Facial Animation Model Construction via Top-Down Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing animation models, especially facial animation models, are time-consuming and resource-intensive due to the serial construction of detailed facial expressions, which can lead to conflicts and require numerous adjustments to ensure accurate representation.
Innovation Solution
A 'top-down' approach is implemented where facial expressions are collected and processed together to construct an animation model, using position information from images or scans to define the geometry of the model, allowing for simultaneous representation of multiple expressions and reducing the need for iterative adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a serial construction method is used to build detailed facial expressions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional serial construction approach by using a top-down method where a complete animation model is first constructed from collected facial expressions, and then refined through corrective shapes. This reverses the conventional bottom-up serial building process, allowing parallel processing of multiple expressions simultaneously while maintaining accuracy through the corrective refinement stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and processing multiple facial expressions in advance to construct the initial animation model before final refinement. The corrective shapes are prepared and applied as a preliminary refinement step, preventing the need for numerous iterative adjustments during production, thus improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed facial expressions are constructed serially, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional serial construction approach by using a top-down method where a complete animation model is first constructed from collected facial expressions, and then refined through corrective shapes. This reverses the conventional bottom-up serial building process, allowing parallel processing of multiple expressions simultaneously while maintaining accuracy through the corrective refinement stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the time-consuming iterative adjustment phase by using corrective shapes that are applied in a systematic top-down manner. The corrective shapes directly address and resolve expression conflicts without requiring multiple rounds of serial adjustment, thus rushing through the refinement process efficiently while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Productivity
If multiple facial expressions are constructed simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces corrective shapes as an intermediary element that mediates between multiple simultaneously constructed facial expressions. These corrective shapes act as a reconciliation mechanism that resolves conflicts between different expressions, allowing simultaneous construction to proceed while maintaining manufacturing precision through the mediating corrective refinement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the facial expression construction into two distinct phases: initial simultaneous construction of multiple expressions using collected representations, and subsequent refinement phase using corrective shapes. This segmentation allows parallel processing for productivity while maintaining precision through dedicated refinement of specific expression regions.
4Manufacturing precision
If numerous adjustments are made to resolve conflicts, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and processing multiple facial expressions in advance to construct the initial animation model before final refinement. The corrective shapes are prepared and applied as a preliminary refinement step, preventing the need for numerous iterative adjustments during production, thus improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the time-consuming iterative adjustment phase by using corrective shapes that are applied in a systematic top-down manner. The corrective shapes directly address and resolve expression conflicts without requiring multiple rounds of serial adjustment, thus rushing through the refinement process efficiently while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The system also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes receiving multiple representations of one or more expressions of an object. Each of the representations includes position information attained from one or more images of the object. The method also includes producing an animation model from one or more groups of controls that respectively define each of the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations. Each control of each group of controls has an adjustable value that defines the geometry of at least one shape of a portion of the respective expression of the object. Producing the animation model includes producing one or more corrective shapes if the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations.