Patents by Inventor Derek Edward Bradley

Derek Edward Bradley 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: 12367649
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating three-dimensional (3D) models and facial hair models representative of subjects (e.g., actors or actresses) using facial scanning technology. Initial subject facial data, including facial frames and facial performance frames (e.g., images of the subject collected from a capture system) can be used to accurately predict the structure of the subject's face underneath their facial hair to produce a reference 3D facial shape of the subject. Likewise, image processing techniques can be used to identify facial hairs and generate a reference facial hair model. The reference 3D facial shape and reference facial hair mode can subsequently be used to generate performance 3D facial shapes and a performance facial hair model corresponding to a performance by the subject (e.g., reciting dialog).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Sebastian Winberg, Prashanth Chandran, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss, Derek Edward Bradley
  • Patent number: 12361663
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for generating three-dimensional (3D) models and facial hair models representative of subjects (e.g., actors or actresses) using facial scanning technology. Methods accord to embodiments may be useful for performing facial capture on subjects with dense facial hair. Initial subject facial data, including facial frames and facial performance frames (e.g., images of the subject collected from a capture system) can be used to accurately predict the structure of the subject's face underneath their facial hair to produce a reference 3D facial shape of the subject. Likewise, image processing techniques can be used to identify facial hairs and generate a reference facial hair model. The reference 3D facial shape and reference facial hair mode can subsequently be used to generate performance 3D facial shapes and a performance facial hair model corresponding to a performance by the subject (e.g., reciting dialog).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss, Prashanth Chandran, Sebastian Winberg
  • Patent number: 12361634
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system for rendering an object, such as human skin or a human head, from captured appearance data. The system includes a processor executing a near field lighting reconstruction module. The system determines at least one of a three-dimensional (3D) position or a 3D orientation of a lighting unit based on a plurality of captured images of a mirror sphere. For each point light source in a plurality of point light sources included in the lighting unit, the system determines an intensity associated with the point light source. The system determines captures appearance data of the object, where the object is illuminated by the lighting unit. The system renders an image of the object based on the appearance data and the intensities associated with each point light source in the plurality of point light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignees: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Derek Edward Bradley, Gaspard Zoss, Jeremy Riviere, Prashanth Chandran, Yingyan Xu
  • Patent number: 12340440
    Abstract: A technique for performing style transfer between a content sample and a style sample is disclosed. The technique includes applying one or more neural network layers to a first latent representation of the style sample to generate one or more convolutional kernels. The technique also includes generating convolutional output by convolving a second latent representation of the content sample with the one or more convolutional kernels. The technique further includes applying one or more decoder layers to the convolutional output to produce a style transfer result that comprises one or more content-based attributes of the content sample and one or more style-based attributes of the style sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Prashanth Chandran, Derek Edward Bradley, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12322039
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system for rendering an object, such as human skin or a human head, from captured appearance data comprising a plurality of texels. The system includes a processor executing a texture space indirect illumination module. The system determines texture coordinates of a vector originating from a first texel where the vector intersects a second texel. The system renders the second texel from the viewpoint of the first texel based on appearance data at the second texel. Based on the rendering of the second texel, the system determines an indirect lighting intensity incident to the first texel from the second texel. The system updates appearance data at the first texel based on a direct lighting intensity and the indirect lighting intensity. The system renders the first texel based on the updated appearance data at the first texel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Derek Edward Bradley, Gaspard Zoss, Jeremy Riviere, Prashanth Chandran, Yingyan Xu
  • Patent number: 12243349
    Abstract: Embodiment of the present invention sets forth techniques for performing face reconstruction. The techniques include generating an identity mesh based on an identity encoding that represents an identity associated with a face in one or more images. The techniques also include generating an expression mesh based on an expression encoding that represents an expression associated with the face in the one or more images. The techniques also include generating, by a machine learning model, an output mesh of the face based on the identity mesh and the expression mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Prashanth Chandran, Simone Foti, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12243140
    Abstract: A technique for rendering an input geometry includes generating a first segmentation mask for a first input geometry and a first set of texture maps associated with one or more portions of the first input geometry. The technique also includes generating, via one or more neural networks, a first set of neural textures for the one or more portions of the first input geometry. The technique further includes rendering a first image corresponding to the first input geometry based on the first segmentation mask, the first set of texture maps, and the first set of neural textures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Prashanth Chandran, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12236517
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating photorealistic images of objects, such as heads, from multiple viewpoints. In some embodiments, a morphable radiance field (MoRF) model that generates images of heads includes an identity model that maps an identifier (ID) code associated with a head into two codes: a deformation ID code encoding a geometric deformation from a canonical head geometry, and a canonical ID code encoding a canonical appearance within a shape-normalized space. The MoRF model also includes a deformation field model that maps a world space position to a shape-normalized space position based on the deformation ID code. Further, the MoRF model includes a canonical neural radiance field (NeRF) model that includes a density multi-layer perceptron (MLP) branch, a diffuse MLP branch, and a specular MLP branch that output densities, diffuse colors, and specular colors, respectively. The MoRF model can be used to render images of heads from various viewpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Prashanth Chandran, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Daoye Wang, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12205213
    Abstract: A technique for rendering an input geometry includes generating a first segmentation mask for a first input geometry and a first set of texture maps associated with one or more portions of the first input geometry. The technique also includes generating, via one or more neural networks, a first set of neural textures for the one or more portions of the first input geometry. The technique further includes rendering a first image corresponding to the first input geometry based on the first segmentation mask, the first set of texture maps, and the first set of neural textures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Prashanth Chandran, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12198225
    Abstract: A technique for synthesizing a shape includes generating a first plurality of offset tokens based on a first shape code and a first plurality of position tokens, wherein the first shape code represents a variation of a canonical shape, and wherein the first plurality of position tokens represent a first plurality of positions on the canonical shape. The technique also includes generating a first plurality of offsets associated with the first plurality of positions on the canonical shape based on the first plurality of offset tokens. The technique further includes generating the shape based on the first plurality of offsets and the first plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, INC., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Prashanth Chandran, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12118734
    Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to capturing facial training data for one or more subjects, the captured facial training data including each of the one or more subject's facial skin geometry tracked over a plurality of times and the subject's corresponding jaw poses for each of those plurality of times; and using the captured facial training data to create a model that provides a mapping from skin motion to jaw motion. Additional implementations of the disclosure are directed to determining a facial skin geometry of a subject; using a model that provides a mapping from skin motion to jaw motion to predict a motion of the subject's jaw from a rest pose given the facial skin geometry; and determining a jaw pose of the subject using the predicted motion of the subject's jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Dominik Thabo Beeler, Derek Edward Bradley, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 12111880
    Abstract: Various embodiments set forth systems and techniques for changing a face within an image. The techniques include receiving a first image including a face associated with a first facial identity; generating, via a machine learning model, at least a first texture map and a first position map based on the first image; rendering a second image including a face associated with a second facial identity based on the first texture map and the first position map, wherein the second facial identity is different from the first facial identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignees: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., ETH Zurich (Eidgenssische Technische Hochschule Zurich)
    Inventors: Jacek Krzysztof Naruniec, Derek Edward Bradley, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Leonhard Markus Helminger, Christopher Andreas Otto, Christopher Richard Schroers, Romann Matthew Weber
  • Patent number: 12086927
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing appearance capture. The technique includes receiving a first sequence of images of an object, wherein the first sequence of images includes a first set of images interleaved with a second set of images, and wherein the first set of images is captured based on illumination of the object using a first lighting pattern and the second set of images is captured based on illumination of the object using one or more lighting patterns that are different from the first lighting pattern. The technique also includes generating a first set of appearance parameters associated with the object based on a first inverse rendering associated with the first sequence of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Derek Edward Bradley, Jérémy Riviere
  • Patent number: 11989971
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing facial appearance properties. In some examples, a facial capture system includes light source(s) that produce linearly polarized light, at least one camera that is cross-polarized with respect to the polarization of light produced by the light source(s), and at least one other camera that is not cross-polarized with respect to the polarization of the light produced by the light source(s). Images captured by the cross-polarized camera(s) are used to determine facial appearance properties other than specular intensity, such as diffuse albedo, while images captured by the camera(s) that are not cross-polarized are used to determine facial appearance properties including specular intensity. In addition, a coarse-to-fine optimization procedure is disclosed for determining appearance and detailed geometry maps based on images captured by the cross-polarized camera(s) and the camera(s) that are not cross-polarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Riviere, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Abhijeet Ghosh, Derek Edward Bradley, Dominik Thabo Beeler
  • Patent number: 11875441
    Abstract: A modeling engine generates a prediction model that quantifies and predicts secondary dynamics associated with the face of a performer enacting a performance. The modeling engine generates a set of geometric representations that represents the face of the performer enacting different facial expressions under a range of loading conditions. For a given facial expression and specific loading condition, the modeling engine trains a Machine Learning model to predict how soft tissue regions of the face of the performer change in response to external forces applied to the performer during the performance. The modeling engine combines different expression models associated with different facial expressions to generate a prediction model. The prediction model can be used to predict and remove secondary dynamics from a given geometric representation of a performance or to generate and add secondary dynamics to a given geometric representation of a performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., ETH ZÜRICH (EIDGENÖSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZÜRICH)
    Inventors: Dominik Thabo Beeler, Derek Edward Bradley, Eftychios Dimitrios Sifakis, Gaspard Zoss
  • Patent number: 11836860
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing facial retargeting using a patch-based technique are disclosed. One or more three-dimensional (3D) representations of a source character's (e.g., a human actor's) face can be transferred onto one or more corresponding representations of a target character's (e.g., a cartoon character's) face, enabling filmmakers to transfer a performance by a source character to a target character. The source character's 3D facial shape can separated into patches. For each patch, a patch combination (representing that patch as a combination of source reference patches) can be determined. The patch combinations and target reference patches can then be used to create target patches corresponding to the target character. The target patches can be combined using an anatomical local model solver to produce a 3D facial shape corresponding to the target character, effectively transferring a facial performance by the source character to the target character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Prashanth Chandran, Loïc Florian Ciccone, Derek Edward Bradley
  • Publication number: 20230260186
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for generating three-dimensional (3D) models and facial hair models representative of subjects (e.g., actors or actresses) using facial scanning technology. Methods accord to embodiments may be useful for performing facial capture on subjects with dense facial hair. Initial subject facial data, including facial frames and facial performance frames (e.g., images of the subject collected from a capture system) can be used to accurately predict the structure of the subject’s face underneath their facial hair to produce a reference 3D facial shape of the subject. Likewise, image processing techniques can be used to identify facial hairs and generate a reference facial hair model. The reference 3D facial shape and reference facial hair mode can subsequently be used to generate performance 3D facial shapes and a performance facial hair model corresponding to a performance by the subject (e.g., reciting dialog).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicants: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Sebastian Winberg, Prashanth Chandran, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss, Derek Edward Bradley
  • Publication number: 20230237753
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for generating three-dimensional (3D) models and facial hair models representative of subjects (e.g., actors or actresses) using facial scanning technology. Methods accord to embodiments may be useful for performing facial capture on subjects with dense facial hair. Initial subject facial data, including facial frames and facial performance frames (e.g., images of the subject collected from a capture system) can be used to accurately predict the structure of the subject's face underneath their facial hair to produce a reference 3D facial shape of the subject. Likewise, image processing techniques can be used to identify facial hairs and generate a reference facial hair model. The reference 3D facial shape and reference facial hair mode can subsequently be used to generate performance 3D facial shapes and a performance facial hair model corresponding to a performance by the subject (e.g., reciting dialog).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Gaspard Zoss, Prashanth Chandran, Sebastian Winberg
  • Publication number: 20230237739
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing facial retargeting using a patch-based technique are disclosed. One or more three-dimensional (3D) representations of a source character's (e.g., a human actor's) face can be transferred onto one or more corresponding representations of a target character's (e.g., a cartoon character's) face, enabling filmmakers to transfer a performance by a source character to a target character. The source character's 3D facial shape can separated into patches. For each patch, a patch combination (representing that patch as a combination of source reference patches) can be determined. The patch combinations and target reference patches can then be used to create target patches corresponding to the target character. The target patches can be combined using an anatomical local model solver to produce a 3D facial shape corresponding to the target character, effectively transferring a facial performance by the source character to the target character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Prashanth Chandran, Loïc Florian Ciccone, Derek Edward Bradley
  • Patent number: 11645813
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating digital faces. In some examples, an anatomical face model is generated from a data set including captured facial geometries of different individuals and associated bone geometries. A model generator segments each of the captured facial geometries into patches, compresses the segmented geometry associated with each patch to determine local deformation subspaces of the anatomical face model, and determines corresponding compressed anatomical subspaces of the anatomical face model. A sculpting application determines, based on sculpting input from a user, constraints for an optimization to determine parameter values associated with the anatomical face model. The parameter values can be used, along with the anatomical face model, to generate facial geometry that reflects the sculpting input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., ETH ZÜRICH (EIDGENÖSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZÜRICH)
    Inventors: Aurel Gruber, Marco Fratarcangeli, Derek Edward Bradley, Gaspard Zoss, Dominik Thabo Beeler