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US4866612A
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Imaging system including means to provide a display image with shadows and three dimensional perspectives by a combination of voxel and surface method
Assignee: Hitachi Healthcare Manufacturing Ltd
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Filing: 1987-03-04
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Granted: 1989-09-12
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Expires: 2007-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A three-dimensional image display method for displaying a three-dimensional image including depth and distance information which consists of the steps of obtaining a densified three-dimensional image according to the distance information of an original three-dimensional image using a voxel method and modifying the densified three-dimensional image using a surface method. The surface method consists of the steps of determining each minute image element group including plural image elements proximate to each other over all image elements forming the densified three-dimensional image obtained under the voxel method, computing a density gradient defined by the each minute image element group based on density data of the plural image elements, substituting each modified density data modified according to the density gradient for the density data of the plural image elements obtained under voxel method, and displaying the modified density data on a display. A system for accomplishing this method is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Takagi
- 👤 Yoshihiro Goto
- 👤 Kazuhiro Sato
- 👤 Yoshikazu Okudo
- 👤 Osamu Takiguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/50; G06T15/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A three-dimensional image display method for displaying a three-dimensional image including depth and distance information comprising the steps of: obtaining a densified three-dimensional image according to the distance information of an original three-dimensional image using a voxel method; and modifying said densified three-dimensional image using a surface method, said surface method comprising the steps of determining each minute image element group comprising plural . image elements proximate to each other over all image elements forming said densified three-dimensional image obtained under the voxel method, computing a density gradient defined by said each minute image element group based on density data of said plural image elements, substituting each modified density data modified according to said density gradient for the density data of said plural image elements obtained under voxel method, and displaying said modified density data on a display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A three-dimensional image display method for displaying a three-dimensional image including depth and distance information comprising the steps of: obtaining a densified three-dimensional image according to the distance information of an original three-dimensional image using a voxel method; and modifying said densified three-dimensional image using a surface method, said surface method comprising the steps of determining each minute image element group comprising plural . image elements proximate to each other over all image elements forming said densified three-dimensional image obtained under the voxel method, computing a density gradient defined by said each minute image element group based on density data of said plural image elements, substituting each modified density data modified according to said density gradient for the density data of said plural image elements obtained under voxel method, and displaying said modified density data on a display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said minute image group comprises plural image elements proximate to an arbitrary image element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plural image elements comprise two first image elements (A 1 , A 3 ) located in a vertical direction and two second image elements (A 2 , A 4 ) located in right and left directions with respect to said arbitrary image element, and wherein the modified density data (B) is determined by the following equation: B=K|2/√4+G(A.sub.2 -A.sub.4).sup.2 ×2/√4+G(A.sub.1 -A.sub.3).sup.2 |.sup.δ where δ, K, and G are constants.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 1 said method further comprising a distance modifying method for modifying the modified density data of said image elements forming the image obtained using said surface method according to distances between said image elements obtained using said surface method and a light source and wherein said modified density data is displayed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said density data obtained using said surface method is a cosine of an angle between a line normal to the density gradient defined by said minute image element group and a straight line connecting said minute image element group and said light source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said distance modifying method comprises the steps of: determining a distance (R i ,j) between each of said image elements forming the image obtained using said surface method and a light source, computing a distance density f(R i ,j) with the equation (1), and computing the modified density data (P i ,j) from said density data (B i ,j) with the equation (2) wherein f(R.sub.i,j)=C-R.sub.i,j ( 1) P.sub.i,j =B.sub.i,j ×f(R.sub.i,j) (2) where C is a constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The three-dimensional image method display as claimed in claim 1 wherein said minute image element group forms a minute triangular plane-element comprising three image elements proximate to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said density gradient is obtained by determining a line (N) normal to said minute triangular plane-element and a straight line (1) connecting said minute triangular plane-element and a light source, computing an angle (Ω) between said normal line (N) and said straight line (1), and setting said density gradient to cos Ω.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 7 said method further comprising a method for modifying said density gradient of each of said image elements obtaining using said surface method with respect to the distance from a light source to each of said image elements obtained using said surface method to obtain a modified density gradient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said method for obtaining said modified density gradient comprises the steps of: determining angles θ 1 , θ 2 between two sides of said minute triangular plane-element and x and y axes of arbitrary coordinates, respectively; determining an angle φ 1 , between a z-axis and a projected straight line on an x-z plane of a straight line connecting each of said image elements obtained using said surface method and a light source, and an angle φ 2 between the z-axis and a projected straight line on a y-z plane of said straight line connecting each of said image elements obtained using said surface method and said light source; and computing said modified density gradient (C) with the following equation: C=K×|(cos(θ.sub.1,-δ.sub.1)×cos(θ.sub.2 -δ.sub.2)|.sup.δ
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
6 words
where K and δ are constants.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
6 words
where K and δ are constants.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The three-dimensional image display method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said original three-dimensional image comprises CT slice images or projection images.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A three-dimensional image display system for displaying a three-dimensional image of a subject, said system comprising: storing means for storing an original image of said subject, said original image obtained using a voxel method, said original image comprising a plurality of image elements, each of said plurality image elements comprising density data; means for reading said stored original image; means for obtaining a modified three-dimensional image using a density gradient method; and display means for displaying said modified three-dimensional image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A three-dimensional image display system for displaying a three-dimensional image of a subject, said system comprising: storing means for storing an original image of said subject, said original image obtained using a voxel method, said original image comprising a plurality of image elements, each of said plurality image elements comprising density data; means for reading said stored original image; means for obtaining a modified three-dimensional image using a density gradient method; and display means for displaying said modified three-dimensional image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means for obtaining comprises: means for determining a plurality of minute image element groups forming said original image, each group consisting of a number of said image elements proximate to each other; means for calculating a density gradient defined by each of said groups based on the density data of the image elements within the group; means for modifying the image elements of the original image by substituting modified density data, modified by the density gradient, for the density data of the original image wherein said display means displays said modified density data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said minute image elements comprise plural image elements proximate to an arbitrary image element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said plural image elements comprises two first image elements (A 1 , A 4 ) located in a vertical direction and two second image elements (A 2 , A 4 ) located in right and left directions with respect to said arbitrary image element, and wherein said modified density data (B) is determined by the equation: B=K×|2/√4 +G(A.sub.2 -A.sub.4).sup.2 ×2/√4+G(A.sub.1 -A.sub.3).sup.2 |.sup.δ where δ, K, and G are constants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising means for further modifying said modified density data according to distances between each of said modified image elements and a light source and wherein said display means displays said further modified density data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said modified density data is a cosine of an angle between a line normal to the density gradient defined by said minute image element group and a straight line connecting said minute image element group and said light source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for further modifying comprises: means for determining a distance R i ,j between each of said modified image elements and a light source; means for calculating a distance density f(R i ,j); and means for calculating the modified density data P i ,j based on the density data B i ,j, wherein f(R.sub.i,j)=C-R.sub.i,j and P.sub.i,j =B.sub.i,j ×f(R.sub.i,j)
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
5 words
where C is a constant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
5 words
where C is a constant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said minute image element group forms a minute triangular plane-element comprising three image elements proximate to each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for calculating the density gradient comprises: means for determining a line normal to said minute triangular plane-element and a straight line connecting said minute triangular plane-element and a light source; means for computing as angle Ω between said normal line and said straight line; and means for setting said density gradient to cos Ω.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 19 further comprising means for modifying said density gradient of each of said modified image elements according to the distance from a light source to each of said modified image elements to obtain a modified density gradient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
133 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said means for modifying said density gradient comprises: means for determining angles θ 1 , θ 2 between two sides of said minute triangular plane-element, and x and y axes of arbitrary coordinates, respectively; means for determining an angle φ 1 , between a z-axis and a projected straight line on an x-z plane of a straight line connecting each of said modified image elements and the light source, and an angle φ 2 between a z-axis and a projected straight line on a y-z plane of said straight line connecting each of said modified image elements and said light source; and means for calculating said modified density gradient C wherein C=K×|cos (θ.sub.1 -φ.sub.1)×cos (θ.sub.2 -φ.sub.2)|.sup.δ where K and δ are constants.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The three-dimensional image display system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said original three-dimensional image comprises CT slice images or projection images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |