Patent US6741246B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6741246B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hierarchical control point editing of adaptively sampled distance fields

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 2001-03-16
•
Granted: 2004-05-25
•
Expires: 2021-03-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method edits a graphics object by first representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field. A portion of the adaptively sampled distance field is selected for editing and converted to a triangle model. The triangle model is then deformed, the adaptively sampled distance field is regenerated from the deformed triangle model.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald N. Perry
  • 👤 Sarah F. Frisken

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 65 words
A method for editing a graphics object, comprising: representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field; selecting a portion of the adaptively sampled distance field for editing; converting the selected portion to a triangle model; deforming the triangle model of the selected portion; and regenerating the selected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field from the deformed triangle model to reflect the deformation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 65 words
A method for editing a graphics object, comprising: representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field; selecting a portion of the adaptively sampled distance field for editing; converting the selected portion to a triangle model; deforming the triangle model of the selected portion; and regenerating the selected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field from the deformed triangle model to reflect the deformation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a boundary of the selected portion remains in place.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a boundary of the selected portion is relaxed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the portion is defined by input means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a resolution of the triangle model is varied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the triangle model includes control points, and further comprising: manipulating the control points to deform the triangle model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the control points are manipulated by input means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the portion is multi-dimensional.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 93 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the regenerating comprises: defining a candidate cell of the adaptively sampled distance field; determining and storing distance values of the candidate cell in a bounded distance tree; recursively subdividing the candidate cell into subdivided cells of the adaptively sampled distance field while determining and storing corresponding distance values of the subdivided cells in the bounded distance tree until a termination condition is reached; and appending the distance values to the corresponding cells to generate the selected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field of the graphics object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 92 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the adaptively sampled distance field includes a plurality of surface cells storing distance values having corresponding gradients, and wherein the converting the portion to the triangle model further comprises: assigning a vertex to a center location of each surface cell; connecting the vertices of neighboring surface cells to form triangles while satisfying a predetermined constraint; and moving each vertex, in a single step, to a new location according to the distance value and corresponding gradient of the vertex to substantially conform the triangles to the portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the regenerating further comprises: relaxing a boundary of the selected portion to include an unselected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field; and regenerating the selected portion and the unselected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field within the relaxed boundary.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for editing a graphics object, comprising: representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field; selecting a portion of the adaptively sampled distance field for editing; converting the portion to a triangle model; deforming the triangle model; and regenerating the adaptively sampled distance field from the deformed triangle model, wherein the regenerating further comprises; defining a candidate cell of the adaptively sampled distance field; determining and storing distance values of the candidate cell in a bounded distance tree; recursively subdividing the candidate cell into subdivided cells of the adaptively sampled distance field while determining and storing corresponding distance values of the subdivided cells in the bounded distance tree until a termination condition is reached; and appending the distance values to the corresponding cells to generate the selected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field of the graphics object.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for editing a graphics object, comprising: representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field; selecting a portion of the adaptively sampled distance field for editing; converting the portion to a triangle model; deforming the triangle model; and regenerating the adaptively sampled distance field from the deformed triangle model, wherein the regenerating further comprises; defining a candidate cell of the adaptively sampled distance field; determining and storing distance values of the candidate cell in a bounded distance tree; recursively subdividing the candidate cell into subdivided cells of the adaptively sampled distance field while determining and storing corresponding distance values of the subdivided cells in the bounded distance tree until a termination condition is reached; and appending the distance values to the corresponding cells to generate the selected portion of the adaptively sampled distance field of the graphics object.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for editing a graphics object, comprising: representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field, wherein the adaptively sampled distance field includes a plurality of surface cells storing distance values having corresponding gradients; selecting a portion of the adaptively sampled distance field for editing; converting the portion to a triangle model; deforming the triangle model; and regenerating the adaptively sampled distance field from the deformed triangle model; wherein the converting further comprises; assigning a vertex to a center location of each surface cell; connecting the vertices of neighboring surface cells to form triangles while satisfying a predetermined constraint; and moving each vertex, in a single step, to a new location according to the distance value and corresponding gradient of the vertex to substantially conform the triangles to the portion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for editing a graphics object, comprising: representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field, wherein the adaptively sampled distance field includes a plurality of surface cells storing distance values having corresponding gradients; selecting a portion of the adaptively sampled distance field for editing; converting the portion to a triangle model; deforming the triangle model; and regenerating the adaptively sampled distance field from the deformed triangle model; wherein the converting further comprises; assigning a vertex to a center location of each surface cell; connecting the vertices of neighboring surface cells to form triangles while satisfying a predetermined constraint; and moving each vertex, in a single step, to a new location according to the distance value and corresponding gradient of the vertex to substantially conform the triangles to the portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4710876A Cited
US5898793A Cited
US6040835A Cited
US6084593A Cited
US6396492B1 Cited
US6483518B1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-05-25 2007-11-24 2008-05-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-05-25 2011-11-24 2012-05-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-05-25 2015-11-24 2016-05-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag