US5798765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three dimensional light intensity display map
Assignee: General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1997-08-08
•
Granted: 1998-08-25
•
Expires: 2017-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for displaying terrain features of a topological map incudes the determination of resultant slopes between data points comprising the map. The slopes are represented by different levels of pixel intensity which are displayed upon a raster scan projection device. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a point source of light is used to illuminate the topological surface. Normals to the surface are determined which indicate how much light would be reflected by the point light source. The amount of light reflected is then determined for each of the points of the map. The different light intensities are graded into various shades or intensities of light and displayed upon a raster display device.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Alan Barclay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/50; G06T15/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
525 words
A display method for displaying digitized data representing a three dimensional topological with slope intensity map, said display method comprising the steps of: providing a map of topological features described by three dimensional information for a plurality of points on the slope intensity map; grouping a maximum number of line segments from a select point to adjacent points on the slope intensity map; determining a resultant slope for the maximum number of line segments; dividing a sum of slopes by the slope count to produce the resultant slope; determining a pixel intensity from a table which relates slope to the pixel intensity; displaying on a rastor display the pixel with the pixel intensity exponentially related to the resultant slope; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a top edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on a top edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining the elevation data for a first point above the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment between the selected point and the first point; adding the calculated slope between the first point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; incrementing the slope count; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a right edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on the right edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining elevation data for a second point to the right of the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment from the second point to the selected point; adding the calculated slope between the second point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; incrementing the slope count; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a left edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on a left edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining elevation data for a third point of the map to the left of the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment between the selected point and the third point; adding the calculated slope between the third point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; incrementing the slope count; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a bottom edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on a bottom edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining elevation data for a fourth point of the map below the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment between the selected point and the fourth point; adding the calculated slope between the fourth point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; and incrementing the slope count.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
525 words
A display method for displaying digitized data representing a three dimensional topological with slope intensity map, said display method comprising the steps of: providing a map of topological features described by three dimensional information for a plurality of points on the slope intensity map; grouping a maximum number of line segments from a select point to adjacent points on the slope intensity map; determining a resultant slope for the maximum number of line segments; dividing a sum of slopes by the slope count to produce the resultant slope; determining a pixel intensity from a table which relates slope to the pixel intensity; displaying on a rastor display the pixel with the pixel intensity exponentially related to the resultant slope; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a top edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on a top edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining the elevation data for a first point above the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment between the selected point and the first point; adding the calculated slope between the first point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; incrementing the slope count; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a right edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on the right edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining elevation data for a second point to the right of the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment from the second point to the selected point; adding the calculated slope between the second point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; incrementing the slope count; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a left edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on a left edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining elevation data for a third point of the map to the left of the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment between the selected point and the third point; adding the calculated slope between the third point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; incrementing the slope count; said step of grouping includes the step of determining whether the selected point is on a bottom edge of the slope intensity map; if the selected point is not on a bottom edge of the map, said step of determining a resultant slope includes the steps of: obtaining elevation data for a fourth point of the map below the selected point; calculating the slope of a line segment between the selected point and the fourth point; adding the calculated slope between the fourth point and the selected point to the resultant slope produce the sum of slopes; and incrementing the slope count.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display method for displaying with slope intensity digitized data as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included the step of dividing the resultant slope by the slope count.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The display method for displaying with slope intensity digitized data as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is further included the step of writing an intensity proportional to the determined index by a processor to the raster display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The display method for displaying with slope intensity digitized data as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is further included the steps of: determining whether any other points of the plurality of points are to be displayed; iterating all previous steps if other points of the plurality of points are to be displayed; and if no other points of the plurality of points are to be displayed, completing said display method.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4970682A
Cited
US5140532A
Cited
US4729127A
Cited
US4709231A
Cited
US4930092A
Cited
US5283858A
Cited
US5222202A
Cited
US5179638A
Cited
US5253339A
Cited
US5268995A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |