Method and apparatus for generating arbitrary projections of three-dimensional voxel-based data
First Claim
1. A method for viewing a 3-D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) retrieving the voxels of said 3-D voxel-based image along at least one retrievel direction using retrieval parameters; and
(b) along any arbitrary viewing direction specificable by viewing parameters, viewing said 3D voxel-based image in said discrete 3-D voxel space, independent of said retrieval parameters; and
(c) storing said 3-D voxel image is said discrete 3-D voxel space according to a first skewed memory storage scheme which provides for said simultaneous accessing of said plurality of voxels along at least one said retrieval direction so as to form a plurality of voxel based retrieval rays, said first skewed memory storage scheme involving mapping the voxels of said 3-D voxel-based image in said discrete 3-D voxel space into a first skewed memory storage space.
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Abstract
A device for generating parallel and perspective projections of 3-D voxel-based images, viewed along arbitrary viewing directions. The method involves using retrieval parameters to retrieve voxels of the 3-D voxel-based image from discrete 3-D voxel space. Then, the 3-D voxel-based image is viewed along an arbitrary viewing direction specified by viewing parameters in a manner independent of the retrieval parameters. Apparatus is also provided using a 3-D voxel-based image viewed along an arbitrary viewing direction specified by viewing parameters in a manner independent of the retrieval parameters. Apparatus is also provided utilizing a 3-D memory storage device organized in accordance with a 3-D skewed memory storage scheme, and providing for conflict-free retrieval of voxel-based retrieval rays along a retrieval direction of the memory storage device.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for viewing a 3-D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) retrieving the voxels of said 3-D voxel-based image along at least one retrievel direction using retrieval parameters; and (b) along any arbitrary viewing direction specificable by viewing parameters, viewing said 3D voxel-based image in said discrete 3-D voxel space, independent of said retrieval parameters; and (c) storing said 3-D voxel image is said discrete 3-D voxel space according to a first skewed memory storage scheme which provides for said simultaneous accessing of said plurality of voxels along at least one said retrieval direction so as to form a plurality of voxel based retrieval rays, said first skewed memory storage scheme involving mapping the voxels of said 3-D voxel-based image in said discrete 3-D voxel space into a first skewed memory storage space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 10, 11, 12)
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4. A method of generating an arbitrary projection of a 3-D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said 3-D voxel space providing for access to the voxels along a plurality of retrieval directions extending through said 3-D voxel space, said method comprising the steps:
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(a) retrieving a plurality of voxels along at least one said retrievel direction; (b) (i) forming a plurality of projection ray planes on the basis of said plurality of retrieved voxels, (ii) forming said plurality of voxel-based projection rays on the basis of said plurality of projection ray planes formed in substep (b) (i); and (c) generating said arbitrary projection of said 3-D voxel based image on the basis of said plurality of voxel-based projection rays.
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5. A method for generating an arbitrary projection of a 3D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said 3-D voxel space providing for access to the voxels along a plurality of retrieval directions extending through said 3-D voxel space, said method comprising the steps:
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(a) retrieving a plurality of voxels along at least one said retrieval direction; (b) (i) forming a plurality of voxel-based retrieval rays on the basis of said plurality of retrieved voxels; (ii) forming a plurality of voxel-based projection rays on the basis of said plurality of voxel-based retrieval rays; and (c) generating said arbitrary projection of said 3-D voxel-based image on the basis of said plurality of voxel-based projection rays. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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13. A method for generating an arbitrary projection of a 3-D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said 3-D voxel space providing for access to the voxels along a plurality of retrieval directions extending through said discrete 3-D voxel space, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) specifying a plurality of voxel-based projection ray planes extending through said discrete 3-D voxel space; (b) for each said voxel-based projection ray plane, (i) retrieving a plurality of voxels along at least one said retrieval direction, (ii) forming a plurality of voxel-based projection rays on the basis of said plurality of retrieved voxels in step (i), and (iii) generating an arbitrary projection of said voxel-based projection ray plane, on the basis of said plurality of voxel-based projection rays; and (c) on the basis of said arbitrary projections of said voxel-based projection ray planes, forming said arbitrary projection of said 3-D voxel-based image. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for generating an arbitrary projection of a 3-D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said arbitrary projection being characterized by a plurality of projection rays passing through said 3-D voxel space, said apparatus comprising:
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retrieving means for retrieving the voxels of a plurality of voxel-based retrieval rays extending through said 3-D voxel space; formation means for forming a plurality of voxel-based projection rays on the basis of said plurality of retrieval rays; generating means for generating said arbitrary projection of said 3-D voxel-based image on the basis of said plurality of voxel-based projection rays; and memory storage and accessing means for storing according to a 3-D skewed memory storage scheme, said 3-D voxel-based image represented in said discrete 3-D voxel space, and for providing simultaneous access to said plurality of voxels disposed along at least one retrieved direction in said discrete 3-D voxel space, said 3-D skewed memory storage scheme involving mapping of the voxels of the said 3-D voxel-based image in said discrete 3-D voxel space, into a first skewed memory storage space.
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20. Apparatus for generating an arbitrary projection of a 3-D voxel-based image represented in discrete 3-D voxel space, said arbitrary projection being characterized by a plurality of projection rays passing through said 3-D voxel space, said apparatus comprising:
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specification means for specifying a plurality of voxel-based projection ray planes extending through said discrete 3-D voxel space; retrieving means for retrieving from each said voxel-based projection, ray planes a plurality of voxel-based retrieval rays extending along at least one such retrieval direction; projection ray formation means for forming a plurality of voxel-based projection rays on the basis of said plurality of retrieval rays; generating means for generating said arbitrary projection of said 3-D voxel-based image, on the basis of said plurality of voxel-based projection rays; and projection plane formation means for forming said arbitrary projection of said 3-D voxel-based image on the basis of said generated arbitrary projections of said voxel-based projection planes. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification