Ray Tracing Coherence Reuse for Faster Object Intersection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ray tracing techniques are computationally inefficient, leading to high latency and degraded user experiences in real-time applications such as computer graphics for video games.
Innovation Solution
Leverage ray trace temporal and spatial coherence data from preceding operations to reduce the search space for determining intersected object components, using acceleration structures more efficiently by testing against previously intersected objects, neighboring components, or specific nodes of the acceleration structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ray tracing techniques are used to achieve high rendering quality, then image accuracy is improved, but computational cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary ray tracing operations to generate coherence data (temporal and spatial) that can be reused in subsequent rendering operations. This preliminary computation of coherence information allows faster rendering without sacrificing image accuracy, as the coherence data pre-characterizes the rendering environment for future use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of rendering information through coherence data structures that store temporal and spatial relationships between rays and objects. Instead of recomputing entire ray traces, the system copies and reuses coherence information from previous operations, significantly reducing computational cost while maintaining rendering quality.
2Measurement precision
If extensive acceleration structure traversal is performed to ensure complete object intersection testing, then rendering accuracy is improved, but rendering time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from previous ray tracing operations in the form of coherence data to guide subsequent acceleration structure traversal. The temporal and spatial coherence information provides feedback about which objects and regions are most likely to be intersected, allowing the system to focus traversal efforts on relevant areas rather than exhaustively testing all structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using coherence data to identify and prioritize specific regions of the acceleration structure for detailed testing. Instead of uniformly traversing the entire structure, the system concentrates computational effort on locally relevant areas where coherence data indicates high probability of object intersections, improving efficiency without sacrificing accuracy in critical regions.
3Illumination intensity
If ray tracing is applied to real-time applications to enhance visual quality, then graphics realism is improved, but frame rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic computation of coherence data at appropriate intervals during rendering. By periodically updating temporal and spatial coherence information rather than continuously recomputing all ray tracing operations, the system maintains visual quality while reducing the computational burden per frame, thereby improving frame rate performance in real-time applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A ray trace operation includes tracing a ray from an origin point in accordance with a ray path into a virtual environment (where the virtual environment comprises one or more virtual objects defined by one or more object components) and determining an intersected object component of the one or more object components that the ray intersects with. Determining the intersected object component comprises accessing (i) ray trace temporal coherence data based upon a preceding ray trace operation that temporally precedes the ray trace operation or (ii) ray trace spatial coherence data based upon a spatially proximate ray trace operation.