Patent ID: 6906718
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. In a computer system having a processor, a bus, and a graphics rendering pipeline for displaying 3D graphics on a display, a computer implemented method for rendering a NURBS defined curve or surface without first converting the NURBS defined curve or surface to a polygon mesh, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: a) receiving a NURBS model for rendering from a software program running on the processor of the computer system; b) converting the NURBS model to a Bezier model using the graphics rendering pipeline; c) generating a plurality of Bezier control points from a corresponding plurality of NURBS control points using a tri-linear interpolator in the graphics pipeline by: d) generating a plurality of points on a curve or surface, wherein the curve or surface is defined by the Bezier model, using the graphics rendering pipeline; and e) rendering the curve or surface defined by the NURBS model using the plurality of points and using the graphics rendering pipeline such that the curve or surface is rendered without first converting the NURBS model to a polygon mesh.