Collision Avoidance Patents (Class 345/958)
  • Patent number: 9495485
    Abstract: An information processing device includes target object information obtaining unit configured to obtain target object information indicating a position and an area of a target object in a virtual space, surface information obtaining unit configured to obtain surface information indicating a position and an area of a thickness area that is defined by a surface in the virtual space and a predetermined thickness imparted to the surface, and collision determining unit configured to carry out collision determination, based on the target object information and the surface information, so as to determine whether the target object has collided against the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuike, Naoki Hirai
  • Patent number: 9355500
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention set forth a technique for animating objects placed across a surface of a graphics object. A CAD application receives a set of motions and initially applies a different motion in the set of motions to each object placed across the surface of the graphics object. The CAD application calculates bounding areas of each object according to the current motion applied thereto, which are subsequently used by the CAD application to identify collisions that are occurring or will occur between the objects. Identified collisions are cured by identifying valid motions in the set of motions that can be applied to a colliding object and then calculating bounding areas for the valid motions to select a valid motion that, when applied to the object, does not cause the object to collide with any other objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AUTODESK, INC.
    Inventors: Susan Amkraut, Michael Girard
  • Patent number: 8918274
    Abstract: A navigation system may display route information that includes a display of the fixtures that are located on or near the route. The fixtures may be selected and inserted into the digital map as graphical objects. The graphical objects may be classified into a class and at least one sub-class. The classification data may be used to select and generate the graphical objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Marek Strassenburg-Kleciak, Hendrik Meyer
  • Patent number: 8665260
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing an end user with a multiscale three-dimensional (3D) navigation experience in design software application programs. An adaptive multiscale 3D navigation system allows an end user to transition between a planetary scale down to an individual building scale. The end user may navigate within the building, inspecting object details within the building. The size of the environment is sensed automatically, and the viewing and travel parameters are adjusted accordingly to provide the end user with a seamless navigation experience. A consistent navigation experience is supported at various scales, and real-time collision detection is provided. Scale computation for 3D scenes and collision detection may be based on a generated depth cubemap of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: James McCrae, Igor Mordatch, Michael Glueck, Azam Khan
  • Patent number: 8665259
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing an end user with a multiscale three-dimensional (3D) navigation experience in design software application programs. An adaptive multiscale 3D navigation system allows an end user to transition between a planetary scale down to an individual building scale. The end user may navigate within the building, inspecting object details within the building. The size of the environment is sensed automatically, and the viewing and travel parameters are adjusted accordingly to provide the end user with a seamless navigation experience. A consistent navigation experience is supported at various scales, and real-time collision detection is provided. Scale computation for 3D scenes and collision detection may be based on a generated depth cubemap of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: James McCrae, Igor Mordatch, Michael Glueck, Azam Khan
  • Patent number: 8441502
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods, systems, and apparatuses for automatically determining an object type in a computer automated design application, and more particularly to automatically determining and drawing the pipe type of a pipe in a sprinkler system CAD drawing. The present invention allows a user to make various pipe parameter choices and decisions up front, and to then draw each individual pipe without having to each time make the numerous selections and decisions required to determine that pipe's proper type. The present invention may also be used to determine other component types in non-piping related CAD designs, such as electrical wiring, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: M.E.P. CAD, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Reghetti, Shane Hoeft
  • Patent number: 8433548
    Abstract: In the system for detecting collision between rigid or deformable polyhedral objects simulated numerically and represented by simplicial complexes (K1, K2), there is effected in a pre-processor module (110) at least one step (111) of calculating a geometrical description of the polyhedral cone corresponding to the normals in the strong sense (n|K| (Int ?)) associated with the faces (?) of the simplicial complexes, and at least one step (113) of constructing trees of encompassing volumes. From information obtained from the pre-processing step, the modules (121, 122) calculate local minimum distances (LMD) and quasi local minimum distances (quasi-LMD). The system for implementing the method can be coupled to a mechanical solver (130) and to one or more peripherals (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Xavier Merlhiot
  • Patent number: 8228336
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for integrating a motion synthesis system into a video game system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven B. Dykes
  • Patent number: 8223155
    Abstract: A method for use in computer graphics includes receiving data representative of a plurality of particles. For each particle, the method further includes calculating a time at which a collision will occur based on a current trajectory of the particle. For pairs of particles that will collide with each other, another operation includes changing a direction of the particles to avoid a collision, wherein the changed directions approximate directions that would result from the collision. For particles in static contact, another operation includes allowing particles to push each other without bouncing. For particles in static contact that were previously moved by being pushed, the method also does not allow the particles to move during future collisions occurring during a time step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Cohen, Chris Allen
  • Patent number: 8223144
    Abstract: A parallelization permission and prohibition management unit of a processor manages the permission or prohibition of the parallelization for each combination of partial spaces in cooperation with another parallelization permission and prohibition management unit of a different processor. Specifically, when any given object is present across the boundary between a first partial space and a second partial space, the parallelization is prohibited between the collision process to be performed by any given processor on the virtual objects in the first partial space and the collision process to be performed by another processor on the virtual object in the second partial space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ishiwata, Masahiro Yasue
  • Patent number: 8217933
    Abstract: A collision target map and a collision target LUT are generated for each pixel to be subjected to rendering as collision target information with recorded identification information for CG data rendering on the pixel, while carrying out rendering of colliding object group CG data. Then, collision target information corresponding to a rendering pixel is referenced while carrying out rendering of collided object group CG data. In a case in which the colliding object group CG data is contained in the collision target information, it is determined that collision detection should be carried out for a virtual object being rendered, and collision detection information is generated. Such collision detection information allows collision between virtual objects to be detected at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Noro
  • Patent number: 8203560
    Abstract: A method for use in rendering includes receiving an input particle system, an instancing program, and a number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory, providing an input particle count representative of at least a portion of the input particle system to at least one operator for the instancing program, running the at least one operator in a prediction mode to generate an output particle count, comparing the output particle count to the number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory, and spatially splitting a bounding box representative of the input particle count in response to the output particle count being greater than the number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Cohen, Chris Allen
  • Patent number: 8170843
    Abstract: A method for resolving collisions for placement of objects in 3D models, including attributing a first state to each object having a hard spatial volume and a second state to each object having a soft spatial volume, predefining a first set of rules to determine whether multiple objects may occupy the same spatial volume based on the combination of the object states, the first set of rules covering all permutations of said first state and said second state, placing a first object in the 3D model, placing a second object in the 3D model, determining whether the first object has a collision with the second object in the 3D model, and resolving the collision based on said first predefined set of rules. Furthermore, there can be predefining a second set of rules that override the first set of rules, and where the resolving of the collision is based on said second set of rules. Further, the method includes finding “soft” and “hard” characters on all objects and defining the characters on all objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David J. Lee
  • Patent number: 8154545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a computer-aided modelling system for creating a technical drawing from at least two modelled 3D bodies that collide with one another. In a first step, one or more of the regions of the 3D bodies that are affected by the collision are selected. In a second step, a group of colliding faces of the selected regions of the two or more 3D bodies are combined to form a respective collision group and a technical drawing of the two or more colliding modelled 3D bodies is produced. A 2D edge or its associated boundary of a face that belongs to a collision group is treated by masking the other faces that are associated with the same collision group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Parametric Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Manfred Göbel, Hans-Ulrich Becker, Jochen Dürr
  • Patent number: 8060345
    Abstract: A system and method for knowledge based development of interior models for configurable spaces, including storing a digital definition of the interior section of the passenger vehicle and parameters related to the objects, storing a digital definition of a plurality of three dimensional stay-out spaces associated with one or more of the objects, defining one or more collision rules between a first three dimensional stay-out space and a second three dimensional stay-out space, the rules define whether the first three dimensional stay-out space and the second three dimensional stay-out space may overlap, and designing the interior section to accommodate objects based on the defined collision rules and object parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David J. Lee, Margaret J. Taboada
  • Patent number: 7928993
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for real-time, multi-resolution 3D collision detection using cube maps are disclosed. For example, a method is disclosed including receiving a first polygon, receiving a second polygon and then using a texture map stored in memory to detect collisions between the first and second polygons. Other implementations are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rahul P. Sathe, Adam T. Lake
  • Patent number: 7796128
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for dynamically varying a physics workload by scaling the classification of objects within a three-dimensional scene. According to embodiments of the invention, a physics engine may classify a plurality of objects within a three-dimensional scene as either static objects or as dynamic objects. The physics engine may then perform physics operations with the objects, and may monitor the workload experienced by processing elements within a system which includes the physics engine. Based on the workload experienced by the processing elements within the system, the physics engine may vary the number of objects which are classified as dynamic and vary the number of objects which are classified as static. By varying the classification of the objects, the physics engine may vary the workload experienced by the physics engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Michael Radzikowski, Robert Allen Shearer
  • Patent number: 7778753
    Abstract: A vehicle operation assist system includes as assist yaw rate calculator which calculates a necessary moving amount to avoid an obstacle based on a detection result of the obstacle by a radar device, and a vehicle movement controller controls lateral movement of the vehicle based on the calculated moving amount. When an avoiding operation detector determines initiation of an obstacle avoiding operation by the driver, the vehicle movement controller operates a braking device to control the lateral movement of the vehicle, so that the obstacle can be reliably avoided. When a restoring operation detector determines initiation of a restoring operation, the vehicle movement controller operates a power steering device to control the lateral movement of the vehicle, so that delay in the steering operation by the driver, and excessive restoring operation of the steering handle to compensate for the delay are suppressed, thus stabilizing vehicle behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Fujiwara, Mitsuharu Kanaboshi, Yasushi Shoda
  • Patent number: 7773098
    Abstract: A virtual reality presentation apparatus (100) has a CPU (101) which controls the overall apparatus, a memory (103) which stores various programs, a memory (104) which stores various data, an HMD (105) as a video display device, and a position and orientation controller (106) having position and orientation sensors (107, 108, 109), which are connected to each other via a bus (102). After a position and orientation required to render a CG scene for one frame are determined, when CG objects are in an interference state immediately before this processing and the difference between the current time and an interference time (128) set upon determining the interference state does not exceed an interference detection skip time (124), CG image generation means (112) generates a CG scene for one frame based on the determined position and orientation without checking if an interference has occurred between the CG objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okuno, Hideo Noro, Taichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7737978
    Abstract: To provide a display, etc. suitable for appropriately processing display in a case where it is expected, in three-dimensional graphics display, that a viewpoint will collide with an object, a storage unit (202) of a display (201) stores the coordinates of a viewpoint and an object in a virtual three-dimensional space, moving velocities, etc., an associating unit (203) associates a real time and a virtual time in the virtual three-dimensional space, a moving unit (204) calculates the coordinates of the viewpoint and object and moving velocities, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daizaburo Nakamura, Yutaka Ito, Takeshi Okubo
  • Patent number: 7663629
    Abstract: A collision determination area set for a dog as an object in a virtual three-dimensional space is, for example, a sphere having the center at the chest of the dog and having a radius of 30 in the “on all fours” state, a sphere having the center at the hip of the dog and having a radius of 10 in the “standing” state, and a sphere having the center at the head of the dog and having a radius of 10 in the state of the dog “trying to fawn with another dog” in the virtual three-dimensional space. Using the collision determination area set in this manner, it is determined whether or not the dog has collided against another object. Therefore, a collision determination suitable to individual situations can be realized while suppressing an increase in the amount of calculations required for the collision determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ajioka, Kiyoshi Mizuki
  • Patent number: 7663630
    Abstract: An apparatus processes collision information in a graphic system, and includes a first storage unit for loading geometry information of primary and secondary object graphics inputted from outside, and outputting the geometry information of the primary object graphics and geometry information of a plurality of secondary object graphics in which a collision detection operation with the primary object graphics is to be performed; a transformer for transforming coordinates of the secondary object graphics to be coincided with a coordinate system that is based on the primary object graphics; a processor for acquiring a collision point, collision presence information, and a collision depth between the primary and the secondary object graphics simultaneously based on the geometry information of the inputted primary object graphics and that of each of the coordinate-transformed secondary object graphics by using a collision detection operation technique determined by the geometry information properties of the primary
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Do-Hyung Kim, Seung-Woo Nam, In-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7573479
    Abstract: In a simulation game machine for play on the basis of images of three-dimensionally constituted terrain features and characters which are represented as if viewed from a prescribed camera within a virtual space, allows the viewing point to be shifted in three dimensions while looking over a stage, thereby enhancing the interest of the game. Upon entering a topographical mapping data check, the viewing point is shifted while panning and zooming in movie-like fashion along a predetermined path, and messages disposed along the path are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Ohba, Kenichi Ono
  • Patent number: 7519471
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and programs display a virtual escort vehicle that appears to be driving ahead of a user's vehicle on at least one of a windshield of the user's vehicle and a display disposed in front of a driving seat of the user's vehicle and display a driving instruction for the user's vehicle based on actual driving condition information and standard driving condition information for a predetermined reference point located ahead of the current position of the user's vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumi Shibata, Yukio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7146297
    Abstract: Detecting a collision of a three-dimensional model from three-dimensional data defining a bone includes obtaining a bounding volume for the bone, detecting a collision of the three-dimensional model with a second three-dimensional model using the bounding volume, and applying a collision response only to a colliding area of the three-dimensional model and the second-three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Carl S. Marshall, Adam T. Lake, Oliver A. Heim
  • Patent number: 7127381
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for expediting detection of collision between any of N objects are disclosed. When a determination is made that a plurality of the N objects are one of (a) located in a plane and (b) collinear along a line parallel to an axis of a first coordinate system; one example method selects a second coordinate system wherein less than the plurality of the N objects lie in any plane of the second coordinate system; and performs a sweep and prune process on the N objects using the second coordinate system. Another example method responds to the determination by performing a sweep and prune process on the N objects while ignoring any set of objects having more than a predetermined number of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Charles M. Forest, Oliver A. Heim
  • Patent number: 7084869
    Abstract: A method of collision detection is provided that allows for virtual objects having arbitrary shapes to be simulated with six degrees of freedom. The collision detection method is capable of providing full body contact by detecting each intersection between a representation of a first virtual object and a representation of a second virtual object. The full-body contact may be provided as haptic rendering signals indicating the full-body contact between the two virtual objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Krishnan Sriram, Sanjay E. Sarma
  • Patent number: 6947064
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for displaying a perspective image and to a display device for at least one passenger of a motor vehicle. The air of the vehicle is to guarantee by simple means a high road safety that is substantially independent of the knowledge and skills of the driver. To this end, a method for displaying a perspective image (B) with one image element (4A to 4H) for at least one passenger of a motor vehicle is provided, said image (B) representing the view of the passenger. According to the inventive method, the image element (4A to 4H) is changed in at least one size depending on the forward travel way (F), on at least one operational parameter of the motor vehicle and/or on at least one parameter of an object (6) identified in the range of the travel way (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Stefan Hahn, Walter Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6862026
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for the collision detection of objects by traversal of hierarcichal binary bounding BoxTrees, in which each bounding box pair of a hierarchically lower level is derived from a bounding box from the immediately above level by means of cutting off two sub-volumes by means of two parallel cut-planes. For the collision detection of a first and a second object, for each second bounding box of the bounding BoxTree of the second object to be checked for overlapping with a first bounding box of the bounding BoxTree of the first object, an auxiliary bounding box is computed which is axis-aligned in the object coordinate system of the first object and encloses the second bounding box with minimal volume, and with which the overlap check is conducted instead of with the second bounding box, and the computation results from the level immediately above are utilized for computation of auxiliary bounding boxes of lower levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Gabriel Zachmann
  • Patent number: 6798415
    Abstract: Rendering a three-dimensional model comprised of three-dimensional data defining a bone includes obtaining a point at which the bone intersects a collision surface, determining a correction factor for use in rotating the bone from the point to a position in front of the collision surface, and rendering the three-dimensional model, including the bone, using the correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Lake, Carl S. Marshall, Daniel P. Horowitz
  • Patent number: 6791549
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing interactive displays of complex virtual environments. Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the invention may be implemented to generate virtual reality (VR) file(s) from a 3D model of the complex environment. The VR file(s) may include octree and collision detection information that is used to simulate and render frames of the complex environment. During simulation, moving objects may be evaluated to detect for collisions with other objects. Further, during rendering, objects or elements may be dynamically tessellated during run-time operations to actively control their appearance when displayed to a user. Memory management operations for facilitating the display of complex virtual environments are also disclosed, consistent with embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: VRcontext s.a.
    Inventors: Alain Yves Nestor Hubrecht, Tom Nuydens
  • Patent number: 6738066
    Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for detecting collisions or any other type of interactions between video images and an object depicted on a display. First, video images generated by a camera are received. Upon receipt, a first collision detection operation is executed for generating a first confidence value representative of a confidence that the received video images have collided with an object depicted on a display. Also executed is a second collision detection operation for generating a second confidence value representative of a confidence that the received video images have collided with the object depicted on the display. The first confidence value and the second confidence value are then made available for various applications. Such applications may depict an interaction between the video images and the object depicted on the display based on the first confidence value and the second confidence value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Plant, Inc.
    Inventor: Katerina H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6734859
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing information, and a program and a program storing medium are disclosed in which a user can surely recognize the change of images when they are operated. Upon detection of an operation, a processing manager applies, every predetermined period, a transition function to an elapsed time from the detection of the operation to compute a ratio of the movement of an image to a distance from the current position of the displayed image to a destination specified by the operation. On the basis of the obtained ratio of the movement of the image, the processing manger specifies a display position of the image toward the destination. A content processing routine controls the display so that the image is displayed at the specified position every predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Hayashi, Hideyuki Agata
  • Patent number: 6731279
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining whether polygons which form objects defined by graphic data generated by CAD intersect with virtually generated light rays. Polygons which are not intersected are removed from the graphic data as unnecessary for the generation of CG data. An apparatus is also described in which path passage points which pass through an animation path within a virtual world are interactively set. If an object exists that interferes with a path that joins adjacent path passage points, an alternate route path which detours around the interfering object is generated. An apparatus is also described in which a path of a moving object is interactively set on a perspective view of the virtual world as viewed from one direction. The position of the set path in the virtual world is calculated, and the position of the path in the direction of viewing is corrected to a position that is removed from an object by a prescribed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kaori Suzuki, Atsuko Tada, Hiroshi Kamada, Katsuhiko Hirota, Asako Yumoto, Satoshi Kasai, Kazumi Shibata
  • Patent number: 6674431
    Abstract: A method for mutually mapping first three-dimensional data C1 and second three-dimensional shape or a two-dimensional image by specifying a plurality of correspondence points RP, wherein the first three-dimensional data C1 are displayed on a display screen and a contour line TU designating the height in the depth direction is displayed within the first three-dimensional data C1, and the contour line TU is used as a guide marker of the position of the correspondence points RP in the depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumi Enomoto, Koichi Fujihara
  • Patent number: 6657629
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus allows animators to control the extent by which scripted character motions affect simulated objects' motions. The simulated objects are connected to the character or non-simulated object, such as clothing or hair, and the motion of the simulated objects is simulated based on the motion of the character or non-simulated object. Collision flypapering is employed to yield the proper behavior of simulated objects when those objects are pinched by surfaces of the character and/or other collision objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pixar Animation Studios
    Inventors: David E. Baraff, Andrew Witkin
  • Publication number: 20030184603
    Abstract: Detecting a collision of a three-dimensional model comprised of three-dimensional data defining a bone includes obtaining a bounding volume for the bone, detecting a collision of the three-dimensional model with a second three-dimensional model using the bounding volume, and applying a collision response only to a colliding area of the three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Carl S. Marshall, Adam T. Lake, Oliver A. Heim
  • Publication number: 20030164864
    Abstract: A collision detection method for polygonal objects using OpenGL is provided, comprising dividing a surface of each object into a set of axis aligned bounding boxes (AABB) to build an AABB tree, selecting an object among the plurality of polygonal objects as a reference object, defining a global bounding box of the reference object, detecting first bounding boxes of the plurality of polygonal objects that intersect the global bounding box of the reference object, and determining intersections for each polygon of the reference object with all polygons of the plurality of polygonal objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Shmuel Aharon, Christophe Lenglet
  • Publication number: 20030112281
    Abstract: A method of collision detection is provided that allows for virtual objects having arbitrary shapes to be simulated with six degrees of freedom. The collision detection method is capable of providing full body contact by detecting each intersection between a representation of a first virtual object and a representation of a second virtual object. The full-body contact may be provided as haptic rendering signals indicating the full-body contact between the two virtual objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Krishnan Sriram, Sanjay E. Sarma
  • Patent number: 6476812
    Abstract: An information processing system for processing three-dimensional information on an object existing actually in a three-dimensional space for detecting a collision between a space having an optional configuration and size in the three-dimensional space and the object. In the information processing system, a virtual space setting section sets a virtual space in the three-dimensional space, and a three-dimensional information creating section creates three-dimensional information on the object such as an intruder. A decision is made, on the basis of the three-dimensional information on the object, on whether or not the collision between the intruder and the virtual space occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Yoshigahara, Atsushi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6407748
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for modeling interactions that overcomes drawbacks. The method of the present invention comprises representing two bodies undergoing translations by two swept volume representations. Interactions such as nearest approach and collision can be modeled based on the swept body representations. The present invention is more robust and allows faster modeling than previous methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick G. Xavier
  • Patent number: 6400313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus which perform efficient projection of 4-dimensional data (3 spatial and 1 time dimension) onto planar grids are described. Multiple frames of data are drawn from a limited time history data buffer and projected onto a planar grid, which need not be flat, defined in its own coordinate system. Higher dimensional data structures can also be formed from multiple projection grids. Measurement data from multiple data frames is projected into the planar grid such that distance out of plane is the z-dimension. Computational efficiency is achieved by processing only those data samples that are relevant to the planar grid. To be considered relevant, the impulse response of the sensor's measurement rays must cross the planar grid. Samples of relevant rays must also map onto the planar grid's coordinate mesh to be relevant. Multiple data measurements may determine the planar grid's final amplitude result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Martin M. Morici, James R. Brinsley
  • Patent number: 6346941
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interference check result displaying method, by which a rough position and a precise position of a representative point at which contact or interference occurs between objects present in a virtual three-dimensional space. Consequently, not only a rough position but also a precise position of a representative point at which contact or interference occurs can be recognized readily. Further, also in a case wherein such a real time performance as to perform an interference check while an object is moved or rotated, a rough position and a precise position of a representative point at which contact/interference occurs can be recognized similarly readily. Also where a plurality of representative points are present, a designated representative point can be identified readily from other representative points, and also representative points which are hidden by different objects can be recognized readily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yuichi Arita, Naoyuki Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6266064
    Abstract: A visibility sorting method coherently computes a visibility ordering of a collection of moving objects seen by a moving camera in an animated graphics scene. The method detects whether an object occludes other objects. Objects that form an occlusion cycle are grouped together in the ordering. Objects are represented using convex polyhedra to facilitate occlusion testing. A fast occlusion test determines whether the spatial and angular extents of the convex polyhedra overlap. An exact occlusion test detects collisions between convex polyhedra and the silhouettes of the convex polyhedra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Snyder
  • Patent number: 6067096
    Abstract: A method of computer operation and a software system for operating a computer to generate realistic collisions between animated bodies. The system operates the computer to iteratively calculate of body positions from previous positions using a simulated contact force between colliding bodies which has a nonlinear relationship with respect to the closest-points vector defined between the bodies such that the force increases sufficiently rapidly as the closest-points vector goes to zero to overcome the motions causing the collision between the bodies. The present invention also uses a similar relationship between a limiting torque for body part joints and a maximum allowed rotation for a joint for realistic motions of articulated body parts connected by joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: John Nagle
  • Patent number: 6049341
    Abstract: A collision of a moving object with another object in a 3D virtual world is efficiently determined in real time so that the technique is usable over a network. An object in the 3D virtual world is projected onto a 2D plane. The projection of the object is bounded by a two-sided edge cycle that is formed from a sequence of line segments having endpoints that are consecutively joined at an ordered series of vertices. One side, which is formed by a counterclockwise ordering of the line segments and their respective vertices, is characterized as "front facing." The other side is characterized as "back facing." Additionally, the front and back facing characterization of a side of the edge cycle is determined by the disposition of the moving object, i.e., the closest side of the edge cycle to the moving object is its back facing side. A path line segment is developed for the projection of a path of a moving object onto the 2D plane, and a path line equation is determined for the path line segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald P. Mitchell, Michael D. Marr
  • Patent number: 6020893
    Abstract: A technique and system for the realistic simulation of visual scenes reduces the three-dimensional computation to two additions and further reduces the need for three-dimensional computations by displaying several screen pixels per three-dimensional computation. The approach when implemented in hardware or software significantly speeds up scene generation time while improving the resolution and realism of the rendered scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Novalogic, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle G. Freeman
  • Patent number: 5982390
    Abstract: A method and system support the definition, authentication, and enforcement of constraints on speech, appearance, movements, associations, and other properties that are used to suggest or exhibit the personality traits and behaviors of animated characters. The system includes a controlling object and one or more personality objects running in any of a wide range of software and hardware environments. Zero or more personality subobjects may be associated with each personality object. The methods provide steps for authenticating an object, controlling associations between objects and subobjects, controlling events involving one or more objects, controlling the proximity of personality objects to one another, controlling the distribution of objects, and mandating the use of auxiliary objects under specified circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Stan Stoneking
    Inventors: Stan Stoneking, Brian C. Fries