Patent ID: 6115048
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method of displaying surfaces without interpolation, of volumetric data, having voxels with an aspect ratio A, voxel values each at a specified location and index, comprising the steps of:a) selecting a central voxel;b) testing the central voxel against a predetermined threshold;c) for each central voxel above the predetermined threshold:i. determining a plurality of diagonal voxels and their values relative to the central voxel;ii. comparing each diagonal voxel value to the predetermined threshold;iii. categorizing the central voxel as a surface voxel, if at least one diagonal voxel value is below the threshold;iv. calculating a surface normal vector for each surface voxel from differences between values of voxel straddling the central voxel;d) repeating steps ""a""-""c"" for a plurality of different voxels as the central voxel to result in a plurality of surface voxels and surface normal vectors;e) receiving a viewing angle of a desired view of the surface voxels;f) rendering the surface voxels and surface normal vectors at a desired viewing angle (azimuth, elevation .gamma.) to screen pixel data each having an (u,v) screen location, pixel color, and intensity as viewed from a modified viewing angle taking into account said aspect ratio, A;g) displaying the pixel data as an image to an operator.