Non-planar real-time mirroring by raster graphics

1 . A raster-based method for generating a mirrored image of target objects, in a non-planar reflective surface, the method comprising the steps of:

rasterizing the non-planar reflective surface into receiving-pixels;

constructing the target objects into an acceleration structure;

handling the receiving-pixels for an acceleration structure search according to their normal direction, for seeking corresponding emitting-pixels, wherein data of the emitting pixels is stored in a reflection buffer;

transforming the reflection buffer to a camera view; and

storing the transformed reflection buffer in a frame buffer as an image bitmap for a display;

wherein all steps are implemented by a vertex, computing or pixel shaders of a raster-based graphics processing unit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is rasterized by a pixel shader into multiple receiving-pixels, each having a normal value and position.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the construction and update of the acceleration structure is done by a compute shader.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data of emitting-pixels consists of a depth, color, lighting, texture and material.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after the data of emitting-pixels is stored in the reflection buffer, its coordinates are transformed to a-camera coordinates by a vertex shader.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein upon a target triangle is identified, an exact emitting-pixel and its data are found by interpolating the triangle vertices according to the position and normal value of the matching receiving-pixel, out of the receiving-pixels.

7 . A raster-based system for generating a mirrored image of target objects in a non-planar reflective surface, the raster graphics system comprises:

a conventional raster graphics rendering pipeline;

a frame buffer;

at least one screen;

at least one general purpose processor;

at least one model of a non-planar reflective surface; and

at least one model of target object;

wherein in runtime:

the non-planar reflective surface model is rasterized into receiving-pixels;

the target object model is constructed into an acceleration structure;

the receiving-pixels are handled for an acceleration structure search according to their normal direction, for seeking corresponding emitting-pixels, wherein data of the emitting-pixels is stored in a reflection buffer;

the reflection buffer is transformed to a camera view; and

the transformed reflection buffer is stored in the frame buffer as an image bitmap for display.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the reflective surface is rasterized by pixel shader into multiple receiving-pixels, each having a normal value and position.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the construction and update of the acceleration structure is done by a compute shader.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the data of emitting-pixels consists of a depth, color, lighting, texture and material.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein after the data of emitting-pixels is stored in the reflection buffer, its coordinates are transformed into camera coordinates by a vertex shader.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein after a target triangle is identified, an exact emitting-pixel and its data are found by interpolating the triangle vertices according to the position and normal value of the matching receiving-pixel, out of the receiving pixels.