation of said rate of change of said animation during said transformation of said object.

Claim 17

The process of claim 15 further comprising modifying said displayed velocity profile using said input device to adjust said rate of change of said animation sequence.

Claim 18

The process of claim 14 wherein each said constructed pose is used in a frame of animation in said animation sequence.

Claim 19

The process of claim 14 wherein said rate of change of said animation sequence is directly proportional to said rate of motion of said input device.

Claim 20

The process of claim 1 further comprising displaying said constructed pose concurrently with said drawing of said path.

Claim 21

The process of claim 19 wherein each said constructed pose is displayed substantially at the same time said input device traverses the point corresponding to said constructed pose.

Claim 22

The process of claim 1 wherein said selected points are equally spaced in time in accordance with a predetermined, fixed time interval.

Claim 23

The process of claim 1 wherein said contribution of each said source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point.

Claim 24

The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying said traversed path.

Claim 25

In a computer animation system, a process for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a transformation of an object, the process comprising: storing four source poses for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, displaying a substantially tetrahedral pose transformation space using a stereoscopic display system, assigning each said source pose to a vertex of said pose transformation space, traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path spaced equally in time, calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said vertices, generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point, and storing said constructed pose for use in an animation drawing.

Claim 26

In a computer animation system, a process for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a transformation of an object, the process comprising: storing four source poses for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, displaying a substantially tetrahedral pose transformation space using a stereoscopic display system, assigning each said source pose to a vertex of said pose transformation space, traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path spaced equally in time, calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said vertices, generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point, and storing said constructed pose for use in an animation drawing.

Claim 27

The process of claim 24 further comprising monitoring the rate at which said input device traverses said path and using said rate to control the rate of said object transformation.

Claim 28

The process of claim 25 further comprising displaying a velocity profile for said motion of said input device, said velocity profile comprising a graphical representation of said rate of change of said animation sequence.

Claim 29

The process of claim 24 further comprising: storing x, y, and z coordinates for each said selected point along said path, storing four source poses for a second object, displaying said substantially tetrahedral pose transformation space, assigning each said second object source pose to a vertex of said pose transformation space, determining, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said vertices of said second pose transformation space, generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose for said second object, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said second object source poses, wherein the contribution of each said second object source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point, storing said constructed pose for said second object for use in said animation drawing, said animation drawing comprising said first object constructed pose and said second object constructed pose corresponding to said selected point.

Claim 30

In a computer animation system, a process for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a synchronized transformation of a first object and a second object, the process comprising: a) for each of said first and second objects, generating a plurality of constructed poses, wherein each said constructed pose is associated with a different point in time in said animation sequence and is generated in accordance with the following steps: storing four source poses for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, displaying a substantially tetrahedral pose transformation space using a stereoscopic display system, assigning each said source pose to a vertex of said pose transformation space, traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path spaced equally in time, calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said vertices, generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point, and storing said constructed pose; b) providing a velocity profile for each said plurality of constructed poses for said first and second objects, said velocity profile defining a relative rate of transformation of said object between adjacent ones of said constructed poses, c) selecting a first constructed pose for said first object for synchronization with a first constructed pose for said second object, c) assigning an animation frame identifier to said first constructed pose for said first object, said animation frame identifier establishing a point in time during said animation sequence for display of said first constructed pose for said first object, d) selecting said first constructed pose for said second object and assigning said frame identifier to said first constructed pose for said second object, and e) modifying said velocity profile for said plurality of constructed poses for said second object to adjust said relative rate of transformation of said second object so that said first constructed pose for said second object occurs at said point in time during said animation sequence for display of said first constructed pose for said first object.

Claim 31

In a computer animation system, a process for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a synchronized transformation of a first object and a second object, the process comprising: a) for each of said first and second objects, generating a plurality of constructed poses, wherein each said constructed pose is associated with a different point in time in said animation sequence and is generated in accordance with the following steps: storing four source poses for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, displaying a substantially tetrahedral pose transformation space using a stereoscopic display system, assigning each said source pose to a vertex of said pose transformation space, traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path spaced equally in time, calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said vertices, generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point, and storing said constructed pose; b) providing a velocity profile for each said plurality of constructed poses for said first and second objects, said velocity profile defining a relative rate of transformation of said object between adjacent ones of said constructed poses, c) selecting a first constructed pose for said first object for synchronization with a first constructed pose for said second object, c) assigning an animation frame identifier to said first constructed pose for said first object, said animation frame identifier establishing a point in time during said animation sequence for display of said first constructed pose for said first object, d) selecting said first constructed pose for said second object and assigning said frame identifier to said first constructed pose for said second object, and e) modifying said velocity profile for said plurality of constructed poses for said second object to adjust said relative rate of transformation of said second object so that said first constructed pose for said second object occurs at said point in time during said animation sequence for display of said first constructed pose for said first object.

Claim 32

The process of claim 28 wherein said velocity profile for said plurality of constructed poses for said second object is adjusted by interpolation.

Claim 33

The process of claim 28 further comprising selecting a second constructed pose for said first object for synchronization with a second constructed pose for said second object, assigning a second animation frame identifier to said second constructed pose for said first object, said second animation frame identifier establishing a point in time during said animation sequence for display of said second constructed pose for said first object, selecting said second constructed pose for said second object and assigning said second frame identifier to said second constructed pose for said object, and modifying said velocity profile for said plurality of constructed poses for said second object to adjust said relative rate of transformation of said second object so that said second constructed pose for said second object occurs at said point in time during said animation sequence for display of said second constructed pose for said first object.

Claim 34

A user interface in a computer-assisted animation construction system for creating an animation sequence comprising a transformation of an object, said interface comprising: a three-dimensional pose transformation space substantially in the shape of a tetrahedron, wherein each vertex of said tetrahedron is assigned a predetermined source pose of said object; means for specifying a path within said pose transformation space; means for detecting the position of said path-specifying means within said pose transformation space; means for generating a constructed pose based on said position of said path-specifying means; and means for specifying a rate of transformation from a first said constructed pose corresponding to a first position of said path-specifying means to a second said constructed pose corresponding to a second position of said path-specifying means.

Claim 35

A user interface in a computer-assisted animation construction system for creating an animation sequence comprising a transformation of an object, said interface comprising: a three-dimensional pose transformation space substantially in the shape of a tetrahedron, wherein each vertex of said tetrahedron is assigned a predetermined source pose of said object; means for specifying a path within said pose transformation space; means for detecting the position of said path-specifying means within said pose transformation space; means for generating a constructed pose based on said position of said path-specifying means; and means for specifying a rate of transformation from a first said constructed pose corresponding to a first position of said path-specifying means to a second said constructed pose corresponding to a second position of said path-specifying means.

Claim 36

The interface of claim 31 further comprising means for monitoring the rate of motion of said input device and using said rate to control the rate of change of an animation sequence comprising a transformation of the form of said object utilizing a plurality of said constructed poses.

Claim 37

The interface of claim 32 further comprising means for displaying a velocity profile for said motion of said input device, said velocity profile comprising a graphical representation of said rate of change of said animation during said transformation of said object.

Claim 38

The interface of claim 33 further comprising means for modifying said displayed velocity profile using said input device to adjust said rate of change of said animation sequence.

Claim 39

The interface of claim 32 further comprising means for modifying said displayed velocity profile using said input device to adjust said rate of change of said animation sequence.

Claim 40

The interface of claim 32 wherein each said constructed pose is used in a frame of animation in said animation sequence.

Claim 41

The interface of claim 32 wherein said rate of change of said animation sequence is directly proportional to said rate of motion of said input device.

Claim 42

The interface of claim 31 further comprising means for displaying said constructed pose concurrently with said drawing of said path.

Claim 43

The interface of claim 38 wherein each said constructed pose is displayed substantially at the same time said input device traverses the point corresponding to said constructed pose.

Claim 44

The interface of claim 31 wherein said selected points are equally spaced in time in accordance with a predetermined, fixed time interval.

Claim 45

The interface of claim 31 wherein said contribution of each said source pose is inversely proportional to its distance to said selected point.

Claim 46

The interface of claim 31 further comprising means for displaying said specified path.

Claim 47

A computer animation system for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a transformation of an object comprising: means for storing a plurality of source poses for an object for use in an animation sequence for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, means for defining a pose transformation space dependent upon the number of said stored source poses, means for assigning each said source pose to a point within said pose transformation space, means for traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path, means for calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said source pose points, means for generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is determined by its distance to said selected point, and means for storing said constructed pose for use in an animation drawing.

Claim 48

A computer animation system for creating animation drawings for use in an animation sequence depicting a transformation of an object comprising: means for storing a plurality of source poses for an object for use in an animation sequence for said object, each said source pose comprising a predetermined form of said object, means for defining a pose transformation space dependent upon the number of said stored source poses, means for assigning each said source pose to a point within said pose transformation space, means for traversing a path within said pose transformation space using a computer input device, said computer selecting a plurality of points along said path, means for calculating, for each said selected point, the distance to each of said source pose points, means for generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is determined by its distance to said selected point, and means for storing said constructed pose for use in an animation drawing.

Claim 49

A process for creating computer animation comprising: automatically defining a pose transformation space dependent upon a predetermined number of selected source poses for an object, and assigning each of said source poses to a point within said pose transformation space; detecting a path traversed by a computer input device moved within said pose transformation space; selecting a plurality of points along said path; generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is determined by its distance to said selected point.

Claim 50

A process for creating computer animation comprising: automatically defining a pose transformation space dependent upon a predetermined number of selected source poses for an object, and assigning each of said source poses to a point within said pose transformation space; detecting a path traversed by a computer input device moved within said pose transformation space; selecting a plurality of points along said path; generating, for each said selected point, a corresponding constructed pose, said constructed pose comprised of a composite of said source poses, wherein the contribution of each said source pose is determined by its distance to said selected point.

Claim 51

The method of claim 44 wherein said pose transformation space is three-dimensional.

Claim 52

The method of claim 44 wherein said pose transformation space is two-dimensional.

Claim 53

The method of claim 44 further comprising displaying said traversed path.

Claim 54

The method of claim 44 further comprising monitoring the rate of movement of said input device.

Claim 55

The method of claim 48 further comprising displaying a velocity profile for said movement of said input device.

Claim 56

The method of claim 44 further comprising displaying a sequence of said constructed poses.

Claim 57

The method of claim 44 wherein said selected points are spaced equally in time.

Claim 58

The method of claim 44 wherein said pose transformation space is substantially the shape of a polyhedron and each said source pose is assigned to a vertex of said polyhedron.

Claim 59

A computer animation system comprising: a display device for displaying a predetermined two or three-dimensional shape and a cursor indicative of the position of a computer input device; means for assigning a plurality of source poses for an object to distinct points within said predetermined shape; means, responsive to said cursor position, for generating a plurality of constructed poses using two or more of said source poses, said display device displaying said constructed poses; and means for controlling the elapsed time between the display of consecutive ones of said plurality of constructed poses.

Claim 60

A computer animation system comprising: a display device for displaying a predetermined two or three-dimensional shape and a cursor indicative of the position of a computer input device; means for assigning a plurality of source poses for an object to distinct points within said predetermined shape; means, responsive to said cursor position, for generating a plurality of constructed poses using two or more of said source poses, said display device displaying said constructed poses; and means for controlling the elapsed time between the display of consecutive ones of said plurality of constructed poses.

Claim 61

The system of claim 53 wherein said shape is a polyhedron.

Claim 62

The system of claim 53 wherein said shape is a tetrahedron.

Claim 63

The system of claim 53 wherein said shape is a triangle.

Claim 64

The system of claim 53 wherein said controlling means is responsive to the rate of movement of said cursor within said shape.

Claim 65

The system of claim 53 further comprising means for storing said constructed poses.