Patent ID: 7228254
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. The shape model generation method for generating a shape model of an object from data acquired for the object to describe the shape of the object, comprising: a process by virtual probe measuring means of causing a virtual probe defined as an area having a finite expansion in a virtual space in said shape description data to sequentially scan a plurality of probe paths sequentially set by probe path setting means, measuring said shape description data and thereby acquiring a characteristic value specific to the position in said virtual space of said virtual probe for each of said probe paths; and a process by the probe path setting means of generating a new probe path using said characteristic value obtained for said probe paths and thereby sequentially setting said plurality of probe paths, wherein when a shell model is generated for an object including a plate element, said virtual probe measuring means acquires the position of a medial point of said plate element in the thickness direction as said characteristic value from said shape description data to generate said new probe path using the acquired medial point.