US3662374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic generation of a mouth display and animation of the mouth in response to sound
Assignee: Computer Image Corp
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Filing: 1970-07-13
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-07-13
Abstract
Abstract Automatic synchronization of movement of a computer generated mouth to movement of a real mouth uttering words. Establishing signals to define the basic form of the mouth generated by the computer for display on a display tube. Combining high frequency sine and cosine signals with the basic form signals to form the body of the mouth on the display tube with modulation of the high frequency signals for shaping the lips. Utilizing pattern recognition and filtering signals of different frequencies that correspond to different spoken sounds. Combining the filtered signals to create control voltages representative of the realistic or alternatively, intentionally impressionistic motions of the mouth corresponding to the spoken sound. Using the control voltages to control movement of the beam of the display tube to effect the amplitude of movement of the upper lip, the amplitude of movement of the lower lip, and the width of the mouth generated by the computer. Controlling the intensity of the beam as the mouth is drawn and animated.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee Harrison
- 👤 Francis J Honey
- 👤 Edwin J Tajchman
- 👤 Lloyd W Bowles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/48; G06G7/60; G06G7/12; G06G7/26; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for automatic generation and animation of a mouth display comprising means for generating a mouth display on a cathode ray tube, the mouth having an upper lip and a lower lip, means to receive sound input signals, means to isolate the sound input signals according to different frequency ranges characteristic of the sound signals, means to extract the rectified envelope of each isolated frequency range, means to combine the different isolated signals in predetermined combinations, means to produce a mouth width control signal influenced by a first of said predetermined combinations of signals, means to produce an upper lip control signal influenced by a second of said predetermined combinations of signals, means to produce a lower lip control signal influenced by a third of said predetermined combinations of signals, and means to animate the width, upper lip and lower lip of the mouth in response to the mouth width, upper lip, and lower lip control signals, respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for automatic generation and animation of a mouth display comprising means for generating a mouth display on a cathode ray tube, the mouth having an upper lip and a lower lip, means to receive sound input signals, means to isolate the sound input signals according to different frequency ranges characteristic of the sound signals, means to extract the rectified envelope of each isolated frequency range, means to combine the different isolated signals in predetermined combinations, means to produce a mouth width control signal influenced by a first of said predetermined combinations of signals, means to produce an upper lip control signal influenced by a second of said predetermined combinations of signals, means to produce a lower lip control signal influenced by a third of said predetermined combinations of signals, and means to animate the width, upper lip and lower lip of the mouth in response to the mouth width, upper lip, and lower lip control signals, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said mouth display generating meAns includes means for generating signals for controlling the deflection of the beam of the display tube to draw a representation of a mouth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 2 including means for controlling the intensity of the beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
The system of claim 1 including means for displaying
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the upper lip is displayed on one raster, and the lower lip on another raster.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for generating a display of a mouth and for animating movements of the mouth in response to voice articulations comprising means for generating deflection signals defining separate rasters on a cathode ray tube display device, means for generating modulated control signals, means for combining the modulated control signals with the deflection signals, means for applying the combinations of deflection and modulated control signals to the deflection inputs of the display device for generation of the rasters, means for displaying the upper and lower lips of the mouth on the separate rasters, and means for modulating the control signals in response to the voice modulations to animate movements of the lips according to said voice modulations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for generating a display of a mouth and for animating movements of the mouth in response to voice articulations comprising means for generating deflection signals defining separate rasters on a cathode ray tube display device, means for generating modulated control signals, means for combining the modulated control signals with the deflection signals, means for applying the combinations of deflection and modulated control signals to the deflection inputs of the display device for generation of the rasters, means for displaying the upper and lower lips of the mouth on the separate rasters, and means for modulating the control signals in response to the voice modulations to animate movements of the lips according to said voice modulations.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for generating a display of a mouth on a cathode ray tube display device and for animating movements of the mouth in response to voice articulations comprising means for generating waveforms defining the basic form of the mouth, means responsive to a first section of one of the waveforms for defining the basic form of the upper lip, means responsive to a second section of said one of the waveforms for defining the basic form of the lower lip, means for generating modulated control signals, means for combining the modulated control signals with the first and second waveform section signals, means for applying the combinations of control and waveform section signals to the deflection inputs of the display device, and means for modulating the control signals in response to voice modulations to animate movements of the lips according to said voice modulations.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for generating a display of a mouth on a cathode ray tube display device and for animating movements of the mouth in response to voice articulations comprising means for generating waveforms defining the basic form of the mouth, means responsive to a first section of one of the waveforms for defining the basic form of the upper lip, means responsive to a second section of said one of the waveforms for defining the basic form of the lower lip, means for generating modulated control signals, means for combining the modulated control signals with the first and second waveform section signals, means for applying the combinations of control and waveform section signals to the deflection inputs of the display device, and means for modulating the control signals in response to voice modulations to animate movements of the lips according to said voice modulations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the waveform comprises a sine wave, the first section being defined by the positive half cycle of the sine wave and the second section being defined by the negative half cycle of the sine wave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 7 including means to generate high frequency signals, and means for combining the high frequency signals with the wave form signals for defining body for the lips.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 7 wherein one set of control signals controls movements of the upper lip, another set of control signals controls movements of the lower lip, and still another set of control signals controls the width of the mouth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 7 including means to control the intensity of the mouth.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of generating and animating a mouth display comprising the steps of feeding voice signals into a frequency spectrum analyzer, identifying and isolating in the frequency spectrum analyzer different parts of the voice signals according to different frequency ranges, generating a mouth display on a cathode ray tube display device, the mouth having upper and lower lips, and controlling movements of the lips of the mouth as functions of the different parts of the voice input signals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of generating and animating a mouth display comprising the steps of feeding voice signals into a frequency spectrum analyzer, identifying and isolating in the frequency spectrum analyzer different parts of the voice signals according to different frequency ranges, generating a mouth display on a cathode ray tube display device, the mouth having upper and lower lips, and controlling movements of the lips of the mouth as functions of the different parts of the voice input signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 12 including the steps of selectively attenuating the effects of the different parts of input signals, combining predetermined ones of the different parts of input signals to produce control signals, and utilizing the control signals for controlling movements of the lips.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of modifying the amplitudes of the control signals in non-linear relationship to the amplitudes of the input signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of setting independent bias signals to position the lips in the absence of input voice signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of utilizing a selected first one of the control signals for controlling moveMents of the upper lip, utilizing a selected second one of the control signals for controlling movements of the lower lip, and utilizing a selected third one of the control signals for controlling the width of the mouth.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for generating a display of a mouth and for animating movements of the mouth in response to sound input signals comprising means for generating a mouth display on a cathode ray tube display device, the mouth having an upper lip and a lower lip, means for isolating the sound input signals according to different frequency ranges characteristic of the sound input signals, means for generating control signals from the isolated sound input signals, and means for animating movements of the mouth as displayed on the display device in response to the control signals.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for generating a display of a mouth and for animating movements of the mouth in response to sound input signals comprising means for generating a mouth display on a cathode ray tube display device, the mouth having an upper lip and a lower lip, means for isolating the sound input signals according to different frequency ranges characteristic of the sound input signals, means for generating control signals from the isolated sound input signals, and means for animating movements of the mouth as displayed on the display device in response to the control signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |