Opacity-weighted color interpolation for volume sampling
US6278459A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/50
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In order to solve the need for an accurate two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional image, the invention provides an improved method and apparatus for processing voxel data which avoid the problem of color artifacts coming from zero opacity regions. The three-dimensional image is stored in a computer memory as a three-dimensional data array having object data values associated with sample points in a three-dimensional space. A central processing unit (CPU) processes the object data values to determine voxel colors C and voxel opacities .alpha. for the plurality of sample points and then opacity weights the voxel colors to produce a set of opacity weighted colors .sub.C. Next, the voxel opacities .alpha. and the opacity weighted colors .sub.C from each sample point are composited in a compositor to form the two-dimensional representation. Finally, a display unit visually displays the two-dimensional representation. In this manner, artifacts resulting from zero opacity areas contributing to the overall color are eliminated because of the opacity weighting performed prior to compositing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.