Ray Tracing Geometry Interpolation for Rendering Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ray tracing schemes for rendering three-dimensional models require high computational resources, especially in real-time dynamic scenes, making it difficult to perform real-time ray tracing with general hardware performance.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that calculates geometry information for only a sample ray and applies the result to other pixels, using a processor to determine similarity between geometry information of reference pixels and adjacent pixels, allowing for linear interpolation and reducing unnecessary ray tracing calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ray tracing is performed for each pixel to achieve high rendering quality, then rendering precision is improved, but calculation amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image is divided into multiple blocks, and each block is further divided into sub-blocks. Ray tracing is performed only for reference pixels (e.g., top-left pixel of each sub-block), while other pixels in the same block use the reference pixel's geometry information. This segmentation approach reduces redundant calculations while maintaining rendering quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Geometry information calculated for reference pixels is copied and applied to other pixels within the same block. Instead of performing ray tracing for every pixel, the patent reuses the geometry information from reference pixels, significantly reducing the calculation amount while maintaining consistent rendering quality across the block.
2Speed
If ray tracing is performed for real-time dynamic scenes, then rendering speed is improved, but hardware performance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs ray tracing only partially - specifically for reference pixels in each block - rather than for all pixels. This partial action approach achieves real-time rendering speed by performing minimal necessary ray tracing operations, reducing hardware performance requirements while maintaining acceptable rendering quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Geometry information is pre-calculated for reference pixels before rendering other pixels in the block. This preliminary action allows subsequent pixels to use the pre-computed information without performing additional ray tracing, thereby achieving real-time rendering speed with reduced hardware complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If geometry information is calculated for all pixels, then rendering quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the processing of multiple pixels by using a single reference pixel's geometry information for an entire block of pixels. This merging approach maintains rendering quality within each block while significantly reducing processing time by eliminating redundant ray tracing operations for non-reference pixels.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image processing apparatus. Ray tracing may be performed using a general scheme with respect to a plurality of reference pixels among pixels of an image to be rendered. With respect to a pixel excluding the reference pixels, geometry information may be interpolated based on a ray tracing result of adjacent reference pixels.