US6256038B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Parameterized surface fitting technique having independent control of fitting and parameterization
Assignee: Paraform Inc
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Filing: 1998-12-10
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Granted: 2001-07-03
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Expires: 2018-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A method for creating a smooth parameterization and fitting it to an input surface in a 3-D computer graphics system comprises specifying a plurality of boundary curves on the surface that define a patch of the surface. The boundary curves are typically specified using a user-interactive curve editing procedure, but may also be specified automatically. The method then automatically generates a parameterization of the patch such that a discretized higher order energy functional defined on the surface is minimized. The method further comprises the step of fitting a smooth surface to the input surface, where the smooth surface has a parameterization as generated in the previous step. The fitting and parameterization steps are independently controlled to give the user a high degree of flexibility and control over both steps. The method is useful for converting dense irregular polygon meshes into surface models suitable for interactive modification and animation.
Inventors
- 👤 Venkat Krishnamurthy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
In a 3-D computer graphics system, a computer-implemented method for fitting a smooth surface to an input surface, the method comprising: a) dividing the input surface into patches; b) generating parameterizations of the patches, wherein the parameterizations minimize a discretized higher order energy functional defined on the input surface; and c) fitting smooth surfaces to the patches, wherein the smooth surfaces are derived from the generated parameterizations, wherein generating the parameterizations and fitting the smooth surfaces are independently controlled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a 3-D computer graphics system, a computer-implemented method for fitting a smooth surface to an input surface, the method comprising: a) dividing the input surface into patches; b) generating parameterizations of the patches, wherein the parameterizations minimize a discretized higher order energy functional defined on the input surface; and c) fitting smooth surfaces to the patches, wherein the smooth surfaces are derived from the generated parameterizations, wherein generating the parameterizations and fitting the smooth surfaces are independently controlled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fitting comprises an approximate fitting of the smooth surfaces to the patches such that a fidelity of the approximate fitting is controlled independent of the generated parameterizations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the fidelity of the approximate fitting is locally controlled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the parameterizations comprise spring mesh iso-curves on the surface patches, and wherein fitting smooth surfaces comprises generating approximation spring meshes approximately coinciding with the surface patches and fitting spline surfaces to the approximation spring mesh.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein a locally controlled surface fidelity determines displacements between the approximation spring meshes and the surface patches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein fitting the spline surfaces to the approximation spring mesh minimizes a parametric distance error of fit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein generating parameterizations of the patches comprises minimizing the discretized higher order energy functional subject to a constraint that iso-curves of the parameterization are attracted to follow a feature curve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the feature curve is specified from user-interactive input.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein generating parameterizations of the patches comprises subjecting sub-patches of the parameterizations to predetermined criteria that propagate across iso-curves of the parameterizations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined criteria comprise an arc length uniformity criterion, an aspect ratio uniformity criterion, and a parametric fairness criterion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer-implemented method for fitting a smooth parameterized surface to an input surface patch, the method comprising: a) generating a mapping M into 3 from a parameter space region I in 2 wherein an image surface M(I) substantially coincides with the surface patch, and wherein a parameterization of M minimizes a discretized energy functional defined on the patch; and b) generating from M a mapping M′ into 3 from the parameter space region I in 2 , wherein an image surface M′(I) approximately fits the surface patch, while a parameterization of M′ substantially coincides with the parameterization of M; wherein the parameterization of M and the fit of M′(I) to the surface patch are independently controlled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer-implemented method for fitting a smooth parameterized surface to an input surface patch, the method comprising: a) generating a mapping M into 3 from a parameter space region I in 2 wherein an image surface M(I) substantially coincides with the surface patch, and wherein a parameterization of M minimizes a discretized energy functional defined on the patch; and b) generating from M a mapping M′ into 3 from the parameter space region I in 2 , wherein an image surface M′(I) approximately fits the surface patch, while a parameterization of M′ substantially coincides with the parameterization of M; wherein the parameterization of M and the fit of M′(I) to the surface patch are independently controlled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the image surface M′(I) approximately fits the surface patch in accordance with a surface fidelity controlled independent of the generated parameterizations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the surface fidelity is locally controlled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the mapping M comprises spring mesh iso-curves, and wherein generating M′ comprises generating an approximation spring mesh approximately coinciding with the surface patch and fitting a spline surface to the approximation spring mesh.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein a locally controlled surface fidelity determines displacements between the approximation spring mesh and the surface patch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein fitting the spline surface to the approximation spring mesh minimizes a parametric distance error of fit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 11 wherein generating the mapping M comprises minimizing the discretized higher order energy functional subject to a constraint that iso-curves of the parameterization are attracted to follow a feature curve on the patch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the feature curve is specified from user-interactive input.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein generating the mapping M comprises subjecting sub-patches of the parameterization to predetermined criteria that propagate across iso-curves of the parameterization.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined criteria comprise an arc length uniformity criterion, an aspect ratio uniformity criterion, and a parametric fairness criterion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5988862A
Cited
US6037949A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |