A Three-Dimensional Voxel-Based Graphics System

研究正在基于CUBE架构的三维（3-D）图形工作站上进行，该工作站以立方体体素帧缓冲为中心，有三个处理器访问立方体存储器，以输入几何和扫描数据，进行操作，投影和渲染3-D图像。正在开发一种采用真三维输入设备和互补的三维屏幕环境的固有三维用户界面。模拟了提供任意方向波束无冲突访问的立方帧缓冲器的倾斜存储器组织。最后，模拟了一种允许直接和更快的任意平行和透视投影的观看架构。设计的架构是一个多功能的3-D工作台，用于医学、工程、生物、地质和其他3-D可视化应用。首席研究员之前在CUBE架构（由NSF支持）上的工作得到了广泛的认可和尊重。他的体素记忆的想法是一种创新和健全的工程方法。利用VLSI的方法是正确的方向，避免了传统的总线延迟。这个建议代表了在发展大量计算机图形硬件思想方面的少数严肃的学术努力之一。这项工作很可能会带来帮助科学家可视化三维图像的工具。强烈建议支持。

Research is being performed on a three-dimensional (3-D) graphics workstation based on the CUBE architecture, which is centered around a cubic frame-buffer of voxels with three processors accessing the cubic memory to input geometric and scanned data, to manipulate, to project, and to render the 3-D images. An inherent 3-D user interface employing a true 3-D input device and the complementing 3-D screen environment is being developed. Skewed memory organizations of the cubic frame buffer that provide conflict-free access to beams in arbitrary directions are being simulated. Finally, a viewing architecture that allows direct and faster arbitrary parallel and perspective projections is being simulated. The architecture designed is a versatile 3-D workbench for medical, engineering, biological, geological, and other 3-D visualization applications. The principal investigator's prior work on the CUBE architecture (supported by NSF) is well-recognized and well-respected. His idea of voxel memory is an innovative and sound engineering approach. The approach using VLSI is in the right direction and avoids the conventional bus delays. This proposal represents one of a few serious academic efforts in developing substantial computer graphics hardware ideas. The work proposed will likely lead to tools that help scientists to visualize three-dimensional images. Support is strongly recommended.