US6130671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Volume rendering lighting using dot product methodology
Assignee: Canon Medical Informatics Inc
•
Filing: 1997-11-26
•
Granted: 2000-10-10
•
Expires: 2017-11-26
Abstract
Abstract Volume rendering lighting using dot product methodology is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer includes a processor, a computer-readable medium and a computer program. The medium stores first data representing a set of voxel data representing an object, each voxel datum having a gradient that is desirably either positive or negative, and second data representing a light source having a directional vector. The computer program is executed by the processor from the medium, and displays the set of the voxel data, including illuminating each voxel datum using a dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent J. Argiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A computer to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object, the computer comprising: a processor; a computer-readable medium storing first data representing the set of voxel data, each voxel datum having a gradient selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient; second data representing a light source having a directional vector; and, a computer program executed by the processor from the medium to display the set of voxel data, including illuminating each voxel datum using an absolute value of a dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object, the computer comprising: a processor; a computer-readable medium storing first data representing the set of voxel data, each voxel datum having a gradient selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient; second data representing a light source having a directional vector; and, a computer program executed by the processor from the medium to display the set of voxel data, including illuminating each voxel datum using an absolute value of a dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer of claim 1, wherein the light source is coincident with a viewer of the set of voxel data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer of claim 1, wherein the positive gradient corresponds to a direction aligned with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer of claim 1, wherein the negative gradient corresponds to a direction opposite to the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer of claim 1, wherein each gradient corresponds to a direction in which the surface of the voxel datum having the gradient points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer of claim 1, wherein illuminating each voxel datum using the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source provides for illumination of voxel data having a direction aligned with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
A computerized system to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object, each voxel datum with the set having a gradient selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient, the system comprising: a display device; and, means for illuminating each voxel datum of the set of voxel data using an absolute value of a dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum and a light source having a directional vector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A computerized system to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object, each voxel datum with the set having a gradient selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient, the system comprising: a display device; and, means for illuminating each voxel datum of the set of voxel data using an absolute value of a dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum and a light source having a directional vector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computerized system of claim 7, wherein illuminating each voxel datum using the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source provides for illumination of voxel data having a direction aligned with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computerized method to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object on a display device of a computer comprising for each voxel datum within the set: determining an absolute value of a dot product of a gradient of the voxel datum selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient with a directional vector of a light source; and, displaying the voxel datum on the display device as determined by the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computerized method to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object on a display device of a computer comprising for each voxel datum within the set: determining an absolute value of a dot product of a gradient of the voxel datum selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient with a directional vector of a light source; and, displaying the voxel datum on the display device as determined by the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computerized method of claim 9, wherein illuminating each voxel datum using the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source provides for illumination of voxel data having a direction aligned with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object on a display device of a computer, the method comprising for each voxel datum within the set: determining an absolute value of a dot product of a gradient of the voxel datum selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient with a directional vector of a light source; and, displaying the voxel datum on the display device as determined by the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method to assist in displaying a set of voxel data representing an object on a display device of a computer, the method comprising for each voxel datum within the set: determining an absolute value of a dot product of a gradient of the voxel datum selected from the group of gradients essentially consisting of a positive gradient and a negative gradient with a directional vector of a light source; and, displaying the voxel datum on the display device as determined by the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein illuminating each voxel datum using the absolute value of the dot product of the gradient of the voxel datum with the directional vector of the light source provides for illumination of voxel data having a direction aligned with the directional vector of the light source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4866612A
Cited
US4835712A
Cited
FR2614163A1
Cited
US5283837A
Cited
US5617521A
Cited
US5581671A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-10 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-10 | 2008-04-10 | 2008-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2012-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |