Grid Camera Stabilizes Rendering Artifacts in Virtual Scenes

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Solution Overview

Problem

In computer animation, the movement of a virtual camera can cause undesirable render artifacts due to oscillations, leading to time-consuming manual identification and rectification of issues, particularly when camera motion results in frequent changes to animation parameters.

Innovation Solution

A separate grid camera is introduced, which can be used when the render camera's configurations satisfy certain properties, such as minimal change within a threshold, to stabilize grid resolutions and reduce artifacts by maintaining consistent grid configurations across segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the render camera moves freely to capture dynamic scenes, then the camera can adapt to various shots and perspectives, but animation parameters oscillate and cause visual artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera motion flexibilityVSAvoidgrid stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The animated scene is divided into multiple segments based on camera motion characteristics. Within each segment where camera motion is minimal, a grid camera is used to maintain stable grids. When camera motion exceeds a threshold, the render camera configurations are used directly. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different camera motion patterns while maintaining grid stability where possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A grid camera is introduced as an intermediary between the render camera and the rendering grid. The grid camera has stabilized configurations that are used to determine grids, while the render camera continues to move freely for capturing dynamic scenes. This intermediary resolves the conflict between camera flexibility and grid stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If animation parameters change frequently to follow camera motion, then the rendering adapts to camera positions, but visual artifacts are generated due to oscillations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverendering adaptationVSAvoidvisual artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The grid determination function is extracted from the render camera configurations and assigned to a separate grid camera. This extraction allows the rendering system to use stable grid configurations independent of the oscillating camera motion, thereby eliminating visual artifacts while maintaining rendering adaptation through the render camera's free movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If manual identification and rectification of camera motion issues is performed, then rendering quality can be improved, but time consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverendering qualityVSAvoidrectification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines when to use grid camera configurations versus render camera configurations based on predefined thresholds and criteria. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual identification and rectification of camera motion issues, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining high rendering quality through automated artifact prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If a separate grid camera is introduced to stabilize grids, then artifacts are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid stabilityVSAvoidcamera system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grid camera serves multiple functions: it provides stable configurations for grid determination, adapts to camera motion segments, and automatically switches between grid camera and render camera modes based on motion thresholds. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex systems while maintaining grid stability and reducing artifacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10192342B1Using stand-in camera to determine grid for rendering an image from a virtual camera

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 PIXAR CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods can provide computer animation of animated scenes or interactive graphics sessions. A grid camera separate from the render camera can be created for segments where the configurations (actual or predicted) of the render camera satisfy certain properties, e.g., an amount of change is within a threshold. If a segment is eligible for the use of the separate grid camera, configurations of the grid camera during a segment can be determined, e.g., from the configurations of the render camera. The configurations of the grid camera can then be used to determine grids for rendering objects. If a segment is not eligible for the use of the grid camera, then the configurations of the render camera can be used to determine the grids for rendering.