Abstract: A pixel processing element (PPE)-based ray tracing device, includes an internal shared memory for receiving and storing image data to be rendered; a PPE processor for performing parallel ray tracing on the image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis; and a shading processor for accumulatively calculating color values of respective pixels obtained by ray tracing and determining a final color value of each pixel. Further, A PPE-based ray tracing method, includes receiving image data to be rendered on a frame-by-frame basis; storing data having a high frequency of use among the input data in a hierarchical cache; performing parallel ray tracing on image data of each pixel stored in the hierarchical cache on a frame-by-frame basis; calculating a color value of each pixel from first and second rays and a direct ray in accordance with the ray tracing result, and accumulating the color values to obtain the color value of each pixel.

Abstract: Provided is a method for magnifying an image by interpolation. The method including: a) setting m×m local windows and calculating a direction of each m×m local window; b) when a linear direction exists in an m×m local window, considering an edge exists; c) when a linear direction does not exist in the m×m local window, dividing the m×m local window into m/2×m/2 sub windows and calculating directions of the m/2×m/2 sub windows; d) when the directions of the m/2×m/2 sub windows exists toward the center of the m×m local window, considering a corner exists in the m×m local window; and e) selecting pixels located in a virtual line that goes along in the linear direction or in the directions to calculate a new pixel value by using the pixels.

Abstract: A user interface design and evaluation system and a hand-interaction-based user interface design and evaluation system are provided. The user interface design and evaluation system includes: a user interface design unit, a human model interaction design unit, a user interface prototype simulation unit, a human model simulation unit, and a user interface evaluation unit. In order to develop a user interface in consideration of usability of a user, the system provides a usability evaluation feedback system performing optimization of an interface design based on a motion simulation of a body model and user interface model. Through this, an optimum interface design is derived and by reducing the initial usage difficulty of the new interface for a user, the user can easily use the new interface and work performance of the user can be enhanced.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) mesh based on unorganized sparse 3D points to generate a mesh model that displays a 3D surface by using unorganized sparse 3D points extracted from a plurality of two-dimensional image. The 3D mesh generating method based on unorganized sparse 3D points includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of unorganized sparse 3D points, a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) corresponding point information, and images; generating an initial mesh by using the received 2D corresponding information; removing an abnormal face from the initial mesh; checking if unused 2D corresponding point information exists among the received 2D corresponding point information; if unused 2D corresponding point information exists, reorganizing the initial mesh by performing a constrained Delaunay triangulation; and if unused 2D corresponding point information does not exist in the result of the confirmation, generating a final mesh.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for recognizing a three-dimensional (3D) motion using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The apparatus includes: a 3D motion capturing means for creating motion data for every motion; a motion recognition learning means for analyzing the created motion data, creating a linear discrimination feature component for discriminating corresponding motion data, extracting/storing a reference motion feature, and recognizing each of the extracted/stored reference motion features as a corresponding motion; and a motion recognition operating means for extracting a motion feature from motion data, searching a reference motion feature corresponding to the extracted input motion feature, and recognizing a motion corresponding to the searched reference motion feature as a 3D motion.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a three-dimensional structure using silhouette information on a two-dimensional plane is provided. The method includes: obtaining silhouette images; creating a cube on a three-dimensional space using the silhouette images; calculating vertex coordinates on a two-dimensional image plane by projecting eight vertices of the three-dimensional cube on a two-dimensional image plane of a first camera; dividing into multiple inner voxels by dividing sides formed by the eight vertices by a divider; dividing into a predetermined number of regions by dividing sides connecting the coordinates by a predetermined divider; assigning indices by matching cubes of the three-dimensional cube to square regions on the two-dimensional image plane in one to one manner; storing indices of regions where the square regions meets with a first silhouette image; and reconstructing three-dimensional structure by finding common indices through repeatedly performing the steps using other silhouette images.

Abstract: A method for estimating three-dimensional positions of human joints includes the steps of: a) marker-free motion capturing a moving figure for obtaining a multiview 2D image of the moving figure, and extracting a 2D feature point corresponding to a bodily end-effector; b) three-dimensionally matching the 2D feature point corresponding to the bodily end-effector, and recovering the 3D coordinates of the bodily end-effector; c) generating a 3D blob of the bodily end-effector, generating a virtual sphere with a radius that is a distance from a center of the 3D blob to a joint, and projecting the virtual sphere onto the obtained multiview 2D image of the moving figure; and d) detecting a coinciding point of a surface of the projected virtual sphere and the multiview 2D image of the moving figure, and estimating a 3D position corresponding to the coinciding point as a 3D position of the joint.

Abstract: A three-dimensional animation system using evolutionary computation includes a gene determination unit and a motion generation unit. The gene determination unit calculates modified gene information by receiving at least one genes and modifying the genes evolutionarily. The motion generation unit receives motion data and modifies the motion data based on the modified gene information. A three-dimensional animation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) mesh based on unorganized sparse 3D points to generate a mesh model that displays a 3D surface by using unorganized sparse 3D points extracted from a plurality of two-dimensional image. The 3D mesh generating method based on unorganized sparse 3D points includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of unorganized sparse 3D points, a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) corresponding point information, and images; generating an initial mesh by using the received 2D corresponding information; removing an abnormal face from the initial mesh; checking if unused 2D corresponding point information exists among the received 2D corresponding point information; if unused 2D corresponding point information exists, reorganizing the initial mesh by performing a constrained Delaunay triangulation; and if unused 2D corresponding point information does not exist in the result of the confirmation, generating a final mesh.

Abstract: A rendering apparatus for real-time global illumination and a method thereof are disclosed. The rendering apparatus includes: a spherical harmonic processor for creating light samples and creating spherical harmonics basis functions; a light model processor for transforming radiance of a HDRI image to spherical harmonics light coefficients using the spherical harmonic basis functions; a radiance transfer processor for previously calculating coefficients of a visibility and a geometric term for a global illumination model using the spherical harmonic basis function; a BRDF processor for generating a database of BRDF data and calculating coefficients of the BRDF data through smoothing; and a render unit for rendering the spherical harmonic light coefficients, the coefficients for the visibility and the geometric term, and the BRDF data coefficient using a rendering equation expressed as a dot product of a vector.

Abstract: Provided is an image-based volume data carving method for rapidly carving a specific area of dimensional volume data based on images. The method includes the steps of: generating a mask image to be carved from an input image; dividing a viewing transform matrix of the mask image into a shear transform matrix and a warp transform matrix, and calculating a scale factor from the shear transform matrix; modifying the mask image to be parallel to an axis of the volume data; shearing a volume slice in such a manner that the volume data can be parallel to viewing rays passing through a volume, and scaling the size of the volume slice; and carving part of the volume slice through an operation between the mask image and each volume slice.

Abstract: Provided is a method for magnifying an image by interpolation. The method including: a) setting m×m local windows and calculating a direction of each m×m local window; b) when a linear direction exists in an m×m local window, considering an edge exists; c) when a linear direction does not exist in the m×m local window, dividing the m×m local window into m/2×m/2 sub windows and calculating directions of the m/2×m/2 sub windows; d) when the directions of the m/2×m/2 sub windows exists toward the center of the m×m local window, considering a corner exists in the m×m local window; and e) selecting pixels located in a virtual line that goes along in the linear direction or in the directions to calculate a new pixel value by using the pixels.

Abstract: A marker-free motion capture apparatus having a function of correcting a tracking error and a method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a grouping unit for grouping feature candidates located within a threshold distance on a three-dimensional space at a previous time; a feature point selecting unit for generating a first curve connecting a predetermined number of feature points, and selecting a feature candidate closest to the first curve as a feature point of a previous time; a feature point correcting unit for generating a second curve connecting a predetermined number of feature points including the feature point of a previous time, and correcting a feature point of a current time calculated based on a Kalman filtering scheme using the second curve; and a controlling unit for calculating a location of a feature point of each time using a Kalman filtering scheme and generally controlling the marker-free motion capture apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for reconstructing a 3D shape of an object by using Helmholtz stereopsis. The apparatus includes: an image capturer for capturing two pairs of images satisfying Helmholtz reciprocity condition; a preprocessor for estimating optical and geometrical characteristics of a camera used for the image capturing; and a geometrical data reconstructor for converting Helmholtz restrictions generated from the respective pairs of the images into partial differential equations on the basis of the estimated optical and geometrical characteristics, and reconstructing 3D surface data of an object with depth discontinuity at a boundary between regions on the basis of the partial differential equations.

Abstract: Provided is a background recovering apparatus for deleting an object of an arbitrary region and recovering a background covered with the object. The apparatus includes a storing block for storing the input image sequence, and storing the three dimensional (3D) position and posture information, and focal length information; a geometric information extracting block for extracting 3D with respect to the background; a background image generating block for generating the background image; and a background image inserting block for recovering the background by inserting the background image into an arbitrary region of a first view point.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for determining stereo disparity based on two-path dynamic programming and GGCP. The apparatus includes a pre-processing unit for analyzing texture distribution of an input image by using a Laplacian of Gaussian (LOG) filter and dividing the input image into a homogeneous region and a non-homogeneous region; a local matching unit for determining candidate disparities to be included in an each pixel of all pixels; a local post-processing unit for removing candidate disparities in a pixel of low reliability by performing a visibility test betweens candidate disparities in each pixel to improve the reliability of the candidate disparity; and a global optimizing unit for determining a final disparity for candidate disparities in an each pixel by performing a dynamic programming.

Abstract: A system for image representation of a real object by using photographic images and a method thereof are disclosed. The system includes: a characterization unit of an image sensing device for extracting characteristics of an image sensing device to be used to obtain photographs of a target object; a characterization unit of an object for obtaining photographs of the target object by using the image sensing device and extracting characteristics of the target object by using the obtained photographs; and an image reproduction unit for reproducing photorealistic images by reinterpreting the extracted characteristics from the characterization unit of an object to be suitable to conditions of expressing the target object.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for generating multiple digital characters that do not collide with each other and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a posture storing block for extracting and storing key postures from motion capture data provided from the outside and for calculating and storing connection relationship between the extracted key postures, a character generating block for producing virtual characters based on user-input parameters, a simulating block for simulating the virtual characters not to collide with each other and generating motion pattern parameters based on the simulation result, a key frame generating block for searching matched postures according to the motion pattern parameters, which are transmitted from the simulating block, after then, changing the virtual characters, and generating key frames by locating the changed characters in corresponding positions on the screen, and a motion file generating block for producing a motion file by interpolating the key frames.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for predicting reality of an image are provided. The apparatus includes: a prediction model generator for performing a psychophysical observer test on a plurality of first test images provided from outside and analyzing the test result to generate an image reality prediction model; a prediction model verifier for applying the image prediction model to a second test image provided from outside to predict image reality and comparing the prediction result with the test result to verify the image reality prediction model; and a reality prediction model applier for applying the verified image reality prediction model to a target evaluation image and providing the prediction result.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning and marking a location of an electromyography (EMG) electrode includes a housing having a back surface, an EMG sensor for receiving the EMG signal, an amplifying circuit for amplifying the EMG signal to generate an amplified EMG signal and an audio output terminal for outputting the amplified EMG signal as the audio EMG signal. The examinee may directly position and mark the location of the EMG electrode and may easily detect the fatigue rate of the muscle or the abnormal condition of the muscle by using the sound of the audio equipment.