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Showing papers on "Graphics published in 1992"


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1992
TL;DR: An application independent algorithm that uses local operations on geometry and topology to reduce the number of triangles in a triangle mesh and results from two different geometric modeling applications illustrate the strengths of the algorithm.
Abstract: The polygon remains a popular graphics primitive for computer graphics application. Besides having a simple representation, computer rendering of polygons is widely supported by commercial graphics hardware and software. However, because the polygon is linear, often thousands or millions of primitives are required to capture the details of complex geometry. Models of this size are generally not practical since rendering speeds and memory requirements are proportional to the number of polygons. Consequently applications that generate large polygonal meshes often use domain-specific knowledge to reduce model size. There remain algorithms, however, where domainspecific reduction techniques are not generally available or appropriate. One algorithm that generates many polygons is marching cubes. Marching cubes is a brute force surface construction algorithm that extracts isodensity surfaces from volume data, producing from one to five triangles within voxels that contain the surface. Although originally developed for medical applications, marching cubes has found more frequent use in scientific visualization where the size of the volume data sets are much smaller than those found in medical applications. A large computational fluid dynamics volume could have a finite difference grid size of order 100 by 100 by 100, while a typical medical computed tomography or magnetic resonance scanner produces over 100 slices at a resolution of 256 by 256 or 512 by 512 pixels each. Industrial computed tomography, used for inspection and analysis, has even greater resolution, varying from 512 by 512 to 1024 by 1024 pixels. For these sampled data sets, isosurface extraction using marching cubes can produce from 500k to 2,000k triangles. Even today’s graphics workstations have trouble storing and rendering models of this size. Other sampling devices can produce large polygonal models: range cameras, digital elevation data, and satellite data. The sampling resolution of these devices is also improving, resulting in model sizes that rival those obtained from medical scanners. This paper describes an application independent algorithm that uses local operations on geometry and topology to reduce the number of triangles in a triangle mesh. Although our implementation is for the triangle mesh, it can be directly applied to the more general polygon mesh. After describing other work related to model creation from sampled data, we describe the triangle decimation process and its implementation. Results from two different geometric modeling applications illustrate the strengths of the algorithm.

1,790 citations



Book
01 Sep 1992
TL;DR: Part 1: personal view, structure of book system - overview of system winsom - geometry and algorithms for "what I can see", lighting and rendering, texture, tay-tracer interactive graphics - picture style and hardware.
Abstract: Part 1: personal view, structure of book system - overview of system winsom - geometry and algorithms for "what I can see", lighting and rendering, texture, tay-tracer interactive graphics - picture style and hardware, interactive graphics software, view manipulation, interaction animation - preview, final ESME and graphics programming - high level language, function image output - screen hard copy. Part 2 Art specific: art overview form design mutator animation conclusion.

425 citations


Book
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: This tutorial shows how to use Maple both as a calculator with instant access to hundreds of high-level math routines and as a programming language for more demanding tasks.
Abstract: This tutorial shows how to use Maple both as a calculator with instant access to hundreds of high-level math routines and as a programming language for more demanding tasks. It covers topics such as the basic data types and statements in the Maple language. It explains the differences between numeric computation and symbolic computation and illustrates how both are used in Maple. Extensive "how-to" examples are used throughout the tutorial to show how common types of calculations can be expressed easily in Maple. The manual also uses many graphics examples to illustrate the way in which 2D and 3D graphics can aid in understanding the behavior of functions.

240 citations


Patent
28 Sep 1992
TL;DR: In this paper, a method and system for processing and presenting on-line, multimedia information such as diagnostic information for a machine tool is provided for training, process planning, marketing, sales, help desk applications, other machine diagnostics, and engineering design.
Abstract: Method and system are provided for processing and presenting on-line, multimedia information such as diagnostic information for a machine tool. The system uses multimedia information tools (i.e. graphics, documentation, drawings, photographs, full motion video with audio, PLC ladder, etc.) and techniques to assist maintenance personnel. Diagnostic development and multimedia information assignment are accomplished through graphical visual programming, which requires no conventional software programming efforts. The system uses diagnostic trees having multimedia graphic icons which define the diagnostic components. In developing a visual diagnostic tree, the multimedia information can be assigned or mapped to each node of the tree by selecting an appropriate icon to represent the multimedia from an icon library. Then, an appropriate media information file or record and comments for that icon are further added to define that node assignments. The system is user friendly, uses conventional hardware and can be used on the plant floor. The system is immediately executable and is generic. The method and system can also be used for training, process planning, marketing, sales, help desk applications, other machine diagnostics, and engineering design.

185 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jun 1992
TL;DR: An optoelectronic head-tracking system for head-mounted displays that was demonstrated at the ACM SIGGRAPH '91 conference and adopted an overdetermined mathematical model for the computation of head position: space resection by collinearity is described.
Abstract: An optoelectronic head-tracking system for head-mounted displays is described. The system features a scalable work area that currently measures 10' x 12', a measurement update rate of 20-100 Hz with 20-60 ms of delay, and a resolution specification of 2 mm and 0.2 degrees. The sensors consist of four head-mounted imaging devices that view infrared lightemitting diodes (LEDs) mounted in a 10' x 12' grid of modular 2' x 2' suspended ceiling panels. Photogrammetric techniques allow the head's location to be expressed as a function of the known LED positions and their projected images on the sensors. The work area is scaled by simply adding panels to the ceiling's grid. Discontinuities that occurred when changing working sets of LEDs were reduced by carefully managing all error sources, including LED placement tolerances, and by adopting an overdetermined mathematical model for the computation of head position: space resection by collinearity. The working system was demonstrated in the Tomorrow's Realities gallery at the ACM SIGGRAPH '91 conference. CR categories and subject descriptors: I.3.1 [Computer Graphics]: Hardware Architecture three dimensional displays; I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: ThreeDimensional Graphics and Realism Virtual Reality Additional

165 citations


Patent
Robert J. Gove1
29 Jun 1992
TL;DR: In this article, a crossbar switch is used for interconnecting any processor with any memory in any configuration for the interchange of data for image processing and graphics by constructing a cross bar switch capable of connecting n parallel processors to m memories.
Abstract: A multi-processing system which handles image processing and graphics by constructing a crossbar switch capable of inter-connecting any processor with any memory in any configuration for the interchange of data. The system is capable of connecting n parallel processors to m memories where m is greater than n.

155 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: The multimedia video processor architecture, which incorporates a variety of parallel processing techniques to deliver very high performance to a wide range of imaging and graphics applications, is described.
Abstract: We defined the multimedia video processor (MVP) to accelerate applications with heavy image and graphics processing requirements. Here we give an overview of the architecture

144 citations


Book
01 Jan 1992

137 citations


Book
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: An algorithm is presented that directly computes the multiple merging trajectories that may have constituted the system's past and makes accessible the explicit portraits of these mathematical objects through computer-generated graphics.
Abstract: The book introduces a powerful new global perspective for the study of discrete dynamical systems. After first looking at the unique trajectory of a system's future, an algorithm is also presented that directly computes the multiple merging trajectories that may have constituted the system's past. A given set of cellular parameters will, in a sense, crystallize state space into a set of basins of attraction that will typically have the topology of branching trees rooted on attractor cycles. The book makes accessible the explicit portraits of these mathematical objects through computer-generated graphics. (Book/disk package disk requires an 80286, or higher, IBM PC or compatible with 640K of memory, VGA graphics, and DOS 2.0 or higher.

128 citations


Patent
05 Aug 1992
TL;DR: In this article, a fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is described, which is designed to be embodied in a removable external memory unit for connection with a host information processing system.
Abstract: A fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is disclosed which is designed to be embodied in a removable external memory unit for connection with a host information processing system. In an exemplary embodiment, a video game system is described including a host video game system and a pluggable video game cartridge housing the graphics microprocessor. The game cartridge also includes a read-only program memory (ROM) and a random-access memory (RAM). The graphics coprocessor operates in conjunction with a three bus architecture embodied on the game cartridge. The graphics processor using this bus architecture may execute programs from either the program ROM, external RAM or its own internal cache RAM. The fully user programmable graphics coprocessor has an instruction set which is designed to efficiently implement arithmetic operations associated with 3-D graphics and, for example, includes special instructions executed by dedicated hardware for plotting individual pixels in the host video game system's character mapped display which, from the programmer's point of view, creates a “virtual” bit map by permitting the addressing of individual pixels—even though the host system is character based. The graphics coprocessor interacts with the host coprocessor such that the graphics coprocessor's 16 general registers are accessible to the host processor at all times.

Book
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: Introduction and background elements of the language programming techniques class template graphics semantics implementing class templates.
Abstract: Introduction and background elements of the language programming techniques class template graphics semantics implementing class templates.

Patent
03 Jul 1992
TL;DR: A hand-held device which provides an instrument for reading a bar code symbol is described in this article, where the analysis of the signal resulting from code reading in an internal computer having memory contained in the instrument.
Abstract: A hand-held device which provides an instrument for reading a bar code symbol Print quality parameters including print contrast signal (PCS), ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Grade, and other parameters, are obtained by the analysis of the signal resulting from code reading in an internal computer having memory contained in the instrument A graphic display includes a display device such as a liquid crystal having a matrix of elements arranged in areas which provide a message containing a plurality of dot matrix characters, other areas where the elements are formed into segments for display of alphanumeric characters and still other areas where the elements are formed into legends The display is driven by a graphics driver The computer has memory in which data corresponding to a multiplicity of text messages some of which are fixed and others variable, being provided by the results of the print quality analysis The instrument contains controls for operating the display to provide a menu of instructions and to indicate the analysis parameter being displayed A graphics driver has an array of storage elements arranged correspondingly to the elements of the display Data is transferred from memory under program control via the computer to the display The display is selectively orientable (flippable) to present messages in the message area, characters in the segment area and graphics in other areas in upright position and in proper orientation for readability by use of the controls to set the display to present the messages either in left or right-handed orientation The instrument can be handled in either the right or left hand and the display presented in readable position The areas are arranged so as to be mirror-wise symmetric about a longitudinal axis through the instrument so that when the computer writes data into the array of the graphic driver, it is written in an orientation and ordered so that the display presents the graphics upright and in order (left to right in the American system) for viewing

Book
02 Jan 1992
TL;DR: Examines the use of audio, video, graphics, and animation in computer systems, specifically in the design and construction of the computer-human interface.
Abstract: Examines the use of audio, video, graphics, and animation in computer systems, specifically in the design and construction of the computer-human interface. Multimedia extensions to current computer systems allow us to employ our senses in new ways when interacting with the computer.


Patent
05 May 1992
TL;DR: In this article, a raster graphic display video data path is proposed to provide arbitrary mixing of a plurality of images using a set of look-up tables, loadable from a controller, such as a host workstation.
Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing a raster graphic display video data path that provides arbitrary mixing of a plurality of images. The video data path is highly parallelized, and employs parallel devices operating under the control of a set of look-up tables. The look-up tables are loadable from a controller, such as a host workstation. The raster graphic display video data path functions with unlimited screen resolutions, and also enables a variety of different pixel data formats from a potentially large number of different sources. Outputs from several image sources are mixed under the control of the host workstation, with a resultant pixel value being based on (a) a combined translucency coefficient (alpha) of the images, for each image source, and (b) a window identification number assigned by the host workstation. Pixel value conversion to a common predetermined format provides coherency between pixel values generated by a number of different image sources, such as HDTV and graphics servers. A separate frame buffer is allocated for each of the sources.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1992
TL;DR: A technique is presented to compute the refkted illumination from curved mirror surfaces onto other surfaces in accordance with Fermat’s principle, where h-radiance is computed from the Gaussian curvature of the geometrical wavefront.
Abstract: A technique is presented to compute the refkted illumination from curved mirror surfaces onto other surfaces. In accordance with Fermat’s principle, this is equivalent to fiiding extremal paths from the light source to the visible surface via the mirrors. Once pathways of illumination are found, h-radiance is computed from the Gaussian curvature of the geometrical wavefront. Techniques from optics, differential geometry and interval analysis are applied to this problem in global illumination. CR Categories and Subject Descriptions: 1.3.3 [ Computer Graphics ]: Picture/Image Generation; 1.3.7 [ Computer Graphics ]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1992
TL;DR: To help users find the first occurrence of an interference along a search direction, this work has developed an adaptive subdivision search based on a projective approach which guarantees a sufficient condition for object disjointness.
Abstract: To reduce the cost of correcting design errors, assemblies of mechanical parts are modeled using CAD systems and verified electronically before the designs are sent to manufacturing. Shaded images are insufficient for examining the internal structures of assemblies and for detecting interferences. Thus, designers must rely on expensive numerical techniques that compute geometric representations of cross-sections and of intersections of solids. The solid-clipping approach presented here bypasses these geometric calculations and offers realtime rendering of cross-sections and interferences for solids represented by their facetted boundaries. In its simplest form, the technique is supported by contemporary highend graphics workstations. Its variations, independently developed elsewhere, have already been demonstrated. Our implementation is based on the concept of a cutvolume interactively manipulated to remove obstructing portions of the assembly and reveal its internal structure. For clarity, faces of the cut-volume which intersect a single solid are hatched and shaded with the color of that solid. Interference areas between two or more solids are highlighted. Furthermore, to help users find the first occurrence of an interference along a search direction, we have developed an adaptive subdivision search based on a projective approach which guarantees a sufficient condition for object disjointness. The additional performance cost for solid-clipping and interference highlighting is comparable to the standard rendering cost. An efficient implementation of the disjointness test requires a minor extension of the graphics functions currently supported on commercial hardware.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jun 1992
TL;DR: In Computer Graphics, Special Issue on the 1992 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics, MIT Media Laboratory, 29 March - 1 April 1992, pp. 147-156.
Abstract: in Computer Graphics, Special Issue on the 1992 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics, MIT Media Laboratory, 29 March - 1 April 1992, pp 147-156

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jun 1992
TL;DR: A solution to the synchronization problem that is based on optimal estimation methods and fixed-lag dataflow techniques is presented and a method for discovering and correcting prediction errors using a generalized likelihood approach is presented.
Abstract: To be convincing and natural, interactive graphics applications must correctly synchronize user motion with rendered graphics and sound output. We present a solution to the synchronization problem that is based on optimal estimation methods and fixed-lag dataflow techniques. A method for discovering and correcting prediction errors using a generalized likelihood approach is also presented. And finally, Music World, a simulated environment employing these ideas, is described.

Patent
22 Dec 1992
TL;DR: In this article, a preferred interface circuit for interfacing between a digital-television circuit for producing pixel data for television images and a computer graphics display enables rapid scaling and positioning of live television images on the graphics display.
Abstract: A circuit for interfacing between a digital-television circuit for producing pixel data for television images and a computer graphics display permits rapid scaling and positioning of live television images on the graphics display. In a preferred embodiment, the digital-television/computer-graphics interface circuit of the invention includes memory for storing a horizontal-scaling bit pattern and a vertical-scaling bit pattern. Such a preferred interface circuit is adapted to receive digital-television pixel data from the digital television circuit and, on a pixel-by-pixel basis depending on the state of corresponding bits in the horizontal-scaling bit pattern, to skip the pixel in the case of image contraction and to replicate the pixel in the case of image expansion. The preferred interface circuit is also adapted to receive digital-television pixel data on a television-line by television-line basis and, depending on the state of a corresponding bit of the vertical-scaling bit pattern, to skip the entire line of pixel data in the case of image contraction or to replicate the line in the case of image expansion. The interface circuit may include a hardware vector generator for generating scaling bit patterns in accordance with a procedure analogous to a vector-drawing procedure used in graphics displays, such as the "Bresenham procedure."

Patent
Jens Bodenkamp1, Mark D. Atkins1
19 Jun 1992
TL;DR: In this article, an enhanced single frame buffer video display system is described for combining both video and graphical images, which stores a single data format for pixel types which may be interpreted by a conventional video generator for output to conventional color graphics computer display devices.
Abstract: An enhanced single frame buffer video display system is described for combining both video and graphical images. A single frame buffer is implemented which stores a single data format for pixel types which may be interpreted by a conventional video generator for output to conventional color graphics computer display devices. The system utilizes an enhanced graphics controller which does all pixel processing for translating all incoming graphics and video data to a single format type as well as performing, blending and scaling. The system is readily scalable for handling additional format data types.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Celesstin this article is a system that converts mechanical engineering drawings into a format suitable for CAD, integrating several modules in a blackboard-based interpretation system, which is based on the assumption that even when the vectorized drawing is distorted, it can be correctly interpreted by using knowledge about the representation rules used in technical drawings and about the manufacturing technology associated with the represented objects.
Abstract: Celesstin, a system that converts mechanical engineering drawings into a format suitable for CAD, is described. Celesstin integrates several modules in a blackboard-based interpretation system. Once a drawing has been digitized, a first processing step separates the text and the dimensioning lines from the pure graphics part. Celesstin vectorizes the graphics part and assembles the resulting lines into blocks, the basic elements for the technical entities that it creates. The result is transferred to the CAD system. Celesstin tries to match the extracted entities with the corresponding models from the CAD library. It puts the remaining blocks and lines into different layers of the CAD description. The system is based on the assumption that even when the vectorized drawing is distorted, it can be correctly interpreted by using knowledge about the representation rules used in technical drawings and about the manufacturing technology associated with the represented objects. >

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: This paper investigates how concepts from exploratory data analysis, dynamic graphics, and statistical visualization may be applied to the study of geo-referenced data.
Abstract: This paper investigates how concepts from exploratory data analysis, dynamic graphics, and statistical visualization may be applied to the study of geo-referenced data. The first part describes the use of commercially available computer programs with data stored as irregularly spaced points or in raster (grid) format. The second part presents results from an operational prototype that operates on data stored as polygons and includes some novel features that extend cluster analysis into the spatial domain.

Patent
Jeffrey Kreegar1
17 Sep 1992
Abstract: A computer controlled graphics display system that treats graphical objects in a uniform fashion for consistent, non-modal and direct manipulation of graphics objects The user, by operating in a visual "point and click" fashion, may select a graphical object or shape and manipulate it in a number of ways without having to activate different modes for different manipulations Possible manipulations include dragging, scaling, rotating and skewing More than one shape can be selected and manipulated by compositing intersected shapes with a selection rectangle The graphic manipulations are platform independent and thus are all carried out by directing the point and click tool

Patent
19 Nov 1992
TL;DR: In this paper, the uplink control computer is interfaced to a satellite addressable network control system (ANCS) to unmute the desired satellite receiver(s) at the remote location(s), based upon a predefined transmission script.
Abstract: An in-store advertising system for displaying advertisements involves preparing graphical art from the actual products or from flat art, for each advertised product. Each frame is stored in computer memory as a digital graphics file. As desired, pricing and advertising copies are added as overlays to the digital art of each frame. Control data is defined for each frame indicating its destination location(s) and the run time for each destination location. The digital graphic files containing a digital frame and the respective control data for each frame are then loaded into an uplink control computer. The control data is analyzed by the uplink computer to compute an adlist which lists the digital frames and their respective destination locations. The uplink control computer is interfaced to a satellite addressable network control system (ANCS) to unmute the desired satellite receiver(s) at the remote location(s), based upon a predefined transmission script. The uplink computer then transmits the respective graphic files, control data and adlist via a satellite transmitter to a commercial broadcasting satellite. The remote receivers display the graphic data based on the code data.

Patent
18 May 1992
TL;DR: In this paper, a system which uses interactive graphics displayed on a viewing means to control and indicate the operating parameters of an instrument is presented, where only those controls and indicators which are relevant to the present state will be displayed, which simplifies the display and reduces operator confusion.
Abstract: A system which uses interactive graphics displayed on a viewing means to control and indicate the operating parameters of an instrument. The interactive graphics which are displayed at any point in time depend on the present state of the instrument. Only those controls and indicators which are relevant to the present state will be displayed, which simplifies the display and reduces operator confusion. When the state of the instrument changes, controls and indicators will be redisplayed so as to be relevant to the new state. A control means allows the operator to interact with controls so as to change the state of the instrument. The controls and indicators can be displayed on the viewing means in a way that simulates their physical appearance. A plurality of instruments may be present in the system; if so, the operator can choose which to control, while a subset of parameters of the other instruments can be viewed simultaneously. The preferred method uses a computer program to display the graphics and control the instruments.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1992
TL;DR: Ensemble is a prototype lock-based approach to object-oriented concurrent graphics editing that relies on Unix* 4.3bsd sockets and can be used as a stand-alone program or as an application in the University of Florida’s distributed conferencing system (DCS).
Abstract: Ensemble is an X-Windows based, object-oriented graphics editor based on the tgif graphics editor from UCLA. It relies on Unix* 4.3bsd sockets and can be used as a stand-alone program or as an application in the University of Florida’s distributed conferencing system (DCS). It uses implicitly placed write locks for concurrency control, with locks placed when an object is selected and removed when it is deselected. Multiple users may read or edit a file concurrently, with all users receiving updates whenever a lock is removed. Pointers are shared by mutual consent, so that users may collaborate to the degree desired. Ensemble is a prototype lock-based approach to object-oriented concurrent graphics editing.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1992
TL;DR: This paper presents a method for modeling spiral phyllotaxis based on detecting and eliminating collisions between the organs while optimizing their packing that can be applied to synthesize a wide range of natural plant structures.
Abstract: Plant organs are often arranged in spiral patterns. This effect is termed spiral phyllotaxis. Well known examples include the layout of seeds in a sunflower head and the arrangement of scales on a pineapple. This paper presents a method for modeling spiral phyllotaxis based on detecting and eliminating collisions between the organs while optimizing their packing. In contrast to geometric models previously used for computer graphics purposes, the new method arranges organs of varying sizes on arbitrary surfaces of revolution. Consequently, it can be applied to synthesize a wide range of natural plant structures. CR Categories: I.3.5 [Computer Graphics]: Computational Geometry and Object Modeling: Curve, surface, solid and object representation. I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism. J.3 [Life and Medical Sciences]: Biology.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jun 1992
TL;DR: Object-Oriented Video techniques are described allowing object-oriented interactions, including the use of real-world objects in live video as reference cues, direct manipulation of them, and graphic overlays based on them, which enable users to work in a real spatial context conveyed by the video.
Abstract: Graphics and live video are widely employed in remotely-controlled systems like industrial plants. Interaction with live video is, however, more limited compared with graphics as users cannot interact with objects being observed in the former. Object-Oriented Video techniques are described allowing object-oriented interactions, including the use of real-world objects in live video as reference cues, direct manipulation of them, and graphic overlays based on them, which enable users to work in a real spatial context conveyed by the video. Users thereby understand intuitively what they are operating and see the result of their operation.