Abstract: A computer graphics system generates a three-dimensional model of an object in an interactive manner under control of an operator. An initial model for the object to be modeled is displayed to the operator as illuminated from a particular illumination direction and projected onto an image plane. The operator can update shading of a pixel on the image plane, and, based on the updated shading, the computer graphics system generates an updated normal vector for the updated pixel, which identifies the normal of the surface of the object projected onto the updated pixel. Using the updated normal vector field and a height field, which represents the height of the respective portion of the object as projected onto the respective pixels of the image plane, the computer graphics system generates an updated height value for the updated pixel, thereby to update the height field.

Abstract: In a method for reconstructing 3D image data, a number of 2D central projections from different projection directions is acquired with a planar detector and radiation emanating from a radiation source, and a volume of interest of an examination subject to be three-dimensionally reconstructed is identified by mixing in variable and mutually dependent marks into at least two 2D central projections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing portions of primitives that are being rendered is presented. Primitives that are received are divided into portions that correspond to pixel blocks of the frame. The frame includes a plurality of pixel blocks where each of the pixel blocks includes a plurality of pixels that are included in the frame. Thus, the pixel blocks divide the frame into a number of smaller blocks. A representative Z value for each portion of the primitive is determined, and the representative Z value for the portion of the primitive is compared with a representative buffered Z, which may be the representative buffer Z value for the pixel block to which the portion corresponds. If the representative Z value for the portion compares favorably with the representative buffered Z value such that the portion is determined to lie completely behind the information currently stored for that pixel block, the portion is discarded.

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling a reflection line in a CAD system and for adjusting the shape of an object to correspond to a new reflection line, a user sets a reflection line as desired, and at least one constraint on the object. The system determines a shape of the object based on the new reflection line and the constraint. The shape of the object may be determined using energy minimization. Alternatively, the system and method may use vector springs to attract the reflection line to a free-form curve set by the user, and then determine the shape of the object based on the new reflection line and the constraint.

Abstract: A primary polygon is processed to generate new secondary polygons utilizing a light source as a base point. A front-side secondary polygon is selected from the secondary polygons and drawn in a blackish color by rendering and hidden surface removal utilizing Z-buffering. Then, back-side secondary polygons are drawn by rendering and hidden surface removal utilizing Z-buffering such that the blackish color in portions of the front-side secondary polygon is eliminated, making these portions transparent.

Abstract: A processor having an arithmetic extension of an instruction set architecture which incorporates a set of high performance floating point operations. The instruction set architecture incorporates a variety of data formats including single precision and double precision data formats, as well as the paired-single data format that allows two simultaneous operations on a pair of operands. The extension includes instructions directed to reduction add, reduction multiply, reciprocal, and reciprocal square root.

Abstract: A three-dimensional display is provided that simplifies the display system and reduces hardware costs by using a predetermined mask unit positioned before the display screen of a CRT displaying an image. The three-dimensional display includes a synthesis unit, display unit, and mask plate. The shift circuit of the synthesis unit shifts the images of the perspective cameras from the image of the reference camera, while the mapping circuit combines the reference image and the shifted images of the cameras. Further, the filter circuit removes unnecessary pixels from the synthesized image, then the sync signal insertion circuit inserts a horizontal sync signal and vertical sync signal to produce a synthesized image. This synthesized image is displayed on the CRT display screen of the display unit. Light from the images captured by the cameras is focused at the viewing perspectives P1, P2, and P3 by the holes of the mask unit.

Abstract: A projector capable of setting and storing usage environment data peculiar to each user in a selectable manner is provided, thereby facilitating reduction of trouble and time of resetting when reusing. The liquid crystal projector samples and reproduces image signals input from a computer in accordance with display pixels. This liquid crystal projector selectably stores usage environment data peculiar to each user, selects the stored usage environment data the next time the liquid crystal projector is used, and reproduces image signal input based on the selected usage environment data.

Abstract: A dynamic image is decorated effectively with a small of processing volume. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, images A that form a dynamic image representing a spreading firework are sequentially created in order in time in which the images appear in the dynamic image. On the currently created image shown in FIG. 6A, an image obtained by enlarging a spark portion of the image preceding the current image by a predetermined number is drawn in such a manner that it looks semi-transparent to obtain the image as shown in FIG. 6B.

Abstract: A method and a system for creating a Positional Reality scene of a plurality of real objects that represents a virtual reality scene with the correct positional information about real objects are disclosed. A Positioning Reality Image of each geometrical object is built by using an integrated Satellite Positional System (SATPS), and a Scanning Laser Sensor (SLS). If SATPS comprises an RTK GPS system, a Positioning Reality Image of each geometrical object is built in real time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for eliminating hidden surfaces in 3D graphics that improves rendering performance by decreasing the size of the data stored to or retrieved from the depth buffer when the distance from the camera to the pixel on the surface of the primitive is further than the threshold distance. The threshold distance from the camera is defined such that for such pixels the precision of a linear or quazi-linear depth buffer with a decreased data size is the same as or higher than the precision of a non-linear depth buffer with an original data size. The invention improves the usefulness of linear and quasi-linear depth buffers for 3D applications optimized for non-linear depth buffers. The present invention additionally affords a method for selecting the size of data to be read from the depth buffer before new depth values are computed for the same pixels.

Abstract: A method for solving space-time problems involving three-dimensional space wherein an unstructured four-dimensional finite element model is generated and solved to produce a four-dimensional solution. The four-dimensional mesh is generated from a three-dimensional mesh by extruding each of the simplices of the three-dimensional mesh in a time dimension. The four-dimensional prisms formed by extrusion of the three-dimensional simplices are divided into a plurality of four-dimensional simplices which form a four-dimensional finite element model. The elements of the four-dimensional model can be selectively refined to obtain a finer mesh in areas of greater interest, and a coarser mesh in areas which are of less interest. The mesh can be refined in the spatial dimensions and also in the temporal dimension.

Abstract: A three-dimensional skeleton data error absorbing apparatus is provided, which is capable of rendering an object at a correct rendering position by absorbing an error based on skeleton data calculation. A fixed skeleton portion specifying part 20 specifies a fixed skeleton portion whose rendering position is desired to be fixed, and a skeleton matrix calculating part 40 obtains a coordinate of a fixed position. A skeleton length detecting part 31, a skeleton hierarchy level detecting part 32, and an error absorption priority detecting part 33 of an error absorbing skeleton specifying part 30 select an error absorbing skeleton that absorbs an error. An error absorption calculating part 60 obtains, by inverse matrix calculation, a determinant, which should be satisfied by a skeleton matrix of error absorbing skeleton, based on the matrix calculation results and the coordinate of a fixed position of the other skeletons.

Abstract: A method for arranging entities in a two-dimensional lattice including the steps of determining all applicable two-dimensional lattice forms from a predetermined group of lattice forms for a predetermined number of entities to be arranged; determining the dimensions of a bounding region and a uniform separation distance between a center point of each entity for each applicable lattice form; selecting an optimal applicable two-dimensional lattice form; and plotting positions of each of the predetermined number of entities within the optimal applicable two-dimensional lattice form.

Abstract: A method for rendering a motion blur image comprises generating first information concerning three vertexes in a two-dimensional triangle image as an object at two points of time to obtain second information concerning six vertexes, dividing into three tetrahedrons a triangular prism formed by the six vertexes in a three-dimensional space defined by a pixel coordinate axis of the two-dimensional triangle image and a time axis, and subjecting each of the three tetrahedrons to linear processing to obtain rendering information for a motion blur image.

Abstract: The artwork is defined by a tree structure having leaf nodes comprising objects and parent nodes comprising graphical operators. Each node has fields storing values indicative of horizontal and vertical alteration rules applicable to that node or its sub-tree. The method comprises a selection step, a traversal step and two application steps. In the selection step (300) a target area is selected for fitting the artwork. In the traversal step, the method traverses the nodes of the tree structure (318,342,336,338) traversing one or more of the said nodes. In the first application step, the method applies, for each one of the traversed nodes that is a leaf node, a horizontal alteration rule (344). The horizontal rule re-positions each point within the object comprising the leaf node to another point within a target area, whereby altering the shape of the artwork in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A hierarchical movie is provided. A hierarchical movie is a movie that contains one or more embedded movies. Embedded movies may themselves contain embedded movies. Each movie contains zero or more media sequences. Within a hierarchical movie, media sequences that should be edited together may be grouped together using embedded movies. The media sequences of a hierarchical movie may be sequenced during playback based on a different time coordinate system than the time coordinate system that governs any embedded movies. This allows a movie to contain both time-based and time-independent media sequences. Also, the relative timing of events in the movie may vary from performance to performance. The hierarchical movie structure allows movies to be used as user interface controls, and even as field-sensitive databases.

Abstract: A method for modeling a graphics object generates a model of the graphics object. An adaptively sampled distance field is generated from the model according to an error measure. The adaptively sampled distance field includes interior, surface, and exterior cells. Each cell stores distance values, and the distance values of the surface cells always satisfy the error measure. A subset of cells are selected from the adaptively sampled distance field. The subset of cells only include interior and exterior cells. The selected cells are subdivided and the distance values for the subdivided cells are regenerated, until the distance values of the subdivided cells satisfy the error measure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for integrating anatomical information from a plurality of sources of information. The system receives two or more three dimensional (3D) anatomical maps sharing a common plane specified by three or more marker points common to the two or more maps; and aligns the two or more 3D anatomical maps using the marker points.

Abstract: A Windows® metafile is compressed by first processing individual records. In some types of records, record type indicators are mapped to values having fewer significant bits than the original record type indicators. In addition, record length indicators are removed in some record types because they are constant values. In record types where the length varies, the record length indicator is divided to reduce its number of significant bits. There are also record types having one or more arguments that rarely change. For records of these types, the arguments are removed. There are other types of records whose arguments are often repeated from previous records of the same type. When this is the case, the arguments are removed. Many metafile arguments specify graphics coordinates in terms of absolute values. These absolute values are converted to relative values. In most cases, this reduces the number of significant bits required by the values.