Method and apparatus for rapidly rendering computer generated images of complex structures

摘要

The image rendering system (20) of the present invention rapidly renders graphical image of complex structures. A complex structure is represented by a plurality of objects that can be organized into an object hierarchy. The image rendering system (20) projects a plurality of rays (55) from a given vision coordinate. For each projected ray, the image rendering system (20) determines with which objects in the object hierarchy are intersected by the ray (55). The image rendering system (20) then determines which object among those intersected by the ray (55) is closest to the given vision coordinate and adds that object to a set of visible objects. As objects are added to the set of visible objects, each object is rendered on the display in accordance with a current vision coordinate. Since the process of adding objects to the set of visible objects is decoupled and run asynchronously from the process of rendering visible objects on the display, the image rendering system (20) is capable of rendering objects at real-time frame rates.