Intel Corporation

Tahoe Research, Ltd.

Myung-Ho Ju

Tae-Hoon Kim

Minje Park

Yangzhou Du

Jihyeon Kate Yi

Wenlong Li

Xiaofeng Tong

Yikai Fang

Qiang Eric Li

Xiaolu Shen

Qiang Li

Lidan Zhang

Yeongjae Cheon

Wooju Ryu

Olivier Duchenne

Jihyeon Yi

Avatar animation systems disclosed herein provide high quality, real-time avatar animation that is based on the varying countenance of a human face. In some example embodiments, the real-time provision of high quality avatar animation is enabled, at least in part, by a multi-frame regressor that is configured to map information descriptive of facial expressions depicted in two or more images to information descriptive of a single avatar blend shape. The two or more images may be temporally sequential images. This multi-frame regressor implements a machine learning component that generates the high quality avatar animation from information descriptive of a subject's face and/or information descriptive of avatar animation frames previously generated by the multi-frame regressor. The machine learning component may be trained using a set of training images that depict human facial expressions and avatar animation authored by professional animators to reflect facial expressions depicted in the set of training images.

Avatar animation system

Examples of systems and methods for augmented facial animation are generally described herein. A method for mapping facial expressions to an alternative avatar expression may include capturing a series of images of a face, and detecting a sequence of facial expressions of the face from the series of images. The method may include determining an alternative avatar expression mapped to the sequence of facial expressions, and animating an avatar using the alternative avatar expression.

Augmented facial animation

Avatar animation systems disclosed herein provide high quality, real-time avatar animation that is based on the varying countenance of a human face. In some example embodiments, the real-time provision of high quality avatar animation is enabled at least in part, by a multi-frame regressor that is configured to map information descriptive of facial expressions depicted in two or more images to information descriptive of a single avatar blend shape. The two or more images may be temporally sequential images. This multi-frame regressor implements a machine learning component that generates the high quality avatar animation from information descriptive of a subject's face and/or information descriptive of avatar animation frames previously generated by the multi-frame regressor. The machine learning component may be trained using a set of training images that depict human facial expressions and avatar animation authored by professional animators to reflect facial expressions depicted in the set of training images.

Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with 3D face model reconstruction are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a facial landmark detector, a model fitter and a model tracker. The facial landmark detector may be configured to detect a plurality of landmarks of a face and their locations within each of a plurality of image frames. The model fitter may be configured to generate a 3D model of the face from a 3D model of a neutral face, in view of detected landmarks of the face and their locations within a first one of the plurality of image frames. The model tracker may be configured to maintain the 3D model to track the face in subsequent image frames, successively updating the 3D model in view of detected landmarks of the face and their locations within each of successive ones of the plurality of image frames. In embodiments, the facial landmark detector may include a face detector, an initial facial landmark detector, and one or more facial landmark detection linear regressors. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

3D face model reconstruction apparatus and method

Growing community of inventors

Seoul, South Korea

Myung-Ho Ju