Patent ID: 8698806
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for performing a volume rendering of a 3D array of image data using shadow calculation, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the 3D array of image data; determining a viewing direction and position of a light source; depending on the position of the light source, automatically selecting a shadow-calculation method comprising ray casting or texture-based volume rendering; determining a number of slices to use; slicing the array of image data into the determined number of slices with the slices either perpendicular to the viewing direction, perpendicular to a bisector between the viewing direction and the direction of light from the source, or perpendicular to a bisector between the mirrored viewing direction and the light direction; calculating shadows if the position of the light source moves or if the shadow-calculation method has been changed; rendering the slices with ray casting or texture-based volume rendering and incorporating the shadows determined by the latest shadow calculation independent of the rendering method by which they were calculated; and displaying the rendered data on a screen of a display device using ray casting and/or texture-based volume rendering.