Image Processing Device for 3D Slice Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for visualizing three-dimensional information from cross-sectional data struggle to effectively display the size and position of target objects in the axial direction, leading to increased resource loads and limited data processing freedom.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires distribution information from slice surfaces intersecting at a predetermined angle, generates slice images with alpha values, and performs alpha blending to display a three-dimensional object, allowing for intuitive visualization of layered image information with reduced resource costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If volume rendering is performed using conventional methods, then three-dimensional information can be visualized, but resource consumption increases and data processing freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the three-dimensional volume data into multiple two-dimensional slice images at different positions along the axial direction. Each slice image is processed and stored separately, allowing for efficient retrieval and rendering without requiring complex volume rendering operations. This segmentation approach reduces computational resources while preserving visualization quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates two-dimensional copy representations (slice images) of the three-dimensional data at various axial positions. These slice images serve as simplified copies that can be easily processed, stored, and rendered without requiring the full complexity of the original volume data, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining visualization effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If simple two-dimensional cross-section display is used, then resource consumption is reduced, but the size and position of target objects in the axial direction cannot be understood
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays multiple two-dimensional slice images at different axial positions arranged to represent the three-dimensional space. By showing slice images from multiple axial positions simultaneously or sequentially, the system preserves axial dimension information (size and position of objects along the axial direction) while using simple two-dimensional display techniques, thus avoiding high resource consumption.
3Device complexity
If slice spacing is increased to reduce data processing load, then resource consumption decreases, but visual gaps appear in the three-dimensional representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays slice images at multiple discrete axial positions rather than requiring continuous coverage. By strategically selecting key axial positions and displaying slice images at these positions, the system achieves acceptable visual continuity and represents the three-dimensional structure effectively without processing all possible slice positions, thus reducing data processing load while maintaining visual stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor output data acquisition unit (42) of an image data generation unit (30) in an image processing device (20) acquires layered image information data from a sensor group (12). A slice image generation unit (44) generates two-dimensional image data for each slice plane for which a distribution has been acquired. An image axis transformation unit (50) generates the same type of two-dimensional image data for multiple planes perpendicular to an axis different from a sensor axis. In accordance with properties such as viewing position, a slice image management unit (52) of a display process unit (32) manages slice images to be used for drawing. A drawing memory unit (56) successively stores the image data needed for drawing. An additional object image storage unit (58) stores image data for an object to be additionally displayed, such as a cursor. An image drawing unit (54) draws a three-dimensional object using the data for the slice images.