US 6,184,889 B2 · Method and apparatus for supporting non-power-two texture sizes for volume rendering

Abstract

A volume of data, acquired from devices that output three dimensional data, is parsed into smaller subvolumes, or digital data segments, and each digital data segment is rendered allowing application of the original data without modifying or scaling the three dimensional volume of raw data. If measurements of the whole volume of data received by texture mapping hardware is not completely parsable into pre-defined digital data segments, dimensions of any irregular digital data segment are adjusted to overlap an adjoining segment to allow rendering of adjusted, irregular digital data segments as if they were pre-defined digital data segments. The adjusted texture coordinates are utilized to determine the point where the texture mapping engine begins texturing and to determine the percentage of overlap of the adjusted irregular digital data segment with the adjoining pre-defined digital data segment. This calculation accounts for overlap and allows application of digital data segments whose dimensions are not parsable into pre-defined digital data segments, or subvolumes.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of rendering three dimensional data for presentation on a data processing system display, comprising the steps of:

parsing said three dimensional data into one or more digital data segments, each having a length equal to a power-of-two and a remainder digital data segment having a length which is not equal to said power-of-two;
forming a new digital data segment comprising said remainder digital data segment and a selected portion of a preceding digital data segment such that said new digital data segment has a length equal to said power-of-two;
and
rendering said three dimensional data.

1 more element

An apparatus for rendering three dimensional data for presentation on a data processing system display, having a processor, a memory storage device, a display device and a bus connecting said processor, said memory storage device and said display device, comprising:

a texture mapping engine having a dedicated memory;
conversion means for processing three dimensional data;
division means for parsing said three dimensional data into one or more digital data segments, each having a length equal to a power-of-two and a remainder digital data segment having a length which is not equal to a power-of-two;
formation means for forming a new digital data segment comprising said remainder digital data segment and a portion of said preceding digital data segment such that said new digital data segment has a length equal to a power-of-two;
and
rendering means for rendering said three dimensional data.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for supporting non-power-two texture sizes for volume rendering

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for supporting non-power-two texture sizes for volume rendering

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10