US 2019/0318528 A1Published application

Computer-Graphics Based on Hierarchical Ray Casting

AssigneeOculus VR, LLC

InventorsWarren Andrew Hunt, Anton S. Kaplanyan, Michael Mara, Alexander Nankervis

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Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for determine visibility may perform intersection tests using block beams, tile beams, and rays. First, a computing system may project a block beam to test for intersection with a first bounding volume (BV) in a bounding volume hierarchy. If the beam fully contains BV, the system may test for more granular intersections with the first BV by projecting smaller tile beams contained within the block beam. Upon determining that the first BV partially intersects a tile beam, the system may project the tile beam against a second BV contained within the first BV. If the tile beam fully contains the second BV, the system may test for intersection using rays contained within the tile beam. The system may project procedurally-generated rays to test whether they intersect with objects contained within the second BV. Information associated with intersections may be used to render a computer-generated scene.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising, by a computing system:

accessing a first bounding volume defined within a three-dimensional (3D) space, the first bounding volume containing at least a second bounding volume defined within the 3D space, the second bounding volume containing an object defined in the 3D space;
projecting a first beam defined by a first beam footprint into the 3D space to test for intersection with the first bounding volume;
determining that the projected first beam fully contains the first bounding volume;
testing for intersection using second beams contained within the first beam, wherein each of the second beams is defined by a second beam footprint that is smaller than the first beam footprint, wherein the testing based on one of the second beams comprises:
projecting the second beam into the 3D space to test for intersection with the first bounding volume;
determining that the first bounding volume partially intersects the projected second beam;
based on the determination that the first bounding volume partially intersects the projected second beam, projecting the second beam to test for intersection with the second bounding volume;
and
determining that the projected second beam fully contains the second bounding volume;
testing for intersection using rays contained within the second beam, wherein each of the rays is associated with a ray footprint that is smaller than the second beam footprint, wherein the testing based on one of the rays comprises:
projecting the ray into the 3D space to test for intersection with the objected contained within the second bounding volume;
determining that the projected ray intersects the object;
and
storing information associated with the intersection between the ray and the object;
and
rendering, based on the stored information, a computer-generated scene that includes the object.

13 more elements

One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

accessing a first bounding volume defined within a three-dimensional (3D) space, the first bounding volume containing at least a second bounding volume defined within the 3D space, the second bounding volume containing an object defined in the 3D space;
projecting a first beam defined by a first beam footprint into the 3D space to test for intersection with the first bounding volume;
determining that the projected first beam fully contains the first bounding volume;
testing for intersection using second beams contained within the first beam, wherein each of the second beams is defined by a second beam footprint that is smaller than the first beam footprint, wherein the testing based on one of the second beams comprises:
projecting the second beam into the 3D space to test for intersection with the first bounding volume;
determining that the first bounding volume partially intersects the projected second beam;
based on the determination that the first bounding volume partially intersects the projected second beam, projecting the second beam to test for intersection with the second bounding volume;
and
determining that the projected second beam fully contains the second bounding volume;
testing for intersection using rays contained within the second beam, wherein each of the rays is associated with a ray footprint that is smaller than the second beam footprint, wherein the testing based on one of the rays comprises:
projecting the ray into the 3D space to test for intersection with the objected contained within the second bounding volume;
determining that the projected ray intersects the object;
and
storing information associated with the intersection between the ray and the object;
and
rendering, based on the stored information, a computer-generated scene that includes the object.

13 more elements

A system comprising:

one or more processors and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to one or more of the processors, the one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising instructions operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
accessing a first bounding volume defined within a three-dimensional (3D) space, the first bounding volume containing at least a second bounding volume defined within the 3D space, the second bounding volume containing an object defined in the 3D space;
projecting a first beam defined by a first beam footprint into the 3D space to test for intersection with the first bounding volume;
determining that the projected first beam fully contains the first bounding volume;
testing for intersection using second beams contained within the first beam, wherein each of the second beams is defined by a second beam footprint that is smaller than the first beam footprint, wherein the testing based on one of the second beams comprises:
projecting the second beam into the 3D space to test for intersection with the first bounding volume;
determining that the first bounding volume partially intersects the projected second beam;
based on the determination that the first bounding volume partially intersects the projected second beam, projecting the second beam to test for intersection with the second bounding volume;
and
determining that the projected second beam fully contains the second bounding volume;
testing for intersection using rays contained within the second beam, wherein each of the rays is associated with a ray footprint that is smaller than the second beam footprint, wherein the testing based on one of the rays comprises:
projecting the ray into the 3D space to test for intersection with the objected contained within the second bounding volume;
determining that the projected ray intersects the object;
and
storing information associated with the intersection between the ray and the object;
and
rendering, based on the stored information, a computer-generated scene that includes the object.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.