Dynamic Posing Root Node for Animation Hierarchy Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing animation systems face difficulties in posing and animating models with complex hierarchies when a model needs to be fixed or attached to an external reference point, as the joints and nodes are translated and rotated relative to a single root node, making it counter-intuitive to specify joint positions and rotations relative to a different attachment point.

Innovation Solution

The ability to dynamically specify a 'posing root' node in the animation hierarchy that is different from the model root node, allowing animators to specify translations and rotations relative to this posing root, which is then converted to equivalent values relative to the model root node, maintaining the underlying hierarchy unchanged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single root node is used for the animation hierarchy, then the hierarchy structure is simple and easy to manage, but it becomes difficult and counter-intuitive to specify joint positions and rotations relative to an arbitrary attachment point

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of specifying joint positions relative to attachment pointVSAvoidcomplexity of animation hierarchy structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a posing root node as an intermediary between the model root node and the joints. This posing root node serves as a mediator that allows animators to specify joint positions and rotations relative to an arbitrary attachment point without changing the underlying animation hierarchy structure. The posing root node acts as a virtual reference point that simplifies the specification process while maintaining the integrity of the original hierarchy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the reference system into two distinct components: the model root node (which maintains the animation hierarchy) and the posing root node (which serves as the reference for joint specification). This segmentation allows the system to maintain a simple hierarchy structure while providing flexible reference points for animation authoring, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the root node is changed to match the attachment point, then joint positioning becomes intuitive, but the underlying animation hierarchy structure must be modified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitiveness of joint positioningVSAvoidstability of animation hierarchy structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The posing root node serves as a mediator that provides the benefits of having the root node at the attachment point without actually modifying the animation hierarchy. It translates joint specifications made relative to the posing root into transformations relative to the model root, thus maintaining hierarchy stability while improving operational intuitiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the root node functionality at the desired attachment point. Instead of moving the actual model root node, a posing root node is created that copies the reference functionality, allowing intuitive joint positioning while preserving the original hierarchy structure unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple root nodes are allowed in the animation hierarchy, then flexibility in specifying joint positions is improved, but the complexity of managing the hierarchy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in specifying joint positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of managing animation hierarchy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The posing root node is introduced as a lightweight intermediary that provides multiple reference points without creating complex multi-root hierarchies. It maintains a simple one-to-one relationship with the model root node while enabling flexible joint specification, thus achieving adaptability without increasing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the posing root node dynamic and configurable, allowing it to be set to different locations in the hierarchy as needed for different animation tasks. This dynamic capability provides versatility in joint positioning while the posing root itself remains a simple, manageable concept that does not permanently increase hierarchy complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10319133B1Posing animation hierarchies with dynamic posing roots

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 PIXAR CORP

AI summary

Users may dynamically specify a “posing root” node in an animation hierarchy that is different than the model root node used to define the animation hierarchy. When a posing root node is specified, users specify the pose, including translations and rotations, of other nodes relative to the posing root node, rather than the model root node. Poses of nodes may be specified using animation variable values relative to the posing root node. Animation variable values specified relative to the posing root node are dynamically converted to equivalent animation variable values relative to the model root node, which then may be used to pose an associated model. Animation data may be presented to users relative to the current posing root node. If a posing root node is changed to a different location, the animation data is converted so that it is expressed relative to the new posing root node.