Patents by Inventor Richard Everett Rice

Richard Everett Rice 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).

  • Approximation of Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces by Bezier patches
    Patent number: 7170516
    Abstract: A method for converting a subdivision surface, such as a Catmull-Clark subdivision surface, into a cubic Bezier surface defined by sixteen control points. The method includes (a) converting a subdivision face to Bezier control points using a conversion matrix using fifteen points and a dummy value for an unavailable sixteenth point; and (b) replacing one of the Bezier control points which corresponds to an extraordinary point on the subdivision face with the extraordinary point's limit point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Joel Stollnitz, Richard Everett Rice
  • Approximation of Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces by Bezier patches
    Patent number: 6950099
    Abstract: A method for converting a subdivision surface, such as a Catmull-Clark subdivision surface, into a cubic Bezier surface defined by sixteen control points. The method includes (a) converting a subdivision face to Bezier control points using a conversion matrix using fifteen points and a dummy value for an unavailable sixteenth point; and (b) replacing one of the Bezier control points which corresponds to an extraordinary point on the subdivision face with the extraordinary point's limit point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Alias Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Joel Stollnitz, Richard Everett Rice
  • Approximation of catmull-clark subdivision surfaces by bezier patches
    Publication number: 20040001061
    Abstract: A method for converting a subdivision surface, such as a Catmull-Clark subdivision surface, into a cubic Bezier surface defined by sixteen control points. The method includes (a) converting a subdivision face to Bezier control points using a conversion matrix using fifteen points and a dummy value for an unavailable sixteenth point; and (b) replacing one of the Bezier control points which corresponds to an extraordinary point on the subdivision face with the extraordinary point's limit point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Joel Stollnitz, Richard Everett Rice
  • Curves and surfaces modeling based on a cloud of points
    Patent number: 6253164
    Abstract: A method of computer curve and surface modeling includes storing in a computer memory a cloud of points associated with an object and least-square fitting one or more curves or surfaces to the cloud of points. The resulting curves or surfaces representative of the object are easier to describe mathematically and require less computer resources to process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikki Ruth Rohm, Richard Everett Rice