Post-processing generation of focus/defocus effects for computer graphics images
US6034690A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S345/953
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for post-processing a computer-generated image of a three-dimensional object for display as a pixel image. A focus depth is specified either by a user or from within the system for each image frame. The image pixels are grouped into non-overlapping blocks of adjoining image pixels with a single respective depth value pre-specified or calculated at run-time for each block. Each block is extracted in turn from the image and the pixels within a block are convolution filtered with a common set of filter coefficients. Padding may be applied to fill areas where a full filter kernel cannot be formed. The technique has particular suitability for MPEG-coded image streams where the existing MPEG macroblock specification may be taken advantage of.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.