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Apparatus and method for generating an image for 3-dimensional computer graphics

  • US 5,903,273 A
  • Filed: 08/26/1997
  • Issued: 05/11/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for generating an image by mapping texture data onto a surface of an object, and the apparatus comprising:

  • geometrical transformation means for calculating sample points on a curved surface defined in a 3-dimensional space and for geometrically transforming only said sample points to points in a 2-dimensional screen space;

    micro-polygon generating means for calculating control parameters from said points in said 2-dimensional screen space and for generating micro-polygons by the calculation and using said control parameters and the size of texture data for mapping;

    area contribution determining means for calculating an area contribution of said micro-polygon for each pixel defined on said 2-dimensional screen space;

    texture data acquiring means for acquiring said texture data corresponding to said each micro-polygon;

    intensity-value determining means for calculating an intensity value at said each pixel from said area contribution and said texture data; and

    back-face culling means for determining whether said micro-polygon is rendered or not by the direction of the normal vector of said micro-polygon and the information for the direction of the front face of the original curved surface generating said micro-polygon.

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