Abstract: A method, device and system is provided for providing global illumination of a scene. For example, global illumination may be provided in a rendered 3-dimensional image that may contain objects and/or light sources. Radiance functions or visibility functions may further be represented by scaling of spherical harmonics functions in the spherical harmonics domain. For example, scaling of spherical harmonics coefficients corresponding to a spherical function may be performed based on a spherical harmonics scaling transformation matrix based on an angular scaling function.

Abstract: Self-propagating formation reactions in nanostructured multilayer foils provide rapid bursts of heat at room temperature and therefore can act as local heat sources to melt solder or braze layers and join materials. This reactive joining method provides very localized heating to the components and rapid cooling across the joint. The rapid cooling results in a very fine microstructure of the solder or braze material. The scale of the fine microstructure of the solder or braze material is dependant on cooling rate of the reactive joints which varies with geometries and properties of the foils and components. The microstructure of the solder or braze layer of the joints formed by melting solder in a furnace is much coarser due to the slow cooling rate. Reactive joints with finer solder or braze microstructure show higher shear strength compared with those made by conventional furnace joining with much coarser solder or braze microstructure.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, bodies of materials are joined by disposing between them a reactive multilayer foil and one or more layers of meltable joining material such as braze or solder. The bodies are pressed together against the foil and joining material, and the foil is ignited to melt the joining material. The pressing is near the critical pressure and typically produces a joint having a strength of at least 70-85% the maximum strength producible at practical maximum pressures. Thus for example, reactively formed stainless steel soldered joints that were heretofore made at an applied pressure of about 100 MPa can be made with substantially the same strength at a critical applied pressure of about 10 kPa. Advantages of the process include minimization of braze or solder extrusion and reduced equipment and processing costs, especially in the joining of large bodies.

Abstract: Representing quasi-homogenous materials is described. In one aspect, quasi-homogenous materials are modeled to generate a material model of a physical sample. The material model identifies how light is scattered by the quasi-homogenous materials. The material model, independent of an object model of the physical sample, provides information that is useful to texture surfaces of arbitrary types and sizes of mesh models (e.g., representing the physical sample or other objects) with the quasi-homogenous materials.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing capturing and rendering geometric details for mesostructure surfaces is described herein. A mesostructure distance function is defined as a function of a given reference point and a given viewing direction. A distance from a reference point to a mesostructure surface point along a viewing direction is measured using the mesostructure distance function. This distance is used to determine the visibility of mesostructure surface for rendering silhouettes. The lighting visibility of the mesostructure surface point may also be determined and used for determining whether the mesostructure surface point is in shadow. This determination may then be used for rendering shadow silhouettes.

Abstract: Representing quasi-homogenous materials is described. In one aspect, quasi-homogenous materials are modeled to generate a material model of a physical sample. The material model identifies how light is scattered by the quasi-homogenous materials. The material model, independent of an object model of the physical sample, provides information that is useful to texture surfaces of arbitrary types and sizes of mesh models (e.g., representing the physical sample or other objects) with the quasi-homogenous materials.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a method of simulating a behavior of an energy distribution within a soldered or brazed assembly to predict various physical parameters of the assembly. The assembly typically includes a reactive multilayer material. The method comprises the steps of providing an energy evolution equation having an energy source term associated with a self-propagating reaction that originates within the reactive multilayer material. The method also includes the steps of discretizing the energy evolution equation, and determining the behavior of the energy distribution in the assembly by integrating the discretized energy evolution equation using other parameters associated with the assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, bodies of materials are joined by disposing between them a reactive multilayer foil and one or more layers of meltable joining material such as braze or solder. The bodies are pressed together against the foil and joining material, and the foil is ignited to melt the joining material. The pressing is near the critical pressure and typically produces a joint having a strength of at least 70-85% the maximum strength producible at practical maximum pressures. Thus for example, reactively formed stainless steel soldered joints that were heretofore made at an applied pressure of about 100 MPa can be made with substantially the same strength at a critical applied pressure of about 10 kPa. Advantages of the process include minimization of braze or solder extrusion and reduced equipment and processing costs, especially in the joining of large bodies.

Abstract: Self-propagating formation reactions in nanostructured multilayer foils provide rapid bursts of heat at room temperature and therefore can act as local heat sources to melt solder or braze layers and join materials. This reactive joining method provides very localized heating to the components and rapid cooling across the joint. The rapid cooling results in a very fine microstructure of the solder or braze material. The scale of the fine microstructure of the solder or braze material is dependant on cooling rate of the reactive joints which varies with geometries and properties of the foils and components. The microstructure of the solder or braze layer of the joints formed by melting solder in a furnace is much coarser due to the slow cooling rate. Reactive joints with finer solder or braze microstructure show higher shear strength compared with those made by conventional furnace joining with much coarser solder or braze microstructure.