A unified approach to interference problems using a triangle processor

Abstract

Triangulation is an efficient way to simplify and unify interference problems, such as hidden line and surface elimination and Boolean shape operations in solid modeling. Almost all of the processing relevant to a triangle can be performed by computing some 4 x 4 determinants. The author proposes a hardware processor (TRIANGLE PROCESSOR) that quickly intersects a triangle with a point, a line segment, or another triangle. Various applications of the TRIANGLE PROCESSOR are explained in this paper, including applications to face and volume triangulations.The author stresses that the triangulation approach and the TRIANGLE PROCESSOR simplify, speed up and unify various types of processing relating to interference.