Patents by Inventor Alexander A. Migdal

Alexander A. Migdal 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: 7728848
    Abstract: Improvement of the performance, usability, and functionality of software for editing three dimensional computer models and textures is described. Editing operations are performed on the model in an ordered list to reduce the amount of memory required to maintain previous versions, and certain editing operations are precalculated to reduce the amount of real time calculation required. Improvements to usability and functionality are provided by more precisely selecting portions of a model for editing, allowing textures to be moved more easily on the model, and allowing better blending of the appearance of adjacent textures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: DG FastChannel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Patent number: 7474803
    Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Patent number: 7453456
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying the contour of an object that is depicted in an image. An object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object by comparing light intensity values in the images of the object with light intensity values from an image of the background without the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Publication number: 20060232583
    Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Publication number: 20060227133
    Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Patent number: 7065242
    Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically-by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Patent number: 6611267
    Abstract: A system and method for the rapid creation of an optimized mesh model of a real world object, terrain or other three-dimensional surface. The mesh construction technique provides dynamic “up resolution/down resolution” mesh construction capabilities. The system inserts points into the mesh incrementally, ordering the points before each insertion so that dynamic resolution construction can be maintained. The point ordering process determines the distance each point has from the surface of a given mesh configuration such that the next point added will always be the point bringing the most significant detail to the mesh. This procedure of “optimal simplification” optimizes the mesh by guaranteeing the fewest number of points for the most detail at any given resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev
  • Patent number: 6549288
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for illuminating an object with a special kind of structured light pattern, recording the shape of the reflected points of light by means of a camera, and, by a triangulation technique that does not depend on the fixed direction of the light source relative to the camera, reconstructing the 3D shape of the object through a computer using the data points collected from the reflection of the structured light pattern. The scanning system is portable and does not require data processing contemporaneous with the data collection. The portable system stores in the storage media several images of the objects with different illumination patterns. The data is subsequently processed, by a computer system which applies data processing routines, i.e., the model building algorithms which provide 3D surface generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corp.
    Inventors: Alexander Migdal, Michael Petrov, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Vadim Abadjev, Vladimir Bernstein, Andrei Afanassenkov
  • Patent number: 6496601
    Abstract: System and method for asynchronous transmission of video images such as from a sending to a receiving terminal or from a sending processor to a storage medium like videotape. The system receives moving picture image information such as analog video digitized into 2D bitmap data and employs a modeling system such as a triangulated mesh modeling system to create an initial image consisting of a compact set of N elements (such as the data points of a triangulated mesh) where the number of elements is less than the number of elements necessary to display the image. In the exemplary embodiment the model elements are bitmap pixel assignments, however other elements such as wavelets, or Fourier component elements, or iterated function system (IFS maps) could also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corp.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Migdal, Blaise Aguera-Arcas
  • Publication number: 20020167518
    Abstract: A system and method for the rapid creation of an optimized mesh model of a real world object, terrain or other three-dimensional surface. The mesh construction technique provides dynamic “up resolution/down resolution” mesh construction capabilities. The system inserts points into the mesh incrementally, ordering the points before each insertion so that dynamic resolution construction can be maintained. The point ordering process determines the distance each point has from the surface of a given mesh configuration such that the next point added will always be the point bringing the most significant detail to the mesh. This procedure of “optimal simplification” optimizes the mesh by guaranteeing the fewest number of points for the most detail at any given resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev
  • Patent number: 6392647
    Abstract: A system and method for the rapid creation of an optimized mesh model of a real world object, terrain or other three-dimensional surface. The mesh construction technique provides dynamic “up resolution/down resolution” mesh construction capabilities. The system inserts points into the mesh incrementally, ordering the points before each insertion so that dynamic resolution construction can be maintained. The point ordering process determines the distance each point has from the surface of a given mesh configuration such that the next point added will always be the point bringing the most significant detail to the mesh. This procedure of “optimal simplification” optimizes the mesh by guaranteeing the fewest number of points for the most detail at any given resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev
  • Publication number: 20020050988
    Abstract: System and method for constructing a 3D model of an object based on a series of silhouette and texture map images. In the exemplary embodiment an object is placed on a rotating turntable and a camera, which is stationary, captures images of the object as it rotates on the turntable. In one pass, the system captures a number of photographic images that will be processed into image silhouettes. In a second pass, the system gathers texture data. After a calibration procedure (used to determine the camera's focal length and the turntable's axis of rotation), a silhouette processing module determines a set of two-dimensional polygon shapes (silhouette contour polygons) that describe the contours of the object. The system uses the silhouette contour polygons to create a 3D polygonal mesh model of the object. The system determines the shape of the 3D model analytically-by finding the areas of intersection between the edges of the model faces and the edges of the silhouette contour polygons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronika Shelyekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Patent number: 6356263
    Abstract: A computer-based system and method for refining of mesh model of a three-dimensional (3D) object or surface through adaptive subdivision that results in a smooth interpolation of the mesh surface. In one example, the system operates upon a triangulated mesh model and analyzes each edge of the triangle in question to determine whether that particular edge should be subdivided based on a predetermined subdivision criteria. After an analysis of each of the edges of that triangle (using the adaptive subdivision criteria) the system and method may make one of several different types of subdivisions—e.g. dividing the mesh triangle into two, three or four smaller triangles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander A. Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Victor Paskhaver
  • Publication number: 20010056308
    Abstract: Improvement of the performance, usability, and functionality of software for editing three dimensional computer models and textures is described. Editing operations are performed on the model in an ordered list to reduce the amount of memory required to maintain previous versions, and certain editing operations are precalculated to reduce the amount of real time calculation required. Improvements to usability and functionality are provided by more precisely selecting portions of a model for editing, allowing textures to be moved more easily on the model, and allowing better blending of the appearance of adjacent textures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Michael Petrov, Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev, Veronica Shelekhova, Leonid Polonskiy, Vadim Abadjev
  • Publication number: 20010013866
    Abstract: A computer-based system and method for refining of mesh model of a three-dimensional (3D) object or surface through adaptive subdivision that results in a smooth interpolation of the mesh surface. In one example, the system operates upon a triangulated mesh model and analyzes each edge of the triangle in question to determine whether that particular edge should be subdivided based on a predetermined subdivision criteria. After an analysis of each of the edges of that triangle (using the adaptive subdivision criteria) the system and method may make one of several different types of subdivisions—e.g. dividing the mesh triangle into two, three or four smaller triangles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: ALEXANDER MIGDAL, ALEXEI LEBEDEV, VICTOR PASKAVER
  • Patent number: 6262739
    Abstract: A system and method for the rapid creation of an optimized mesh model of a real world object, terrain or other three-dimensional surface. The mesh construction technique provides dynamic “up resolution/down resolution” mesh construction capabilities. The system inserts points into the mesh incrementally, ordering the points before each insertion so that dynamic resolution construction can be maintained. The point ordering process determines the distance each point has from the surface of a given mesh configuration such that the next point added will always be the point bringing the most significant detail to the mesh. This procedure of “optimal simplification” optimizes the mesh by guaranteeing the fewest number of points for the most detail at any given resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Real-Time Geometry Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Migdal, Alexei Lebedev
  • Patent number: 6208347
    Abstract: A system and method for modeling 3D objects and 2D images by wireframe mesh constructions having data points that combine both spatial data and surface information such as color or texture data. The use of the complex data points (e.g., X, Y, Z, R, G, B in 3D and x, y, R, G, B in 2D) allows the modeling system to incorporate both the spatial features of the object or image as well as its color or other surface features into the wireframe mesh. The present invention's 3D object models (such as those created by laser scanning systems) do not require a separate texture map file for generating display or other object manipulations. In an exemplary embodiment, the mesh constructions of the present invention contain sufficient color information such that the triangles of the meshes can be rendered by any processor supporting linear or bilinear interpolation such as Gouraud shading (available in many 3D and 2½D systems).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Real-Time Geometry Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander A. Migdal, Blaise Aguera-Arcas, Alexei Lebedev
  • Patent number: 6205243
    Abstract: System and method for rapid collection of data points and construction of a computer model based on a multi-resolution mesh to describe the surface contours and color of an object. The system collects data by projecting shapes of light against the object and collecting (from a position of triangulation relative to the light projector) images of the light as it reflects from the object. The system and method of the present invention are comprised of a multiple laser stripe generation process to project a number of light shapes against the object, the collection of one or more reflected laser stripes in a single image of an images collector to gather sufficient information to reproduce points on the surface of the object. The system compresses the data associated with collected points, which allows for accurate values for the contours of the object to subpixel accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Viewpoint Corp.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Migdal, Michael Petrov, Alexei Lebedev
  • Patent number: 6064771
    Abstract: System and method for asynchronous transmission of video images such as from a sending to a receiving terminal or from a sending processor to a storage medium like videotape. The system receives moving picture image information such as analog video digitized into 2D bitmap data and employs a modeling system such as a triangulated mesh modeling system to create an initial image consisting of a compact set of N elements (such as the data points of a triangulated mesh) where the number of elements is less than the number of elements necessary to display the image. In the exemplary embodiment the model elements are bitmap pixel assignments, however other elements such as wavelets, or Fourier component elements, or iterated function system (IFS maps) could also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Real-Time Geometry Corp.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Migdal, Blaise Aguera-Arcas
  • Patent number: 6044170
    Abstract: System and method for rapid collection of data points and construction of a computer model based on a multi-resolution mesh to describe the surface contours and color of an object. The system collects data by projecting shapes of light against the object and collecting (from a position of triangulation relative to the light projector) images of the light as it reflects from the object. The system and method of the present invention are comprised of a multiple laser stripe generation process to project a number of light shapes against the object, the collection of one or more reflected laser stripes in a single image of an images collector to gather sufficient information to reproduce points on the surface of the object. The system compresses the data associated with collected points, which allows for accurate values for the contours of the object to subpixel accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Real-Time Geometry Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander A. Migdal, Michael Petrov, Alexei Lebedev