Brian V Paul

US Patent:

6512522, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Apr 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/293497

Inventors:

Paul Miller - Tewksbury MA
Brian E. Paul - Lowell MA

Assignee:

Avid Technology, Inc. - Tewksbury MA

International Classification:

G06T 1570

US Classification:

345474

Abstract:

A character is represented in a character generator as a set of polygons. The character may be manipulated using three-dimensional animation techniques. A code for a character may be used to access a set of curves defining the outline of the character. This set of curves is transformed into a set of polygons. The set of polygons may be rendered as a three-dimensional object. The set of polygons may be created by converting the curves into sets of connected line segments and then tessellating the polygon defined by the line segments. Animation properties are represented using a normalized scale along a path or over time. Animation may be provided in a manner that is independent of the spatial and temporal resolution of the video to which it is applied. Such animation may be applied to characters defined by a set of polygons. Various three-dimensional spatial transformations, lighting effects and other colorizations may be provided.

US Patent:

6404435, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Apr 3, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/054763

Inventors:

Paul Miller - Tewksbury MA
Brian Paul - Lowell MA

Assignee:

Avid Technology, Inc. - Tewksbury MA

International Classification:

G06T 1100

US Classification:

345468, 345128

Abstract:

A character is represented in a character generator as a set of polygons. The character may be manipulated using three-dimensional animation techniques. A code for a character may be used to access a set of curves defining the outline of the character. This set of curves is transformed into a set of polygons. The set of polygons may be rendered as a three-dimensional object. The set of polygons may be created by converting the curves into sets of connected line segments and then tessellating the polygon defined by the line segments. Animation properties are represented using a normalized scale over time. Animation may be provided in a manner that is independent of the spatial and temporal resolution of the video to which it is applied. Such animation may be applied to characters defined by a set of polygons. A user interface for editing a character string may provide two alternate displays.