Patent · US Expired

3D computer modelling apparatus

US6867772B2 · kind B2 · utility

36Cited by
7References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 2002
Grant dateMar 15, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T17/20
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A 3D computer model of an object is generated by calculating the intersections of polyhedra. Each polyhedron defines a volume of 3D space containing at least part of the object. The 3D points of intersection of the planar faces of the polyhedra are calculated and each point is labeled with the planar faces which meet thereat. The points are connected to form a polygon mesh using the labels to determine which points should be connected together. In calculating the points, a volume containing the object is subdivided into parts, each part is tested against the polyhedra and then discarded, subdivided further, or the point of intersection of planar faces within the volume part is calculated. A volume part is discarded if it is outside at least one polyhedron. The volume part is subdivided into further parts if it is intersected by more than a predetermined number of polyhedra faces.

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