Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.

Abstract: A method of animating a digital character according to facial expressions of a user, comprising the steps of, (a) obtaining a 2D image and 3D depth map of the face of the user, (b) determining expression parameters for a user expression model so that a facial expression of the user-specific expression model represents the face of the user shown in the 2D image and 3D depth map (c) using the expression parameters and an animation prior to determine animation parameters usable to animate a digital character, wherein the animation prior is a sequence of animation parameters which represent predefined animations of a digital character (d) using the animation parameters to animate a digital character so that the digital character mimics the face of the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and a method for continuously measuring cementitious board during the continuous manufacture thereof can be used in connection with the manufacture of various cementitious products, including gypsum wallboard, for example. Embodiments of a system and a method for continuously measuring cementitious board during its continuous manufacture can be used online in a continuous manufacturing process to effectively determine the degree to which cementitious slurry has set (e.g., expressed as percent hydration) at a predetermined location, such as, near a cutting station, for example. A height measuring system can be used to determine the relative amount the cementitious board sags as it passes over an unsupported span disposed between the forming station and the cutting station and to correlate the measured sag distance with a value of percent hydration of the cementitious slurry of that particular portion of the cementitious board.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.

Abstract: Method of designing a refractive surface, comprising providing a refractive object having a refractive surface with an initial geometry, determining a refraction of incident illumination through the refractive surface with the initial geometry to create a source irradiance ES distribution on a receiver; and determining a shape of the refractive surface of the refractive object such that a resulting irradiance distribution on the receiver matches a desired target irradiance ET provided by a user.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and a method for continuously measuring cementitious board during the continuous manufacture thereof can be used in connection with the manufacture of various cementitious products, including gypsum wallboard, for example. Embodiments of a system and a method for continuously measuring cementitious board during its continuous manufacture can be used online in a continuous manufacturing process to effectively determine the degree to which cementitious slurry has set (e.g., expressed as percent hydration) at a predetermined location, such as, near a cutting station, for example. A height measuring system can be used to determine the relative amount the cementitious board sags as it passes over an unsupported span disposed between the forming station and the cutting station and to correlate the measured sag distance with a value of percent hydration of the cementitious slurry of that particular portion of the cementitious board.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a reflective or refractive surface that reflects or refracts light shined thereon and reproduces on a screen a desired greyscale intensity image on which the reflective or refractive surface is based and a corresponding apparatus, wherein the method permits a reproduction of a reference grayscale image with adjustable precision.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for real-time facial animation, and a processing device for real-time facial animation. The method includes providing a dynamic expression model, receiving tracking data corresponding to a facial expression of a user, estimating tracking parameters based on the dynamic expression model and the tracking data, and refining the dynamic expression model based on the tracking data and estimated tracking parameters. The method may further include generating a graphical representation corresponding to the facial expression of the user based on the tracking parameters. Embodiments pertain to a real-time facial animation system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a reflective or refractive surface that reflects or refracts light shined thereon and reproduces on a screen a desired greyscale intensity image on which the reflective or refractive surface is based and a corresponding apparatus, wherein the method permits a reproduction of a reference grayscale image with adjustable precision.

Abstract: A method of animating a digital character according to facial expressions of a user, comprising the steps of, (a) obtaining a 2D image and 3D depth map of the face of the user, (b) determining expression parameters for a user expression model so that a facial expression of the user-specific expression model represents the face of the user shown in the 2D image and 3D depth map (c) using the expression parameters and an animation prior to determine animation parameters usable to animate a digital character, wherein the animation prior is a sequence of animation parameters which represent predefined animations of a digital character (d) using the animation parameters to animate a digital character so that the digital character mimics the face of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing symmetry in 2D and 3D objects are disclosed. At least some embodiments include a computer-readable storage medium including software (executable on a processor) to symmetrize a modeled physical object that causes the processor to identify a plurality of clusters (each including a plurality of symmetric point pairs each derived from a plurality of sampled surface points of the object), and to calculate and apply each of a first plurality of displacement value pairs to corresponding sample positions of the symmetric point pairs within at least one cluster, increasing the symmetry of the cluster. The software further causes the processor to calculate a second plurality of displacement value pairs, to contract the cluster using the second plurality of displacement value pairs, to merge two or more clusters within the transformation space, and to present a graphical representation of the symmetrized modeled physical object to a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing symmetry in 2D and 3D objects are disclosed. At least some embodiments include a computer-readable storage medium including software (executable on a processor) to symmetrize a modeled physical object that causes the processor to identify a plurality of clusters (each including a plurality of symmetric point pairs each derived from a plurality of sampled surface points of the object), and to calculate and apply each of a first plurality of displacement value pairs to corresponding sample positions of the symmetric point pairs within at least one cluster, increasing the symmetry of the cluster. The software further causes the processor to calculate a second plurality of displacement value pairs, to contract the cluster using the second plurality of displacement value pairs, to merge two or more clusters within the transformation space, and to present a graphical representation of the symmetrized modeled physical object to a user.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing non-uniformly sampled data to create an image includes: receiving a new partial data set, the new partial data set including a vector of non-uniformly sampled data at k-space positions; subtracting an old partial data set at the same k-space positions from the new partial data set to create a difference vector; gridding the difference vector to create a difference matrix; adding the difference matrix to a frame of previously gridded data to create a new frame; and transforming the new frame to create the image. In one embodiment, gridding includes constructing a gridding table for a data point in a complete data set, and convolving a data point in the difference vector with the gridding table. In another embodiment at least one of a grid size and a first parameter of the window function is optimized using input parameters for at least one of aliasing energy and computation time.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed using incremental table motion and partial data acquisition for increased volume coverage to reconstruct MR images across a large FOV without significant slab-boundary artifacts. At each table position, full z-encoding data are acquired for a subset of the kx-ky data. The table is stepped through a number of positions over the desired FOV and MR data are acquired over the plurality of table increments. Since full z-data are acquired for each slab, the data can be Fourier transformed in z, sorted, and then aligned to match anatomic z locations. The fully sampled and aligned data is then Fourier transformed in x and y to reconstruct the final image that is free of slab-boundary artifacts.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing non-uniformly sampled data to create an image includes: receiving a new partial data set, the new partial data set including a vector of non-uniformly sampled data at k-space positions; subtracting an old partial data set at the same k-space positions from the new partial data set to create a difference vector; gridding the difference vector to create a difference matrix; adding the difference matrix to a frame of previously gridded data to create a new frame; and transforming the new frame to create the image. In one embodiment, gridding includes constructing a gridding table for a data point in a complete data set, and convolving a data point in the difference vector with the gridding table. In another embodiment at least one of a grid size and a first parameter of the window function is optimized using input parameters for at least one of aliasing energy and computation time.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed using incremental table motion and partial data acquisition for increased volume coverage to reconstruct MR images across a large FOV without significant slab-boundary artifacts. At each table position, full z-encoding data are acquired for a subset of the kx −ky data. The table is stepped through a number of positions over the desired FOV and MR data are acquired over the plurality of table increments. Since full z-data are acquired for each slab, the data can be Fourier transformed in z, sorted, and then aligned to match anatomic z locations. The fully sampled and aligned data is then Fourier transformed in x and y to reconstruct the final image that is free of slab-boundary artifacts.