Lens Simulation Lookup Table for Real-Time Ray Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ray tracing simulations of optical systems are computationally expensive and time-consuming, especially when processing large numbers of images, which can lead to delays in generating images at a frame rate required for applications like mixed reality head-mounted displays.
Innovation Solution
A method involving precomputing a point spread function and generating a look-up table based on ray tracing a first input raster image, allowing for the efficient generation of subsequent output images by using this table at a runtime stage, thereby reducing computational expense and increasing processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ray tracing is used to simulate light passing through lenses, then image accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precomputes the point spread function and generates a lookup table during an offline preparation phase, storing the results for rapid retrieval during runtime. This preliminary action separates the computationally intensive ray tracing calculations from the real-time image generation process, allowing accurate optical simulations to be performed once and reused multiple times without repeating the full ray tracing computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the image generation process into two distinct stages: an offline precomputation stage where the point spread function is calculated and stored in a lookup table, and an online runtime stage where images are generated by querying the precomputed table. This segmentation allows the computationally expensive ray tracing to be performed only once rather than for each image, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and processing time.
2Measurement precision
If ray tracing is performed on large numbers of images, then image quality is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The point spread function characterizing the optical system is precomputed and stored in a lookup table before processing multiple images. This preliminary computation captures all the optical properties needed for accurate image generation, enabling subsequent images to be produced rapidly by simply querying the precomputed table rather than performing full ray tracing on each image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational copy of the optical system's behavior through the point spread function and lookup table. Instead of repeatedly simulating light paths for each image, the system uses the precomputed point spread function to replicate the optical effects, maintaining image quality while dramatically improving processing speed for large batches of images.
3Speed
If real-time image generation is required, then processing speed is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computationally complex point spread function calculation is performed in advance during an offline phase, converting the complex optical simulation into a simple lookup operation. This preliminary action shifts the computational burden from runtime to preparation time, enabling real-time image generation with minimal computational complexity during the actual processing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lookup table as an intermediary data structure that mediates between the complex optical system and the simple image generation process. The lookup table stores precomputed optical properties, serving as a bridge that allows real-time image generation without directly computing the complex ray tracing equations during runtime.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices and methods for simulating light passing through one or more lenses. In one example, a method comprises obtaining a point spread function of the one or more lenses, obtaining a first input raster image comprising a plurality of pixels, and ray tracing the first input raster image using the point spread function to generate a first output image. Based on ray tracing the first input raster image, a look up table is generated by computing a contribution to a pixel in the first output image, wherein the contribution is from a pixel at each location of a subset of locations in the first input raster image. A second input raster image is obtained, and the look up table is used to generate a second output image from the second input raster image.