Patent · US Expired

Blurring for computer graphics generated images

US5986659A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
3References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1995
Grant dateNov 16, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T15/503
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A post-processing method and apparatus to produce focus/defocus effects in computer generated images of three dimensional objects. A convolution filter stores pixel values (V) and associated depth values (Z) with a filter kernel being selected from a look-up table in dependence of the depth of the centre pixel (Z.sub.c) in relation to a specified focus depth (P). To minimize spurious effects where filter kernels overlap objects at different depths in the image, an inhibition function stage varies the amount by which each pixel contributes to the kernel in dependence on that pixel's depth value (Z) and the centre pixel and focus depth values (Z.sub.c and P). Inhibition profiles over a range of contributing and centre pixel values are provided.

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