US Patent 8436860 Techniques for using depth maps

Techniques for determining a position of a component of an animated object relative to a surface represented by a depth map and updating the state of the animated object based upon the determination. Updating the state of an animated object may change one or more of the animated object's geometric and/or non-geometric properties, such as changing the position and/or orientation of a component(s) of the animated object, changing a color associated with the animated object, and the like.