Patent ID: 7817877

Claim:
A method for generating a fusion image by fusing plural pieces of image data for three or more dimensions obtained from a single watched object through individual processing or distributed processing executed by at least one computer, the method comprising the steps of: associating the plural pieces of image data for three or more dimensions with one another based on positional relationship and projecting a plurality of virtual rays for each of the plural pieces of image data for three or more dimensions, wherein the plural pieces of image data for three or more dimensions each includes optical parameters for sampling positions on the corresponding plurality of virtual rays; determining a synthesis ratio at least twice for synthesizing the optical parameters of the plural pieces of image data for three or more dimensions with one another on each of the virtual rays; calculating a synthesized optical parameter for each of the sampling positions by synthesizing the optical parameters of the plural pieces of image data for three or more dimensions based on the synthesis ratio; calculating partially reflected light at each of the sampling positions based on the synthesized optical parameter; and calculating a pixel value of the fusion image by accumulating the partially reflected light, wherein: the optical parameters include color information and opacity information; and the step of determining a synthesis ratio includes: determining a color synthesis ratio at least twice for synthesizing the color information on each of the virtual rays; and determining an opacity synthesis ratio at least twice for synthesizing the opacity information on each of the virtual rays; the step of calculating a synthesized optical parameter includes: calculating synthesis color information based on the color synthesis ratio; and calculating synthesis opacity information based on the opacity synthesis ratio wherein the above steps are executed by at least one computer.