Patents by Inventor Alexander Keller

Alexander Keller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9892548
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for performing a lighting simulation are disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a three-dimensional (3D) model, receiving a set of probes, where each probe specifies a location within the 3D model and an orientation of the probe, and performing, via a processor, a lighting simulation based on the 3D model, the set of probes, and one or more light path expressions. The light path expressions are regular expressions that represent a series of events, each event representing an interaction of a ray at a location in the 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Johannes Seibert, Stefan Radig, Matthias Raab, Carsten Alexander Waechter, Lutz Kettner, Alexander Keller, Dirk Gerrit van Antwerpen
  • Publication number: 20180018814
    Abstract: A method for light transport includes steps of initializing a data structure that is configured to provide an importance value for each incident sample in a three-dimensional (3D) scene and tracing, in a direction from an origin, a ray of a plurality of rays through the 3D scene to intersect an object at a hitpoint. Additional steps include selecting a next direction of the ray according to a distribution of the importance values at the hitpoint, tracing the ray in the next direction to find a next hitpoint, updating a first importance value corresponding to the hitpoint using a second importance value corresponding to the next hitpoint, and setting the hitpoint of the ray to the next hitpoint. The additional steps are repeated until the next hitpoint is an endpoint. A contribution, based on each hitpoint and the endpoint, to a pixel that is intersected by the ray is recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Ken Patrik Dahm, Alexander Keller
  • Publication number: 20170236322
    Abstract: A method, a computer program, and a production renderer for accelerating a rendering process of an image are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes intercepting a first invocation of a function from a custom shader during a rendering process of an image, computing a result of the function employing a processor, and returning the result to the custom shader in response to a second invocation of the function during the rendering process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Enzo Catalano, Rajko Yasui-Schoeffel, Ken Dahm, Nikolaus Binder, Alexander Keller
  • Publication number: 20170206231
    Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for performing tree traversal with backtracking in constant time. The method includes the steps of traversing a tree, maintaining a bit trail variable and a current key variable during the traversing, where the bit trail variable includes a first plurality of bits indicating tree levels on which a node has been postponed along a path from the root of the tree during the traversing, and the current key variable includes a second plurality of bits indicating a number of a current node within the tree, and performing backtracking within the tree during the traversing, utilizing the bit trail variable and the current key variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Nikolaus Binder, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: 9501865
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a quantity of light received by an element of a scene. In use, a quantity of light received by a first element of the scene is determined by averaging a quantity of light received by elements of the scene that are associated with a selected set of light paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Pascal Albert Gautron, Carsten Alexander Waechter, Marc Droske, Lutz Kettner, Alexander Keller, Nikolaus Binder, Ken Patrik Dahm
  • Patent number: 9430863
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for constructing a hierarchical acceleration data structure that supports ray tracing of motion blur. In use, scene description data associated with an image to be generated is received. Additionally, a hierarchical acceleration data structure for performing ray tracing on the scene description data is constructed, where the hierarchical acceleration data structure supports ray tracing of motion blur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Leonhard Grunschloss, Martin Stich, Sehera Nawaz, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: 9424684
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for simulating light transport. In operation, a distribution function is decomposed utilizing a technique for sampling from a probability distribution (e.g. the Alias Method, etc.). Additionally, light transport associated with at least one scene is simulated utilizing information associated with the decomposed distribution function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Keller, Ken Patrik Dahm, Nikolaus Binder
  • Patent number: 9367955
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for computing values for pixels in an image plane. In use, a low discrepancy sequence associated with an image plane is identified. Additionally, a function with the set of pixels of the image plane as a domain is determined. Further, a value is computed for each pixel in the image plane, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence and the function with the set of pixels of the image plane as a domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Raab, Carsten Alexander Wächter, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: 9355492
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for utilizing a wavefront path tracer. In use, a set of light transport paths associated with a scene is identified. Additionally, parallel path tracing is performed, utilizing a wavefront path tracer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Droske, Daniel Johannes Seibert, Stefan Radig, Alexander Keller, Julia Floetotto, Samuli Matias Laine, Tero Tapani Karras, Timo Oskari Aila, Leonhard Gruenschloss
  • Patent number: 9305394
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and a system that allow for deterministic parallel low discrepancy sampling, which can be efficiently processed, and are effective in removing transitionary artifacts that occur in low-dimensional projections generated in low discrepancy sequences. Embodiments of the claimed subject matter further provide improvements upon the low-dimensional projections and thus the visual quality when using the Sobol' sequence for image synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carsten Wächter, Alexander Keller
  • Publication number: 20160071234
    Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method are disclosed for decompressing compressed geometric data stored in a lossless compression format. The compressed geometric data resides within a compression block sized according to a system cache line. An indirection technique maps a global identifier value in a linear identifier space to corresponding variable rate compressed data. The apparatus may include decompression circuitry within a graphics processing unit configured to perform ray-tracing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Jaakko T. Lehtinen, Timo Oskari Aila, Tero Tapani Karras, Alexander Keller, Nikolaus Binder, Carsten Alexander Waechter, Samuli Matias Laine
  • Publication number: 20160042559
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for performing a lighting simulation are disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a three-dimensional (3D) model, receiving a set of probes, where each probe specifies a location within the 3D model and an orientation of the probe, and performing, via a processor, a lighting simulation based on the 3D model, the set of probes, and one or more light path expressions. The light path expressions are regular expressions that represent a series of events, each event representing an interaction of a ray at a location in the 3D model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Johannes Seibert, Stefan Radig, Matthias Raab, Carsten Alexander Waechter, Lutz Kettner, Alexander Keller, Dirk Gerrit van Antwerpen
  • Patent number: 9229907
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for evaluating an integral utilizing a low discrepancy sequence. In use, a low discrepancy sequence that includes at least one component that is a (0,1)-sequence in base b is determined. Additionally, an integral is evaluated, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: 9202139
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating a subset of a low discrepancy sequence. In use, a low discrepancy sequence is identified. Additionally, a threshold value is determined. Further, a single dimension of the low discrepancy sequence is selected. Further still, for each element included within the low discrepancy sequence, the selected single dimension is compared to the determined threshold value. Also, a subset of the low discrepancy sequence is generated, based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Keller, Nikolaus Binder
  • Patent number: 9117254
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing ray tracing. In use, ray tracing is performed utilizing a divide and conquer method, where the divide and conquer method is associated with a cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolaus Binder, Carsten Alexander Wachter, Alexander Keller
  • Publication number: 20150215512
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a quantity of light received by an element of a scene. In use, a quantity of light received by a first element of the scene is determined by averaging a quantity of light received by elements of the scene that are associated with a selected set of light paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Pascal Albert Gautron, Carsten Alexander Waechter, Marc Droske, Lutz Kettner, Alexander Keller, Nikolaus Binder, Ken Patrik Dahm
  • Patent number: 9041721
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for evaluating an integral utilizing a low discrepancy sequence and a block size. In use, a low discrepancy sequence and a block size are determined. Additionally, an integral is evaluated, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence and the block size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Keller, Nikolaus Binder
  • Publication number: 20150113987
    Abstract: An integrated renewable energy and asset system is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Laurence Mackler, Brian Cuff, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller, David Froelich
  • Patent number: 8955715
    Abstract: The packaging comprising an essentially dimensionally stable, elastically deformable external container, an easily deformable inner bag arranged therein, which receives the filling material, and a valve is characterized in that the valve comprises a base body which extends over the opening of the external container and comprises at least one through opening for the filling material and a valve holder which has fastened therein a valve body which comprises an elastically deformable partition wall tightly sealing the valve holder, and a valve pin pointing away from the external container, said partition wall together with the valve holder delimiting an air chamber under the valve pin, and comprising a cap which is fastened to the neck of the external container and covers the base body and the valve body and which delimits a receiving chamber for the filling material between the cap and the base body and comprises an outlet opening for the filling material which in the unpressurized state of the packaging is clo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gaplast GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Kneer, Alexander Keller
  • Publication number: 20150042652
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for simulating light transport. In operation, a distribution function is decomposed utilizing a technique for sampling from a probability distribution (e.g. the Alias Method, etc.). Additionally, light transport associated with at least one scene is simulated utilizing information associated with the decomposed distribution function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Keller, Ken Patrik Dahm, Nikolaus Binder