Patent · US Active

Automatic breakdown of animation variables

US9317955B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
3References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 2012
Grant dateApr 19, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T13/80
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In an animation authoring system wherein knots along curves are provided in only selected frames, a method of breaking down knots in adjacent poses is automated without causing discontinuities in curves between poses by setting a first pose as a guarded frame for an object so that at least some of the values for animation variables (avars) in the guarded frame are protected and an animation variable (avar) having no knot at the guarded frame is merely implicit, then introducing a new knot for that avar position at a non-guarded frame, and introducing an implicit knot by setting its avar for the guarded frame at its previous implicit value. The new position can be effected by either adding a knot or removing a knot at a non-guarded frame. The invention provides a predictable workflow that cannot be changed retroactively when adjacent animation variables on a curve are changed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.