Patent ID: 6249286
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for creating and storing in a memory a compressed vector representation of a Surface normal, comprising the steps of:accessing the surface normal, wherein the surface normal comprises a first vector component, a second vector component, and a third vector component in a Cartesian coordinate system, wherein the first and second vector components have values in a pre-specified range of numbers, wherein the first vector component is parallel to a pre-specified axis of the Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein the magnitude of the second vector component is less than or equal to the magnitude of the third vector component;storing the value of the first vector component;storing the value of the second vector component;storing a non-stored vector component indicator, wherein the non-stored vector component indicator identifies the axis of the Cartesian coordinate system to which the third vector component is parallel; andstoring algebraic sign of the third vector component.