Method and apparatus for providing realistic movement of human characters on a video display

• US 6,288,727 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Treyarch Invention LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Akemann, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US09/653,832
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/474, 345/475, 345/949, 345/953
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/949 Animation processing method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/953 Geometric processing

Abstract

A computer, such as a PC includes a memory having an imaging program stored in it and a display unit, such as a restor scan CRT are all operatively connected together so that the computing unit can generate a signal that will result in an image being displayed on the display unit. The image includes a moveable figure that moves in response to inputs being provided via an input terminal, towards a set of targets. In response to the inputs from the input terminal, the computer initiates a set of actuators to move the figure wherein each actuator defines the movement in a given plane.

Claims

1. A computerized game for use on a computing apparatus having a display, a memory and an input terminal all operatively connected together, the computing apparatus causes an image to be displayed in response to the computerized game when accessed in the memory and to inputs from the input terminal, the computerize game comprises:

means for generating an image on the display of a moveable figure having a first and second element connected together at a first union in a first position of a first frame and wherein at least the second element moves in response to inputs provided by the input terminal via the computing apparatus and wherein the computing apparatus in response to an input from the input terminal converts the input to a simulated solution of a first equation of motion that determines a second position of the second element in a second frame to be displayed on the displayed, the first equation of motion defines a first acceleration value as being equal to a negative first predetermined constant times a first position value representing a displacement from a target of the second element minus a second predetermined constant times a first velocity value wherein the first velocity value is defined as the rate of change in the displacement of the second element in the first plane between the first and second frames and wherein the first velocity value further includes the sum of the first velocity value of the first frame plus the first acceleration value of the second frame, and the first position value is equal the first position value of the first frame plus the first velocity value of the second frame.

2. The computerized game according to claim 1 wherein the second element has a variable length, the computerized game further comprising:

means for defining the length of the second element in a ray according to a second simulation of the solution for a second equation of motion that includes a second acceleration value as being equal to a negative third predetermined constant times a second position value representing a displacement of the length of the second element, minus a fourth predetermined constant times a second velocity value wherein the second velocity value is defined as the rate of change in the displacement of the length of the second element along the ray between the first and second frames and wherein the second velocity value includes the sum of the second velocity value of the first frame plus the second acceleration value of the second frame, and the second position value is equal to the second position value of the first frame plus the second velocity value of the second frame.

3. The computerized game according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for controlling the movement of the second element at the union between the first and the second elements in a second plane according to a third simulation of the solution to a third equation of motion that defines a third position of the second element in the first and second frames and the third equation of motion includes a third acceleration value as being equal to a negative fifth predetermined constant times a third position value representing the displacement of the second element between the first and second planes, minus a sixth predetermined constant times a third velocity value wherein the third velocity value is defined as the rate of change in displacement of the second element between the first and second frames in the second plane and wherein the third velocity value further includes the sum of the third velocity value of the first frame plus the third acceleration value of the second frame and wherein the third position value is equal the third position value of the first frame plus the third velocity value of the second frame and the first predetermined constant is equal to the fifth predetermined constant and the second predetermined constant is equal to the sixth predetermined constant.

4. The computerized game according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for defining the movement of the second element at the union between the first and the second elements in a second plane according to a second simulation of the solution for a second equation of motion that defines a second change in displacement of the second element in the second plane of between the first and second frames and the second equation of motion includes a second acceleration value as being equal to a minus third predetermined constant times a second position value representing the displacement of the second element in the second plane, minus a fourth predetermined constant times a second velocity value wherein the second velocity value is defined as the rate of change in displacement of the first element between the first and second frames in the second plane and wherein the second velocity value comprises the sum of the second velocity value of the first frame plus the second acceleration value of the second frame, the second position value is equal the second position value of the first frame plus the second velocity value of the second frame and the first predetermined constant is equal to the third predetermined constant and the second predetermined constant is equal to the fourth predetermined constant.

5. The computerized game according to claim 4 further comprising;

means for defining the movement of the second element at the union between the first and the second elements in a third plane according to a third simulation of the solution for a third equation of motion that defines a third position of the second element in the third plane in the first and second frames and the third equation of motion includes a third acceleration value as being equal to a negative fifth predetermined constant times a third position value representing the displacement of the second element, minus a sixth predetermined constant times a third velocity value wherein the third velocity value is defined as the rate of change in displacement of the second element between the first and second frames in the third plane and wherein the third velocity value includes the sum of the third velocity value of the first frame plus the third acceleration value of the second frame, third position value is equal the third position value of the first frame plus the third velocity value of the second frame and the first predetermined constant is equal to the fifth predetermined constant and the second predetermined constant is equal to the sixth predetermined constant.

6. The computerized game according to claim 1 further comprising:

a third element joined to the second element at a second union separated from the first union and including a means for defining the movement of the second and third elements at the second union according to a fourth simulation of the solution for a fourth equation of motion that defines a first change in displacement of the second and third elements in the first plane in the first and second frames and the fourth equation of motion includes a fourth acceleration value as being equal to a negative seventh predetermined constant times a fourth position value representing the displacement of the first and third elements, minus a eighth predetermined constant times a fourth velocity value wherein the fourth velocity value is defined as the rate of change in displacement of the first and third elements in the first plane between the first and second frames and wherein the fourth velocity value further includes the sum of the fourth velocity value of the first frame plus the fourth acceleration value of the second frame, the fourth position value is equal the fourth position value of the first frame plus the fourth velocity value of the second frame and the first predetermined constant is equal to the seventh predetermined constant and the second predetermined constant is equal to the eight predetermined constant.

7. The computerized game according to claim 6 further comprising:

a fourth element joined to the third element at a third union separated from the first and second unions and a fifth virtual actuator means for defining the movement of the third union according to a fifth simulation of the solution for a fifth equation of motion that defines a position of the second, third and fourth elements in the first plane in the first and second frames and the fifth equation of motion includes a fifth acceleration value as being equal to negative ninth predetermined constant times a fifth position value representing the displacement of the second, third and fourth elements, minus a tenth predetermined constant times a fifth velocity value wherein the fifth velocity value is defined as the rate of change in displacement of the second, third and fourth elements in relation to the first element between frames in the first plane and wherein the fifth velocity value includes a sum of the fifth velocity value of the first frame and the fifth acceleration of the second frame, the fourth position value is equal the fourth position value of the first frame plus the fourth velocity value of the second frame and the first predetermined constant is equal to the ninth predetermined constant and the second predetermined constant is equal to the tenth predetermined constant.

8. The computerized game according to claim 7 further comprising:

a means for defining the movement of the fourth element at the third union in the second plane according to the sixth simulation of the solution for a sixth equation of motion that defines a second change in displacement of the second, third and fourth elements in the second plane in the first and second frames and the second equation of motion includes a sixth acceleration value as being equal to a negative eleventh predetermined constant times a sixth position value representing a change of displacement of the first, third and fourth elements, minus a twelfth predetermined constant times a sixth velocity value wherein the sixth velocity value is defined as the rate of change in displacement of the second, third and fourth elements between the first and second frames and wherein the sixth velocity value further includes the sum of the sixth velocity value of the first frame plus the sixth acceleration value of the second frame, the sixth position value is equal the sixth position value of the first frame plus the sixth velocity value of the second frame and the first predetermined constant is equal to the eleventh predetermined constant and the second predetermined constant is equal to the twelfth predetermined constant.