Michael D Kass

US Patent:

6489960, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Jan 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/756112

Inventors:

Anthony David DeRose - San Rafael CA
Michael Kass - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Pixar Animation Studios - Richmond CA

International Classification:

G06T 1720

US Classification:

345423, 345428

Abstract:

Different limit surfaces are derived from the same initial arbitrary polygon mesh by sequentially combining different subdivision rules. This added freedom allows for the more efficiently modeling of objects in computer graphics including objects and characters with semi-sharp features.

US Patent:

6970171, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

May 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/851940

Inventors:

David E. Baraff - Oakland CA, US
Andrew Witkin - Oakland CA, US
Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T013/00
G06T017/00

US Classification:

345473, 345420

Abstract:

A method of globally analyzing intersections between objects in computer animation includes providing objects represented by meshes, with each of the meshes being formed by a set of vertices, where a set of pairs of vertices defines a set of edges of the mesh. All edges of the meshes are checked to determine if the edges intersect with any of the meshes. An intersection path, formed by the intersection of the meshes, is traced and which vertices that are contained within the intersection path are determined. A polarity of each of the contained vertices is set to indicate that those vertices are contained within the intersection path. The analysis forms the backbone of a collision-response algorithm for unoriented objects such as cloth that is better than previous existing algorithms. The analysis also allows objects to be simulated even when hand-animated elements of the simulation have extreme amounts of interpenetration. Finally, simply displaying the nature and extent of the data found from the analysis provides extremely useful feedback to an end-user.

US Patent:

7355600, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Mar 24, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/090767

Inventors:

David E. Baraff - Oakland CA, US
Andrew Witkin - Oakland CA, US
Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 13/00

US Classification:

345473, 345441, 345420, 345629, 345597

Abstract:

A method of globally analyzing intersections between objects in computer animation includes providing objects represented by meshes, with each of the meshes being formed by a set of vertices, where a set of pairs of vertices defines a set of edges of the mesh. All edges of the meshes are checked to determine if the edges intersect with any of the meshes. An intersection path, formed by the intersection of the meshes, is traced and which vertices that are contained within the intersection path are determined. A polarity of each of the contained vertices is set to indicate that those vertices are contained within the intersection path. The analysis forms the backbone of a collision-response algorithm for unoriented objects such as cloth that is better than previous existing algorithms. The analysis also allows objects to be simulated even when hand-animated elements of the simulation have extreme amounts of interpenetration. Finally, simply displaying the nature and extent of the data found from the analysis provides extremely useful feedback to an end-user.

US Patent:

7483030, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Jan 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/342264

Inventors:

Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US
John Anderson - San Anselmo CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 13/00

US Classification:

345473

Abstract:

Animation techniques for producing physically-realistic animation while providing the interactivity and control desired by animators. Techniques are provided specifying animation for motion problems that give rise to quadratic optimization functions solvable with linear systems of equations. The resultant splines generalize traditional splines to encompass oscillatory solutions. These problems can be solved at full frame rates, giving animators a keyframe animation tool. Such a formulation is able to address a wide range of oscillatory phenomena while retaining the interactive performance and predictability of traditional splines. The splines may be complex-valued.

US Patent:

7787688, Aug 31, 2010

Filed:

Jan 25, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/698484

Inventors:

Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/40
G03C 8/00
G03C 5/04
G06G 7/56
G06G 7/48
H04N 5/217

US Classification:

382154, 382100, 382275, 348241, 430244, 430494, 703 5, 703 6

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method for generating depth-of-field effects includes receiving information specifying an input image rendered using a pinhole camera. A first set of circles of confusion associated with portions of the input image are determined based a set of parameters associated with the pinhole camera. The first set of circles of confusion are then associated with heat conductivity of a medium. The portions of the input image are blurred according to heat diffusion in the medium to generate a first output image having a first depth-of-field effect.

US Patent:

RE41677, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Dec 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/004170

Inventors:

Anthony David DeRose - San Rafael CA, US
Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 17/20
G06T 15/70

US Classification:

345423, 345428

Abstract:

Different limit surfaces are derived from the same initial arbitrary polygon mesh by sequentially combining different subdivision rules. This added freedom allows for the more efficiently modeling of objects in computer graphics including objects and characters with semi-sharp features.

US Patent:

7885454, Feb 8, 2011

Filed:

Aug 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/861271

Inventors:

Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/44
G06K 9/40
H04N 5/217

US Classification:

382154, 382100, 382265, 382275, 348241

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method for generating depth-of-field effects includes receiving information specifying an input image rendered using a pinhole camera. A first set of circles of confusion associated with portions of the input image are determined based a set of parameters associated with the pinhole camera. The first set of circles of confusion are then associated with heat conductivity of a medium. The portions of the input image are blurred according to heat diffusion in the medium to generate a first output image having a first depth-of-field effect.

US Patent:

8244029, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Jan 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/987734

Inventors:

Michael Kass - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/44
G06K 9/40
H04N 5/217

US Classification:

382154, 382100, 382265, 382275, 348241

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method for generating depth-of-field effects includes receiving information specifying an input image rendered using a pinhole camera. A first set of circles of confusion associated with portions of the input image are determined based a set of parameters associated with the pinhole camera. The first set of circles of confusion are then associated with heat conductivity of a medium. The portions of the input image are blurred according to heat diffusion in the medium to generate a first output image having a first depth-of-field effect.