Method and apparatus for generating realistic images using a discrete representation
US5442733A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/06
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for generating realistic images using discrete representations employs a discrete voxel based representation of the scene within a three-dimensional (3-D) Cubic Frame Buffer of infinitesimal voxels. Each voxel stores information corresponding to the attributes of that portion of the scene. Numerous sight rays are traversed through the Cubic Frame Buffer. When a non-transparent infinitesimal voxel is encountered by a traversing sight ray, a hit is recognized. The attributes of that portion of the object that is encountered are then used for generating secondary rays. Depending upon the number and characteristics of the secondary rays that are generated, an appropriate representation of the scene can be generated from any viewing direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.