Patent ID: 8179393
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method performed by a computing device for combining a 2D image with a 3D image for improved visualization of a common scene, comprising: analyzing said 2D image to identify selected content based characteristics of a plurality of first areas in said common scene; selectively assigning to each area of said plurality of first areas a different color map tag of a plurality of color map tags that corresponds to a content based characteristic of said area, each of said plurality of color map tags identifying a different one of a plurality of color maps; using said plurality of color map tags to assign a different color map of said plurality of color maps to each of a plurality of second areas of said 3D image which correspond to said plurality of first areas of said 2D image; respectively applying said plurality of color maps to data defining said plurality of second areas of said 3D image; forming a virtual 3D image from said 2D image by assigning a Z value to pixels in said 2D image based on a contour of a surface defined by first points of said 3D image; determining color values for second points in the virtual 3D image based on a desired color map; and creating a fused image by overlaying said 3D image and said virtual 3D image.