Discrete objects for building virtual environments
US9576395B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2014 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2219/2021
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Described is a virtual environment built by drawing stacks of three-dimensional objects (e.g., discrete blocks) as manipulated by a user. A user manipulates one or more objects, resulting in stack heights being changed, e.g., by adding, removing or moving objects to/from stacks. The stack heights are maintained as sample points, e.g., each point indexed by its associated horizontal location. A graphics processor expands height-related information into visible objects or stacks of objects by computing the vertices for each stack to draw that stack's top surface, front surface and/or side surface based upon the height-related information for that stack. Height information for neighboring stacks may be associated with the sample point, whereby a stack is only drawn to where it is occluded by a neighboring stack, that is, by computing the lower vertices for a surface according to the height of a neighboring stack where appropriate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.