Fast method of creating 3D surfaces by `stretching cubes`
January 21, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesDividing cubes system and method for the display of surface structures contained within the interior region of a solid body System for the simultaneous display of two or more internal surfaces within a solid object Method and apparatus for volumetric projection rendering using reverse ray casting Three-dimensional image producing method and apparatus Cross-referenced sectioning and reprojection of diagnostic image volumes Patent #: 5734384 InventorsApplicationNo. 787526 filed on 01/21/1997US Classes:345/424VoxelExaminersPrimary: Nguyen, Phu K.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG06F 015/00AbstractA system for displaying surfaces of volumetric data determines surface cubes by a simple method without interpolation. A central voxel is selected. The central voxel is tested against a threshold. If it is below the threshold, a different voxel is chosen as a central voxel. When one is found which is above the threshold, diagonal cubes, those at each of the corners of the central voxel, are tested against the threshold. When one is encountered with at least one voxel below the threshold, it is categorized as a surface voxel. The values of the adjacent voxels are then used to determine a vector normal to the surface at the central voxel. This is repeated for a number of central voxels to determine a surface. The surface then may be displayed. If anisotropic voxels are used, the elevation angle is converted to an effective elevation angle. The normal vectors to the surface are also adjusted to compensate for the anisotropic nature of the data. The voxels are then assumed to be isotropic being displayed with the effective elevation angle and using the adjusted surface normals. | |
