Abstract: A method and apparatus for mapping a texture to a surface of a computer generated object dependent upon the geometric shape of the object. The method includes the steps of approximating a true pixel color by performing a number of texturing operations and averaging the results of the texturing operations. The apparatus including a texturing unit comprising a control unit for determining a set of N footprint textel locations, a RAM for determining N sets of textel values with each set of textel values being associated with one footprint textel location, an interpolator for interpolating the N sets of textel values for each textel location, and an averaging unit for determining an average value from the interpolated values for each textel location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mapping a texture to a surface of a computer generated object dependent upon the geometric shape of the object. The method includes the steps of approximating a true pixel color by performing a number of texturing operations and averaging the results of the texturing operations. The apparatus including a texturing unit comprising a control unit for determining a set of N footprint textel locations, a RAM for determining N sets of textel values with each set of textel values being associated with one footprint textel location, an interpolator for interpolating the N sets of textel values for each textel location, and an averaging unit for determining an average value from the interpolated values for each textel location.

Abstract: A method for mapping a texture onto a surface of a computer generated object represented by a plurality of pixels, where the mapping of the texture is dependent upon the geometric shape of the object. The method includes dividing a texture map comprising a plurality of texels into blocks, determining two block values for each block which are representative of the texel values for that block, compressing the texture map, and mapping said compressed texture map onto the surface of the computer generated object.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system for efficiently processing a data set. More particularly, image data such as volumetric data are stored in a spread memory fashion, with image data subsets occupying only a fraction of each page. Each memory page is sized to roughly map to processor cache size (or a section thereof), such that image data is always mapped to one or more predetermined fractions of processor cache. By keeping processing parameters (e.g., look-up tables and buffers) in the remainder of cache, the system effectively locks those parameters against overwrite by the image data. This system facilitates the use of conventional workstations, laptops and other machines not enhanced for processing large or complicated data sets. It also extends capabilities of both un-enhanced and enhance machines, permitting them to process data more efficiently.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a voice-operated remote control intended to replace multiple entertainment system remotes, and it preferably includes two parts, a base unit and a remote (or table-top) unit. During normal operation, the base unit receives each electronic speaker driver signal from a stereo receiver or other sound source and uses speaker-specific transfer functions to generate an “audio mimic signal” which accounts for room acoustics and circuitry distortions. This signal is then subtracted from detected sound and a residual is used to detect spoken commands. In response to spoken commands, learned IR commands are transmitted by the base unit to the remote unit, which then repeats these commands, directing them toward the appropriate entertainment system. Learning of room acoustics and of IR and spoken commands are each performed in discrete modes.

Abstract: Volume rendering of an image from a volume data set is performed by dividing the image into a plurality of sub-regions and processing the sub-regions one at a time. The sub-regions are processed one at a time by a chip including a triangle unit for creating projections of sub-region on at least one plane cutting the volume data set; a rasterization/3D-texturing unit for texturing each projection received from the triangle unit; and a triangle buffer and compositing unit for compositing each projection textured by the rasterization/texturing unit. After a sub-region has been processed, the chip sends the composited projection to an external frame buffer for display.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system for efficiently processing a data set. More particularly, image data such as volumetric data are stored in a spread memory fashion, with image data subsets occupying only a fraction of each page. Each memory page is sized to roughly map to processor cache size (or a section thereof), such that image data is always mapped to one or more predetermined fractions of processor cache. By keeping processing parameters (e.g., look-up tables and buffers) in the remainder of cache, the system effectively locks those parameters against overwrite by the image data. This system facilitates the use of conventional workstations, laptops and other machines not enhanced for processing large or complicated data sets. It also extends capabilities of both un-enhanced and enhance machines, permitting them to process data more efficiently.

Abstract: A first texture mapping unit generates texture coordinates and associated Red, Blue, Green (RGB) values in response to coordinates received from a rasterizer. The first texture mapping unit makes use of compressed texture mipmaps to reduce memory storage and bandwidth requirements. The compressed texture maps may be generated by a compression system employing principles of Block Truncation Coding (BTC) and Color Cell Compression (CCC). A second texture mapping unit generates texture coordinates and associated RGB values in response to coordinates received from a rasterizer. The second texture mapping unit includes a memory organization allowing two mipmap levels to be retrieved in a single access, and 8-port Color Lookup Table (CLUT), a trilinear interpolator and a video port. A footprint assembly system maps textures onto surfaces by approximating the projection of a pixel onto a texture by a number of square mipmapped texels.

Abstract: A method and system for the visualization of three-dimensional data sets. The data set is compressed using blockwise two-level (one bit) quantization. The compressed data is stored on a storage medium and a visualization algorithm is applied to the compressed data set. The compression operation of one of said blocks results in a bit string, herein denoted a code element, which contains one decision bit for each data element defining the level assigned to a data element, and the two levels for a block. Data elements, for example, represent brightness values or colors, wherein the resulting colors of the entire compressed data set are again quantized to a smaller number of bits, e.g. 8 bits.