Silicon Graphics, Incorporated

Autodesk, Inc.

Alias Systems Corp.

Richard Everett Rice

Eric Joel Stollnitz

Sriram Dayanand

Nikki Ruth Rohm

Craig W McPheeters

A method for converting a subdivision surface, such as a Catmull-Clark subdivision surface, into a cubic Bezier surface defined by sixteen control points. The method includes (a) converting a subdivision face to Bezier control points using a conversion matrix using fifteen points and a dummy value for an unavailable sixteenth point; and (b) replacing one of the Bezier control points which corresponds to an extraordinary point on the subdivision face with the extraordinary point's limit point.

Approximation of Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces by Bezier patches

A method of modeling complex surface models using a network of intersecting non-uniform rational B-spline curves. Topological information of the curve network and interpolating surfaces to the network of curves are automatically generated. Different levels of continuity between surface patches are enforced. Surface patches of three and four sides and positional, tangent or curvature continuity between the patches are provided. Using a constrained minimization process, arbitrary, non-uniform B-spline curves may be used to manipulate the shape of the surfaces interpolating the curve network without violating the continuity conditions enforced during the generation of the surface patches allowing for very complex three-dimensional shapes to be modeled using the method.

Curve network modeling

A method of computer generation of a curve through points includes accepting positions of the points, accepting a geometric continuity condition for at least one of the points, constructing the curve through the points, the curve obeying the geometric continuity condition, and storing the constructed curve in a memory.

Generating a curve for computer graphics through points residing on underlying geometries in a three dimensional space

A method of computer curve and surface modeling includes storing in a computer memory a cloud of points associated with an object and least-square fitting one or more curves or surfaces to the cloud of points. The resulting curves or surfaces representative of the object are easier to describe mathematically and require less computer resources to process.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Richard Everett Rice