Patents by Inventor Alex M. WELLS

Alex M. WELLS has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10460498
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph to render three-dimensional (3D) graphics using constraints. Two virtual 3D objects are accessed in a virtual 3D space. A constraint relationship request is received, which identifies the first object as a parent and the second object as a child. The technique verifies whether the graphs of the objects are compatible for being constrained to one another. The first object is evaluated to determine its translation, rotation, and scale. The second object is similarly evaluated based on the translation, rotation, and scale of the first object. An image is rendered depicting at least a portion of the first virtual 3D object and at least a portion of the second virtual 3D object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Powell, Esteban D. Papp, Alex M. Wells
  • Patent number: 10453239
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph having one or more temporally dependent variables. The temporally dependent variables may include variables that may be used to evaluate the dependency graph at a frame other than that at which the temporally dependent variable was evaluated. One example process may include tracking the temporal dirty state for each temporally dependent variable using a temporal dependency list. This list may be used to determine which frames, if any, should be reevaluated when a request to evaluate a dependency graph for a particular frame is received. This advantageously reduces the amount of time and computing resources needed to reevaluate a dependency graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Powell, Alex M. Wells
  • Patent number: 10241707
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to storing data of a three-dimensional (3D) array in a tiled manner in which adjacent rows of adjacent planes are interleaved to enable more efficient retrieval in performing 3D stencil calculations. An apparatus to perform a stencil calculation includes a processor component, a storage communicatively coupled to the processor component, and an interleaving component for execution by the processor component to interleave storage of data of cells of adjacent rows of a first plane with data of cells of adjacent rows of an adjacent second plane of a 3D array among contiguous storage locations of the storage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alex M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20180197318
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph to render three-dimensional (3D) graphics using constraints. Two virtual 3D objects are accessed in a virtual 3D space. A constraint relationship request is received, which identifies the first object as a parent and the second object as a child. The technique verifies whether the graphs of the objects are compatible for being constrained to one another. The first object is evaluated to determine its translation, rotation, and scale. The second object is similarly evaluated based on the translation, rotation, and scale of the first object. An image is rendered depicting at least a portion of the first virtual 3D object and at least a portion of the second virtual 3D object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: DreamWorks Animation L. L. C.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Powell, Esteban D. Papp, Alex M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20180189987
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph having one or more temporally dependent variables. The temporally dependent variables may include variables that may be used to evaluate the dependency graph at a frame other than that at which the temporally dependent variable was evaluated. One example process may include tracking the temporal dirty state for each temporally dependent variable using a temporal dependency list. This list may be used to determine which frames, if any, should be reevaluated when a request to evaluate a dependency graph for a particular frame is received. This advantageously reduces the amount of time and computing resources needed to reevaluate a dependency graph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander P. POWELL, Alex M. WELLS
  • Patent number: 9892529
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph to render three-dimensional (3D) graphics using constraints. Two virtual 3D objects are accessed in a virtual 3D space. A constraint relationship request is received, which identifies the first object as a parent and the second object as a child. The technique verifies whether the graphs of the objects are compatible for being constrained to one another. The first object is evaluated to determine its translation, rotation, and scale. The second object is similarly evaluated based on the translation, rotation, and scale of the first object. An image is rendered depicting at least a portion of the first virtual 3D object and at least a portion of the second virtual 3D object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Powell, Esteban D. Papp, Alex M. Wells
  • Patent number: 9892528
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph having one or more temporally dependent variables. The temporally dependent variables may include variables that may be used to evaluate the dependency graph at a frame other than that at which the temporally dependent variable was evaluated. One example process may include tracking the temporal dirty state for each temporally dependent variable using a temporal dependency list. This list may be used to determine which frames, if any, should be reevaluated when a request to evaluate a dependency graph for a particular frame is received. This advantageously reduces the amount of time and computing resources needed to reevaluate a dependency graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Powell, Alex M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20140351529
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to storing data of a three-dimensional (3D) array in a tiled manner in which adjacent rows of adjacent planes are interleaved to enable more efficient retrieval in performing 3D stencil calculations. An apparatus to perform a stencil calculation includes a processor component, a storage communicatively coupled to the processor component, and an interleaving component for execution by the processor component to interleave storage of data of cells of adjacent rows of a first plane with data of cells of adjacent rows of an adjacent second plane of a 3D array among contiguous storage locations of the storage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Alex M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20140035908
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph to render three-dimensional (3D) graphics using constraints. Two virtual 3D objects are accessed in a virtual 3D space. A constraint relationship request is received, which identifies the first object as a parent and the second object as a child. The technique verifies whether the graphs of the objects are compatible for being constrained to one another. The first object is evaluated to determine its translation, rotation, and scale. The second object is similarly evaluated based on the translation, rotation, and scale of the first object. An image is rendered depicting at least a portion of the first virtual 3D object and at least a portion of the second virtual 3D object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: DreamWorks Animation LLC
    Inventors: Alexander P. POWELL, Esteban D. PAPP, Alex M. WELLS
  • Publication number: 20140035931
    Abstract: Systems and processes are described below relating to evaluating a dependency graph having one or more temporally dependent variables. The temporally dependent variables may include variables that may be used to evaluate the dependency graph at a frame other than that at which the temporally dependent variable was evaluated. One example process may include tracking the temporal dirty state for each temporally dependent variable using a temporal dependency list. This list may be used to determine which frames, if any, should be reevaluated when a request to evaluate a dependency graph for a particular frame is received. This advantageously reduces the amount of time and computing resources needed to reevaluate a dependency graph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: DreamWorks Animation LLC
    Inventors: Alexander P. Powell, Alex M. Wells