Desktop Tiled Display

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Data was received from Dr Tom Hugh consisting of sequences of CT scan images taken through a torso. The aim of this project was to try and extract as much detail as possible from these 2D images and to create a 3D visualisation of the liver, including the blood vessels and tumour. The data was received in the form of DICOM files. These can be read and converted to "tiff" format using either the MRIcro program on the PC or the Adobe Photoshop DICOM plug-in on the Macintosh. An example of an original tiff file is shown to the left. The contrast in the image is poor, showing very little detail in the liver. This may be a result of converting the DICOM files to tiff format, as the CT department in Radiology at RNS achieves quite good contrast. The images are also very grainy due to noise. Each image consists of a 3mm thick CT scan slice through the torso. The images are sequential, starting at the top of the liver (close to lungs) and moving progressively down through the torso. This work is done in collaboration with JVC USA. While computer chips and networks have increased exponentially in performance, displays have remained stuck to the 1 million pixels (1 Mpixels) barrier (1280x1024). In collaboration with JVC, we built a 4 mega pixels high resolution desktop display at UC San Diego and at the University of Sydney. Although the idea of tiling displays is not new, we solved the problem of uniform illumaination and colors across the tiled projector display. Variations can be due to the light sources, the optical components (filters, mirrors, ...) or the chip inside each projector. As a result, the image produced is not uniform: variations of colors and/or intensity occur. We solved the problem by using a common light source for the projectors. The white light is created by a Xe arc lamp, passes through a set of red, green , blue dichroic filters. A bundle of optical fibers guide the red, green , blue light to each projector D-ILA chips. Desktop size was achieved by the use of short throw lens fitted on each projector. The image created by one projector is 21 inch diagonal. The total image area for a 3 x 1 display is 50.4 inches by 12.6 inches. The Sydney display is driven by a PC cluster with graphics cards; the UCSD display by a three Infinite Reality 2 SGI Onyx2. The UCSD display was extended from a 1 x 3 display to a 3 x 3 display by Steve Reinsch (JVC) during 2001. Research in Sydney is proceeding independently from UCSD. It will focus on improving the optics of the display and on a thorough characterisation of the display. The display is currently available to researchers and students. This project was initiated by: Dr Bernard Pailthorpe (Associate Director at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, UCSD from April 1999 to December 2000) Professor of Physics at the University of Sydney, Director of Sydney VisLab Dr Nicole Bordes (VisLab manager at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, UCSD from May 1999 to December 2000); Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, Sydney VisLab Dr William Bleha, Vice President of Engineering at JVC. We would like to acknowledge Mr Shihara, president of JVC - Carlsbad division, for supporting this project.