Sony patents method to make virtual lights reflect off nearby objects
Sony has been granted a patent for a computer graphics technique that improves how light interacts with objects in a virtual scene. The system calculates how much light from different directions affects an object's color, adjusting the brightness and hue of light sources when other objects get close to them. This helps create more realistic reflections and shadows in digital environments.
In the filing’s own words
An image processing apparatus arranges an object in a virtual space of a display target, and establishes a view screen corresponding to a point of view. In tracing a ray passing through a pixel included in a figure of the object, in reference to a position P and an incident direction ω of the ray incident on the object, the image processing apparatus reads a previously acquired distribution of contribution ratios of a plurality of light sources representing the sizes of effects thereof on the color of the figure of the object, the plurality of light sources being in different directions relative to the object. The image processing apparatus determines a pixel value of the pixel by calculating a weighted sum of the luminance values of light from intrascene light sources based on the contribution values obtained with respect to the directions corresponding to the intra-scene light sources.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An image processing apparatus for generating a display image of a space including an object, the image processing apparatus comprising: an object model storage part configured to store a distribution of contribution ratios of a plurality of light sources representing sizes of effects thereof on a color of a figure of the object in association with model data of the object, the light sources being in different directions relative to the object; a rendering part configured such that, when rendering the figure of the object in the display image, the rendering part determines a pixel value of the figure by calculating a weighted sum of luminance values of light reflected from the object after emanating from intra-scene light sources established in the space, the calculation being made using, as a weight, the distribution of contribution ratios of the plurality of light sources obtained with respect to the directions corresponding to the intra-scene light sources, wherein, given another object, the rendering part calculates the weighted sum by adjusting by calculation the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object according to a distance thereto, wherein, upon approaching of the other object, the rendering part adjusts the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object in such a manner that (i) the color of the intra-scene light source approaches a color on a model of the other object, (ii) the brightness of the intra-scene light source is reduced, or (iii) both; and an output part configured to output data of the display image including the object image.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.)
- Official title
- Enhanced image generation
- Patent number
- US12755481B2
- Application number
- 18701938
- Filed
- Nov 19, 2021
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06T 15/506 Physics & computingG06T 15/06 Physics & computingG06T 17/00 Physics & computingG06V 10/60 Physics & computingMore from Sony in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.