EP0574099A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for converting image data to vector data
Assignee: Amei Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1993-01-08
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for converting image data to vector data. The method comprises the steps of generating a vector to each of a set of points and associating each vector with the pole of a control polygon of a non-uniform rational B-spline. The set of points are associated with a surface representative of a boundary of a three-dimensional object. Part of the boundary is hidden from view. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 David F. Crook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7059; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/3094; A61F2/30942; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y50/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/4097; G05B19/4099; G06; G06T; G06T9/00; G06T9/20; A61F2/32; A61F2/36; A61F2/3662; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2825; A61F2002/30943; A61F2002/30948; A61F2002/30952; A61F2002/30957; A61F2002/30962; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/35; G05B2219/35043; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for converting image data to vector data comprising the steps of: generating a set of vectors defining a set of points, the points associated with a surface, part of the surface representative of one of the boundaries of a three-dimensional object, part of the surface hidden from view; and associating each point with a pole of a control polygon of a non-uniform rational B-spline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a polynomial equation from the non-uniform rational B-spline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein said set of vectors are generated from a CT scan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein said set of vectors are generated from a MRI scan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of Claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of sets of data values, the data values within each set corresponding to a property of an object along a first and second dimension, each set corresponding to the value at a predetermined position along a third dimension; and generating a surface from the sets of data, part of the surface representative of the boundary of the object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 5 wherein said set of vectors are generated from a CT scan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 5 wherein said set of vectors are generated from a MRI scan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of Claim 5 wherein the step of generating a surface further comprises the steps of: generating a binary data value for each data value; and surface tracking the binary data values to generate a surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 8 wherein said set of vectors are generated from a CT scan.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 8 wherein said set of vectors are generated from a MRI scan.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for converting image data to vector data comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of sets of data values, the data values within each set corresponding to a property of a three-dimensional object along a first and second dimension, each set corresponding to the value at a predetermined position along a third dimension; generating a surface from the sets of data, part of the surface representative of the boundary of the object, part of the surface hidden from view; generating a vector to each set of points; and associating each vector with a pole of a control polygon of a non-uniform rational B-spline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of Claim 11 wherein the step of generating a surface further comprises the steps of: generating a binary data value for each data value; and surface tracking the binary data values to generate a surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 12 further comprising the step of generating a polynomial equation from the non-uniform rational B-spline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 12 wherein the plurality of sets of data values are generated tomographically.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of Claim 14 wherein said vector is generated from a CT scan.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of Claim 14 wherein said vector is generated from a MRI scan.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 11 further comprising the step of generating a polynomial equation from the non-uniform rational B-spline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of Claim 11 wherein the plurality of sets of data values are generated tomographically.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for producing a visual representation of at least a portion of an image of an object comprising the steps of: generating an image of an object including a structure of interest using a non-intrusive image generating device which produces a set of image data; filtering the image data to distinguish between image data points corresponding to a structure of interest and image data points corresponding to other structures; generating a surface representation of the structure of interest using the filtered image data; generating a set of vectors from the surface representation defining the boundary of the structure of interest; associating each vector with a pole of a non-uniform rational B-spline to create a series of such B-splines; generating one or more polynomial equations from one or more nonuniform rational B-splines; and displaying a visual representation of the structure of interest utilizing a display device which displays images utilizing polynomials generated from non-uniform rational B-splines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.