Patent ID: 8358305
Filing Date: 2013-01-22
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for 3D preprocessing for ray tracing, comprising: selecting and storing visible surfaces by designating one of a plurality of structures as a reference structure and remaining structures as relative structures, searching for the relative structures from the reference structure, storing relative structures having a surface visible from the reference structure, and removing relative structures having an invisible surface; conducting selection and storage based on distance measurement by measuring a distance from the reference structure to each of the stored relative structures and removing relative structures positioned beyond a reference spot predetermined with reference to the reference structure; and calculating a ray propagation path by calculating the propagation path of the ray between the reference structure and each of the relative structures stored in said conducting selection and storage based on distance measurement; wherein said calculating a ray propagation path comprises: storing information regarding a position of a vertex of a surface of the reference structure and information regarding a position of a vertex of a surface of a relative structure selected from the relative structures stored in said conducting selection and storage based on distance measurement; defining a coordinate vector as extending from a vertex of a surface of the reference structure to a vertex of a surface of the selected relative structure, converting the coordinate vector into spherical coordinate values θ and φ and storing the spherical coordinate values θ and φ; selecting greatest and smallest values from the stored θ and φ values and storing the greatest and smallest values; and calculating a ray tracing path from the stored greatest θ and φ values and the smallest θ and φ values.