Abstract: A texture projection is generated from a plurality of initial polygonal curved surfaces. Specifically, each of the initial polygonal curved surfaces are divided to form a plurality of second-generation polygonal curved surfaces. Each second-generation polygonal curved surface is then divided to form a third-generation polygonal curved surface. In one embodiment of the present invention, each polygonal curved surface of the same generation has the same area. The texture projection formed using polygonal curved surfaces is more efficient than conventional texture projection because each facet of the texture projection formed using polygonal curved surfaces maps to a spherical area.

Abstract: A decompression unit is configured to partially decompress a compressed image formed by compressed tiles. Each compressed tiles correspond to a tile of the uncompressed image. The decompression unit selects a subset of relevant tiles, which are visible in a view window or a view frustum. Specifically, the decompression unit includes a tile selector to select the relevant tile and a tile decompressor to decompress the relevant tiles. By decompressing only a subset of the compressed tiles, the decompression unit reduces the processing time required to generate the contents of the view window.

Abstract: An environment map creation system creates an environment map from one or more images representing an environment. The environment map creation system includes a texture projection generation unit, which produces a texture projection having polygonal curved surfaces as facets. An environment map rendering unit uses the texture projection to create the environment map from the one or more images. Specifically, the environment map creation system determines an image area in the one or more images corresponding to each polygonal curved surface. The polygonal curved surface is colored based on the corresponding image area. The environment map is formed from the polygonal curved surfaces which become texels in the environment map.

Abstract: An immersive video display system is configured to display an immersive video formed by a plurality of compressed environment maps. The immersive video display system includes a decompression unit to partially decompress each compressed environment map to create a partially decompressed environment map. A texture rendering unit creates an image for a view window for each of the compressed environment maps by texture mapping the visible portion of a texture projection using the partially decompressed environment map. By decompressing only a portion of the compressed environment map, the immersive video display system requires less processing time to generate the contents of the view window.

Abstract: A striation monitor and display system (10) is provided which includes a positional location mechanism (20) for locating a substantially cylindrically contoured object such as a bullet (14). The bullet or object (14) is inserted within a collet mechanism (48) mounted above a cup member (44) containing a compliant matrix (46). A portion of the object (14) is inserted along an axis line (24) of the rotating cup (44). A line scan camera (62) is focused on a section of the object (14) and frame speed is synchronized with the rotation of the rotating cup (44). Synchronization is accomplished by a closed feedback loop between a motor/encoder integral combination (58/60) and a processor system (72) for maintaining synchronization between images photographed by line scan camera (62) and rotational speed of motor (58).