Ray Tracing Parametric Patches

Kajiya, James T. (1982) Ray Tracing Parametric Patches. Technical Report. California Institute of Technology. [CaltechCSTR:1982.5017-tr-82]

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Abstract

This paper describes an algorithm that uses ray tracing techniques to display bivariate polynomial surface patches. A new intersection algorithm is developed which uses ideas from algebraic geometry to obtain a numerical procedure for finding the intersection of a ray and a patch without subdivision. The algorithm may use complex coordinates for the (u,v)-parameters of the patches. The choice of these coordinates makes the computations more uniform, so that there are fewer special cases to be considered. In particular, the appearance and disappearance of silhouette edges can be handled quite naturally. The uniformity of these techniques may be suitable for implementation on either a general purpose pipelined machine, or on special purpose hardware.

EPrint Type:	Monograph (Technical Report)
Subjects:	All Records
ID Code:	394
Deposited By:	Caltech Library System
Deposited On:	06 August 2002
Record Number:	CaltechCSTR:1982.5017-tr-82
Official Persistent URL:	http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechCSTR:1982.5017-tr-82
Usage Policy:	You are granted permission for individual, educational, research and non-commercial reproduction, distribution, display and performance of this work in any format.

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