Method and apparatus for generating a surface by simulating a physical membrane
US5566281A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T17/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In order to generate a display of a surface, an equation or equations are generated corresponding to all or parts of the surface. The equation or equations represent the surface as a physical membrane. Boundary conditions of the surface can thus be specified, and the equation solved using the boundary conditions as outer constraints to generate a display of the surface. A set of points within the boundary of the surface may be specified, which then define inner constraints for the solution of the equation. Where parts of the surface join at a point or line, a further equation can be generated, which further equation represents the area around the join as a physical membrane. Solution of that equation, preserving the boundary of the area around the join, provides a smooth transition between the parts of the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.