Programmable method for digital animation apparatus for assembling animation data

75 Pages·2013·2.88 MB·English

United States Patent
[19] [111 3,898,438
Nater et al. [45] Aug. 5, 1975
[54] PROGRAMMABLE METHOD FOR DIGITAL [57] ABSTRACT
ANIMATlON APPARATUS FOR A method programmable on a general purpose digital
ASSEMBLING ANIMATION DATA computer for use in a system for controlling animation
[75] Inventors; Robert A, Nater, Granada Hills; devices, such as animated human or cartoon ?gures,
w?liam H. Roberts, Caron-a del In the system for generating the signals for use in con
Mar_ both of Calif‘ trolling such devices, an input console is used to input
_ ' . digital and analog positioning information for the con
[73] Asslgnee: Wait D'sney Productwnsi Burbank‘ trolled animation devices. A programmed general pur
Cahf‘ pose digital computer accepts the entered data, for
[22] Filed; seph 23, 1972 mats it properly, adds identifying information and re
trievably stores the data. Units of stored data are asso
[2 1] Appl' No‘: 293‘m8 ciated with timing signals which are used to determine
7 the sequence in which the units are later retrieved and
[52] U_s_ (3L __________ H 235/151; 40/1063; ‘to/10632; used to control one or more animated ?gures and re
444/1 lated functions. By the method of this invention, units
[51 1 Int. Cl. .......................................... ,. G06f 15/20 of animation data may be m0ved 50 ‘I15 m be Stored in
[58] Field of Seal-d, ____________________ H 35/1v 2g' 49‘ 53; association with different timing signals, In this way,
40/1063‘ [0633; 444/]; 235/151 animation data may be exactly synchronized with
audio tracks and other show or presentation events.
[56] References Cited Further, by the method of this invention, segments of
UNITED STATES PATENTS previously stored data for control of animated ?gures
754 82S 3/1904 spenc? a al 40/106 37 X may be assembled into a complete show or presenta
2.700,250 1/1955 Williams ......... H 40/10632 x “0" to comm] d'ffemm ammmed ?gures‘
2,890,535 6/l959 Kenworthy ................. r, 40/l06.32 X
3,699,3l8 lO/l972 Underkof?er et a], ............... ,. 444/1
Primary E,\'am[ner--Malcolm A, Morrison
Assistant E.\'anu'ner——R. Stephen Dildine, Jr. 1 Claim, 12 Drawing Figures
Attorney, Agent, or Finn-Fulwider, Patton, Rieber,
Lee & Utecht
2/60
-» - , COMPU7'EZ—

3,898,438
1 2
PROGRAMMABLE METHOD FOR DIGITAL lights, sound, curtain movements, ?gure eye blinks,
ANIMATION APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING water ?ow, and so forth. A show is generally accompa
ANIMATION DATA nied by sound tracks, either musical scoring, spoken
roles or both.
II. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
For example, one presentation with which this inven'
APPLICATIONS
tion may be practiced utilizes a figure of Abraham Lin
This speci?cation contains disclosure relating to coln. In that presentation, at present, the spectators are
three previously ?led applications: “Digital Animation seated in an auditorium after which the main lights are
Apparatus and Methods”, filed on Jan. 1 l, l97l, and dimmed and the stage curtains opened. A life sized fig
assigned Ser. No. 105,597, now US. Pat. No. ure of Lincoln is seated on the stage. After a musical
3,767,901; “Monitor System for Sensing Discrete introduction, the ?gure rises and delivers a speech, ac
Points", filed on Jan. ll, 1971, and assigned Ser. No. companied with head, arm and body movements. The
105,560, abandoned in favor of a Continuation, Ser. spoken words are synchronous with mouth and body
No. 422,986, ?led Dec. 10, 1973, now abandoned; and, movements. Following the speech, the ?gure is seated
“Method of Indexing and Arranging Data in Storage", 15 after which the lighting is changed and the musical
also filed on Jan. 11, 197], and assigned Ser. No. score continued. Upon conclusion of the presentation,
105,455, now abandoned. Each of the cited applica the curtains close, house lights turn on and auditorium
tions and the inventions claimed therein are owned by doors open. The entire show sequence is controlled au—
the assignee of this invention, Walt Disney Produc tomatically by the system of which this invention is a
tions. 20 part. The methods of this invention may be used to
originally generate and store certain of the data for
Ill. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
later retrieval to control the show or to assemble previ
A. Field of the Invention ously stored blocks of animation data to control such
This invention relates generally to a method of gener a show.
ating, storing and manipulating digital data for selective 25 A second type of presentation, for example, utilizes
read-out. More particularly, the invention involves a vehicles to transport the viewers. As each vehicle
programmable method for use in a data processing sys‘ moves through the show, signals indicating vehicle po
tem for assembling and manipulating stored data for sition are sent to the show controlling system. Appro
the control of animated figures. The stored digital data priate animation data is then routed to the general area
is utilized in the system programmed according to the 30 of the vehicle. In this way, figures are animated in syn<
invention herein to control such animated presenta chronism with the progress of vehicles through the pre
tions or shows as are found at Disneyland, Anaheim, sentation. Again, the entire presentation is controlled
California, and Disneyworld, Orlando, Florida, for the automatically.
purposes of education, amusement and entertainment. B. Description of the Prior Art
Broadly, in the use of the system in which this inven 35 Many prior art methods have been developed for
tion is utilized, animation information, both analog and causing a doll or marionette to move and otherwise imi~
digital, is entered and stored in digital form and selec tate living or fanciful beings. Perhaps the earliest of
tively read out to control animated ?gures and associ such devices were the movable dolls used by puppe
ated show functions. Animated ?gures may be of an ex teers. Each puppet usually had a number of degrees of
tremely complex type such as a completely lifelike 40 movement. Each degree of movement was controlled
human model or a simpler type such as a cartoon char by hand by one or more puppeteers. Generally, the
acter. In each type, however, the figure is moved and puppet was operated in synchronism with a spoken role
positioned in a realistic fashion under control of stored or a musical score.
digital data. Frequently, certain controlled motions, Obviously, the number of moving parts is limited by
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such as lip movement, are synchronized with recorded the skill of the puppeteers. The resultant realism and
sound tracks. the repeatability of performances is quite limited.
Associated show functions encompass such control Later, some automation was introduced by provision
lable items as electric lights, sound levels, stage move of movement control by moving cam surfaces. This
ment and curtain openings and closings. The overall type of animation control may be seen in US. Pat. Nos.
50
system is disclosed and claimed in the application refer 1,409,415 to Schimmel, l,732,l97 to Tadakuma,
enced above, entitled “Digital Animation Apparatus 2,6l5,282 to Veltschi and 3,024,55l to Oppenheim. In
and Methods”. each, cam followers control, via linkages, movement of
The system also provides for the generation of such the automated ?gures. While many more movements
digital data for storage. Animators enter information in may be simultaneously and repeatably controlled than
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both analog and digital form to a central computer via in the prior manually operated puppets, many deficien<
an animator‘s console. A programmed computer ac cies still existed. For example, cams are dif?cult and
cepts the information, formats it properly and ulti expensive to produce. And, the resultant animated
mately stores it in disc memories for later playback. show is not easily changed. As with the manually con
It is thought that a brief description of the type of ani trolled puppets, synchronism with spoken roles or
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mated presentation which is controlled by the system music is not easily provided. Finally, it will be readily
in which this invention is utilized would be helpful in appreciated that a maximum number of controllable
understanding the field in which this invention may be movements is rapidly approached in the practical sense
employed. A “show” or “presentation", as the term is as the complexity of a cam-controlled presentation is
used herein, refers to one or a plurality of animated ?g increased.
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ures and/or on-off devices. The ?gures may be copies It was long recognized that animation of realistic
of human, animal, cartoon character or fantasy beings. human ?gures required life-like synchronized lip and
Examples of on-off devices are stage movements, mouth movement. Numerous patents have been issued