Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2011-2014
Title: Innovations by Inventor Chen Shen
Introduction
Chen Shen is a notable inventor based in Emeryville, CA, who has made significant contributions to the field of animation technology. With a total of 3 patents, his work focuses on enhancing the capabilities of animators through innovative systems and methods.
Latest Patents
One of Chen Shen's latest patents is titled "Driving systems extension." This invention provides animators with direct control similar to key frame animation while allowing for path-based motion. The key frame animation-based interface enables path-based motion with rotation animation variable value correction, utilizing additional animation variables for smoothing. Users can directly control the value of these additional animation variables through a tangent handle in the user interface.
Another significant patent is "Systems and methods for locking inverse kinematic (IK) objects to a surface object." This invention addresses the challenges of positioning components of IK-controlled animated objects relative to surface objects. It introduces a foot-ground locking system that helps users efficiently manage foot-ground interactions. The system automatically poses the foot on the ground by first rotating it to maximize contact area, then translating it to touch the ground, and finally deforming it to conform tightly to the surface. This innovative approach can be used as an interactive tool for animators or as a batch postprocessing tool to refine foot-ground contacts.
Career Highlights
Chen Shen is currently employed at Pixar, a leading animation studio known for its groundbreaking work in computer-generated imagery. His contributions to the field have been instrumental in advancing animation techniques and improving the overall quality of animated productions.
Collaborations
Throughout his career, Chen has collaborated with talented individuals such as Timothy S. Milliron and Bena L. Currin, further enhancing the creative environment at Pixar.
Conclusion
In summary, Chen Shen is a pioneering inventor whose work in animation technology has led to significant advancements in the industry. His innovative patents and contributions at Pixar continue to shape the future of animation.