Defining surface normals in a 3D surface mesh
US6650324B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T17/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In rendering an image of a 3D surface, a computer system obtains a digital model that includes data points defining vertices for triangles that represent 2D faces of the 3D surface. The computer also obtains a plurality of vectors, each defining a surface normal for the 3D surface at a corresponding one of the vertices. The computer applies an algorithm, such as, Loop's Equation, to the data points to create new data points defining new vertices that subdivide the triangles into smaller triangles. The computer applies the same algorithm to the vectors to calculate new vectors, each defining a surface normal at a corresponding one of the new vertices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.