Three dimensional medical image display system
First Claim
1. A real-time three-dimensional display device comprising:
- (a) a plurality of individual processing elements each having;
(i) an associated object memory for storing a first digital representation of a portion of a three-dimensional objet to be displayed;
(ii) an image memory for storing a second digital representation of a mini-image of the visible surface of that portion of the object as viewed from a selected direction with respect to a predetermined plane including the relative depth of that surface at each pixel of the mini-image;
(iii) means for selecting said direction including means for mapping said first digital representation into said second digital representation; and
(b) means for generating priority codes based upon the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements for a given pixel in the combinedimage produced by all of said processing elements; and
(c) merge control means responsive to said priority codes for generating the combined image of said object including, at each pixel, the depth of the visible surface of the object from said predetermined plane said combined image being generated on a pixel-by-pixel basis from said mini-images, each pixel of said combined image including only a selected pixel of said mini-images which is visible for a given orientation of said object, the pixel being selected in accordance with said priority codes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A real-time three-dimensional display device particularly suited for medical imaging is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of individual processing elements each having an image memory for storing a mini-image of a portion of the object as viewed from any given direction and a merge control means for generating a combined image of the object including the depth thereof by selection on a pixel-by-pixel basis from each of the mini-images. In two different embodiments, priority codes are assigned to each of the processing elements reflecting the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements. In one embodiment, the combined image is generated in accordance with the priority codes. In another embodiment, a Z buffer is used to provide for hidden surface removal on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Improved shadow, shading and gradient processors are provided to provide three-dimensional imaging as well as an improved scan conversion means for generating a coherent image from the combined images merged from all of the processing elements.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A real-time three-dimensional display device comprising:
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(a) a plurality of individual processing elements each having; (i) an associated object memory for storing a first digital representation of a portion of a three-dimensional objet to be displayed; (ii) an image memory for storing a second digital representation of a mini-image of the visible surface of that portion of the object as viewed from a selected direction with respect to a predetermined plane including the relative depth of that surface at each pixel of the mini-image; (iii) means for selecting said direction including means for mapping said first digital representation into said second digital representation; and (b) means for generating priority codes based upon the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements for a given pixel in the combinedimage produced by all of said processing elements; and (c) merge control means responsive to said priority codes for generating the combined image of said object including, at each pixel, the depth of the visible surface of the object from said predetermined plane said combined image being generated on a pixel-by-pixel basis from said mini-images, each pixel of said combined image including only a selected pixel of said mini-images which is visible for a given orientation of said object, the pixel being selected in accordance with said priority codes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A real-time three-dimensional display device comprising:
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(a) a plurality of individual processing elements each having an image memory for storing a mini-image generated by that processing element including the relative depth of each pixel of such mini-image; (b) means associated with said processing elements for generating said mini-images; and (c) a merge control means for generating a combined image from each of said mini-images by selection based upon the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements for a given for a given pixel in the combined image produced by all of said processing elements on a pixel-by-pixel basis said combined image including at each pixel the depth from a predetermined plane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 54)
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32. A real time, interactive, medical image display system for displaying data representing a three-dimensional anatomical object, said data having been collected by at least one medical image acquisition device comprising:
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(a) a host computer for receiving and storing said data; (b) an image display processor coupled to said host computer, said image display processor having; (i) a plurality of individual processing elements each having an image memory for storing a mini-image of the visible surface of a portion of said object as viewed from a selected direction with respect to a predetermined plane including the relative depth of that surface; (ii) means associated with said processing elements for selecting said direction and for generating said mini-images; and (iii) a merge control means for generating a combined image from each of said mini-images by selection based upon the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements for a given pixel in the combined image produced by all of said processing elements on a pixel-by-pixel basis, each pixel of said combined image including the depth of the visible surface of the object from said predetermined plane; and (c) display means, coupled to said image display processor, for displaying said combined image. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 53)
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47. Am image display device comprising:
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(a) a plurality of individual processing elements, each for computing a mini-image of a portion of an object and each having an image memory for storing that mini-image including the relative depth thereof; and (b) a merge control means for generating a combined image from each of said mini-images by selection based upon the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements for a give pixel in the combined image produced by all of said processing elements on a pixel-by-pixel basis said combined image including the depth at each pixel from a predetermined plane.
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48. A real-time three-dimensional image display device comprising:
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(a) a plurality of individual processing elements, each for producing a mini-image of a portion of a three-dimensional object; (b) merge control means for generating a combined image of said object on a pixel-by-pixel basis from each of said mini-images, each pixel of said combined image having a density value and a depth value relative to a predetermined plane, said combined image as generated by said merge control means having insufficient data to yield a coherent image at certain orientations of said object as said combined image is projected on a display means; and (c) scan conversion means responsive to said combined image for generating a coherent image despite said insufficient data said scan conversion means having; (i) a serpentine buffer for delaying each given pixel of said combined image; and (ii) a template memory, said serpentine buffer being responsive thereto, for storing neighboring pixels of said delayed pixel, the density value of said given pixel being substituted by the density value of a neighboring pixel whenever said neighboring pixel has a non-zero density value and a relative depth less than the relative depth of said given pixel. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50. A real-time, three-dimensional image display device comprising:
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(a) a means for producing an image on a pixel-by-pixel basis, each pixel of said image having a density value and a depth value relative to a predetermined plane; (b) a shading processor responsive to said image for adding shading effects to said iamge, said shading processor having; (i) a gradient shading processor responsive to said depth values, for computing the surface normal of each pixel of said image on a pixel-by-pixel basis; and
at least one of(ii) a density shading processor responsive to said density values; and (iii) a depth shading processor responsive to said depth values; and
wherein said shading processor further includes a means responsive to outputs of said gradient shading processor and at least one of said density, and depth shading processors for generating a final image on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the intensity of said final image being varied in accordane with the depth value, or the density value and the surfae normal for each pixel.
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51. A real-time, interactive display system comprising:
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(a) a host computer; (b) an image display processor coupled to said host computer, said image display processor having; (i) a plurality of individual processing elements each having an image memory for storing a mini-image generated by that processing element including the relative depth; (ii) means associated with each of said processing elements, for generating said mini-images; and (iii) merge control means for generating a combined iamge from each of said mini-images by selection based upon the reltive significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements for a given pixel in the combined image produced by all of said processing elements on a pixel-by-pixel basis each pixel of said combined image including the depth at that pixel from a predetermined plane; and (c) display means, coupled to said image display processor, for displaying said combined image. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification