Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-15
2004-07-27
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S423000, C345S606000, C345S643000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06768486
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 modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on per-subobject objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Computer generated three dimensional (3D) modeling and animation enrich a wide range of human experiences that include everything from captivating audiences at movie theaters, to gluing garners to their video games, to embarking home buyers on virtual tours of new homes. To generate 3D models and/or animations, a 3D designer interacts with a 3D modeling program, such 3D Studio Max™, which is commercially available from Autodesk, Inc., to define geometry objects for importing into a computer graphic application, such as a game engine. As used herein, the term “geometry object” is an object in a graphics application that is comprised of geometrical features that can be manipulated by the graphics application.
As part of creating a geometry 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 geometry object that can then be exported into a graphic application. As used herein, the term “base object” is the first component in a series of components that are used to define and modify a geometry object.
For example, to create an object, a user, such as an animator, may interact with a conventional modeling program to define a base object by selecting a particular object type from a set of predefined object types and selecting a set of parameter values that are to be used to define the specific parameters of the base object. Next, using the modeling program, the user may define one or more modifiers or other types of components that are to be applied to the base object for modifying certain characteristics, properties, attributes, constraints, and other parameters of the base object. Thereafter, once the user is satisfied with the object that is generated based on the selected base object and modifiers, the object can then be exported for use in a graphics application. As used herein, a component defines one or more operations in the designing of a geometry object. Components may include, but are not limited to, base components that are used as the starting point in a sequence of components and modifier components that are included in the sequence of components and that modify base components.
As another example,
FIG. 1A
,
FIG. 1B
, and
FIG. 1C
depict a conventional modeling program interface
100
that can be used to generate an object that includes a set of desired characteristics, properties, attributes, constraints, and other parameters. As depicted in window
108
of
FIG. 1A
, a user may interact with modeling program interface
100
to 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 parameters that are associated with base object
110
can be edited using either the creation panel or through an object parameter menu
104
. For example, a sequential ordering of components in the form of a stack may be used to create and modify the geometry object. In the example depicted in
FIG. 1A
, the components are modifiers that are organized into a modifier stack
105
. A modifier stack window
106
provides a visual representation of modifier stack
105
that depicts the base object
110
and any modifiers that have been selected for modifying the base object
110
.
Conventionally, the stack provides a sequential hierarchical order for applying the components in the stack to a base component. In some instances, the stack is described as being “evaluated” and each component in the stack is said to be “evaluated,” meaning that the parameters associated with each component are used to define one or more actions to be taken with respect to the base component or a subsequent version of the base component, such as making modifications to the base object.
As used herein, the terminology of “applying a component” and “evaluating a component” are synonymous. Also, the term “component” includes but is not limited to modifiers that are components that alter the object. For example, components may include a base component that is the starting point for defining a geometry object in a stack or a display component that provides a representation of the object, such as by presenting a visual representation of the object to a user on a display device.
Once a base component is defined, the user may apply one or more components to modify the characteristics, properties, attributes, constraints, or other parameters of the base component. For example, in
FIG. 1B
, 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
. Because base object
110
has the form of a sphere, base object
110
may be referred to as a sphere object. In response to the user defining the bend modifier, the bend modifier is inserted into modifier stack
105
in modifier stack window
106
. As a result of applying the bend modifier to base object
110
, a sphere/bend object
116
is created as depicted in window
108
of FIG.
1
B.
After applying the bend modifier, the user may apply additional modifiers to modify the characteristics, properties, attributes, constraints, or other parameters of sphere/bend object
116
. For example, in
FIG. 1C
, 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. In response to the user defining the taper modifier, the taper modifier is added to modifier stack
105
in modifier stack window
106
of FIG.
1
C.
FIG. 1D
depicts a conventional 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-space cache (wscache) data
158
. Modifier stack
150
maintains a hierarchical order that is used in evaluating the components 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
. Note that if the order of bend modifier data
154
and taper modifier data
156
were switched, the resulting sphere/taper/bend object would likely have at least a somewhat different appearance than sphere/bend/taper object
122
.
In the example depicted in
FIG. 1D
, sphere object data
152
describes the base object selected by the user. 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
. Node wscache data
158
represents the cached result of evaluating modifier stack
150
in world space coordinates instead of object space coordinates.
In evaluating modifier stack
150
, a geometry type is selected for rendering the particular object. As
Sander Nikolai
Szabo Attila
Arnold Adam
Autodesk, Inc.
Mosey Patterson & Sheridan LLP
Zimmerman Mark
LandOfFree
Modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3241893