Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying three dimensional surface images includes the utilization of a case table for rapid retrieval of surface approximation information. Eight cubically adjacent data points associated with a given voxel element are compared with a predetermined threshold value or range to generate an eight bit vector. This eight bit vector is employed to rapidly produce vector lists of approximating surfaces. An interpolation operation is performed so as to more closely approximate the desired surface and to provide more accurate representations of vectors normal to the desired surface. The accurate representation of these normal directions provides means for accurately representing shading information on a display screen. The method and apparatus of the present invention are particularly useful for the display of medical images both, from x-ray generated data and from data generated from various other sources including magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography.

Abstract: A fully automatic method for rapidly and unambiguously interpreting fringe patterns, including those having branched fringes, is provided. The information from the fringe patterns processed by the method of the invention can be used in testing, surface characterization and inspection applications. Further processing of the information from the two-dimensional fringe patterns yields information from which the three-dimensional surface can be quantitatively reconstructed for further use such as for display, as in microscopy, or as input for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture. Apparatus for conducting the method of the invention is also provided.