Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for identifying and eliminating three-dimensional objects visually obstructed from a planar surface

US5926181A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
6References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 29, 1996
Grant dateJul 20, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 29, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T15/405
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for generating a graphical display from data describing at least one three-dimensional object is disclosed. The method and system include determining if a current position intersects a portion of the at least one three-dimensional object. The method and system further include identifying if the portion of the at least one three-dimensional object is visually obstructed and removing data relating to the portion of the at least one three-dimensional object if the portion is obstructed in response to the determination if the current position intersects the portion and without determining a precise axial position of the portion of the at least one three-dimensional object. The method and system also include providing information relating to a plurality of characteristics of the portion if the portion is not obstructed and data relating to the portion is not removed and utilizing information relating to the portion of the at least one three-dimensional object to display an image of an unobstructed portion of the three-dimensional object.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.