Image-based geometric fusion of multiple depth images using ray casting

Abstract

Techniques of rendering images includes generating signed distance values (SDVs) along a ray from a specified viewpoint in terms of projected distances along that ray from given depth images. For each pixel in an image of from the perspective of the specified viewpoint, a ray is traced into the three-dimensional scene represented by the image. An iterative step is performed along the ray, obtaining in each iteration a three-dimensional world-space point p. The result is the signed distance sas measured from depth view D. If the absolute value of the signed distance sis greater than some truncation threshold parameter, the signed distance sis replaced by a special undefined value. The defined signed-distance values are aggregated to obtain an overall signed distance s. Finally, the roots or zero set (isosurface) of the signed distance field is determined.