The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 21, 2000
Jeff Wolverton, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Paolo Costabel, Culver City, CA (US);
Alan Lee Davidson, Marina Del Rey, CA (US);
Francisco Xavier DeJesus, Marina Del Rey, CA (US);
Brian Todd Steiner, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Scott E Anderson, Marina Del Rey, CA (US);
Allen Clifford Ruilova, Santa Monica, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A process for generating animated images of a two-dimensional array of objects advancing in a third dimension includes the steps of: defining an array of objects; defining a start position, an end position, and an advancement path associated with each of the objects, each advancement path extending from the associated start position to the associated end position; defining an associated rate of advancement for each of the objects along the associated path; defining a manifold surface including a locus of points each being defined in a three dimensional coordinate system and having an associated height coordinate value, each of the objects being associated with one of the points on the manifold surface; determining an associated advancement start time for each of the objects based on the associated rate of advancement and an associated height coordinate value of an associated point on the manifold surface; and defining animated images of the array of objects advancing along the associated advancement paths in accordance with the associated rates of advancement and the associated advancement start times. The manifold surface provides an animator with a means for controlling a resulting animation in order to achieve a desired animated effect without the need to perform a cumbersome trial and error process.