Selective Virtual Object Display in Volumetric Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
In densely populated virtual environments, such as luggage security scans, objects of interest are often obscured by materials of no interest, making it difficult for users to detect threats due to issues like superposition, location, dissociation, and lure techniques, which existing volumetric data exploration methods struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that uses a virtual projector and camera in a three-dimensional computer-generated environment to determine a display threshold for objects based on a display function that inversely relates to distance and varies with the angle from the projector, allowing only objects meeting the threshold to be displayed, thereby enhancing visibility of objects of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all objects in the volumetric dataset are displayed, then complete information is provided, but the view becomes obscured and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes materials of no interest from the volumetric dataset before rendering. By selectively eliminating irrelevant materials based on metadata filtering, the system maintains complete information about all objects while removing obscuring elements that prevent proper detection of objects of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different regions of the dataset. Materials of no interest are completely removed (binary mask), while materials of interest are preserved with full detail. This local differentiation allows clear visualization of important objects without losing any information about the complete environment.
2Shape
If dense materials are displayed to show structure, then structural information is visible, but they obscure underlying threats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts dense materials that are classified as 'materials of no interest' and removes them from the rendering. This extraction process reveals underlying threats that would otherwise be obscured by the dense materials, while the structural information is maintained through selective removal rather than complete elimination of all dense objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color coding and visual differentiation to distinguish between materials of interest and materials of no interest. By applying different visual properties (such as color, transparency, or removal) based on material classification, the system maintains structural context while highlighting or revealing threats.
3Measurement precision
If transfer functions are used to isolate structures, then specific materials are highlighted, but other important objects may be obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the volumetric dataset into distinct categories: materials of interest, materials of no interest, and threats. By creating these segmented categories and applying different rendering treatments to each, the system achieves precise isolation of specific materials while maintaining visibility of all other objects through selective rather than exclusive rendering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional rendering system that simultaneously achieves multiple goals: isolating specific materials of interest, removing obscuring materials of no interest, and preserving visibility of threats. This universal approach replaces the need for single-purpose transfer functions with a comprehensive rendering pipeline that handles multiple visualization objectives concurrently.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If selective material removal is applied, then obscured objects become visible, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification and masking of materials before the rendering process. By pre-identifying materials of no interest and creating binary masks during the data processing stage rather than during rendering, the system reduces real-time processing complexity while achieving the desired selective removal effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified representations (masks) of the volumetric data that encode material classification information. These copied data structures serve as lookup tables during rendering, allowing the system to determine what to display or remove without complex real-time analysis, thereby reducing processing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
To better explore a virtual 3d computer generated environment comprised of objects which may be voxels, polygons or any other construct are selectively not displayed so as to better reveal underlying objects. The objects are each associated with a metadata value which contributes to determining their visibility such as a density or opacity value. The manner of selection is somewhat analogous to the projection of a beam of light towards the objects from a virtual projector, where a display threshold is determined for each object within the field of view of said virtual projector on the basis of a display function having an inverse relation to distance from the virtual projector and further varying as a function of the angle defined by the orientation of the virtual projector and a line drawn from said virtual projector to each said object respectively. On this basis, objects having a smaller angular separation from the axis of the virtual projector, and closer to the projector, will be preferentially excluded from display.