3-d graphics rendering with implicit geometry

Abstract

3-D graphics rendering with implicit geometry. Aspects relate to tracing rays in 3-D scenes that comprise objects that are defined by or with implicit geometry. In an example, a trapping element defines a portion of 3-D space in which implicit geometry exist. When a ray is found to intersect a trapping element, a trapping element procedure is executed. The trapping element procedure may comprise marching a ray through a 3-D volume and evaluating a function that defines the implicit geometry for each current 3-D position of the ray. An intersection detected with the implicit geometry may be found concurrently with intersections for the same ray with explicitly-defined geometry, and data describing these intersections may be stored with the ray and resolved.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with an application date of March 11, 2014, an application number of 201410087919.9, and an invention title of "3D Graphics Rendering Using Implicit Geometry". technical field [0002] The following refers to ray tracing and, in a specific application, to ray tracing for computer graphics using displaced geometry. Background technique [0003] Rendering realistic 2D images from 3D scene descriptions with ray tracing is well known in the art of computer graphics. Ray tracing generally involves obtaining a scene description consisting of geometric shapes that describe the surfaces of the structures in the scene. Virtual rays are traced into the scene from a viewpoint ("camera"); each ray is sent traveling through the corresponding pixel of the 2D representation where the ray affects that pixel. Rays are tested for intersection with the geometry to identify the closest intersection point (if...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, using only triangle primitives to represent actual mountains, as required for many fine features, would be memory intensive

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