IP Library Granted Patent US 12,633,045
Granted Patent B2
US 12,633,045 · App. 18/488,807 · Granted May 19, 2026

Microfacet surface rendering

Inventors: Yusuke Tokuyoshi (Tokyo, JP); Kenta Eto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
G06T15/506G06T15/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,633,045
App. No.
18/488,807
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique for rendering is provided. The technique includes obtaining one or more samples for a pixel, the samples obtained for a microfacet surface from a spherical cap cut off by a lower plane positioned to exclude reflected rays that are occluded by the microfacet surface; obtaining one or more contributions corresponding to the one or more samples; determining a color for the pixel based on the one or more contributions.

Claims (31)

1 . A method for rendering, the method comprising:

obtaining one or more samples for a pixel, the samples obtained for a microfacet surface from a spherical cap cut off by a lower plane positioned to exclude reflected rays that are occluded by the microfacet surface and reflected rays that are beyond a horizon of a microfacet bump of the microfacet surface;

obtaining one or more contributions corresponding to the one or more samples; and

determining a color for the pixel based on the one or more contributions.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein roughness for the microfacet surface is isotropic and the lower plane is positioned based on a roughness parameter corresponding to the roughness.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower plane is a distance from a top of the spherical cap, where the top is in a direction of a normal of a base surface of the microfacet surface.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the distance is based on a roughness parameter for the microfacet surface.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the distance is also based on a direction of an incoming ray.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more samples comprise one or more reflected directions.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a z component of an incoming direction is below an origin of the spherical cap and the lower plane position is not based on roughness of the microfacet surface.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sampling includes selecting a point from an included portion of a spherical cap.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the color comprises combining the one or more contributions.

10 . A system for rendering, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store data for a pixel; and

a processor configured to

obtain one or more samples for the pixel, the samples obtained for a microfacet surface from a spherical cap cut off by a lower plane positioned to exclude reflected rays that are occluded by the microfacet surface and reflected rays that are beyond a horizon of a microfacet bump of the microfacet surface;

obtain one or more contributions corresponding to the one or more samples; and

determine a color for the pixel based on the one or more contributions.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein roughness for the microfacet surface is isotropic and the lower plane is positioned based on a roughness parameter corresponding to the roughness.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the lower plane is a distance from a top of the spherical cap, where the top is in a direction of a normal of a base surface of the microfacet surface.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the distance is based on a roughness parameter for the microfacet surface.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the distance is also based on a direction of an incoming ray.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more samples comprise one or more reflected directions.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein a z component of an incoming direction is below an origin of the spherical cap and the lower plane position is not based on roughness of the microfacet surface.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the sampling includes selecting a point from an included portion of a spherical cap.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the determining the color comprises combining the one or more contributions.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining one or more samples for a pixel, the samples obtained for a microfacet surface from a spherical cap cut off by a lower plane positioned to exclude reflected rays that are occluded by the microfacet surface and reflected rays that are beyond a horizon of a microfacet bump of the microfacet surface;

obtaining one or more contributions corresponding to the one or more samples; and

determining a color for the pixel based on the one or more contributions.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein roughness for the microfacet surface is isotropic and the lower plane is positioned based on a roughness parameter corresponding to the roughness.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2024
From: TOKUYOSHI, YUSUKE; ETO, KENTA
To: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 066014/0594 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250124649A1 · Apr 17, 2025
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