Computer System For Animating 3D Models Using Offset Transforms

• US 20130033486A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luxion APS
• Original Assignee: Luxion APS
• Inventors: McCartney, Jeffrey, Jensen, Claus W., Tegar, Thomas, Townsend, Brian, Jensen, Henrik W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,913,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/20 3D [Three Dimensional] animation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel 3D animation system for animating models. The system uses offset transforms to make it possible to make animation components that can be added individually to the animation system. The animation components simplify the process of animating 3D models performed conventionally. For example, the user can apply various animation components to the 3D object to make it move for a specific time, rather than the conventional process of specifying the precise position of a 3D object at specific frames.

Claims

16. A method comprising:

displaying a three-dimensional model on a terminal, wherein the three-dimensional model comprises an object; and

applying an animation component to the object to move the object or to change the look of the object, wherein the animation component has a start time and an end time defined in increments of time.

1. A system comprising:

a terminal;

a three-dimensional model configured to be displayed on the terminal;

an object in the three-dimensional model; and

an animation component configured to be applied to the object to move the object or to change the look of the object, wherein the animation component has a start time and an end time defined in increments of time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a television or computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a scene configured to be displayed on the terminal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the object comprises an element in the scene.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the animation component comprises an offset transform.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the animation component comprises a translation movement, a rotation movement, a scaling movement, a turntable movement, a camera orbit movement, a camera pan movement, a camera dolly movement, a camera zoom movement, a material parameter change, a lighting parameter change, or a time varying movement specified by a matrix at given time instances.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a timeline for adjusting the start time and the end time.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising interactive ray tracing.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional model is created and played back using the interactive ray tracing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the animation component and the object are configured to be evaluated at a given time.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising multiple animation components, wherein the animation components are organized hierarchically with animation components higher up in the hierarchy acting upon animation components lower in the hierarchy.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the animation component is configured to be hidden or deleted.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the animation component is configured to be copied and pasted to other objects.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the animation component is configured to be changed by a user during playback of the three-dimensional model or while paused.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a library of animation components that can be added to the object.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a scene configured to be displayed on a television or computer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the animation component comprises a translation movement, a rotation movement, a scaling movement, a turntable movement, a camera orbit movement, a camera pan movement, a camera dolly movement, a camera zoom movement, a material parameter change, a lighting parameter change, or a time varying movement specified by a matrix at given time instances.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising a timeline for adjusting the start time and the end time.

17-1. The method of claim 16, wherein the animation component comprises an offset transform.