US3747087A - Digitally controlled computer animation generating system - Google Patents

Digitally controlled computer animation generating system Download PDF

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US3747087A
US3747087A US00156762A US3747087DA US3747087A US 3747087 A US3747087 A US 3747087A US 00156762 A US00156762 A US 00156762A US 3747087D A US3747087D A US 3747087DA US 3747087 A US3747087 A US 3747087A
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signals
raster
digital
sequence
subject
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L Harrison
F Honey
E Tajchman
M Parker
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Computer Image Corp
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Computer Image Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06G—ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
    • G06G7/00—Devices in which the computing operation is performed by varying electric or magnetic quantities
    • G06G7/06—Programming arrangements, e.g. plugboard for interconnecting functional units of the computer; Digital programming
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06J—HYBRID COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS
    • G06J1/00—Hybrid computing arrangements
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S345/00—Computer graphics processing and selective visual display systems
    • Y10S345/949—Animation processing method
    • Y10S345/953—Geometric processing

Definitions

  • DIGITALLY CONTROLLED COMPUTER ANIMATION GENERATING SYSTEM Inventors: Lee Harrison, III, Camarillo, Caliti;
  • ABSTRACT This invention relates to a system for automatically producing an animation sequence and includes an analog portion for generating output signals representing 5' I I 315/19 one or more sections of a raster on which images i viewed by a video camera can be produced.
  • Analog inl e u 6 8 l i 1) 1G 3 Puts to the analog portion define the parameters of the raster sections to effectively define the shape of each part of the viewed image produced thereon.
  • references Cited inputs to the analog portion are digitally controlled by UNITED STATES PATENTS signals from a digital computer portion which estab- 3,537,096 10/1970 Hatfield 340/324 A lishes these digital control signals from information fed 3,422,419 1/1969 Mathews et a1.... l78/6.8 X to it from a director or a recording means. 3,379,833 4/1968 Hecker et al. 315/19 X 3,539,860 11/1970 Max et a1 315/22 41 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures a; ,#0 sun!
  • the invention of this application produces animation sequences of scenes in a way different from any other system, to create a new and novel computer animation system that provides greatly increased figure animation capability.
  • the system basically includes an analog portion for generating output signals representing one or more sections of a raster on which images viewed by a video camera can be produced.
  • Analog inputs to the analog portion define the structure, size, shape, location, orientation and other parameters of the raster section to effectively define the shape of each part of the viewed image produced thereon.
  • the raster section parameters can be made to vary, thus imparting motion to the image.
  • the values and variations in values of the analog inputs are controlled by digital signals from a digital computer which establishes these digital control signals from information fed to it from a director.
  • the analog computer portion generates X and Y coordinate signals representing each section of an animated image for each frame of an animated sequence, each section of the image comprising a raster section.
  • Sweep generators within the analog portion generate the basic horizontal and vertical sweep signals which are combined with, or modulated by, other input signals to define the structure, shape, size, position and other parameters of each raster section for each sequence frame.
  • the X and Y coordinate signals at the output of the analog portion can be applied to a cathode ray tube to produce a display of the animated sequence or can be used to record the se' quence on video tape or film.
  • the input signals to the analog portion define, for each raster section, parameters such as X and Y position, X and Y size, horizontal and vertical axes of rotation which determine the radius of rotation of each raster section, section depth, cosine and sine of the angle of rotation, intensity, and horizontal, vertical and depth modulation.
  • Other parameter inputs define overall X and Y position and depth for the entire image. All of these parameter input signals act in conjunction with the sweep generators to ultimately produce the X and Y coordinate output signals from the analog portion for use in producing an animation sequence.
  • each raster section can be made to vary in height or width, move anywhere in relationship to any other raster sections, rotate about any point located inside or outside the raster section, and can be modulated with the variety of modulation signals to produce bending or distortion of the raster section, which bending or distortion can be made to vary by varying modulation signal parameters such as frequeney, phase and amplitude.
  • the parameter signals of the analog portion and the modulation signal parameters are established for each section of the image and for each frame of the sequence by a digital computer portion which automatically calculates these parameters from information it receives at its input from a director.
  • Parameter data for each raster section for initial and final frames of a sequence of a selected number of frames are selected on the director, which information is fed to the digital computer.
  • the digital computer is programmed to automatically calculate, upon command, the parameter data for each section and for each frame between initial and final frames in accordance with a selected fairing function and to store this information in a digital mem ory such as magnetic tape or disc.
  • these digital computations may be linear or based on some other mathematical function to define the patterns of parameter change throughout the sequence.
  • an arm of a figure can be made to move at a constant rate from a first to a second position, or at a varying rate depending on the fairing function selected.
  • the digital in formation recorded on the magnetic tape or disc can then be played back through the digital computer to the analog portion to produce the animated sequence.
  • a video camera is trained to scan the individual parts of the figure to be animated.
  • Timing pulses are generated to time the scan of the video camera in synchronization with the production of the X and Y coordinate output signals from the analog portion to reproduce each part of the scanned figure on a raster section as defined by the X and Y coordinate output signals.
  • the result is that the video signals from the video camera determine the detail surface characteristics and shape of each part of the image as displayed on a raster section, while the analog portion of the computer defines the structure, shape, size, position and other parameters of each raster section as determined by the values of its parameter inputs.
  • Digital signals from the digital computer vary the parameter inputs in a controlled manner between initial and final frames to animate the raster sections and hence the parts of the figure produced thereon to create the animation sequence.
  • Means are also provided for adding background information to the sequence and for varying the background and image foreground information by switching artwork video inputs during the sequence.
  • the system further includes means for producing the entire sequence in colors that can be selectively varied.
  • FIG. I is a general block diagram of the system of this invention for generating an animation sequence
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a network for producing a color display or video tape of an animation sequence generated by the network of FIG. 1',
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network for producing a color recording on film of an animation sequence generated by the network of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 and 4A combined are a schematic drawing of the analog computer portion of the system
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control network of the system
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the frequency synthesizer of the system
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the function generator of the system.
  • FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are illustrations used in explaining the operation of the system.
  • An input interface unit 20 also called a director, generates analog and digital signals defining each parameter of each raster section for a given frame of the sequence to be generated.
  • the values of these signals are set with analog controls, such as for example, potentiometers, and digital parameter or channel select controls, such as for example, multiposition switches, which determine the parameter or parameters being defined at a given instance by the analog control signals.
  • the analog signals from the director are converted to digital signals and fed to a digital computer 22, such as a Honeywell 316 or equivalent, which is programmed to store on appropriate command the digital information relating to each parameter of the given frame and to feed this information in a prescribed manner to an interface network 24 containing a plurality of interface units. Some of these units convert the digital parameter data from the digital computer 22 to analog parameter signals and transfer these signals to parameter inputs of an analog computer portion 26. Digital data from other interface units of the interface network 24 is fed to a frequency synthesizer 32 to define the frequencies of modulation signals used for producing certain animation effects.
  • a digital computer 22 such as a Honeywell 316 or equivalent
  • Digital data from still other interface units of the interface network 24 is fed to a function generator 34 for defining the phase, wave form, amplitude, and synchronization mode of the modulation signals, which signals are fed from the output of the function generator 34 to modulation parameter inputs of the analog computer portion 26.
  • the analog computer portion 26 From these inputs and those from the interface units of the interface network 24, the analog computer portion 26 generates signals at its output defining raster sections. In this way such parameters as the structure, shape, size and position of each raster section generated at the output of the analog portion 26 are defined by the control settings of the director 20.
  • the digital computer 22 is also programmed upon recharpt of parameter information from the director 20 de' fining initial and final frames of an animation sequence of a given number of frames to automatically calculate the parameter information defining each frame there between in accordance with an appropriate fairing function selector on the director, which function defines the pattern of variation for each parameter throughout the sequence, and to record the digital parameter information defining the entire sequence on a digital recording device such as a magnetic tape unit 36 or magnetic disc unit 38.
  • a digital recording device such as a magnetic tape unit 36 or magnetic disc unit 38.
  • the digital information stored on the digital tape 36 or disc 38 is played back through the digital computer 22, interface network 24, and analog computer portion 26, to produce signals at the output of the analog portion 26 representing the entire animation sequence.
  • the system also includes a plurality of video cameras such as 40, 41 and 42, each of which can be made to scan an art-work subject for display on the raster sections generated by the analog portion 26.
  • the artwork subjects could be from most any source such as a slide projector 43, or light boxes 44 and 45, on which the artwork is mounted.
  • the video information from each of the cameras 40 through 42 is sent to a switcher unit 52 which is controlled by signals from the outputs of still other interface units of the interface network 24 to switch the video of a selected one of the cameras 40 through 42 to the input of a gray level encoder S4.
  • the encoder S4 is fully described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 95,096, filed Dec. 4, 1970 now Pat. No.
  • 3,7I0,0I l entitled A System For Automatically Producing A Color Display of A Scene From A Black And White Representation Of The Scene.
  • the encoder 54 produces video signals at its output representing the artwork in discrete shades of gray, which signals are fed to an overlap network 56 together with the output signals from the analog portion 26.
  • the overlap network 56 may be of the type disclosed in FIG. 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,382 for blanking portions of the generated image appearing behind other portions of the image.
  • an output signal from the overlap network 56 is fed to a video gate 58 to gate the video signal from the output of the gray level encoder 54, through the gate 58, to an output conductor 60 only when image information is generated over an area not previously covered with other image information.
  • the output conductor 60 carries a video signal representing the artwork in discrete shades of gray and which has been compensated for overlap prc vention. This video signal can he used to reproduce the various parts of the artwork on the raster sections generated by the analog computer portion 26.
  • the analog computer portion 26 generates horizontal and vertical reset pulses from signals received by it from the frequency synthesizer 32. These horizontal and vertical reset pulses are fed from the analog computer portion 26 to the digital computer portion 22, as shown by conductors 62, and to a camera control network 64, as shown by conductors 66, to synchronize the generation of the coordinate output signals from the analog portion 26 defining the raster sections with the generation of the video signals on the conductor 60 representing the artwork.
  • the coordinate output signals from the analog portion 26 and video signals on the conductor 60 may be typically used to produce either a black and white or color display, video tape, or film of the animation sequence with the networks of FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the output signals from the analog portion 26 and video signals on the conductor 60 are fed into a color network 67, together with signals from still other interface units of the interface network 24 defining the red, blue and green color components for each discrete gray shade.
  • the color network 67 may be of any one of the embodiments fully disclosed in the abovereference application Ser. No. 95,096 for assigning colors to each gray shade.
  • the output from the network 67 may be used directly to produce a color display or video tape of the animation sequence, or fed to a video effects unit 68 and combined with signals representing background information in TV format, such as from a color video camera 69 photographing background artwork 70, a conventional film chain 71, or a video tape recorder 72, any one of which may be used to supply background information for the sequence.
  • the output from the video effects network 68 is fed to a color monitor 73 for producing a color display of the animation sequence, directly to a video tape recorder 74 to produce a video tape of the sequence, or to a microwave link 75 for transmission to a video tape recorder 76.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a network for producing a color film of the animation sequence.
  • the video signal on the conductor 60 and the output signals from the interface units of the interface network 24 defining the red, blue and green color components of the color to be assigned to each gray shade, are fed to an RGB color color encoder '77, such as the type shown in FIG. 6 of the above-referenced application Ser. No. 95,096.
  • the encoder 77 generates a video signal at an output 78 representing the red color component of each assigned color which is fed to an X-Y monitor 79, a video signal at an output 80 representing the blue color component of each assigned color which is fed to an X-Y monitor 81, and a video signal at an output 82 representing the green color component of each assigned color which is fed to an X-Y monitor 83.
  • the coordinate output signals from the analog portion 26 are also fed to each of the X-Y monitors 79, 01 and 83, the X-Y monitor 79 producing a black and white display defining the red color components of the sequence filmed by a camera 84 on red encoded black and white film, X-Y monitor 81 producing a black and white display defining the blue color components of the sequence filmed by a camera 85 on blue encoded black and white film, and the X-Y monitor 83 producing a black and white display defining the green color components of the sequence filmed by a camera 86 on green encoded black and white film.
  • the red, blue and green encoded films are then processed in the laboratory by known techniques to produce a composite color film of the animation sequence.
  • the monitors 79, 8] and 83 could be equipped with high intensity tubes with red, blue and green phosphors, respectively, and the images produced thereon optically combined and photographed on color film.
  • the analog computer portion 26 will be described in more detail by referring to the network of FIGS. 4 and 4A.
  • the analog portion 26 includes summation amplifiers 90 and 91.
  • Output conductors 92 and 93, respectively, from the summation amplifiers 90 and 9I carry X and Y coordinate signals for generating a raster section the parameters of which are defined by input sig nals to the analog portion 26.
  • the values of the X and Y coordinate signals at the outputs 92 and 93 are changed, thereby changing the parameters of the raster section generated thereby.
  • the coordinate output signals 92 and 93 produce a raster section the parameters of which are defined by the values of the input signals to the analog portion 26, it can best be understood how these coordinate signals are generated and what these raster parameters are by beginning at the inputs of the analog portion 26.
  • the analog portion 26 has a plurality of inputs each of which has an analog parameter signal thereon for defining the shape, size, position and structure for a given raster section represented by the X and Y coordinate outputs 92 and 93.
  • the signal at an input 95 defines the overall X position of the entire image comprised of a selected number of raster sections; the signal at an input 96 defines the X position of a given section of the image relative to the other sections of the image; the signal at an input 97 defines the horizontal size or length of raster lines of the given raster section; the signal at an input 98 defines the horizontal axis of rotation of the given raster section; the signal at an input 99 defines the vertical axis of rotation of the given raster section; the signal at an input I00 defines the vertical size or the spacing between raster lines of the given raster section; the signal at an input 101 defines the Y position of the given raster section relative to the other sections of an image; the signal at an input 102 defines the overall
  • a 1.2 megahertz signal generated by the frequency synthesizer 32, to be described, is fed to an input I10 and through a conductor 111 to a sync generator 112.
  • the sync generator 112 From the 1.2 megahertz signal, the sync generator 112 produces a 60 hertz signal for comparison with the 60 hertz line frequency and creates therefrom a voltage control oscillator (VCO) control signal at an output 113 which is fed back to the frequency synthesizer 32.
  • VCO voltage control oscillator
  • the VCO signal adjusts the frequency of the L2 megahertz signal to insure that the 60 hertz signal generated by the sync generator II2 is locked to the line frequency.
  • the generator I12 generates at one of its outputs 114 a horizontal reset signal of a frequency of 28.35 kilohertz, and at another output 115 a vertical reset signal of a frequency of 60 hertz. As will be seen, these horizontal and vertical reset signals are used throughout the system to synchronize various timing operations.
  • the horizontal reset signal on the conductor 114 is fed through a conductor 116 and a conductor 117 to the reset input of an integrator 118.
  • Another input conductor 119 to the integrator 118 is connected from the input 97 defining the horizontal size of a particular raster section. Therefore, after each horizontal reset pulse the integrator 118 operates as a horizontal ramp generator to draw a line of the raster section of a length determined by the magnitude of the signal at the input 97.
  • the output of the integrator 118 is fed through a conductor 120 to one input of a summation amplifier 121.
  • the summation amplifier 121 has another input eonductor 122 connected to the input 109 carrying the horizontal modulation signal from the function generator 34.
  • Another input conductor 123 to the summation amplifier 121 is connected from the output of a multiplier 124 having one input connected by a conductor 125 to the horizontal size input 97, and having another input conductor 126 connected to the input 98 defining the horizontal axis of rotation of the section. Therefore, the purpose of the multiplier 124 is to insure that where there is an increase in the horizontal size of the raster section, there is automatically a corresponding change in the horizontal axis of rotation of that section to insure that the section rotates about the same relative point.
  • the output of the summation amplifier 121 representing the sum of the horizontal ramp function, the horizontal modulation signal, and the product of the signals representing the horizontal axis of rotation and the horizontal size of the raster section is fed through a conductor 130 and a conductor 134 to one input of a multiplier 136.
  • the vertical reset signal at the output 115 from the sync generator 112 is fed through a conductor 140 and a conductor 142 to the reset input of an integrator 144.
  • the integrator 144 has an input conductor 146 connected from the analog computer input 100 defining the vertical size of each raster section so that each time after the integrator 144 receives a vertical reset pulse, it generates a vertical ramp function defining the height of the raster section (the distance between the raster lines) in accordance with the magnitude of the signal at the input 100.
  • the output of the integrator 144 is fed through a conductor 150 to one input of a summation amplifier 152.
  • Another input conductor 154 to the summation amplifier 152 is connected from the input 108 to the analog portion carrying the vertical modulation signal from the function generator 34.
  • Another input conductor 156 to the summation amplifier 152 is connected from the output of a multiplier 158 having one input connected by a conductor 160 to the input 99 of the analog portion carrying the signal defining the vertical axis of rotation of the raster section, and another input conductor 162 connected from the vertical size input 100.
  • the multiplier 158 performs the same function with respect to compensating for changes in vertical size as the multiplier 124 does for compensating for changes in horizontal size.
  • the multiplier 158 insures that there is automatically a corresponding change in the vertical axis of rotation so that the point of rotation remains in the same relative position.
  • the output from the summation amplifier 152 representing the sum of the vertical ramp signal, the vertical modulation signal, and the product of the signals defining the vertical axis of rotation and vertical size of the raster section is fed through a conductor I65 and a conductor 169 to one input of a multiplier [71.
  • this system includes means for rotating each raster section about a point defined by the horizontal and vertical axes inputs 98 and 99 and through an angle, which will be called R, the cosine and sine of which are defined by voltages at the inputs and 106, respectively, to the analog portion 26.
  • the system further includes means for rotating any raster distortion with the raster.
  • the raster distortion pattern creating the bend at the elbow which bend is produced by a selected vertical modula tion signal from the function generator 34, must also rotate or else an unnatural or undesirable distortion of the arm will result. For this reason, rotation is imparted to the raster section after the modulation signals are summed with the horizontal and vertical ramp signals.
  • the signal at the input 105 representing the cosine ofR is fed through a conductor and a conduc tor 181 to a second input of the multiplier 136, and through a conductor 183 to a second input of the multiplier 171.
  • the signal at the input 106 representing the sine of R is fed through a conductor 185 and a conductor 187 to one input ofa multiplier 189, the other input of which is connected by conductor 191 to the output of the summation amplifier 152.
  • the signal on the conductor 185 representing the sine of R is also fed through a conductor 195 to one input of a multiplier 197 having another input connected by a conductor 200 to the output of the summation amplifier 121.
  • the output from the multiplier 136 representing the product of the output from the summation amplifier 121 and the cosine of R is fed through a conductor 205 to one input of a summation amplifier 207.
  • the output from the multiplier 189 representing the product of the output from the summation amplifier 152 and the sine of R is fed through a conductor 209, an inverter 21] and a conductor 213 to a second input of the summation amplifier 207.
  • the summation amplifier 207 has a third input conductor 215 connected from the input 96 of the analog portion 26 carrying the signal defining the X position of the section.
  • the output from the multiplier 197 representing the product of the output from the summation amplifier 121 and the sine of R is fed through a conductor 219 to one input of a summation amplifier 221.
  • the output from the multiplier I71 representing the product of the output from the summation amplifier I52 and the cosine of R is fed through a conductor 223 to a second input of the summation amplifier 221.
  • the summation amplifier 221 has a third input conductor 225 connected from the input 101 of the analog portion 26 carrying a signal defining the Y position of the raster section.
  • a summation amplifier 230 has one input connected by a conductor 231 to the input 103 of the analog portion carrying the signal defining the depth of the raster section, another input connected by a conductor 232 to the input 107 of the analog portion carrying the depth modulation signal from the function generator 34, and another input connected by a conductor 233 to the input 104 of the analog portion carrying the signal defining the overall depth of the entire image.
  • the output from the summation amplifier 230 representing the sum of these depth signals is fed through a conductor 235, a conductor 236, and a conductor 237 to one input of a multiplier 238.
  • the output from the summation amplifier 207 is fed through a conductor 240 to a second input of the multiplier 238.
  • the output from the summation amplifier 230 is also fed through the conductors 235 and 236 and through a conductor 242 to one input of a multiplier 244, the other input of which is connected by a conductor 246 to the output of the summation amplifier 221.
  • the output from the multiplier 238 representing the product of the signals from the summation amplifiers 207 and 230 is fed through a conductor 248 to one input of the summation amplifier 90.
  • Another input of the summation amplifier 90 is connected by a conductor 250 to the input 95 of the analog portion 26 carrying the signal defining the overall X position of the image.
  • the output from the multiplier 244 representing the product of the signals from the summation amplifiers 221 and 230 is fed through a conductor 252 to one input of the summation amplifier 91. Another input of the summation amplifier 91 is connected by a conductor 254 to the input 102 of the analog portion 26 carrying the signal representing the overall Y position of the image.
  • the output from the summation amplifier 90 represents the X coordinate signal for the raster section
  • the output of the summation amplifier 91 represents the Y coordinate signal for the raster section.
  • the analog portion 26 given a set of fixed input parameter signals, generates a raster section of a particular size, shape, structure, and position as defined by these input signals. if the input parameter signals remain constant over time, identical raster sections will be generated repeatedly. If, on the other hand, the input parameter signals are changed in a prescribed manner over a prescribed time interval, a plurality of raster sections, each shaped, sized, structured and positioned differently from the others, are generated. Furthermore, by changing the input parameter signals defining each raster section at prescribed increments and at a prescribed frequency, motion can be imparted to the rasters and hence the image, to produce an animation sequence. The control of the input parameter signals to the analog portion 26 to produce and animate the difl'erent raster sections is accomplished with the control network of FIG. 5.
  • control network operates in basically three modes: a frame reference mode, a record mode, and a playback mode.
  • the digital computer 22 receives digital'parameter information from the director 20 for establishing initial and final frames for the sequence.
  • the director 20 has an analog input portion 270 (which might include, for example, a plurality of potentiometers or the like) for generating analog signals which might be used to define any raster parameter, and a parameter select input 272 (which might include multipoition switche) for selecting the parameter to be defined by the analog signal from the analog input 270.
  • the analog input signals from the analog input 270 selected for particular ones of these parameters are fed through suitable conductors 274 to one input of a multiplexer 275 having another input connected by conductor 276 to an output from the digital computer 22 which carries signals in accordance with its program to gate the analog information from the analog input 270 in a prescribed sequence through conductors 277 to the input of an analog to digital converter 278.
  • the digital output signals from the converter 278 are fed through conductors 279 to an input of the digital computer 22.
  • the computer 22 is programmed to store the information received from the analog input 270 and to interrogate through appropriate conductors 282 the param eter select unit 272 to determine the parameter to which each piece of stored information pertains. Having made this determination, the parameter information is transferred to an appropriate storage location within the computer 22.
  • digital signals are eventually stored in the appropriate memory locations of the digital computer 22 representing each parameter of each raster section of the image for the initial frame of the sequence. Having stored the initial frame information, the same procedure is followed for establishing the digital parameter information for the last frame of the sequence.
  • the digital computer 22 can now be placed in the record mode.
  • the digital computer 22 is programmed to calculate, upon command from the director 20, the digital parameter information defining each raster section of each frame between initial and final frames, and to record this information on the digital recording device such as magnetic tape 36 of disc 38.
  • These calculations are made in accordance with a selected one of several mathematical functions called fairing functions which define the rate of change of each parameter from frame to frame throughout the sequence. For example, if a linear fairing function is selected, the rate of parameter change from frame to frame is constant, while other fairing functions produce varying change rates.
  • the computer 22 is programmed to make its calculations in accordance with any one of the several fairing functions, a particular function selected by command signal from the director 20.
  • control network With the digital parameter information defining each raster section of each frame of the sequence recorded on the digital recording device, the control network can be placed in its playback mode to play the recorded digital parameter information back to the digital computer 22 where it is stored in a prescribed sequence in various memory locations.
  • digital parameter information is fed to and stored in the digital computer 22 for transfer to other networks of the system such as the analog portion 26, frequency synthesizer 32, and function generator 34, to generate the sequence.
  • the manner in which this transfer is accomplished is the time regardless of its source (whether from the director 20 or digital magnetic recording devices 36 or 38) and will not be explained.
  • the computer 22 is programmed to trans mit this information sequentially at high speed, and in a specified order to interface units within the interface network 24.
  • the information stored in the digital computer 22 defining each parameter is fed in an order determined by the digital computer program to each of the interface units.
  • the information defining a first parameter of a given raster section is fed through conductors 290, 291 and 292 to an interface unit of the type 285; conductor 290, 291 and 293 to an interface unit of the type 286; conductors 290, 294 and 295 to an interface unit of the type 287; and conductors 290, 294 and 296 to an interface unit of the type 288; and so on for the information defining the second and succeeding parameters until all of the parameter information defining a particular raster section of the frame is fed to the inputs of each interface unit.
  • a signal is sent from the digital computer 22 through a conductor 300 to a channel address counter 302 which has a separate output connected to a gate input of each interface unit.
  • a signal is sent from the digital computer 22 through a conductor 300 to a channel address counter 302 which has a separate output connected to a gate input of each interface unit.
  • the counter 302 would have 43 such output conductors each connected to a gate input of an interface unit.
  • the digital computer 22 feeds information defining a parameter for a particular raster section to each interface unit it sends a signal through the conductor 300 to activate an appropriate one of the outputs of the counter 302 which in turn gates the information which is present at the inputs of all the interface units to the appropriate one of these units.
  • the digital computer 22 is programmed to feed the digital param eter information in the proper sequence so it is gated to the appropriate interface unit to effect the appropriate parameter input to the system.
  • the last output conductor which for purposes of illustration might be the conductor 308, of the counter 302 is activated to gate digital parameter information to the last interface unit, all the units are loaded and the high speed transfer ofinformation from the digital computer 22 relating to the next raster section to be generated must be stopped.
  • the gating signal on the last output conductor 308 of the counter 302 is also fed through a conductor 309 to an input of the digital computer 22 to stop the high speed transfer.
  • the high speed transfer of information from the digital computer 22 will be started again to reload the interface units with information by the start of a vertical reset or a section change pulse defining the next raster section.
  • Each of the types of interface units 285 through 288 is designed differently to perform a different interface function and for interface with a different part of the system.
  • the unit type 285 is used for interface with the frequency synthesizer 32 and function generator 34 for defining the frequency, phase, waveform, and synchronization mode parameters of the modulation oscillators for use in creating vertical, horizontal and depth modulation.
  • two such units are required to define frequency, and one for phase, waveform and synchronization mode.
  • With vertical, horizontal, and depth modulation nine such units are used.
  • Each unit type 285 includes a shift register 310 having one input, connected by conductors 290, 291, and 292 to the output of the digital computer 22 for receiving the digital parameter information, an input connected by the conductor 305 to an output of the channel address counter 302 for gating the appropriate digital parameter information into the shift register 310, and an input connected by a conductor 31! and a conductor 312 to the output of a clock control 313.
  • the clock control 313 has an input 315 connected to the output of an OR gate to be described.
  • the clock control 313 When the clock control 313 receives a signal at its input 315, it transmits a series of pulses through the conductors 312 and 311 to the input of the shift register 310 to feed the digital parameter inform ation in the shift register 310 serially through an output conductor 316 to the frequency synthesizer 32 or function generator 34.
  • the clock pulses from the output of the clock control 313 are also fed through a conductor 317 to the frequency synthesizer 32 or function generator 34.
  • Each interface unit of the type 286 includes a first buffer 320 and a second buffer 321, the input of which is connected to the output of the buffer 320.
  • the buffer 320 has one input connected by the conductors 290, 291 and 293 to the output of the digital computer 22 for receiving the digital parameter information, and an input connected by the conductor 306 to an output of the channel address counter 302 for gating the appropriate digital parameter information into the first buffer 320.
  • the second buffer 32] has an input 322 which, like the input 315 of the clock control 313, is con nected to the output of the OR gate.
  • the digital parameter information in the first buffer 320 is transferred to the second buffer 321 and through an output conductor 323 to provide digital control signals available for such operations as section blanking and video switching.
  • the digital parameter information in the first buffer 320 is transferred to the second buffer 321 and through an output conductor 323 to provide digital control signals available for such operations as section blanking and video switching.
  • two such unit types 286 are used, although, of course, the number depends on the number of digital control signals required for various contolling operations.
  • An interface unit of the type 287 is used to interface with each of the parameter inputs through I06 of the analog portion 26, and the function generator 34 to define the amplitudes of the modulation signals. Since there are vertical, horizontal, and depth modulations, three such units are required for this purpose. Units of this type are also used to interface with the color network 67 or RGB color encoder 77 of FIGS. 2 and 3, for defining the colors of each frame of the image. For example, where each frame has five different colors (five discrete shades of gray, a color for each shade), and
  • a unit of this type is also used to interface with an intensity compensation network, to be described.
  • Each interface unit of the type 287 includes a first buffer 324 and a second buffer 325, the input of which is connected to the output of the first buffer 324.
  • the first buffer 324 has an input connected by the conductors 290, 294 and 295 to the output of the digital computer 22 for receiving the digital parameter information.
  • the buffer 324 also has an input connected by the conductor 307 to an output of the channel address counter 302 to gate the appropriate digital parameter information into the buffer 324.
  • this information might define one of the color parameters, or an amplitude parameter for a modulation oscillator, or one of the input parameters 95 through 106 to the analog portion 26.
  • the buffer 325 has an input 326 which, like the inputs 315 and 322 to the units 285 and 286, is connected to the output of the OR gate. Upon receiving an appropriate signal at the input 326, the digital information in the buffer 324 is transferred to the buffer 325 and fed through the conductors 327 to the input of a digital to analog converter 328 which converts the digital information to an analog signal for transmission through its output conductor 329 to the appropriate parameter input of the system.
  • the interface unit type 288 has the dual function of defining the number of raster lines in each raster section and timing the transfer of parameter information from the digital computer 22 to the parameter inputs of the analog portion 26 and other parameter inputs of the system. In this described embodiment, there is only one interface unit of the type 288 required in the system. It includes a buffer 330 and a section length counter 331, an input of which is connected to the output of the buffer 330.
  • the buffer 330 has one input connected by conductors 290, 294 and 296 to the output of the digital computer for receiving the digital parameter information, and an input connected by the conductor 308 to the appropriate output of the channel address counter 302 for gating into the buffer 330 the digital parameter information from the digital computer 22 which defines the number of lines in the section being generated.
  • the section length counter 331 has an input conductor 332 which is connected by conductors 333, 334, 116 and 114 to the horizontal reset output of the sync generator 112 (FIG. 4).
  • the section length counter 33] continuously counts the horizontal reset pulses on its input conductor 332 and upon reaching a prescribed count, generates an overflow or section change signal at an output conductor 335. How long the counter 33] must count to generate the overflow signal depends on the digital information fed to it from its input buffer 330.
  • the length of the count by the counter 331 defines the number of lines in the section being generated.
  • the blanking generator 338 has another input connected by a conductor 340, a conductor 341 and the conductors 140 and 115 to the vertical reset output of the sync generator 112, and another input connected by a conductor 342 and in the conductors 334, 116 and 114 to the horizontal reset output of the sync generator I12.
  • the blanking generator 338 Upon receiving a section change signal from the counter 331, the blanking generator 338 generates a signal at its output which is fed through a conductor 345 for use in blanking the beam ofa monitor used for displaying the image or a scan converter used in producing the image in TV format.
  • the blanking generator 338 is set to generate the blanking signal for a period of time equivalent to approximately two horizontal raster lines, although this period is adjustable.
  • the blanking generator 338 generates another signal at an output which is fed through a conductor 346 for use in blanking the beam of the artwork scanning camera, such as the camera 40, 41 or 42, a monitor used for displaying the image, or a scan converter used in producing the image in TV format, between each scan cycle and raster line.
  • the blanking signal on the conductor 346 blanks the beam between each field and raster line. This, of course, is to insure that the beam is turned off during flyback from the end of one scan or line to the beginning of the next.
  • the section change signal on the output conductor 335 of the section length counter 331 is also fed through a conductor 370 to one input of an OR gate 371 which has another input connected by a conductor 372, a conductor 373, and the conductors 341, 140 and to the vertical reset output of the sync generator 112, (FIG. 4).
  • the output of the OR gate 371 representing either the vertical reset or section change signals is fed through a conductor 374 to a preset input 375 of the section length counter 331 to preset the counter at the end of each raster section and frame. or at the end of each raster section and field if there are two fields per frame, to a count defined by the digital parameter information in the buffer 330.
  • the OR gate output signal is fed to the input 326 of each interface unit of the type 287 to transfer the digital parameter information in the buffer 324 through the buffer 325 and converter 328 to the appropriate inputs of the system; to the input 322 of each interface unit of the type 286 to transfer the digital parameter information in the buffer 320 through the buffer 321 and on to the appropriate parameter inputs of the system; and to the input 315 of each unit of the type 285 to transfer the digital parameter information in the shift register 310 serially to the appropriate input of the system.
  • the section change signal from the section length counter 331 not only initiates the blanking of raster lines between the raster secitons, but acts with the vertical reset signal to determine the number of lines in each raster section, by simultaneously transferring the digital parameter information in each interface unit which defines a new raster section to the appropriate inputs of the system.
  • the signal at the output of the OR gate 371 is also fed through the conductor 374, a conductor 380, and a conductor .381 to a preset input of the channel address counter 302 to preset the counter to a number determined by information fed through a conuctor 382 to a buffer input 383.
  • the preset number determines the starting count from which counter 302 addresses the interface units. This count may vary from raster section to raster section. For example, there are certain parameters that remain constant from section to section in a given frame, such as overall X position, overall Y position, and overall depth as these parameters affect all the sections of the image. Color parameters might also remain constant.
  • the counter 322 should be preset to begin its address with the 19th interface unit after the parameter information for the first section of the frame is transferred.
  • the digital computer 22 is programmed to transmit the desired preset value to the input buffer 383.
  • the channel address counter 302 also has an input connected by a conductor 385 to the output of a delay network 386, the input of which is connected by a conductor 387 and the conductors 373, 341, 140 and 115 to the vertical reset output of the sync generator 112 (FIG. 4), to reset the counter 302 just before the end of each frame or field, if there are two fields per frame.
  • the delay network 386 generates a signal at its output 4 that is delayed from the vertical reset signal by approximately 90 percent of the time period between vertical reset pulses. Therefore, in effect, there is a pulse generated at the output of the delay network 386 that occurs just prior to each vertical reset pulse after the first vertical reset pulse is generated.
  • These pulses from the output of the network 386 are also fed through a conductor 388 to an input of the digital computer 22 to enable the computer 22 for high speed transfer of parameter data.
  • the signal from the output of the OR gate 371 is also fed through the conductors 374 and 380, and a conductor 391 to an input of the digital computer 22 to start the high speed transfer from the computer 22 to the interface units of the digital parameter information for the next raster section to be generated.
  • digital information is stored wthin the computer 22 definin the parameters of each raster section of the image to be generated for a given frame or frames.
  • the origin of the information may be the director 20 which includes controls for setting the value of each set of parameter information to define each raster section of a particular frame, or may be some digital recording medium such as the digital magnetic tape 36 or disc 38 on which is recorded parameter informatinn defining each raster section of each frame of a sequence.
  • an output pulse from the delay network 386 is fed through the conductor 388 to initiate the high speed transfer of the digitial parameter information defining the first raster section of the first frame which is fed in a prescribed order in accordance with the digital computer program from the output of the computer 22 to each of the interface units of which in this described embodiment there are a total of 43, including four different basic types.
  • the signal at the output of the delay network 386 initiates the high speed transfer for the first section parameter data only, the high speed transfer of parameter data for subsequent sections being initiated by the vertical reset or section change signals.
  • the interface units As the digital parameter information is fed to the interface units, signals are fed through the conductor 300 to the channel address counter 302 generating signals sequentially at a different one of its outputs, each one of which is connected to a different interface unit to gtte the appropriate digital parameter information from the computer 22 to the appropriate one of the interface units. Hence, the interface units are loaded sequentially with the appropriate information defining the parameters of the first raster section.
  • the interface unit 288 is to define the number of lines in the raster section currently being drawn. However, because the information loaded in the interface units relates to the first raster section, the interface unit 288 cannot perfomr this function as there is no raster section currently being drawn. Nevertheless, when the next vertical reset signal is generated by the sync generator 112 it is fed through the conductors 115, 140, 341, 373 and 372 the OR gate 371, and the conductor 374 to the inputs 375, 326, 322 and 315 of the interface units to simultaneously transfer the digital parameter information loaded in these units and the others like them de fining the parameters of the first raster section to the appropriate parameter inputs of the system, and to preset the section length counter 331.
  • This same vertical reset signal is also fed through the conductors 380 and 391 to an input of the digital computer 22 to start the high speed transfer of digital parameter information defining the second section to the interface units.
  • the vertical reset signal is also fed through the conductor 381 to preset the channel address counter 302 to a number defined by information fed from the computer 22 through the conductor 382 into its input buffer 383.
  • the delayed vertical reset pulse at the input 385 to the counter 302 resets the counter 302 just prior to the start of each frame or field, if there is more than one field per frame.
  • the section length counter 331 counts the horizontal reset pulses at its input 332 for a length of time defined by the value of the information which was transferred from its input buffer 330.
  • a section change signal is generated at its output which is fed through the conductors 33S and 337 to the blanking generator 338 which generates a signal that blanks the first two or three raster lines of the next raster section (which would be the second raster section).
  • This same section change signal is fed through the conductors 335 and 370 and the OR gate 371 to perform the same functions with respect to the second section as the vertical reset signal did with respect to the first, that is, to simultaneously transfer the digital parameter information loaded in the interface units defining the parameters of the second raster section to the appropriate parameter inputs of the system and to preset the section length counter 331, to start the high speed transfer of digital parameter information defining the third section to the interface units, and to preset the channel address counter 302 to a number defined by information fed to its buffer input 383 from the digital computer 22.
  • the process then repeats itself for the next section and each succeeding section of the first frame, each time sequentially loading the interface units with parameter information and transferring this information simultaneously to the appropriate inputs of the system to generate the next raster section until the initial frame is generated. The process is then repeated for each succeeding frame of the sequence.
  • each frame will be identical. If however, the parameter information within the digital computer is changed, as for example by manipulatinn of the control settings of the analog input 270 and parameter select input 272 of the director 20, or by the sequential playback of digital parameter information recorded on the digital storage medium such as magnetic tape 36 or disc 38 into the digital computer 22, each frame will be different to produce an animation sequence.
  • MODULATION OSCILLATORS FREQUENCY SYNTHESIZER AND FUNCTION GENERATOR
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 there are shown the frequency synthesizer 32 and function generator 34 of this invention, the purposes of which are to generate modulation signals in response to information received from the digital computer 22 through the interface units for use in producing depth, vertical and horizontal modulations by feeding these signals to the inputs 107, 108 and 109 of the analog portion 26.
  • each raster section can be formed in a variety of ways to produce a variety of animation effects.
  • vertical modulation can be used to bend the raster lines
  • horizontal modulation to vary the rate at which a raster line is drawn producing horizontal distortions
  • depth modulation to create depth distortions similar to foreshortening effects obtained. optically with wide angle lenses.
  • the frequency synthesizer 32 generates coherent digital signals of selected frequencies and includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and master synthesizer 400, the details of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A of the referenced application, Ser. No. 72,642.
  • VCO voltage controlled oscillator
  • master synthesizer 400 the details of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A of the referenced application, Ser. No. 72,642.
  • a minor difference between the synthesizer 400 and the one disclosed in the referenced application is that its master oscillator has a frequency of 9.6 megahertz rather than 10 megahertz so as to be easily divisible to produce the 1.2 megahertz signal.
  • the 1.2 megahertz signal is fed through the conductor 111 to the input of the sync generator 112 of FIG. 4, for generating the horizontal and vertical reset signals.
  • the frequencies generated at the output of the synthesizer 400 are also reduced by factors of 0.96 from the output frequencies of the network of FIG. 2 and 2A of the referenced application.
  • These output frequencies which need not be described here, since they are clearly desribed in the referenced application, are fed into a digital frequency selector 401 for producing at its output a digital synthesized signal which appears on an output conductor 402.
  • a digital frequency selector 401 for producing at its output a digital synthesized signal which appears on an output conductor 402.
  • the frequency of the output signal from the digital frequency selector 401 is determined by signals from a series of four-to-ten line decoders 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409 and 410.
  • the frequency selector 401 is basically the same type as disclosed in FIG. 4 of the referenced application, except that the switches 501 through 507 of that FIG. 4 used to select the synthesized frequency desired are replaced by the decoders 404 through 410 and a shift register 411.
  • the shift register 411 has an input conductor 412 connected to a control mode switch 414 having an internal position 415 and an external position 416. In either mode setting the shift register 411 is loaded with digital parameter information which is fed through suitable conductors to the decoders 404 throuh 410.
  • Each of these de-- coders has 10 outputs representing the number 0 through 9, one of which is activated in accordance with the binary coded decimal (BCD) number at its input.
  • the signals at the outputs of the decoders 404 through 410 perform the same function as the swtches 501 through 507 of FIG. 4 of the referenced application to gate the appropriate ones of the output frequencies from the synthesizer 400 to a series of frequency adders such as the adders 530, 540 and 544 of FIGS. 4 and 5 of the referenced application to produce at the output of the selector 401 a synthesized signal of the selected frequency.
  • the frequency of the synthesized signal is selected by setting a series of BCD, seven-place, thumb-wheel switches 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425 and 426 to the frequency desired.
  • the digital comuter 22 has no effect in selecting the frequency of the synthesized signal from the selector 401.
  • the frequency is controlled exclusively by the settings of the BCD switches 420 through 426 which feed information in binary coded decimal form directly through the shift register 41] to the decoders 404 through 410, the outputs of which define the frequency of the synthesized signal as heretofore described.
  • the synthesized digital output signal from the digital frequency selector 401 of the frequency synthesizer 32 is fed through the conductor 402 to an input of an updown counter 440 which counts the pulses of the synthesized digital signal alternately upward and downward between prescribed limits producing binary weighted outputs which are fed to the input of a digital to analog converter 442.
  • the converter 442 produces at an output conductor 444 a stairstep triangular waveform of a frequency depending on the frequency of the signal from the frequency synthesizer 32 and the upper and lower limit settings of the up-down counter 440. For example, if the up-down counter 440 is set to count alternately up and down between counts of zero and 50, the frequency of the triangular waveform output from the converter 442 would be 1/100 of the frequency of the synthesized signal. if the up'down counter 450 is set to count alternately up and down between counts of zero and 500, the frequency of the triangular waveform output from the converter 442 is ll 1 ,000 of the frequency of the synthesized signal from the frequency synthesizer 32.
  • the up-down counter 450 and digital to analog converter 442 perform generally the same function in this circuit as the up-down counter 22 and digital to analog converter 24 performs in the circuit of FIG. 7 of the above-referenced application Ser. No. 72,642.
  • the up-down counter 440 has a triangle/sawtooth enable input 446 which controls whether the counter 440 counts alternately up and down to produce a triangular waveform from the output conductor 444 or is reset each time it reaches an upper limit (or lower limit) to produce a sawtooth waveform at the output conductor 444.
  • the triangle or sawtooth waveform output from the converter 442 is fed through the conductor 444, a conductor 448 and a resistor 450 to an analog gate 452.
  • the wave form on the conductor 444 is also fed through a side shaper 454 to produce at its output a sinusoidal waveform which is fed through a conductor 456 and resistor 458 to an analog gate 460.
  • An output from the up-down counter 440 is fed through a conductor 462 to a level converter 464 to produce at its output a square waveform which is fed through a conductor 466 and a resistor 468 to an analog gate 470.
  • the counter 440, converter 442, sine shaper 454 and level converter 464 produce triangle, saw tooth, sine and square waveforms from the digital frequency signal of the frequency synthesizer 32. It is still necessary however to select a particular one of these waveforms for each modulation signal, and to define its phase and synchronization mode.
  • a shift register 472 receives serial parameter information and serial clock pulses at input conductors 316 and 317, respectively, from an interface unit ofthe type 285, which serial parameter inforation defines the phase, waveform and synchronization mode of a particular modulation signal.
  • the phase data information is transferred from the shift register 472 through suitable conductors to a phase angle translator 474, while the data defining the waveform and synchronization mode is transferred through suitable conductors to a function control circuit 476.
  • the function control circuit 476 has an input connected by a conductor 478 and the conductors 333,- 334, 116 and I14 to the horizontal reset output of the sync generator 112 (FIG. 4), and an input connected by a conductor 480 to the output conductor 337 of the interface unit of the type 288 for receiving the section change signals.
  • phase angle translator 474 and shift register 472 are to set the phase of the modulation waveform. To explain how this is done, suppose that the counter 440 is made to start from a count of zero and count alternately between counts of zero and 50 so that a complete cycle is equivalent to l00 counts. For purposes of establishing a phase for the waveform, a single cycle is divided into counts with each count equivalent to a particular phase.
  • the phase angle translaor 474 receives the phase data from the shift register 472 and converts it to binary weighted outputs which are fed to the up-down counter 440 to preset its count to a prescribed number, and also sends a signal either through a conductor 482, causing the counter 440 to count up, or a conductor 484, causing the counter 440 to count down from the prescribed number, thereby setting the phase of the waveforms produced therefrom.
  • the phase data in the shift register 472 has a binary weight of some number between zero and 100, which data is fed to the phase angle translator 474.
  • phase angle translator 474 transfers that data directly to the counter 440 together with a signal on the conductor 482 causing the counter to count up from that number.
  • the phase data in the shift register 472 represents a count of between 50 and 100
  • the output of the shift register would have no meaning to the counter 440 since it never reaches counts of over 50. Therefore, the phase angle translator 474 translates data representing numbers between 50 and 100 to numbers between 0 and 50 which do have meaning to the counter 440.
  • phase angle translator 474 converts phase data from the shift register 472 to data that has meaning to the counter 440 for establishing the phase of its output waveform.
  • the counter 440 is in its divide-by-l,000 mode so that it counts alternately between zero and 500, a complete cycle would have 1,000 counts and the phase data fed through the conductor 316 to the shift register 472 would represent some count between zero and l ,000 to define the phase of the output waveform from the counter 440.
  • the fuction control circuit 476 has an output conductor 490 which carries an enable signal to the gate input of the analog gate 452, to gate the triangle or sawtooth waveform, as the case may be, from the output of the converter 442 to the input of a summation amplifier 491.
  • the function control circuit 476 has another output conductor 493 which carries an enable signal to the gate input of the analog gate 460 for gating the sinusoidal waveform from the sine shaper 454 to the input of the summation amplifier 49].
  • the function control circuit 476 has another output cnnductor 494 which carries an enable signal to the gate input to the analog gate 470 to gate the square waveform from the output of the level converter 464 to the input of the summation amplifier 491.
  • the parameter data in the shift register 472 defining the waveform ofa particular modulation signal is fed to the function control circuit 476 which sends a signal through the conductor 490, 493 or 494 to gate the selected waveform signal through the summation amplifier 49! to one input of a multiplier 496.
  • the multiplier 496 has another input connected by a conductor 497 to the output conductor 329 of a interface unit of the type 287 for receiving information defining the amplitude of the selected waveform.
  • phase-lock the modulation signals with the generation of a particular raster section or with the generation of each raster line of a particular raster section.
  • the latter synchronization mode might be desirable, for example, in producing a bend in a raster section where each line of the raster must be bent at precisely the same place. It might also be desirable to have no phase lock, allowing the modulation signal to free run.
  • the parameter data in the shift register 472 defining the synchronization mode is fed to the function control circuit 476 which, in accordance with the synchronization mode selected, transmits either the horizontal reset signals at its input conductor 478, the section change signals at its input conductor 480, or neither if in the free run mode, through an output conductor 498 to an input of the up-down counter 440.
  • the counter 440 is reset to begin counting from a phase condition defined by the phase data from the phase angle translator 474.
  • the function control circuit 476 also sends a signal through a conductor 499 to the counter 440 to time the loading of the phase data from the translator 474 into the counter 440.
  • a modulation signal of a defined frequency, phase, waveform, amplitude and synchronization mode is produced at the output of the multiplier 496 and fed through a conductor 500 to an appropriate modulation input to the analog portion 26 such as the input 107, 108 or 109 for use in producing depth, vertical or horizontal animation. Since three modulation signals are needed in this embodiment, three function generators of the type described are required.
  • FIGS. 4 and 4A there is shown an intensity compensation network 520 the details of which are disclosed in copending US. Patent application Ser. No. 74,662, filed Sept. 23, 1970, entitled Beam intensity Compensator, having an input conductor S21 connected from an intensity input 522.
  • the input 522 receives analog information from an interface unit of the type 287 defining the beam intensities of the scanning devices of the system on which the image is produced which devices include the scan converters of the color network 67, the X-Y monitors 79, 81 and 83 of P10. 3, and the overlap network 56 of FIG. 1.
  • the network 520 also has an input conductor 523 connected from the vertical size input 100 to carry vertical size information, an input conductor 524 connected from the horizontal size input 97 to carry horizontal size information, an input conductor 525 connected to the output of the summation amplifier 230 to carry depth information, an inputconductor 526 connected from the vertical modulation input 108 to carry vertical modulation signals, and an input conductor 527 connected from the horizontal modulation input 109 to carry horizontal modulation signals.
  • the purpose of the intensity compensation network 520 is to compensate the beam intensities of the display devices for variations in size of the image and scan velocity of the spot as the beam travels across the screen of the device.
  • the intensity compensation signal for the monitored display is fed through a conductor 530 to modulate the video signals to the scan converters or X-Y monitors, and the intensity compensation signal for the overlap network is fed through a conductor 531 to modulate the video signal to the overlap network 56.
  • an animation sequence is composed of a finite number of frames, the frequency of which depends upon whether the sequence is to be filmed, recorded on video tape, or displayed on a TV monitor.
  • the frame rate should be 24 frames per second to be compatible with movie film rates; if the image is to be displayed on a TV monitor or recorded on video tape for use in the United States, the frame rate should be 30 frames per second for compatibility with the US TV scan rate.
  • each of these parts are produced on a separate raster section; the right arm 601 on a raster section 610, the right leg 602 on a raster section 611, the hat 603 on a raster section 612, the head and body 604 on a raster section 613, the left leg 605 on a raster section 614, and the left arm 606 on a raster section 615. Therefore, controls on the director 20 are set to select a total of six raster sections and to establish the number of raster lines in each section.
  • the overlap network 56 of FIG. 1 blanks the last generated overlapping information
  • the parts of the figures should be generated from foreground to background.
  • the raster sections should be generated in the following order: right arm section 610, right leg section 611, hat section 612, head and body section 613, left leg section 614, and left arm section 615.
  • These various body parts are drawn from top to bottom one piece of artwork 618 and displayed such as on the light box 45 of FIG. 1.
  • a video camera such as the camera 42 of FIG. 1 is made to scan the artwork 618 from top to bottom at rates determined by the horizontal and vertical reset pulses from the sync generator 112 of FIG. 1.
  • the artwork 618 be arranged so that the camera 42 scans from top to bottom.
  • the camera can be made to scan the various parts of the artwork in any desired sequence to accommodate the overlap network 56. In any case, for the purposes of this example, it will be assumed that the artwork is drawn in the sequence shown and that the camera scans from top to bottom.
  • Appropriate controls of the director are set to feed digital parameter information to the digital computer 22 which in turn is fed to the switcher 52 as the sequence is generated to switch the video information from the camera 42 to the input of the grey level encoder 54 which produces at its output signals representing the artwork 618 in discrete shades of grey.
  • the output signals from the grey level encoder 54 are fed to the video gate 58 together with signals from the output of the overlap network 56 which prevent overlapping on the part of the image where one part is positioned behind another, to produce on the output conductor 60 from the video gate 58 video signals representing the artwork in discrete shades of grey for use in producing the animation sequence.
  • the operator must also select the number of frames in the sequence. This, of course, depends on how fast the figure is to walk, but assume for purposes of this example that he is to walk at a rate of half a step per second. With TV rates of 30 frames per second, 30 frames are selected for the sequence by setting the controls on the director 20. If the sequence is to be filmed, 24 frames are selected. By adjusting the analog input 270 and channel select 272 controls of the director 20, and by observing the monitor 73 of FIG. 2, the operator varies all of the parameters for each raster section of the image necessary to set up the initial frame of the sequence with the image of FIG. 9.
  • digital signals are sent sequentially to the digital computer 22 representing X position, Y position, horizontal size, vertical size, section depth, and intensity, as well as signals defining the number of lines in each raster section and the red, blue and green color components of each color in each frame.
  • the arms, legs, and hat must be made to rotate about given points between initial and final frames, the hat being made to rotate about a point 620, the legs about a point 621 located at the hips, and the arms about a point 622 located at the shoulders.
  • the head and body section 613 remains erect throughout the sequence although, of course, it could be made to rotate if desired. Therefore, for each raster section, digital signals are sent to the digital computer 22 from the director 20 defining the cosine and sine of the angles of rotation, and the vertical and horizontal axes of rotation.
  • synchronization mode should be selected such that the generation'of the modulation signals for each raster section is synchronized with the generation of each raster line in the section, i.e., with the horizontal reset pulses.
  • the controls of the director 20 are set to select a triangular waveform, synchronization on the horizontal reset signals, and the appropriate frequency, phase and amplitude for the vertical modulation signal for each of the raster sections 610, 611, 614 and 615 for the initial frame of the sequence.
  • the controls of the director 20 are set to establish the parameters for the overall image of the initial frame, namely, overall X position, overall Y position and overall depth.
  • the digital computer 22 is programmed to feed the parameter information for each raster section of the initial frame to the various interface units, as heretofore described, beginning with the information defining the raster section 610 and followed by the information for the raster section 611, 612, 613, 614 and 615, in that order.
  • the channel address counter 302 sequentially directs each piece of digital parameter information to the appropriate interface unit as heretofore described.
  • information defining raster section 610 is first sequentially loaded into the interface units which information is transferred from these units to the appropriate input of the other networks of the system in response to the vertical reset signal from the sync generator 112, at which time the digital parameter information for the next section 611 is loaded sequentially into the interface units and transferred to appropriate inputs of the system in response to the section change signal at the output of the section length counter 331 (FIG. 5), and so on for the section 612, 613, 614 and 615 to generate the initial frame of the sequence.
  • the sections 610 to 615 are, of course, drawn continuously, but two or three raster lines are blanked at the beginning of each section.
  • the blanking is produced by signals generated by the blanking network 338 in response to the section change signals from the section length counter 331, the horizontal reset pulses, and the vertical reset pulses.
  • the section change signals in turn are generated in response to information stored in the digital computer 22 defining the number of lines in each raster section.
  • These blanking signals from the blanking generator 338 are fed through the conductor 345 to blank the beam of the scan converter of the color network 67 between sections.
  • digital parameter information is fed from the output of the interface units of the type 285 to the input of the shift register 411 of the frequency synthesizer 32 to define the frequency of the vertical modulation signal, and to the inputs of the shift register 472 of the function generator 34 for defining the phase, waveform

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US00156762A 1971-06-25 1971-06-25 Digitally controlled computer animation generating system Expired - Lifetime US3747087A (en)

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Cited By (45)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US3798610A (en) * 1972-12-20 1974-03-19 Ibm Multiplexed intelligence communications
US4025946A (en) * 1976-03-22 1977-05-24 Casey Susan D Method and apparatus for generating graphic designs
US4045789A (en) * 1975-10-29 1977-08-30 Atari, Inc. Animated video image display system and method
US4070710A (en) * 1976-01-19 1978-01-24 Nugraphics, Inc. Raster scan display apparatus for dynamically viewing image elements stored in a random access memory array
US4116444A (en) * 1976-07-16 1978-09-26 Atari, Inc. Method for generating a plurality of moving objects on a video display screen
US4123782A (en) * 1975-07-18 1978-10-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Control device for television camera
US4156237A (en) * 1976-08-25 1979-05-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Colored display system for displaying colored planar figures
US4181971A (en) * 1976-02-09 1980-01-01 The University Of Akron Apparatus for presenting a sequence of fixed pictures
US4181956A (en) * 1977-11-07 1980-01-01 General Signal Corporation Digital indicia generator employing compressed data
US4209832A (en) * 1978-06-13 1980-06-24 Chrysler Corporation Computer-generated display for a fire control combat simulator
US4228432A (en) * 1979-08-28 1980-10-14 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Raster scan generator for plan view display
US4260229A (en) * 1978-01-23 1981-04-07 Bloomstein Richard W Creating visual images of lip movements
US4296930A (en) * 1975-11-26 1981-10-27 Bally Manufacturing Corporation TV Game apparatus
US4305131A (en) * 1979-02-05 1981-12-08 Best Robert M Dialog between TV movies and human viewers
US4333152A (en) * 1979-02-05 1982-06-01 Best Robert M TV Movies that talk back
US4346403A (en) * 1979-09-21 1982-08-24 Kabushiki Kaisha N A C Process and device for producing animated cartoons
USRE31200E (en) * 1976-01-19 1983-04-05 Xtrak Corporation Raster scan display apparatus for dynamically viewing image elements stored in a random access memory array
US4445187A (en) * 1979-02-05 1984-04-24 Best Robert M Video games with voice dialog
US4475172A (en) * 1978-05-30 1984-10-02 Bally Manufacturing Corporation Audio/visual home computer and game apparatus
US4500879A (en) * 1982-01-06 1985-02-19 Smith Engineering Circuitry for controlling a CRT beam
US4569026A (en) * 1979-02-05 1986-02-04 Best Robert M TV Movies that talk back
US4586038A (en) * 1983-12-12 1986-04-29 General Electric Company True-perspective texture/shading processor
US4600281A (en) * 1985-03-29 1986-07-15 Bloomstein Richard W Altering facial displays in cinematic works
US4646075A (en) * 1983-11-03 1987-02-24 Robert Bosch Corporation System and method for a data processing pipeline
US4710873A (en) * 1982-07-06 1987-12-01 Marvin Glass & Associates Video game incorporating digitized images of being into game graphics
US4727365A (en) * 1983-08-30 1988-02-23 General Electric Company Advanced video object generator
US4893198A (en) * 1985-04-26 1990-01-09 Ampex Corporation Method and apparatus for performing high speed video animation
US4952051A (en) * 1988-09-27 1990-08-28 Lovell Douglas C Method and apparatus for producing animated drawings and in-between drawings
US4972329A (en) * 1986-04-04 1990-11-20 Publigrafa System for creating images, in particular dummies for printing advertising documents such as wrappers, labels or the like
US4999791A (en) * 1988-12-23 1991-03-12 Schumann Robert W Computer graphics color film recording method and apparatus
US5068646A (en) * 1986-02-17 1991-11-26 U.S. Philips Corporation Data display
US5091849A (en) * 1988-10-24 1992-02-25 The Walt Disney Company Computer image production system utilizing first and second networks for separately transferring control information and digital image data
US5113493A (en) * 1987-05-11 1992-05-12 Liberty Life Insurance Co. Full speed animation system for low-speed computers and method
US5125671A (en) * 1982-12-22 1992-06-30 Ricoh Co., Ltd. T.V. game system having reduced memory needs
US5159462A (en) * 1986-05-12 1992-10-27 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Video signal generating apparatus
US5171038A (en) * 1990-04-18 1992-12-15 Bowler Kevin M Interactive advertising device
US5267154A (en) * 1990-11-28 1993-11-30 Hitachi, Ltd. Biological image formation aiding system and biological image forming method
US5487172A (en) * 1974-11-11 1996-01-23 Hyatt; Gilbert P. Transform processor system having reduced processing bandwith
US5519826A (en) * 1994-04-29 1996-05-21 Atari Games Corporation Stop motion animation system
US5621431A (en) * 1994-04-29 1997-04-15 Atari Games Corporation Animation system having variable video display rate
US6147712A (en) * 1996-05-27 2000-11-14 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Format conversion circuit and television receiver provided therewith and method of converting video signals
US6329994B1 (en) 1996-03-15 2001-12-11 Zapa Digital Arts Ltd. Programmable computer graphic objects
US20020060664A1 (en) * 1998-09-10 2002-05-23 Cronin Thomas M. Delivering animation over the internet
US6512521B1 (en) * 1997-07-02 2003-01-28 Kazunari Era Method of displaying two dimensional picture image data, and constructing animation picture therefrom
US6545686B1 (en) 1997-12-16 2003-04-08 Oak Technology, Inc. Cache memory and method for use in generating computer graphics texture

Cited By (52)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3798610A (en) * 1972-12-20 1974-03-19 Ibm Multiplexed intelligence communications
US5487172A (en) * 1974-11-11 1996-01-23 Hyatt; Gilbert P. Transform processor system having reduced processing bandwith
US4244006A (en) * 1975-07-18 1981-01-06 Nippon Hoso Kyokai Control device for television camera
US4123782A (en) * 1975-07-18 1978-10-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Control device for television camera
US4045789A (en) * 1975-10-29 1977-08-30 Atari, Inc. Animated video image display system and method
US4296930A (en) * 1975-11-26 1981-10-27 Bally Manufacturing Corporation TV Game apparatus
US4070710A (en) * 1976-01-19 1978-01-24 Nugraphics, Inc. Raster scan display apparatus for dynamically viewing image elements stored in a random access memory array
USRE31200E (en) * 1976-01-19 1983-04-05 Xtrak Corporation Raster scan display apparatus for dynamically viewing image elements stored in a random access memory array
US4181971A (en) * 1976-02-09 1980-01-01 The University Of Akron Apparatus for presenting a sequence of fixed pictures
US4025946A (en) * 1976-03-22 1977-05-24 Casey Susan D Method and apparatus for generating graphic designs
US4116444A (en) * 1976-07-16 1978-09-26 Atari, Inc. Method for generating a plurality of moving objects on a video display screen
US4156237A (en) * 1976-08-25 1979-05-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Colored display system for displaying colored planar figures
US4181956A (en) * 1977-11-07 1980-01-01 General Signal Corporation Digital indicia generator employing compressed data
US4260229A (en) * 1978-01-23 1981-04-07 Bloomstein Richard W Creating visual images of lip movements
US4475172A (en) * 1978-05-30 1984-10-02 Bally Manufacturing Corporation Audio/visual home computer and game apparatus
US4209832A (en) * 1978-06-13 1980-06-24 Chrysler Corporation Computer-generated display for a fire control combat simulator
US4305131A (en) * 1979-02-05 1981-12-08 Best Robert M Dialog between TV movies and human viewers
US4333152A (en) * 1979-02-05 1982-06-01 Best Robert M TV Movies that talk back
US4445187A (en) * 1979-02-05 1984-04-24 Best Robert M Video games with voice dialog
US4569026A (en) * 1979-02-05 1986-02-04 Best Robert M TV Movies that talk back
US4228432A (en) * 1979-08-28 1980-10-14 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Raster scan generator for plan view display
US4346403A (en) * 1979-09-21 1982-08-24 Kabushiki Kaisha N A C Process and device for producing animated cartoons
US4500879A (en) * 1982-01-06 1985-02-19 Smith Engineering Circuitry for controlling a CRT beam
US4710873A (en) * 1982-07-06 1987-12-01 Marvin Glass & Associates Video game incorporating digitized images of being into game graphics
US5308086A (en) * 1982-12-22 1994-05-03 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Video game external memory arrangement with reduced memory requirements
US5560614A (en) * 1982-12-22 1996-10-01 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Video game system having reduced memory needs for a raster scanned display
US5125671A (en) * 1982-12-22 1992-06-30 Ricoh Co., Ltd. T.V. game system having reduced memory needs
US4727365A (en) * 1983-08-30 1988-02-23 General Electric Company Advanced video object generator
US4646075A (en) * 1983-11-03 1987-02-24 Robert Bosch Corporation System and method for a data processing pipeline
US4586038A (en) * 1983-12-12 1986-04-29 General Electric Company True-perspective texture/shading processor
US4827532A (en) * 1985-03-29 1989-05-02 Bloomstein Richard W Cinematic works with altered facial displays
US4600281A (en) * 1985-03-29 1986-07-15 Bloomstein Richard W Altering facial displays in cinematic works
US4893198A (en) * 1985-04-26 1990-01-09 Ampex Corporation Method and apparatus for performing high speed video animation
US5068646A (en) * 1986-02-17 1991-11-26 U.S. Philips Corporation Data display
US4972329A (en) * 1986-04-04 1990-11-20 Publigrafa System for creating images, in particular dummies for printing advertising documents such as wrappers, labels or the like
US5159462A (en) * 1986-05-12 1992-10-27 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Video signal generating apparatus
US5113493A (en) * 1987-05-11 1992-05-12 Liberty Life Insurance Co. Full speed animation system for low-speed computers and method
US4952051A (en) * 1988-09-27 1990-08-28 Lovell Douglas C Method and apparatus for producing animated drawings and in-between drawings
US5764980A (en) * 1988-10-24 1998-06-09 The Walt Disney Company Method for coordinating production of an animated feature using a logistics system
US5091849A (en) * 1988-10-24 1992-02-25 The Walt Disney Company Computer image production system utilizing first and second networks for separately transferring control information and digital image data
US4999791A (en) * 1988-12-23 1991-03-12 Schumann Robert W Computer graphics color film recording method and apparatus
US5171038A (en) * 1990-04-18 1992-12-15 Bowler Kevin M Interactive advertising device
US5267154A (en) * 1990-11-28 1993-11-30 Hitachi, Ltd. Biological image formation aiding system and biological image forming method
US5519826A (en) * 1994-04-29 1996-05-21 Atari Games Corporation Stop motion animation system
US5621431A (en) * 1994-04-29 1997-04-15 Atari Games Corporation Animation system having variable video display rate
US6329994B1 (en) 1996-03-15 2001-12-11 Zapa Digital Arts Ltd. Programmable computer graphic objects
US6331861B1 (en) 1996-03-15 2001-12-18 Gizmoz Ltd. Programmable computer graphic objects
US6147712A (en) * 1996-05-27 2000-11-14 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Format conversion circuit and television receiver provided therewith and method of converting video signals
US6512521B1 (en) * 1997-07-02 2003-01-28 Kazunari Era Method of displaying two dimensional picture image data, and constructing animation picture therefrom
US6545686B1 (en) 1997-12-16 2003-04-08 Oak Technology, Inc. Cache memory and method for use in generating computer graphics texture
US20020060664A1 (en) * 1998-09-10 2002-05-23 Cronin Thomas M. Delivering animation over the internet
US6542158B2 (en) * 1998-09-10 2003-04-01 Intel Corporation Delivering animation over the internet

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