United States Patent [19] [n] Patent Number: 4,737,921
Goldwasser et al. [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 12,1988
[54] THREE DIMENSIONAL MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM
[75] Inventors: Samuel M. Goldwasser, Bala Cynwyd; David A. Talton, Philadelphia; R. Anthony Reynolds, Philadelphia; Theodore A. Bapty, Philadelphia, all of Pa.
[73] Assignee: Dynamic Digital Displays, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.
[21] Appl. No.: 740,224
[22] Filed: Jun. 3,1985
[51] Int. CI." G06F 3/153; G09G 1/16
[52] U.S. CI 364/518; 364/521;
364/522; 340/721; 340/723; 340/747 [58] Field of Search ... 364/518,521, 522,200 MS File, 364/900 MS File; 358/104, 903; 340/721, 747, 723, 728, 729, 750; 367/71 [56] References Cited
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 23, No. 9, Feb. 1981, Boinodiris, S., "Computer Graphics Using Multi-Echelon Processing Structures", pp. 3996-4005. "An Architecture for the Real-Time Display and Manipulation of Three-Dimensional Objects"; Dr. S. M. Goldwasser; Bellaire, MI; Aug. 1983. "An Architecture for the Real-Time Display and Manipulation of Three-Dimensional Objects"; Dr. S. M. Goldwasser.
"Image Shading of Three-Dimensional Objects"; Dan Gordon and R. Anthony Reynolds.
"A Generalized Object Display Processor Architecture"; S. M. Goldwasser; Ann Arbor, Mi; Jun. 1984. "Image Generation and Display Techniques"; CT Scan Data, Investigative Radiology, vol. 10, No. 5, Sep.-Oct. 1975; by Glenn et al.
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Primary Examiner—Arthur T. Grimley
Assistant Examiner—rJ. Pendegrass
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Woodcock Washburn Kurtz
Mackiewicz & Norris
[57] ABSTRACT
A real-time three-dimensional display device particularly suited for medical imaging is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of individual processing elements each having an image memory for storing a mini-image of a portion of the object as viewed from any given direction and a merge control means for generating a combined image of the object including the depth thereof by selection on a pixel-by-pixel basis from each of the mini-images. In two different embodiments, priority codes are assigned to each of the processing elements reflecting the relative significance of a given pixel of the mini-image produced by a given processing element as compared to the pixels of mini-images produced by other processing elements. In one embodiment, the combined image is generated in accordance with the priority codes. In another embodiment, a Z buffer is used to provide for hidden surface removal on a pixelby-pixel basis. Improved shadow, shading and gradient processors are provided to provide three-dimensional imaging as well as an improved scan conversion means for generating a coherent image from the combined images merged from all of the processing elements.
54 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
