Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graph generating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-24
2001-11-20
Jankus, Almis R. (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graph generating
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320583
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to automated methods and apparatuses for the controlling and transforming of two and three-dimensional images. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for changing the elements of image through the use of one or more sets of modification data in real time.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
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 patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 8
, a computer system that is known in the art is shown. The computer system
810
includes a system unit having a processor
811
, such as a Pentium® processor manufactured by Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif. The processor is coupled to system memory
812
(e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM)) via a bridge circuit
813
. The bridge circuit
813
couples the processor
811
and system memory
812
to a bus
814
, such as one operated according to the Peripheral Component Interconnect standard (Version 2.1, 1995, PCI Special Interest Group, Portland, Oreg.). The system unit
810
also includes a graphics adapter
815
coupled to the bus
814
which converts data signals from the bus into information for output at a display
820
, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, active matrix display, etc. Using the computer system of
FIG. 1
, a graphical image can be displayed at display
820
. The graphical image can be created internally to the computer system
810
or can be input via an input device
830
(such as a scanner, video camera, digital camera, etc.). As is known in the art, a graphical image is stored as a number of two-dimensional picture elements or “pixels,” each of which can be displayed.
In the current art, graphical images (e.g., of a person's face) can be changed by allowing the user to modify a graphical image by “moving” (e.g., with a cursor movement device such as a mouse) the two-dimensional location of one or more pixels (For example: Adobe Photoshop Version 3.0.5 (Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.)). In doing so, the other pixels around the one that is being moved are filled in with new data or other pixel data from the graphical image. For example, the graphical image of the person's face can be modified using this product by making the person's nose larger or smaller. This two-dimensional phenomenon is analogous to stretching and warping a photograph printed on a “rubber sheet.” In the Kai's Power Goo product by MetaTools, Inc (Carpinteria, Calif.), photographic distortions can be performed in “real time” by the operator's “clicking and dragging” with a mouse across the surface of a photo displayed on the computer screen. The operator can see the photograph stretch as the mouse is moved. This procedure covers only two dimensional art and does not permit any sophisticated character animation such as speech or emotion.
In the current art, the gradual change of the shape of one image into that of another as seen in film and video is called a “morph”. Current morphs are created by an operator who instructs a computer to distort the shape of a specific starting image into the shape of a specific target image. Morphing programs typically work by allowing the operator to select points on the outline of the specific starting image and then to reassign each of these points to a new location, thereby defining the new outline of the desired target image. The computer then performs the morph by: (1) smoothly moving each of these points along a path from start to finish and (2) interpolating the movement of all the other points within the image as the morph takes place.
There are two distinct disadvantages to this method described above. First, it requires that a custom morph be created for each desired transformation. Second, because this method requires the selection of a single image or frame upon which the morph is performed, the frame-by-frame progression of character action must stop during the period in which the morph is performed. This is why in current films, characters do not speak or move during the morph procedure. The reason morphs are currently performed relatively quickly (i.e., within a few seconds) is so that this freezing of action is not fully noticed by the audience.
In recent films, whenever a character morphs (e.g. when the villain robot in James Cameron's “Terminator 2” changes to its liquid metal form), the character ceases moving while the morph takes place. In the “Fifth Element” released in May of 1997, characters are seen changing from alien to human form while they shake their heads back and forth. Although this gives the character the appearance of moving while the morph is taking place, the underlying 3D image of a character's head is actually frozen while it shakes. This method is merely the 3D equivalent of a “freeze frame.” This method cannot enable a morphing character to speak, move or emote while a morph is taking place. The static morphing methods used in today's films are slow and considerably expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an embodiment of the present invention a first region of a first graphical image is identified and then it is modified based on a first set of predetermined modification data. Using this method to morph a graphical image, a variety of applications can be performed according to further embodiments of the present invention.
First, the morph (e.g., the application of modification data) for a first starting image can be readily applied to other starting images. In other words, the morphs automatically impart desired characteristics in a custom manner to a multiplicity of starting images. This an improvement over the prior art which requires a customized selection and reassignment of points on a specific starting image to create a morph. A method of the present invention described herein automates this process. Rather than requiring an artist or technician to custom create a morph of a specific image, for example, an adult into that of a child, the morphs of the present invention enable a wide variety of human, animal, or other characters to be rendered chimplike using a single “chimp” morph. An example of this is shown in
FIG. 1
, where a single morph relating to “chimpification” is applied to three different starting images. In each case, the resulting image maintains recognizable features of the starting image while uniquely embodying the desired characteristics of the “chimp” morph. The morph has been described thus far as modification data. Examples of modification data includes deltasets and deltazones described in more detail below. Briefly, deltasets or zones categorically identify regions, feature by feature within differing starting images so that these images are uniquely altered to preserve the automated morph's desired effect. Because a single morph can be applied to a number of different starting images, the morph exists as a qualitative entity independently from the images it acts upon. This independence creates an entirely new tool, a morph library, a collection of desired alterations or enhancements which can be generically used on any starting image to create specific desired effects as illustrated in the above “chimpification” example.
Second, once an image has been morphed to add a particular characteristic or quality, the resulting image can be subjected to a different morph to add a second characteristic or quality.
FIG. 2
illustrates a simple example of this additive property wherein a “chimp” morph is added to a “child” morph to create a childlike chimp (other examples will be described in further detail below). The additive property of the automated, additive morphing system can be used in a number of ways to bring new functionality and scope to the morphing
Shaw Christopher D.
Wilson Orion
Cao Huedung X.
Haptek Corporation
Jankus Almis R.
Kenyon & Kenyon
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