Polygonal Mesh Simplification via Submesh Proxy Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for generating raycast meshes are inefficient, as they often result in overly complex or under-simplified meshes due to artist limitations and traditional edge collapse simplification techniques, which fail to effectively reduce computational complexity, especially for objects with many small components.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving an input mesh, identifying submeshes, fitting shapes to approximate them, generating proxy and traditional levels-of-detail (LODs), and selecting the appropriate LODs for each submesh to create a simplified mesh using global constrained optimization, allowing for better control over triangle budgets and fidelity across the model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional edge collapse simplification is used to generate raycast meshes, then the mesh complexity is reduced, but the simplification is insufficient for objects with many small components and cannot replace parts with simpler representations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the input mesh into multiple submeshes based on connectivity and spatial criteria. Each submesh is then independently processed to determine whether it should be replaced by a proxy shape or undergo traditional simplification. This segmentation allows different simplification strategies to be applied to different parts of the mesh, resolving the contradiction by enabling both complexity reduction and preservation of important geometric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fidelity threshold parameter that controls the replacement decision. By adjusting this parameter, the system can balance between aggressive simplification (replacing submeshes with proxies) and preserving geometric accuracy (using traditional simplification). This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction by providing a tunable mechanism to achieve appropriate simplification levels.
2Manufacturing precision
If artists manually author raycast meshes, then control over mesh detail is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and artists may not optimize for computational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated system that performs raycast mesh generation without requiring manual artist intervention. The system automatically segments the input mesh, evaluates submeshes against fidelity thresholds, generates proxy shapes where appropriate, and produces the final simplified mesh. This self-service approach eliminates the time-consuming manual authoring process while maintaining control over mesh detail through algorithmic fidelity criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses configurable parameters such as fidelity threshold and proxy shape selection criteria to control the output quality. Artists can adjust these parameters to achieve desired levels of detail without manually creating each mesh, thus reducing authoring time while maintaining precision control through parameter tuning rather than manual modeling.
3Productivity
If aggressive mesh simplification is used to reduce triangle count, then computational complexity is reduced, but fidelity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different simplification strategies to different submeshes based on their individual characteristics and importance. Critical submeshes that fail the fidelity test are preserved with higher detail, while less important submeshes are aggressively simplified or replaced with proxies. This local quality approach ensures that computational efficiency is maximized without compromising the fidelity of important geometric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each submesh is evaluated against a fidelity threshold after the simplification process. Submeshes that fail to meet the threshold are identified and can be refined or preserved, while those that pass are kept as simplified versions. This feedback loop ensures that fidelity is maintained where necessary while allowing aggressive simplification elsewhere, thus balancing computational efficiency and precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, device, and computer-readable storage medium for generating a simplified mesh. The method includes: receiving an input mesh that is a polygonal mesh; identifying one or more submeshes of the input mesh; fitting a set of shapes to the one or more submeshes to determine which shapes approximate which submeshes within a threshold value; for each submesh that is associated with at least one shape that approximates the submesh within the threshold value, generating a set of proxy levels-of-detail (LODs) for the submesh, wherein each proxy LOD is a polygonal mesh corresponding to the shape that approximates the submesh; generating for each submesh, a set of traditionally simplified levels-of-detail (LODs) based on simplifying the submesh; and generating the simplified mesh based on selecting one proxy LOD or one traditionally simplified LOD for each submesh of the one or more submeshes.