System and method for run-time integration of an inset geometry into a background geometry

• US 7,053,913 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. (Elevate Entertainment, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cosman, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brautigam, Alysa N.
• Application Number:
  US10/980,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 348586-588, 345/611, 345/597, 345/420, 345422-423, 345/502, 345/592
• US Class Current: 345/611
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification

Abstract

The invention provides a method for integrating an inset geometry within a background geometry. The method comprises the step of identifying a perimeter of the inset geometry. A further step is extending a skirt, having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, from the perimeter of the inset geometry out over the background geometry. An additional step is removing portions of the background geometry that are covered by the inset geometry and skirt. Another step is modifying the skirt so that the outer perimeter of the skirt matches background geometry behavior and the inner perimeter matches inset geometry behavior and a continuous transition exists between the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter.

Claims

1. A method for inserting an inset terrain within a larger scale terrain for a computer simulated environment, comprising:

determining a perimeter geometry of the inset terrain during runtime;

defining a polygon skirt of substantially the same geometry as the perimeter geometry of the inset terrain and the polygon skirt is attached to the larger scale terrain;

joining the inset terrain to the defined polygon skirt yielding a perimeter boundary region between the inset terrain and the polygon skirt;

concealing the boundary region with a first polygon wall connected to the inset geometry below a viewable surface of the inset geometry;

covering the boundary region with a second polygon wall connected to the polygon skirt, located below the viewable surface of the inset geometry and the polygonal geometry;

concealing the boundary region by intersecting the first polygon wall and the second polygon wall; and

displaying the inset terrain within the larger scale terrain.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of constructing a cutter polygon equal to the outside perimeter of the polygon skirt, where the cutter polygon is configured to remove polygons from the larger scale terrain.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of clipping the skirt polygons against polygons from the larger scale terrain, so the skirt polygons form clipped skirt fragments that overlay the polygons from the larger scale terrain.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising the step of computing modified vertex coordinates for the clipped skirt fragments based on a blend factor that includes a relative lateral location of clipped skirt fragments.

5. A method as in claim 3, further comprising the step of computing modified vertex coordinates for the clipped skirt fragments based on a blend factor between large scale terrain points and inset terrain points.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of computing a height of the first and second polygon walls to subtend about a pixel.