Image processing apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsRabin Ezra, Adam Michael Billyard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Computer graphics apparatus is configured to represent an object with surface relief detail in terms of its underlying shape over which is superimposed a mapped geometry to represent the relief feature. Superimposition can be made dependent on a level-of-detail threshold, and masking geometry may also be superimposed to properly mask a texture map otherwise lacking in resolution.
Claims34
A computer graphics apparatus, comprising:
- at least one data store for storing 3D computer model data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons in three-dimensional space representing the surface shape of an object, and polygon modification data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons having vertices in a two-dimensional plane with a respective displacement value for each vertex defining a displacement for the vertex in a direction away from the plane;
- and
- a 3D computer model geometry modifier operable to process each of at least some of the polygons representing the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- mapping the polygon from the 3D computer model and polygons in the two-dimensional plane defined by the polygon modification data onto each other;
- identifying which vertices of the polygons in the two-dimensional plane lie within the polygon from the 3D computer model as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the polygon from the 3D computer model by subdividing the polygon into a plurality of smaller polygons using each identified vertex which lies within the polygon from the 3D computer model to define a respective vertex of a smaller polygon with a position displaced away from the plane of the polygon in the 3D computer model by a distance determined in dependence upon the displacement defined by the polygon modification data for the identified vertex.
A computer graphics apparatus, comprising:
- a data receiver for receiving 3D computer model data comprising data defining the surface shape of an object in three-dimensional space, and polygon modification data comprising data defining a subsidiary three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality of planar polygons;
- a 3D computer model geometry modifier operable to modify at least part of the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- mapping the part of the 3D computer model to be modified and the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure onto each other;
- identifying which parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure lie within the part of the 3D computer model to be modified as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the part of the 3D computer model with polygons generated in dependence upon the identified parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure which lie within the part of the 3D computer model.
A method of processing 3D computer model data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons in three-dimensional space representing the surface shape of an object to modify the polygons representing the surface shape of the object, the method comprising processing each of at least some of the polygons representing the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- reading polygon modification data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons having vertices in a two-dimensional plane with a respective displacement value for each vertex defining a displacement for the vertex in a direction away from the plane;
- mapping the polygon from the 3D computer model and polygons in the two-dimensional plane defined by the polygon modification data onto each other;
- identifying which vertices of the polygons in the two-dimensional plane lie within the polygon from the 3D computer model as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the polygon from the 3D computer model by subdividing the polygon into a plurality of smaller polygons using each identified vertex which lies within the polygon from the 3D computer model to define a respective vertex of a smaller polygon with a position displaced away from the plane of the polygon in the 3D computer model by a distance determined in dependence upon the displacement defined by the polygon modification data for the identified vertex.
A method of processing 3D computer model data comprising data defining the surface shape of an object in three-dimensional space to modify at least part of the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- reading polygon modification data comprising data defining a subsidiary three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality of planar polygons;
- mapping the part of the 3D computer model to be modified and the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure onto each other;
- identifying which parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure lie within the part of the 3D computer model to be modified as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the part of the 3D computer model with polygons generated in dependence upon the identified parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure which lie within the part of the 3D computer model.
A storage medium storing instructions for programming a programmable processing apparatus to become operable to process 3D computer model data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons in three-dimensional space representing the surface shape of an object, and polygon modification data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons having vertices in a two-dimensional plane with a respective displacement value for each vertex defining a displacement for the vertex in a direction away from the plane, to modify the polygons representing the surface shape of the object, the instructions comprising instructions for programming the programmable processing apparatus to become operable to process each of at least some of the polygons representing the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- mapping the polygon from the 3D computer model and polygons in the two-dimensional plane defined by the polygon modification data onto each other;
- identifying which vertices of the polygons in the two-dimensional plane lie within the polygon from the 3D computer model as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the polygon from the 3D computer model by subdividing the polygon into a plurality of smaller polygons using each identified vertex which lies within the polygon from the 3D computer model to define a respective vertex of a smaller polygon with a position displaced away from the plane of the polygon in the 3D computer model by a distance determined in dependence upon the displacement defined by the polygon modification data for the identified vertex.
A storage medium storing instructions for programming a programmable processing apparatus to become operable to process 3D computer model data comprising data defining the surface shape of an object in three-dimensional space, and polygon modification data comprising data defining a subsidiary three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality of planar polygons, the instructions comprising instructions for programming the programmable processing apparatus to become operable to modify at least part of the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- mapping the part of the 3D computer model to be modified and the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure onto each other;
- identifying which parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure lie within the part of the 3D computer model to be modified as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the part of the 3D computer model with polygons generated in dependence upon the identified parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure which lie within the part of the 3D computer model.
A signal carrying instructions for programming a programmable processing apparatus to become operable to process 3D computer model data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons in three-dimensional space representing the surface shape of an object, and polygon modification data comprising data defining a plurality of planar polygons having vertices in a two-dimensional plane with a respective displacement value for each vertex defining a displacement for the vertex in a direction away from the plane, to modify the polygons representing the surface shape of the object, the instructions comprising instructions for programming the programmable processing apparatus to become operable to process each of at least some of the polygons representing the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- mapping the polygon from the 3D computer model and polygons in the two-dimensional plane defined by the polygon modification data onto each other;
- identifying which vertices of the polygons in the two-dimensional plane lie within the polygon from the 3D computer model as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the polygon from the 3D computer model by subdividing the polygon into a plurality of smaller polygons using each identified vertex which lies within the polygon from the 3D computer model to define a respective vertex of a smaller polygon with a position displaced away from the plane of the polygon in the 3D computer model by a distance determined in dependence upon the displacement defined by the polygon modification data for the identified vertex.
A signal carrying instructions for programming a programmable processing apparatus to become operable to process 3D computer model data comprising data defining the surface shape of an object in three-dimensional space, and polygon modification data comprising data defining a subsidiary three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality of planar polygons, the instructions comprising instructions for programming the programmable processing apparatus to become operable to modify at least part of the surface shape of the object in the 3D computer model by:
- mapping the part of the 3D computer model to be modified and the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure onto each other;
- identifying which parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure lie within the part of the 3D computer model to be modified as a result of the mapping;
- and
- modifying the part of the 3D computer model with polygons generated in dependence upon the identified parts of the polygons in the subsidiary three-dimensional structure which lie within the part of the 3D computer model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.