Dr Pascal Leray
Born in Paris in 1946. Engineering degree in 1969 from the Ecole Centrale
des Arts et Manufactures de Paris. He was awarded in 1990 a Doctorate in
Information Science by the University of PARIS II. His 20 years of professional
experience have been in industry and teaching (Mathematics, 3D Computer
Graphics, HDTV, Image Processing & Neural Networks ).
He designed for the French Ministry Defense a simulation program for military
aircraft. He wrote and implemented a graphic subroutine package "GRAFOR"
(Graphic-Fortran) at the Centre d'Electronique de l'Armement (CELAR).
In 1976, he simulated new hidden surface algorithms on a SIGMA 7 computer.
These studies were followed by the hardware and software codesign and building
of the Computer Imagery Generator (CIG), for target simulation, which was
presented in 1981 in PHOENIX, Arizona at the Image II Conference in Phoenix
(AZ) for flight simulation. In 1979 the GSI dispayed 400 shaded polygons
per second.
He was recruited as a Laboratory Manager in 1981 by the CCETT (French Telecommunication
Research Center, operated by France Telecom/TDF-CNET), for the design of
a 3D CGI ( Computer Generated Image) system, dedicated to: audiovisual,
CAD-CAM, & simulation applications. This machine, called CUBI 7, displayed
37500 shaded, antialiased polygons/s in real time, and appeared in the
market 5 years before Silicon Graphics.
It was demonstrated in various places in the world, ( SIGGRAPH: San Francisco,
Los Angeles, Montreux Symposium,) and received the Image Research Award
in 1985 from the French Ministry of Industry.
Dr Leray was after in charge of a research laboratory in the CCETT (ETS:
Advanced Research in Signal Processing) in the field of neural networks
specialising in ultra high image compression, for TV, HDTV and multimedia,
based on a simulation of the primary visual cortex, and using 3D image
analysis & synthesis. He organised a European project in the field
of 3D computer graphics chips and, in 1991, a further project on image
compression using neural networks with German and UK partners.
As a 3D Computer Graphics Expert, Dr Leray is now in charge of new
scientific researches and expertises in the field of 3D viewers, VRML
language, graphics cards, and 3D modelling & scalability/photo modelling
systems, for helping launch of new 3D multimedia services on networks.
Mainly for 3 domains:
Large patrimonial buildings and object digitizing, 3D galleries, and network
games.
Teaching and reviewing:
He is also a lecturer for the French Ministry of Defence in ENSTA (Ecole
Nationale Superieure des Techniques Avancees), the University of PARIS
II, and :
ECOLE Nationale Superieure des TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Paris, in the field
of Neural Network, 3D Image Analysis & Synthesis for TV.
ECOLE Régionale des Beaux-Arts de Rennes.
Dr LERAY is a reviewer for EUROGRAPHICS , and the International Neural
Network Society (INNS) member. He has been also working as an European
Expert in Brussels in 1993 for the Esprit Proposal evaluation.
Awards:
Royalties for the GSI system (French Ministry of Defense).
Image Research Award in 1985 from the French Ministry of Industry.
Presentation & Congress:
More than 20 publications & papers mainly for US Symposiums:
SPIE IS&T 94 & 95 San Jose, IMAGE II Conference, Eurographics,
Springer-Verlag, etc...
Membership:
Eurographics and Siggraph membership.
INNS (International Neural Network Society) membership
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Hobbies:
- Organiste titulaire à l'Orgue de l'Eglise St Germain de Rennes.
(Brittanny)
- Pipe Organ building with Computer interfaces. - Playing 17th Century
Harpsichord (Baroque Chamber Music) - Sailing, Swimming & Tennis. with
Flote, Cello, and Soprano - Concerts - Organist in the St Germain Church
(XIII-XVII Century) in Rennes, Brittany, France ( a 3 Keyboard instrument
17th Century, 38 Stops) - Computer Activities: PC + Atari running MAC
Areas of Interest: - Notator, MOD and MIDI PC shareware - Developping a
card for Keyboard expander with digital samples - PC Organ interfaces ORGAN:
- Pipe building, low cost plastic magnets for Pipe control - PC interface
Design.
Sports:
Tennis and swimming.
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Musical training:
Was by way of private lessons ( 12 years Piano, since age 12) Organ
training with Organists in Nantes (France) and personnal training on large
Church Organs for Mass services and on my personnal Pipe Organ. He is personnally
in touch with French Organ Makers and well known Organists such as Jean
Guillou, which inaugurated the Cristal Church in Los Angeles (CA),
and Michel Chapuis, which inaugurated the Great Organ of St Germain Church
in Brittany (see also 3D pictures).