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Animating three dimensional images by selectively processing intermediate animation frames

  • US 5,756,354 A
  • Filed: 01/09/1997
  • Issued: 05/26/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a process for animating a 3-dimensional graphics model composed of geometrical elements which is viewed by an observer whose line of sight effects relative movement with respect to the model, a method for animating frames of pixels, comprising the steps of:

  • (1) obtaining motion parameters corresponding to the relative movement of the observer'"'"'s line of sight with respect to the model,(2) processing all of the geometrical elements in the 3-dimensional graphics model in order to derive a plurality of voxels of which a first portion of the plurality of voxels are hidden from the observer'"'"'s line of sight,(3) eliminating the first portion of the plurality of voxels from the plurality of voxels so as to derive a second portion of voxels which are within the observer'"'"'s line of sight,(4) producing an intermediate frame of voxels from the second portion of voxels,(5) writing the intermediate frame of voxels to a memory;

    (6) cyclically repeating steps 1-5 at a first variable speed whereby the intermediate frame of voxels overwrites each cycle the prior intermediate frame of voxels;

    (7) processing the intermediate frame of voxels presently in the memory so as to produce an intermittent frame of pixels;

    (8) displaying the intermittent frame of pixels, and(9) cyclically repeating steps 7-8 independent of steps 1-5 and at a second constant speed which is greater than the first variable speed.

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