Method and apparatus for representing, manipulating and rendering solid shapes using volumetric primitives
US6600487B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/50
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for modeling three-dimensional solid objects are provided. The method of the present invention uses the concept of volumetric objects. Each volumetric object is a decoupled combination of volumetric geometry and volumetric appearance. To be rendered, one or more volumetric objects are tessellated into a series of one or more volumetric primitives. The volumetric primitives are then polygonized. The result is a list of two-dimensional polygons. The list of polygons is then depth sorted, colored, shaded and texture-mapped with the voxel data that forms the basis for the volumetric object. The polygons are composited together in the frame buffer, or other device, to form the final displayable image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.