Method and apparatus for generating realistic images using a discrete representation

Claim 3

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 1 wherein the plurality of voxel attributes include a proximity indicator, the proximity indicator denoting a nearness to a 3-D object, and wherein when the proximity indicator is encountered by one of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays, the voxel connectivity of the family of 3-D discrete rays is reselected.

Claim 4

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 1 wherein the plurality of voxel attributes include a light source illumination indicator, the light source illumination indicator denoting whether a corresponding light source is visible from a voxel location, not visible from a voxel location or partially visible from a voxel location, wherein shadow-illumination rays are generated in a direction of a corresponding light source if the light source illumination indicator denotes that the light source is partially visible from the corresponding voxel.

Claim 5

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 1 wherein the family of 3-D discrete rays includes a primary ray.

Claim 6

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 4 wherein the family of 3-D discrete rays also includes at least one secondary ray.

Claim 7

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 4 wherein when an encounter is detected between the primary ray and one of the discrete 3-D voxel representations a secondary ray is generated.

Claim 8

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 6 wherein the secondary ray is generated by referring to the primary ray and the attributes of the encountered voxel.

Claim 9

A method for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels and using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects as defined by claim 6 wherein when an encounter is detected between a first secondary ray and the 3-D discrete voxel representation, at least a second secondary ray is generated.

Claim 10

Apparatus for generating a 2-D image having a plurality of pixels using discrete 3-D voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects that make up a scene as defined by claim 1 wherein the means for traversing each family of 3-D discrete rays includes: a) a ray retrieval mechanism coupled to the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels, the ray retrieval mechanism fetching from the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels a plurality of voxels which make up a discrete voxel form of the families of 3-D discrete rays; b) a ray projection mechanism coupled to the ray retrieval mechanism and receiving the plurality of voxels that make up the discrete voxel form of the families of 3-D discrete rays, the ray projection mechanism locating the first non-transparent voxel along the discrete voxel form of the families of 3-D discrete rays; and c) a ray manager coupled to the ray retrieval mechanism, the ray manager also being coupled to the ray projection mechanism, the ray manager receiving a signal from the ray projection mechanism indicating that an encounter has been detected between a family of 3-D discrete rays and the discrete 3-D voxel representations, the ray manager providing a signal to the ray retrieval mechanism denoting a definition of the next ray to be accessed from the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels.

Claim 13

A method for generating a 3-D discrete voxel representation of a 3-D continuous ray as defined by claim 10, the method further comprising: a) selecting a second voxel connectivity with which to represent the 3-D continuous ray; b) determining a plurality of connectivity switching variables; and c) updating the plurality of decision variables utilizing the connectivity switching variables.

Claim 14

A method for generating a 3-D discrete voxel representation of a 3-D continuous ray as defined by claim 11, wherein the first voxel connectivity is 26-connected and the second voxel connectivity is 6-connected.

Claim 17

Apparatus for generating a two-dimensional (2-D) realistic image having a plurality of pixels using discrete three-dimensional (3-D) voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects that make up a scene, the apparatus comprising: a) means for forming a discrete 3-D voxel representation of each 3-D continuous object utilizing a plurality of voxels, each voxel representing a particular unit volume of the 3-D continuous object, each voxel having a plurality of attributes corresponding to characteristics of a corresponding unit volume of the 3-D continuous object; b) a 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels; c) means for storing each discrete 3-D voxel representation in the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels; d) means for selecting a voxel connectivity for a plurality of family of 3-D discrete rays, each ray of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays being formed according to the selected voxel connectivity; e) means for traversing each family of 3-D discrete rays through the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels, the traversal of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays being performed for the plurality of pixels of the 2-D realistic image; f) means for detecting encounters for each of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays with the discrete 3-D voxel representations, each encounter providing illumination values for each family of 3-D discrete rays; g) means for combining the illumination values to provide a composite illumination value for each of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays, each composite illumination value corresponding to a pixel value for generating the 2-D realistic image; and h) a video screen for displaying the composite illumination values, the video screen having a plurality of pixels, each composite illumination value corresponding to one pixel of the plurality of pixels of the video screen, the video screen providing a 2-D realistic image of the scene.

Claim 18

Apparatus for generating a two-dimensional (2-D) realistic image having a plurality of pixels using discrete three-dimensional (3-D) voxel representations of 3-D continuous objects that make up a scene, the apparatus comprising: a) means for forming a discrete 3-D voxel representation of each 3-D continuous object utilizing a plurality of voxels, each voxel representing a particular unit volume of the 3-D continuous object, each voxel having a plurality of attributes corresponding to characteristics of a corresponding unit volume of the 3-D continuous object; b) a 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels; c) means for storing each discrete 3-D voxel representation in the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels; d) means for selecting a voxel connectivity for a plurality of family of 3-D discrete rays, each ray of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays being formed according to the selected voxel connectivity; e) means for traversing each family of 3-D discrete rays through the 3-D Cubic Frame Buffer of voxels, the traversal of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays being performed for the plurality of pixels of the 2-D realistic image; f) means for detecting encounters for each of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays with the discrete 3-D voxel representations, each encounter providing illumination values for each family of 3-D discrete rays; g) means for combining the illumination values to provide a composite illumination value for each of the plurality of families of 3-D discrete rays, each composite illumination value corresponding to a pixel value for generating the 2-D realistic image; and h) a video screen for displaying the composite illumination values, the video screen having a plurality of pixels, each composite illumination value corresponding to one pixel of the plurality of pixels of the video screen, the video screen providing a 2-D realistic image of the scene.