(19)

(11)

EP 0 992 023 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 12.04.2000 Bulletin 2000/15 (21) Application number: 98918164.9 (22) Date of filing: 13.04.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06T 15/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9807/405 (87) International publication number: WO 9847/105 (22.10.1998 Gazette 1998/42)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 15.04.1997 US 43013 P 01.08.1997 US 910575 (71) Applicant: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION OFSTATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Albany,New York 12201-0009 (US)	(72) Inventors: KAUFMAN, Arie, E. Plainview, NY 11803 (US) BITTER, Ingmar Stony Brook, NY 11790 (US) (74) Representative: Skone James, Robert Edmund et al GILL JENNINGS & EVERYBroadgate House7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH London EC2M 7LH (GB)