Super-sampling and gradient estimation in a ray-casting volume rendering system

Abstract

A volume rendering processor renders a two-dimensional image from a volume data set of voxels constituting a three-dimensional representation of an object. Voxel memory interface logic retrieves the voxels from a voxel memory in a scanned order with respect to X, Y and Z coordinate axes, the Z axis being the axis most nearly parallel to a predefined viewing direction. The set of voxels having equal Z coordinate values are referred to as a “slice” of voxels. Interpolation logic calculates a sequence of samples from the retrieved voxels such that (i) each sample lies along a corresponding imaginary ray extending through the object parallel to the viewing direction, (ii) each sample results from interpolating the eight voxels surrounding the sample in the XYZ coordinate system. “Supersampling” in the Z dimension is performed such that the number of samples calculated for each ray is greater than the number of slices of voxels in the volume data set. Gradient calculation logic calculates for each sample respective gradients in the X, Y and Z directions for use by classification and illumination logic. The X and Y gradients are calculated from the samples emitted by the interpolation logic, and Z gradients are calculated by (i) calculating Z gradients at the voxel positions from voxel values retrieved from memory, and (ii) interpolating the voxel Z gradients to arrive at the Z gradients at the sample positions.