System and method of generating interactive computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures
First Claim
1. An apparatus for interactively generating computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures, comprising:
- polygon orientation defining means for defining an orientation of a polygon relative to a plurality of three dimensional (3D) texture data sets, each of the 3D texture data sets being at a distinct level of detail;
level of detail determining means for determining a level of detail of a pixel associated with said polygon;
texture data set selecting means for selecting a first 3D texture data set and a second 3D texture data set from said plurality of 3D texture data sets in accordance with said pixel level of detail such that said first 3D texture data set represents a magnification of said pixel, and said second 3D texture data set represents a minification of said pixel;
pixel mapping means for mapping said pixel to a first position within said first 3D texture data set and a second position within said second 3D texture data set in accordance with said orientation; and
pixel value generating means for generating a display value for said pixel in accordance with said mapping of said pixel to said first and second positions.
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Abstract
A system and method of interactively generating computer graphic images for incorporating three dimensional textures. The method of the present invention includes defining an orientation of a polygon relative to a plurality of three dimensional (3D) texture data sets, determining a level of detail of a pixel associated with the polygon, and selecting a first 3D texture data set and a second 3D texture data set from the plurality of 3D texture data sets in accordance with the pixel level of detail. The method also includes mapping the pixel to a first position within the first 3D texture data set and to a second position within the second 3D texture data set in accordance with the orientation, and generating a display value for the pixel in accordance with the mapping of the pixel to the first and second positions.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for interactively generating computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures, comprising:
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polygon orientation defining means for defining an orientation of a polygon relative to a plurality of three dimensional (3D) texture data sets, each of the 3D texture data sets being at a distinct level of detail; level of detail determining means for determining a level of detail of a pixel associated with said polygon; texture data set selecting means for selecting a first 3D texture data set and a second 3D texture data set from said plurality of 3D texture data sets in accordance with said pixel level of detail such that said first 3D texture data set represents a magnification of said pixel, and said second 3D texture data set represents a minification of said pixel; pixel mapping means for mapping said pixel to a first position within said first 3D texture data set and a second position within said second 3D texture data set in accordance with said orientation; and pixel value generating means for generating a display value for said pixel in accordance with said mapping of said pixel to said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of interactively generating computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures, comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining an orientation of a polygon relative to a plurality of three dimensional (3D) texture data sets, each of the 3D texture data sets being at a distinct level of detail; (b) determining a level of detail of a pixel associated with said polygon; (c) selecting a first 3D texture data set and a second 3D texture data set from said plurality of 3D texture data sets in accordance with said pixel level of detail such that said first 3D texture data set represents a magnification of said pixel, and said second 3D texture data set represents a minification of said pixel; (d) mapping said pixel to a first position within said first 3D texture data set and a second position within said second 3D texture data set in accordance with said orientation; and (e) generating a display value for said pixel in accordance with said mapping of said pixel to said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for interactively generating computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures, comprising:
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a storage device for storing a three dimensional (3D) texture data set, said storage device comprising N memory banks each storing a predetermined portion of said 3D texture data set; polygon orientation defining means for defining an orientation of a polygon relative to said 3D texture data set; pixel mapping means for mapping a pixel associated with said polygon to an object-space position within said 3D texture data set in accordance with said orientation; texel identifying means for identifying N texels of said 3D texture data set surrounding said object-space position; linear address generating means for generating linear addresses from object-space addresses associated with said identified texels; means for obtaining N values associated with said identified texels by accessing said storage device using said linear addresses, one of said values being obtained from each of said memory banks; and pixel value generating means for generating a value for said pixel as a function of said values associated with said identified texels. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of interactively generating computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a three dimensional (3D) texture data set in a storage device comprising N memory banks each storing a predetermined portion of said 3D texture data set; (b) defining an orientation of a polygon relative to said 3D texture data set; (c) mapping a pixel associated with said polygon to an object-space position within said 3D texture data set in accordance with said orientation; (d) identifying N texels of said 3D texture data set surrounding said object-space position; (e) generating linear addresses from object-space addresses associated with said identified texels; (f) obtaining N values associated with said identified texels by accessing said storage device using said linear addresses, one of said values being obtained from each of said memory banks; and (g) generating a value for said pixel as a function of said values associated with said identified texels. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for interactively generating computer graphic images incorporating three dimensional textures, comprising:
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polygon orientation defining means for defining an orientation of a polygon relative to a three dimensional (3D) texture data set; pixel mapping means, coupled to said polygon orientation defining means, for mapping a pixel associated with said polygon to a position within said 3D texture data set in accordance with said orientation; storage means for storing a plurality of entries, a distinct image attribute being stored in each of said entries; texel identifying means for identifying N texels of said 3D texture data set surrounding said position, each of said texels being associated with a value representing an address to said storage means; means for interpolating among values associated with said identified texels to produce an interpolated address to said storage means; and means for extracting an image attribute from said storage means using said interpolated address to thereby produce a value for said pixel, said pixel value being set equal to said extracted image attribute.
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Specification