Efficient bump mapping using height maps
AssigneeImagination Technologies Limited
InventorsSimon Fenney, Paolo Giuseppe Fazzini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for generating bump map data substantially in real time for use in a 3-dimensional computer graphics system. Data is received which defines an area to which a texture is to be applied. Texture data to apply to the area is also received. This data includes surface height data. A set of partially overlapping samples of texture data are then filtered and surface tangent vectors derived therefrom. A bump map surface normal is then derived from the tangent vectors.
Claims8
A method for generating bump map data substantially in real time for use in a 3-dimensional computer graphics system comprising the steps of:
- receiving data defining an area to which a texture is to be applied, using a data receiver;
- receiving texture data to apply to the area, the texture data including surface height data, using a texture data receiver;
- filtering each of a set of partially overlapping samples of the texture data, using a filter, the filtering step including a step of using bi-quadratic B-splines to model height surfaces from the surface height data;
- deriving surface tangent vectors from the filtered samples, using a surface tangent vector generator;
- and
- deriving a bump map surface normal from the surface tangent vectors, using a bump map surface normal generator.
An apparatus for generating bump map data substantially in real time for use in a 3-dimensional computer graphics system comprising:
- means for receiving data defining an area to which a texture is to be applied;
- means for receiving texture data to apply to the area, the texture data including surface height data;
- means for filtering each of a set of partially overlapping samples of the texture data, including means to use bi-quadratic B-splines to model height surfaces from the surface height data;
- means for deriving surface tangent vectors from the filtered samples, with the surface tangent vectors being defined in local tangent space;
- and
- means for deriving a bump map surface normal from the surface tangent vectors.
A method for generating bump map data for use in a 3-dimensional computer graphics system comprising the steps of:
- receiving data defining an area to which a texture is to be applied, using a data receiver;
- receiving texture data to apply to the area, the texture data including surface height data, using a texture data receiver;
- filtering each of a set of partially overlapping samples of the texture data, using a filter, so as to model a height surface based on the surface height data;
- deriving surface tangent vectors from the filtered samples, using a surface tangent vector generator;
- and
- deriving a bump map surface normal from the surface tangent vectors, using a bump map surface normal generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.