Mental Images Gmbh

Mental Images Gmbh & Co Kg.

Nvidia Corporation

Rolf Herken

Thomas Driemeyer

Martin Grabenstein

Rolf Walter Berteig

Martin-Karl LeFrancois

Tom-Michael Thamm

Thom-Michael Thamm

A server for use in connection with a network including at least one client and a communication link interconnecting the client and server. The server comprises a user interaction control module, an image rendering module and an interface. The image rendering module is configured to render, from three-dimensional scene data representing a scene, a two-dimensional image. The interface configured to transmit the two-dimensional image over the communication link to the client. The user interaction control module is configured to regulate interactions between the server, in particular the image rendering module, and respective clients who may be using the server concurrently to control images in which customizations requested by, for example, respective clients are rendered.

Scalable, multi-user server and methods for rendering images from interactively customizable scene information

A computer graphics system generates pixel values for pixels in an image of objects in a scene, using strictly-deterministic low-discrepancy sequences, illustratively Halton sequences, as sample points for evaluating integrals which are used to simulate a number of computer graphic techniques. The computer graphics system uses the low-discrepancy sequence to ensure that the sample points are evenly distributed over a respective region or time interval, thereby reducing error in the image which can result from clumping of such sample points which can occur in the Monte Carlo technique. In particular, the invention facilitates the generation of images of improved quality when using the same number of sample points at the same computational cost as in the Monte Carlo technique.

System and method for generating pixel values for pixels in an image using strictly deterministic methodologies for generating sample points

A computer graphics system generates a three-dimensional model of an object in an interactive manner under control of an operator. An initial model for the object to be modeled is displayed to the operator as illuminated from a particular illumination direction and projected onto an image plane. The operator can update shading of a pixel on the image plane, and, based on the updated shading, the computer graphics system generates an updated normal vector for the updated pixel, which identifies the normal of the surface of the object projected onto the updated pixel. Using the updated normal vector field and a height field, which represents the height of the respective portion of the object as projected onto the respective pixels of the image plane, the computer graphics system generates an updated height value for the updated pixel, thereby to update the height field. The updated normal vector field and the updated height field define the updated model of the object, which corresponds to the updated shape of the object as updated based on the updated shading. The computer graphics system can then display to the operator an image of the object as defined by the updated model. If the updated model is satisfactory, the computer graphics system saves the updated model as the final model. On the other hand, if the updated model is not satisfactory, the operator can further update the shading and enable the computer graphics system to generate a further updated normal vector field and updated height field, thereby to generate a further updated model for the object. The operations can be repeated until the operator determines that the object is satisfactory.

System and computer-implemented method for modeling the three-dimensional shape of an object by shading of a two-dimensional image of the object

Methods and systems are described that unite various shading applications under a single language, enable the simple re-use and re-purposing of shaders, facilitate the design and construction of shaders without need for computer programming, and enable the graphical debugging of shaders.

Computer graphics shader systems and methods

A computer graphics system is described in which a new type of entity, referred to as a 'phenomenon,' can be created, instantiated and used in rendering an image of a scene. A phenomenon is an encapsulated shader DAG comprising one or more nodes each comprising a shader, or an encapsulated set of such DAGs which are interconnected so as to cooperate, which are instantiated and attached to entities in the scene which are created during the scene definition process to define diverse types of features of a scene, including color and textural features of surfaces of objects in the scene, characteristics of volumes and geometries in the scene, features of light sources illuminating the scene, features of simulated cameras will be simulated during rendering, and numerous other features which are useful in rendering. Phenomena selected for use by an operator in connection with a scene may be predefined, or they may be constructed from base shader nodes by an operator using a phenomenon creator. The phenomenon creator ensures that phenomena are constructed so that the shaders in the DAG or cooperating DAGs can correctly cooperate during rendering of an image of the scene. Prior to being attached to a scene, a phenomenon is instantiated by providing values, or functions which are used to define the values, for each of the phenomenon's parameters, using a phenomenon editor. The phenomenon editor allows the operator to view the effects produced by various settings for the parameter values which are selected. During scene image generation, a scene image generator operates in a series of phases, including a including a preprocessing phase, a rendering phase and a post-processing phase. During a pre-processing phase, the scene image generator can perform pre-processing operations, such as shadow and photon mapping, multiple inheritance resolution, and the like. The scene image generator may perform pre-processing operations if, for example, a phenomenon attached to the scene includes a geometry shader to generate geometry defined thereby for the scene. During the rendering phase, the scene image generator renders the image. During the post-processing phase, the scene image generator may perform post-processing operations if, for example, a phenomenon attached to the scene includes a shader that defines post-processing operations.

System and method for generating and using systems of cooperating and encapsulated shaders and shader dags for use in a computer graphics system

A computer graphics system generates pixel values for pixels in an image of objects in a scene, using strictly-deterministic low-discrepancy sequences, as sample points for evaluating integrals which are used to simulate a number of computer graphic techniques, including soft shadows generated for scenes illuminated by a light source having a finite extent, such as a disk, simulation of depth of field; motion blur; and jittering. The computer graphics system uses the low-discrepancy sequence to generate sample points. The low discrepancy sequences ensure that the sample points are evenly distributed over a respective region or time interval, thereby reducing error in the image which can result from clumping of such sample points which can occur in the Monte Carlo technique. The invention facilitates the generation of images of improved quality when using the same number of sample points at the same computational cost as in the Monte Carlo technique.

A computer graphics system is described in which a new type of entity, referred to as a &ldquo;phenomenon,&rdquo; can be created, instantiated and used in rendering an image of a scene. A phenomenon is an encapsulated shader DAG comprising one or more nodes each comprising a shader, or an encapsulated set of such DAGs which are interconnected so as to cooperate, which are instantiated and attached to entities in the scene which are created during the scene definition process to define diverse types of features of a scene, including color and textural features of surfaces of objects in the scene, characteristics of volumes and geometries in the scene, features of light sources illuminating the scene, features of simulated cameras will be simulated during rendering, and numerous other features which are useful in rendering. Phenomena selected for use by an operator in connection with a scene may be predefined, or they may be constructed from base shader nodes by an operator using a phenomenon creator. The phenomenon creator ensures that phenomena are constructed so that the shaders in the DAG or cooperating DAGs can correctly cooperate during rendering of an image of the scene. Prior to being attached to a scene, a phenomenon is instantiated by providing values, or functions which are used to define the values, for each of the phenomenon's parameters, using a phenomenon editor. The phenomenon editor allows the operator to view the effects produced by various settings for the parameter values which are selected. During scene image generation, a scene image generator operates in a series of phases, including a including a pre-processing phase, a rendering phase and a post-processing phase. During a pre-processing phase, the scene image generator can perform pre-processing operations, such as shadow and photon mapping, multiple inheritance resolution, and the like. The scene image generator may perform pre-processing operations if, for example, a phenomenon attached to the scene includes a geometry shader to generate geometry defined thereby for the scene. During the rendering phase, the scene image generator renders the image. During the post-processing phase, the scene image generator may perform post-processing operations if, for example, a phenomenon attached to the scene includes a shader that defines post-processing operations.

System and method for generating and using systems of cooperating and encapsulated shaders and shader DAGs for use in a computer graphics system

A computer graphics system and a method for generating pixel values in an image of objects using strictly-deterministic low-discrepancy sequences as sample points for evaluating integrals which are used to simulate a number of computer graphic techniques including soft shadows, simulation of depth of field, motion blur, jittering, and global illumination. Unlike the random numbers used in connection with the Monte Carlo technique, the low discrepancy sequences ensure that the sample points are evenly distributed over a respective region or time interval, thereby reducing clumping of such sample points. The invention facilitates the generation of images of improved quality when using the same number of sample points at the same computational cost as in the Monte Carlo technique.

A computer graphics system is described in which a new type of entity, referred to as a &ldquo;phenomenon,&rdquo; can be created, instantiated and used in rendering an image of a scene. A phenomenon is an encapsulated shader DAG comprising one or more nodes each comprising a shader, or an encapsulated set of such DAGs which are interconnected so as to cooperate, which are instantiated and attached to entities in the scene which are created during the scene definition process to define diverse types of features of a scene, including features which are useful in rendering. Prior to being attached to a scene, a phenomenon is instantiated by providing values, or functions which are used to define the values, for each of the phenomenon's parameters. During scene image generation, a scene image generator operates in a series of phases. During a pre-processing phase, the scene image generator can perform pre-processing operations, such as shadow and photon mapping, multiple inheritance resolution, and the like. The scene image generator may perform pre-processing operations if, for example, a phenomenon attached to the scene includes a geometry shader to generate geometry defined thereby for the scene. During the rendering phase, the scene image generator renders the image. During the post-processing phase, the scene image generator may perform post-processing operations if, for example, a phenomenon attached to the scene includes a shader that defines post-processing operations.

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Berlin, Germany

Rolf Herken