US5091960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High-speed image rendering method using look-ahead images
Assignee: BAE Systems National Security Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1988-09-26
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Granted: 1992-02-25
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Expires: 2008-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A look-ahead image is employed during ray tracing of the image rendering process to eliminate the processing of pixels which are of no interest within a given boundary of the ray. During rendering, ray tracing is carried out by jumping over the pixels of no interest to thereby enhance the rendering speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy L. Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/10; G06T15/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising the steps of: defining a spatial point of perspective so that the old image can be rendered and thereby produce a new image; preprocessing the image data by ray tracing to produce at least one look-ahead image having stored therein pixel data of interest utilized during rendering to increase the speed thereof; performing said rendering by image ray tracing and referring to said look-ahead image to eliminate processing where pixel image data of interest does not exist; and storing in said look-ahead image information concerning worst case values of any quality of a pixel within a fixed distance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising the steps of: defining a spatial point of perspective so that the old image can be rendered and thereby produce a new image; preprocessing the image data by ray tracing to produce at least one look-ahead image having stored therein pixel data of interest utilized during rendering to increase the speed thereof; performing said rendering by image ray tracing and referring to said look-ahead image to eliminate processing where pixel image data of interest does not exist; and storing in said look-ahead image information concerning worst case values of any quality of a pixel within a fixed distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, further including preprocessing the image data to produce a plurality of look-ahead images, each storing information concerning different sized jumps along each said ray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further including storing information in said look-ahead image concerning highest elevation data associated with said old image which is within a predefined number of pixels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further including storing in said look-ahead image information concerning a predefined color range within a given area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further including storing in said look-ahead image information concerning a predefined color range within a given volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said pixel comprises a voxel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said one look-ahead image comprises a reformatted image of a desired dimensionality.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said one look-ahead image comprises a statistically summarized image of a desired dimensionality.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said one look-ahead image comprises an estimated version of an image of a desired dimensionality.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said one look-ahead image is indexed by a selected index characteristic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said selected index characteristic comprises intensity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said selected index characteristic comprises color.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said selected index characteristic comprises opacity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said selected index characteristic comprises spatial XYZ location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further including storing in said look-ahead image information regarding a selected derivation of pixel characteristics.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic comprises intensity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic comprises color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic comprises opacity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said characteristic comprises spatial XYZ location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 and further comprising storing a derivative of said selected derivation of pixel characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said derivative is performed by imaging transform.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said imaging transform comprises point operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said imaging transform comprises gradients.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said imaging transform comprises convolution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further including storing in said look-ahead image information concerning a distance to any particular quality of a pixel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1, further including preprocessing said image data to generate multiple look-ahead images and storing in a first said look-ahead image information concerning a pixel of interest within a given boundary area, and storing in other look-ahead images a pixel of interest within a smaller given boundary area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further including storing in said look-ahead image information concerning whether or not pixel data of interest exists within a specified boundary of each said ray.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising: means for defining a spatial point of perspective so that the old image can be rendered and thereby produce a new image; means for processing the image data by ray tracing to produce at least one look-ahead image having stored therein pixel data utilized during rendering to increase the speed thereof; means for carrying out said rendering by tracing each said ray and referring to said look-ahead image to eliminate processing where pixel image data of interest does not exist; and means for storing in said look-ahead image information concerning worst case values of any quality of a pixel within a fixed distance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising: means for defining a spatial point of perspective so that the old image can be rendered and thereby produce a new image; means for processing the image data by ray tracing to produce at least one look-ahead image having stored therein pixel data utilized during rendering to increase the speed thereof; means for carrying out said rendering by tracing each said ray and referring to said look-ahead image to eliminate processing where pixel image data of interest does not exist; and means for storing in said look-ahead image information concerning worst case values of any quality of a pixel within a fixed distance.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising the steps of: generating a look-ahead image by dilating image data to determine the existence of a pixel of interest within a given boundary area; rendering said new image by ray tracing techniques and by referring to said look-ahead image so that pixels of no interest along said ray are not processed, thus enhancing the speed of said rendering; and proceeding along each ray in different jump sizes so that pixels of no interest are skipped over by executing initial large jumps, and if as a result thereof a pixel of interest is skipped over, executing jumps of smaller size.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising the steps of: generating a look-ahead image by dilating image data to determine the existence of a pixel of interest within a given boundary area; rendering said new image by ray tracing techniques and by referring to said look-ahead image so that pixels of no interest along said ray are not processed, thus enhancing the speed of said rendering; and proceeding along each ray in different jump sizes so that pixels of no interest are skipped over by executing initial large jumps, and if as a result thereof a pixel of interest is skipped over, executing jumps of smaller size.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 29, further including consulting look-ahead images to determine whether pixels of interest lie within a jump to be executed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said pixel comprises a voxel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising: means for generating a look-ahead image by dilating image data to determine the existence of a pixel of interest within a given boundary area; means for rendering said new image by ray tracing techniques and by referring to said look-ahead image so that pixels of no interest along said ray are not processed, thus enhancing the speed of said rendering; and means for proceeding along each said ray in different jump sizes so that pixels of no interest are skipped over by executing initial large jumps, and if as a result thereof a pixel of interest is skipped over, executing jumps of smaller size.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for providing a high-speed rendering of a new image from image data representative of an old image, comprising: means for generating a look-ahead image by dilating image data to determine the existence of a pixel of interest within a given boundary area; means for rendering said new image by ray tracing techniques and by referring to said look-ahead image so that pixels of no interest along said ray are not processed, thus enhancing the speed of said rendering; and means for proceeding along each said ray in different jump sizes so that pixels of no interest are skipped over by executing initial large jumps, and if as a result thereof a pixel of interest is skipped over, executing jumps of smaller size.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an image rendering process in which ray tracing is employed to generate a new image from an old image, an improved method comprising the steps of: generating before said rendering a look-ahead image to determine pixels of interest within a given boundary area; skipping through said boundary area during said ray tracing if no pixel of interest exists to thereby enhance the speed of said rendering process; and rendering said image by first consulting a first look-ahead image having a first boundary area, and secondly consulting a second look-ahead image having a smaller boundary area if a pixel of interest exists in the first boundary area as defined by said first look-ahead image.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an image rendering process in which ray tracing is employed to generate a new image from an old image, an improved method comprising the steps of: generating before said rendering a look-ahead image to determine pixels of interest within a given boundary area; skipping through said boundary area during said ray tracing if no pixel of interest exists to thereby enhance the speed of said rendering process; and rendering said image by first consulting a first look-ahead image having a first boundary area, and secondly consulting a second look-ahead image having a smaller boundary area if a pixel of interest exists in the first boundary area as defined by said first look-ahead image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33, further including generating a plurality of said look-ahead images, each having a different sized boundary area.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 33, wherein said pixel comprises a voxel.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
91 words
The method of rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising the steps of: generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of distance data elements each representing a distance between a corresponding image data element and an image data element of interest; and determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping in said predetermined direction to successive elements in the source image responsive to distance data stored in respective successive elements of said look-ahead image.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
91 words
The method of rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising the steps of: generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of distance data elements each representing a distance between a corresponding image data element and an image data element of interest; and determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping in said predetermined direction to successive elements in the source image responsive to distance data stored in respective successive elements of said look-ahead image.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 36, wherein the source array and the look-ahead array are three dimensional.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 36, wherein the source array and the look-ahead array are 2.5 dimensional.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 36, wherein each of the image data elements comprises a voxel.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
96 words
The method of rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising the steps of: generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of elements each representing an image data extreme within a predetermined radial distance from a corresponding image data element; and determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping said predetermined radial distance in said predetermined direction to successive elements of said source image until said look-ahead image indicates that an element of interest is within said predetermined radial distance.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
96 words
The method of rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising the steps of: generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of elements each representing an image data extreme within a predetermined radial distance from a corresponding image data element; and determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping said predetermined radial distance in said predetermined direction to successive elements of said source image until said look-ahead image indicates that an element of interest is within said predetermined radial distance.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 40 and further comprising the step of generating a second look-ahead image associated with a shorter predetermined radial distance.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 41 and further comprising the step of selecting the second look-ahead image in response to an indication of an element of interest within the predetermined radial distance of the first look-ahead image.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the step of generating includes the step of dilating the source image.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the source array and the look-ahead array are three dimensional.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the source array and the look-ahead array are 2.5 dimensional.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 40 wherein each of the image data elements comprises a voxel.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the image data extreme comprises a worst case value of an image data element.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the image data extreme comprises a highest value of elevation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the image data extreme comprises a value of a predefined color range.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the image data extreme comprises a selected derivation of at least one characteristic regarding the image data elements.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising: means for generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of distance data elements each representing a distance between a corresponding image data element and an image data element of interest; and means for determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping to successive elements in the source image responsive to distance data stored in respective successive elements of said look-ahead image.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising: means for generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of distance data elements each representing a distance between a corresponding image data element and an image data element of interest; and means for determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping to successive elements in the source image responsive to distance data stored in respective successive elements of said look-ahead image.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said source and look-ahead arrays are three dimensional.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said source and look-ahead arrays are 2.5 dimensional.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising: means for generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of elements each representing an image data extreme within a predetermined radial distance from a corresponding image data element; and means for determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping said predetermined radial distance in said predetermined direction to successive elements of said source image until said look-ahead image indicates that an element of interest is within said predetermined radial distance.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for rendering a source image comprising an array of image data elements, comprising: means for generating a look-ahead image comprising an array of elements each representing an image data extreme within a predetermined radial distance from a corresponding image data element; and means for determining a nearest image data element of interest in a predetermined direction from a desired image data element by jumping said predetermined radial distance in said predetermined direction to successive elements of said source image until said look-ahead image indicates that an element of interest is within said predetermined radial distance.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 54 and further comprising means for generating a second look-ahead image associated with a shorter predetermined radial distance.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 55 and further comprising means for selecting the second look-ahead image in response to an indication of an element of interest within the predetermined radial distance of the first look-ahead image.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 54 wherein said source and look-ahead images are 2.5 dimensional.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 54 wherein said source and look-ahead images are three dimensional.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-24 | 1995-08-26 | 1996-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-24 | 1999-08-26 | 2000-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-24 | 2003-08-26 | 2004-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |