Direction monotonicity for a rational Bézier curve

Abstract

The monotonicity of a rational Bezier curve, usually related to an explicit function, is determined by the used coordinate system. However, the shape of the curve is independent of the coordinate system. To meet the affine invariant property, a kind of generalized monotonicity, called direction monotonicity, is introduced for rational Bezier curves. The direction monotonicity is applied to both planar and space curves and to both Cartesian and affine coordinate systems, and it includes the traditional monotonicity as a subcase. By means of it, proper affine coordinate systems may be chosen to make some rational Bezier curves monotonic. Direction monotonic interpolation may be realized for some of the traditionally nonmonotonic data as well.