Patent ID: 6278459
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
In a computer system having a processing subsystem, a memory and a display for displaying an image in a two-dimensional array of pixels, a method for generating an array of pixel color values to be displayed on the display as a two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional image, the three-dimensional image being stored in the computer memory as a three-dimensional data array comprising object data values associated with a plurality of sample points in a three-dimensional space, the method comprising:processing the object data values, to determine voxel colors C and voxel opacities .alpha. for the plurality of sample points in the three-dimensional space;opacity weighting the voxel colors C, to produce a set of opacity-weighted colors C for the plurality of sample points in the three-dimensional space;interpolating the voxel opacities .alpha. and the opacity-weighted colors C between the sample points in the three-dimensional space, to determine the most likely opacity and color value at each sample point along a plurality of rays; andcompositing the voxel opacities .alpha. and the opacity-weighted colors C from each sample point along the plurality of rays, to form the two-dimensional view for displaying on the display.