Depth buffer priority processing for real time computer image generating systems
First Claim
1. A method for determining color image information in a computer image generation system for a sequence of display frames for each pixel of an image to be displayed, each frame being defined by a plurality of spans, each span including a respective plurality of pixels, each pixel including a respective plurality of subpixels, and each image being defined by a plurality of faces, each face having a predetermined color intensity value said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) identifying range data for each face appearing in each span, the range data including a minimum range distance and a maximum range distance from a viewpoint to each face;
(b) ordering the faces into range separable groups for each span in response to the range data identified; and
(c) processing the groups in group order sequence for each span until a color intensity control value for pixels in the span being processed is determined, the color intensity control value for pixels responsive to the color intensity control values from faces in the groups assigned to corresponding subpixels of pixels in the span.
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Abstract
A method for determining color information in a computer image generated display in which the display is divided into a plurality of spans and each span comprises a matrix of pixels, each of the pixels being further divided into a matrix of subpixels, which method and apparatus allows overlapping and inner penetrating faces appearing in an image to be resolved without conflict. Faces of objects appearing in an image are resolved by a range ordering process for each span in an image. The faces are reordered into range separable groups in which a range separable group is defined as faces in which the maximum range to the most distant face in a group does not overlap the minimum range of the nearest face in another group. Each range separable group of faces is then processed on a per pixel basis for determining the color contribution of that face or group of faces to each subpixel within a pixel. In one form, the process of identifying the colors contributing to a pixel may be terminated at the end of processing of one group of faces when at least a minimum number of subpixels within a pixel have been identified as covered by faces in the processed group. Where groups of faces cannot be divided into range separable groups, forced separation of groups can be implemented by establishing a predetermined maximum number of faces in a group or by inserting a pseudo-face within a group and breaking the groups at the pseudo-face.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for determining color image information in a computer image generation system for a sequence of display frames for each pixel of an image to be displayed, each frame being defined by a plurality of spans, each span including a respective plurality of pixels, each pixel including a respective plurality of subpixels, and each image being defined by a plurality of faces, each face having a predetermined color intensity value said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying range data for each face appearing in each span, the range data including a minimum range distance and a maximum range distance from a viewpoint to each face; (b) ordering the faces into range separable groups for each span in response to the range data identified; and (c) processing the groups in group order sequence for each span until a color intensity control value for pixels in the span being processed is determined, the color intensity control value for pixels responsive to the color intensity control values from faces in the groups assigned to corresponding subpixels of pixels in the span. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining color intensity control information in a computer image generation system for pixels to be displayed, wherein each pixel includes a respective plurality of subpixels, the pixels defining an image, wherein features of the image are defined by faces, each face having a respective apparent range from a viewpoint to a predetermined location and a predetermined color intensity value associated therewith, comprising:
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identifying faces of the features which intersect a projection into face space of the pixels to be displayed; ordering the identified faces into range separable groups in response to the respective apparent ranges; processing the range separable groups for determining the color intensity contribution of the faces of a range separable group to subpixels of pixels whose projections into face space are intersected by the faces of the range separable group, the determining in response to the apparent range and opacity of the intersecting faces; and assigning a color intensity control value to a pixel to be displayed in response to the color intensity contribution determined for each subpixel of the pixel to be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification