Articulated figure animation using virtual actuators to simulate solutions for differential equations to display more realistic movements
AssigneeTreyarch Invention, L.L.C.
InventorPeter Akemann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer, such as a PC, includes a memory having an imaging program stored in it and a display unit, such as a raster scan CRT are all operatively connected together so that the computing unit can generate a signal that will result in an image being displayed on the display unit. The image includes a moveable figure that moves in response to inputs being provided via an input terminal, towards a set of targets. In response to the inputs from the input terminal, the computer initiates a set of actuators to move the figure wherein each actuator defines the movement in a given plane.
Claims92
An imaging system comprising:
- a computing apparatus including a memory apparatus having an imaging program stored therein, a display apparatus and an input terminal, the computing apparatus being operably connected to the input terminal and the display apparatus;
- and wherein the display apparatus displays an image generated by the computing apparatus executing the program stored in the memory apparatus and including a means for generating a sequence of frames, the image includes a moveable figure having a first and second element connected together at a first union and wherein at least the second element moves in response to inputs provided by the input terminal via the computing apparatus and wherein the computing apparatus in response to an input from the input terminal includes a virtual actuator means for defining the movement in a first plane of the second element according to a first simulation of the solution for a first equation of motion for a damped oscillator, the first equation of motion defines a first change in position of the second element in the first plane of each frame of the sequence of frames and includes a first acceleration value equal to a negative first predetermined constant times a first position value representing a displacement from a target of the second element minus a second predetermined constant times a first velocity value wherein the first velocity value is defined as the rate of change in the displacement of the second element in the first plane between frames.
The imaging system according to clam 35 wherein the sixth velocity value further comprises:
- the sum of the sixth velocity value of a previous frame plus the sixth acceleration value of the current frame.
A method of generating with a computer an image having a moveable figure comprising the steps of:
- displaying on a display a sequences of frames such that for each current frame there is a preceding frame with each frame illustrating the moveable figure having a first and second element connected together at a first union;
- identifying a target;
- advancing at least the second element towards the identified target for each frame of the sequence of frames;
- wherein the step of advancing at least the second element further comprises the step of advancing at least a first virtual actuator that defines the movement of the second element according to a first simulation of the solution for a first equation of motion for the damped oscillator in a first plane between a first preceding frame and a first current frame in the sequence of frames wherein for each frame the first simulation of the first equation of motion includes a first acceleration value, a first velocity value and a first position value and the step of advancing at least the first virtual actuator includes the steps of;
- simulating the solution of the first equation of motion of the damped oscillator for the first acceleration value, modifying the first velocity value according to the sum of the first velocity value of the preceding frame plus the first acceleration value of the current frame, and modifying the first position value according to the first position value of the preceding frame plus the first velocity value of the current frame.
An apparatus for generating with a computer an image having a moveable figure having a first and second element connected together at a first union and wherein at least the second element is displayed advancing towards an identified target for each frame wherein for each current frame there is a preceding frame of a sequence of frames the apparatus comprising:
- means for identifying the target;
- and,
- means for advancing at least a first virtual actuator wherein the first virtual actuator defines the movement in a first plane of the second element according to a first simulation of the solution for a first equation of motion for a damped oscillator and wherein for each frame the first equation of motion includes a first acceleration value, a first velocity value and a first position value 68 and the means for advancing at least the first virtual actuator includes;
- means for simulating the solution of the first equation of motion of the damped oscillator for the first acceleration value, means for modifying the first velocity value according to the sum of the first velocity value of the preceding frame plus the first acceleration value of the current frame, and means for modifying the first position value according to the first position value of the preceding frame plus the first velocity value of the current frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.