Implementing stack extension in a modifier stack

Details Implementing stack extension in a modifier stack Implementing stack extension in a modifier stack

2001-08-21

2004-03-30

Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2697)

Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system

Computer graphics processing

Three-dimension

C345S423000, C345S606000, C345S643000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06714194

ABSTRACT:

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to computer graphics, and more specifically, to implementing stack extensions in a computer graphics application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer generated 3-D modeling and animation enrich a wide range of human experiences that includes everything from captivating audiences at the movie theaters, to gluing gamers to their video games, to embarking home buyers on virtual tours of new homes. To generate 3-D models and/or animations, a 3-D designer interacts with a 3-D modeling program, such 3D Studio Max™, which is commercially available from Autodesk, Inc., to define objects for importing into a computer graphic application, such as a game engine. As part of creating an object, the designer typically defines a base object, for example a sphere or box, and then applies one or more modifiers to the base object to create a rendered object that can then be exported into a graphic application.
For example, to create an object, an animator (“user”) may interact with a conventional modeling and/or animation program to define a base object by selecting a particular base object type from a set of predefined object types and by entering and/or selecting a set of parameter values that are to be used to define the specific characteristics of the base object. Next, using the modeling program, the user may define one or more modifiers that are to be applied to the base object for modifying certain characteristics and/or attributes of the base object. Thereafter, once the user is satisfied with the generated object, the object can then be exported for use in a graphics application.
For example,
FIGS. 1A-1C
illustrate a conventional modeling program interface
100
that can be used to generate an object that includes a set of desired characteristics and/or attributes. As illustrated in window
108
of
FIG. 1A
, by interacting with a modeling program interface
100
, a user may create a base object
110
by selecting a particular type of object (for example a sphere object) from a creation panel (not shown). Once the object is created, the objects parameters can be edited using either the creation panel (not shown) or through an object parameter menu
104
. In this example, a modifier stack window
106
provides a visual representation of an underlying modifier stack
105
that depicts the base object
110
and any modifiers that have been selected for modifying the base object
110
. Conventionally, the modifier stack provides a sequential hierarchical order for which the modifiers, if any, are to be applied to a base object.
Once a base object is defined, the user may apply one or more modifiers to modify the characteristics/attributes of the base object
110
. For example, the user may select a bend modifier button
112
and enter bend parameter data in a bend parameter menu
114
to define a bend modifier for applying to base object
110
, which may be referred to as a sphere object, to create a sphere/bend object
116
as depicted in window
108
of FIG.
1
B. In particular, in response to the user defining the bend modifier, the bend modifier is inserted into the underlying modifier stack as illustrated in modifier stack
105
in modifier stack window
106
of FIG.
1
B. Once inserted, the bend modifier is applied to the sphere object
110
to generate sphere/bend object
116
as depicted in window
108
of FIG.
1
B.
After applying the bend modifier the user may apply additional modifiers to modify the characteristics/attributes of the sphere/bend object
116
. For example, the user may select a taper modifier button
118
and enter taper parameter data in a taper parameter menu
120
to define a taper modifier for applying to the sphere/bend object
116
to create a sphere/bend/taper object
122
as depicted in window
108
of FIG.
1
C. More specifically, in response to the user defining the taper modifier, the taper modifier is added to the underlying modifier stack as illustrated in modifier stack
105
in modifier stack window
106
of FIG.
1
C. Once inserted, the taper modifier is applied to the sphere/bend object
116
to generate sphere/bend/taper object
122
as depicted in window
108
of FIG.
1
C.
FIG. 1D
illustrates a conventional underlying modifier stack
150
(as presented to the user as modifier stack
105
in modifier stack window
106
of
FIG. 1C
) that is used to render sphere/bend/taper object
122
in FIG.
1
C. In this example, modifier stack
150
includes sphere object data
152
, bend modifier data
154
, taper modifier data
156
and a node world-state cache data (wscache)
158
. Modifier stack
150
maintains a hierarchical order that is used in evaluating the different objects and modifiers within the stack. For example, in evaluating modifier stack
150
, the lower-ordered bend modifier data
154
is applied or evaluated prior to the higher-ordered taper modifier data
156
.
In this example, node wscache data
158
represents the cached result of the modifier stack evaluation. Sphere object data
152
describes the base object selected by the user while bend modifier data
154
and taper modifier data
156
describe the modifications that are to be respectively applied as the object is passed-up the modifier stack
150
. For example, in evaluating modifier stack
150
, a geometry type is first selected for rendering the particular object. For explanation purposes, it shall be assumed that a geometry type of mesh is selected for rendering the object. To render the object, an initial mesh object is first generated based on the properties and/or constraints that were defined in sphere object data
152
(for example, base object
110
in FIG.
1
A). Next, the mesh object is passed up the modifier stack.
150
where bend modifier data
154
is then applied to a copy of the initial mesh object to create an updated mesh object (for example, sphere/bend object
116
). Next, the updated mesh object is passed up the modifier stack
150
where taper modifier data
156
is then applied to a copy of the updated mesh object to further update the mesh object (for example, sphere/bend/taper object
122
). Finally, the updated mesh object is passed up the modifier stack
150
to the node and gets stored in the node wscache data
158
which causes the object (sphere/bend/taper object
122
) to be rendered in window
108
as illustrated in FIG.
1
C.
Using a modifier stack for modeling objects is generally referred to as non-destructive modeling in that each change is reapplied or reevaluated in their specific order whenever a change is made to an object or a modifier within the modifier stack. For example, if the user redefines the dimensions of the “lower-ordered” sphere object data
152
, “higher-ordered” bend modifier data
154
and taper modifier data
156
are sequentially reapplied to the newly defined mesh object prior to being displayed to the user by the node wscache data
158
. Additional examples of how modifier stacks may be used to render 3-D objects is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,067, entitled APPLYING MODIFIERS TO OBJECTS BASED ON THE TYPES OF THE OBJECTS; U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,098, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE RENDERING OF THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS; U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,107, entitled CACHING IN A THREE DIMENSIONAL MODELING AND ANIMATION SYSTEM; U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,695 entitled THREE DIMENSIONAL MODELING AND ANIMATION SYSTEM; U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,901 entitled THREE DIMENSIONAL MODELING AND ANIMATION SYSTEM; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/286,133 entitled TRANSLATING OBJECTS BETWEEN SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS WHICH EMPLOY DIFFERENT DATA FORMATS.
However, a drawback with using a conventiona

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