JP2003036450A - Image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing method for effectively displaying movement of an object composed of a plurality of polygons. SOLUTION: The object is displayed while given an afterglow having a tail in the direction opposite to movement of the object by displacing backward predetermined vertexes of polygons constituting the object with respect to the moving object. This can emphasize the movement of the object when displayed and can also display the moving object with more abundant powers of expression.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method using three-dimensional computer graphics (CG), and more particularly to an image processing method for more effectively displaying movement of an object composed of polygons.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Three-dimensional computer graphics (C
In the computer game utilizing G), an image obtained by projecting an object including a character such as a person or an animal arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space onto a predetermined two-dimensional plane is displayed on the screen of the computer game device. The object is
For example, it is configured by using a plurality of polygons.

This object is movable in the virtual three-dimensional space by the operation of the player,
In response, the computer screen will also show the object moving.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method capable of more effectively displaying the movement of an object.

According to the image processing method of the present invention for achieving the above object, a predetermined vertex of a polygon forming an object is displaced backward with respect to a moving object so that the object is moved in a direction opposite to its moving direction. Give a tail-like afterimage to and display the object. As a result, the movement of the object can be displayed more emphasized, and the moving object can be displayed with richer expressive power.

[0006]

For example, a first image processing method of the present invention for achieving the above object is for displaying an object composed of a plurality of polygons moving in a virtual three-dimensional space. In the image processing method, of the vertices of polygons forming the object, the coordinates of at least one vertex whose normal vector includes a component in the direction opposite to the moving direction vector of the object are acquired at predetermined sampling timings. Steps,
A step of displaying a polygon having the apex, assuming that the coordinates of the apex are located at a position displaced by a predetermined length in a direction including a component opposite to the moving direction.

A second image processing method of the present invention is based on the above first method.
In the method, the step of determining whether the normal vector of each vertex has a component in the opposite direction to the moving direction vector based on the inner product of the normal vector of each vertex and the moving direction vector of the object. It is characterized by being provided.

A third image processing method of the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined length is determined based on at least one of a moving amount, a moving speed, a moving acceleration, and a moving direction of the object. To do.

A fourth image processing method of the present invention is based on the above first method.
Alternatively, in the second method, the predetermined length is determined based on the coordinates at the current sampling timing and the coordinates at the previous sampling timing.

A fifth image processing method of the present invention is the first image processing method described above.
Alternatively, in the second method, the predetermined length is determined based on the magnitude of the movement direction vector. A sixth image processing method according to the present invention is the method according to the fourth or fifth method, wherein the predetermined length is determined in consideration of an inner product of a normal vector of each vertex and a moving direction vector of the object. It is characterized by being done.

A seventh image processing method of the present invention is the fourth image processing method described above.
To the sixth method, the predetermined length is
Further, it is characterized in that it is determined in consideration of the displacement ratio given to each vertex.

An eighth image processing method of the present invention is based on the above seventh aspect.
In the above method, the displacement ratio is set to a different value for each vertex.

A ninth image processing method according to the present invention is the seventh image processing method.
Alternatively, in the eighth method, there is provided a step of setting the transparency set to the apex to a value obtained by subtracting the displacement ratio of each apex from a preset value.

A tenth image processing method of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first method, there is provided a step of setting the transparency set at the vertex to a value lower than a preset value.

According to an eleventh image processing method of the present invention, in the above tenth method, the transparency set at the vertex is
It is characterized in that it is set to a value obtained by subtracting the absolute value of the inner product of the normal vector of each vertex and the moving direction vector of the object from the preset transparency.

In a twelfth image processing method of the present invention, in the first method, at least one of transparency, saturation, brightness and hue of the displayed polygon changes toward the apex. Is displayed as follows.

A thirteenth image processing method of the present invention is the twelfth method, wherein the degree of change is based on at least one of a moving amount, a moving speed, a moving acceleration, and a moving direction of the object. It is characterized by being decided.

Further, there is provided a program for causing a computer device to execute each step in any one of the first to thirteenth image processing methods.

Further, there is provided an image processing apparatus for executing any one of the first to thirteenth image processing methods.

Further features of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below with reference to the drawings.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer game device (game unit) which is an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a case where two identical game units are connected. According to FIG. 1, a game is started when a player sits on the seat 1 and inserts a predetermined fee from a coin slot (not shown). Display 2
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the character C
A virtual three-dimensional space in which 1 and C2 are arranged is displayed.
Then, the player moves the character C1 by operating, for example, one character C1 with the operation unit 3 which is a lever having a button while looking at the game screen displayed on the display 2. Battle with the character C2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a game unit according to the present invention which is built in the above game device. In FIG. 3, a region 10 surrounded by a dotted line is a portion housed in the game unit body. According to FIG. 3, bus 1
Various constituent elements described below, such as a CPU, are connected via 00.

The CPU 101 controls the execution of the program based on the game program stored in the ROM 102. The ROM 2 is used as a general term for program storage devices, and includes, for example, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive that reads an optical disk in which a program is recorded, and the like. The RAM 103 stores predetermined game parameters such as the coordinates of the character in the virtual space updated as the game progresses.

Then, these parameters once stored in the RAM 103 are sent to the geometry processing section 104. The geometry processing unit 104 acquires the vertex data (including coordinates) of the polygons forming the character and the background in the three-dimensional virtual space in the game at every predetermined sampling timing (1/60 seconds), and uses them as the vertex data. Based on this, a predetermined coordinate conversion process, which will be described in detail later, is performed. Briefly, the coordinates of a polygon in the world coordinate system set in the three-dimensional virtual space are converted into the viewpoint coordinate system when the virtual space in the line-of-sight direction is viewed with the coordinates of one point in the world coordinate system as the viewpoint. To do.

Further, a rendering processing unit 105 is connected to the geometry processing 104. The rendering processing unit 105 includes a ROM (program storage device) 10
The vertex data of the polygon and the texture data mapped to the polygon are read from 4,
A texture buffer 106 to be stored once is connected. Then, the rendering processing unit 105 performs coloring, shading, pasting of texture, etc. on each polygon based on the texture data of the polygon stored in the texture buffer 106.

Further, the rendering processing unit 105 includes
The coordinates of the polygon converted into the viewpoint coordinate system in the three-dimensional virtual space are converted into the two-dimensional coordinate system to be displayed on the display 2. Further, in the Z buffer 107 connected to the rendering processing unit 105, data information regarding the depth direction (Z direction) when converting the above-mentioned polygon coordinates from a three-dimensional coordinate system to a two-dimensional coordinate system (for example, which polygon Is stored).

A frame buffer 108 is connected to the output side of the rendering processing unit 105. The frame buffer 108 stores data for one screen displayed on the display 2. Frame buffer 108
The image data for one screen read from is converted into a video signal by the video processing unit 109 and is sequentially displayed on the display 2.

Further, through the I / O processing section 110, an operating section 3 for levers and switches operated by a player.
Are connected. Based on the operation signal input from the operation unit 3, the CPU 101 calculates the coordinates of the character or the like in the virtual space, and the result is sent to the geometry processing unit 104.

A sound processor 111 is further connected to the bus 100 to control the sound generation of the PCM / FM sound source. A sound memory 112 that stores audio data is connected to the sound processing unit 111.

Further, the voice data controlled by the sound processor 111 is converted from a digital sound source to an analog sound source by a D / A conversion circuit (not shown), and an audio signal is sent to the speaker 113.

Next, a method for obtaining the coordinates of the above character will be described. First, the position of the character in the virtual space in the game is the position coordinates (Xw, Yw) in the three-dimensional coordinates (world coordinate system) in the virtual space.
, Zw).

The position of the background such as a fixed object other than the character in the virtual space is also given as the position coordinate in the world coordinate system. Then, the movement of the character in the virtual space is processed as a change in the position coordinate of the world coordinate system. Specifically, the position coordinate W of the character is calculated by the calculation of the CPU 101 based on the information on the movement amount and the movement direction included in the operation signal from the operation unit 3 or the like.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the display 2 is displayed as a two-dimensional image in which a predetermined direction is viewed from the coordinates (viewpoint coordinates) of one point in the world coordinate system in the three-dimensional virtual space. This gives the player the sensation that a video camera is installed at a predetermined position in the virtual space and the image captured by the video camera is displayed on the display.

For example, when the characters C1 and C2 are arranged in a three-dimensional virtual space as shown in FIG. 4, the position coordinate of the character is the position coordinate (Xw) of the world coordinate system.
, Yw, Zw). Then, the viewpoint coordinates P (XwP, YwP, ZwP) are set, for example, to the viewpoint coordinates P diagonally rearward and upward of the character C1 in the world coordinate system as shown in FIG. 4, and the line of sight from the viewpoint coordinates P is set. The direction R is set to the direction of the gazing point coordinates Q (XwQ, YwQ, ZwQ) near the upper part of the character C1 (for example, a position slightly higher than the head of the character C1). The mark of the virtual video camera V is written at the position of the viewpoint coordinates P.

The coordinates of each character in the world coordinate system are converted by the geometry processing unit 104 in FIG. 3 into a viewpoint coordinate system (Xv, Yv, Zv) based on the viewpoint coordinates P and the line-of-sight direction R. Is
In addition, in order to display on the display screen, as shown in FIG.
By the rendering processing unit 105 in the two-dimensional screen coordinate system (Xs, Ys
) And the two-dimensional image is displayed on the display 2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when an object including a character displayed as described above moves in a three-dimensional virtual space, an image processing method for displaying the movement more effectively on the display is provided. . Specifically, in order to display the moving state of the moving object more emphasized, an afterimage is displayed such that the moving object has a tail in the opposite direction to the moving direction. Perform processing.

FIG. 5 is an example of an object displayed by the image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the sphere object shown in FIG. 5A moves, the sphere moves by displaying an afterimage as if a tail is drawn in the direction opposite to the moving direction as shown in FIG. 5B. Is emphasized more.

6 and 7 show examples of computer game screens using the image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 7A are screen examples in which the afterimage display processing is not performed on each of the characters C moving in the screen, and FIG. 6B and FIG. It is an example of a screen in which afterimage display processing is applied to the character C.

In order to display the afterimage of the object in this way, in the embodiment of the present invention, a process of extending a predetermined polygon forming the object is performed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, a part of a plurality of polygons forming a sphere is shown. For example,
When the normal vector N1 is opposite to the moving direction D of the object like the vertex P1 of the polygon A shown in FIG. 8, the coordinates of the vertex P1 acquired at every predetermined sampling timing in the rendering process are The coordinate VB1 at the previous timing is used instead of the coordinate V1 at the current timing. As a result, the polygon A is processed as if the coordinates of the vertex P1 of the display image at this timing are at the coordinates VB1 of the previous timing, and the polygon A is at the other vertices P2 and P3 at this timing. The shape has the apex P1 at the previous timing (hatched portion in the figure), and as shown in the figure, it is stretched backward and displayed.

The image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below. The coordinates in the image processing method described below may be either the world coordinate system or the viewpoint coordinate system described above.

[Discrimination processing of apexes to be stretched] In order to display an afterimage as if the object is trailing and moving, a processing of displacing the apexes of polygons in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the object is performed. First, the vertices to be displaced are selected from the vertices of all polygons by the following processing.

(1) The moving direction vector (MV) of the object is obtained.

The movement direction vector is obtained from the change in the coordinates of the vertices of a predetermined polygon (one or more) forming the MV and the object. Preferably, when the object is a human character, a non-rotating part, for example, a vertex of a predetermined polygon of the body part is selected. The moving direction vector MV may be a unit vector.

(2) The normal vector (NVn) of each apex of the polygon forming the object is corrected based on the moving direction vector (MV).

When there are rotatable parts such as the head, arms, and legs in a humanoid character, for example, in the upright state and the state in which the posture is changed from the upright state, the parts in which the posture is changed are Regarding the polygon, the direction of the normal vector of its vertex also changes. The moving direction vector MV is
If determined based on the upright state of the character,
The normal vector NVn of each polygon is the normal vector NV of the apex in the reference state in which the character is upright, based on the amount of change in posture (rotation angle in the case of rotation).
By correcting to n, the normal vector NVn of each vertex corresponding to the moving direction vector MV is obtained. Normal vector N
Vn may be a unit vector.

(3) The inner product IPn of the moving direction vector MV and the normal vector NVn is obtained.

By obtaining the inner product IPn, the angular difference between the moving direction vector MV and each normal vector NVn can be obtained. Specifically, if the inner product IPn is 1, the angle difference is 0 (zero) degree, that is, the moving direction vector MV and the normal vector NVn are in the same direction. If the inner product IPn is -1, the angle difference is 180 degrees, that is, the moving direction vector MV and the normal vector NVn are in direct opposite directions. If the inner product IPn is 0 (zero), the angle difference is 90 degrees, that is, the moving direction vector MV and the normal vector NVn are at right angles.

Therefore, for the vertices whose inner product IPn is 0 (zero) or more, since they have the same direction component as the moving direction,
The coordinate at the current timing at the sampling timing is used as it is and displayed without being subjected to the backward displacement processing.

On the other hand, the vertices whose inner product IPn is less than 0 (zero) have a direction component in the direction opposite to the moving direction, and are therefore selected as the vertices for the backward displacement processing. Therefore, roughly, the rear half apex of the moving object in the moving direction is subjected to the backward displacement processing, and the polygon including the apex is extended.

[Stretching Process] The coordinates of the vertex selected as the target of the backward displacement process are calculated according to any one of the following equations (1) to (4). Note that the arithmetic expressions are examples, and the arithmetic expressions for performing the image processing method of the present invention are not limited to these.

The vertex coordinates at the current timing at the predetermined sampling timing are Vn, and the vertex coordinates at the previous timing are VBn.

Further, the displacement ratio R used in the following arithmetic expression
n may be defined. A predetermined displacement ratio Rn for extending each polygon is given to the vertex of each polygon. The displacement ratio Rn can be set in the range of 0 (zero) to 1, and the same value or different values may be given to each vertex. If different values are given, they may be given randomly by the program,
The value specified by the programmer when creating the program may be given.

When the displacement ratios Rn given to the respective vertices are different, the amount of movement of the object is the same, and the lengths of the extended polygons are different. When the displacement ratios Rn are the same, the lengths are the same. . The polygon may not be stretched by giving zero to the displacement ratio Rn.

(1) The coordinates of the vertex to be displaced are obtained from the current coordinates and the previous coordinates.

Vertex coordinate = (VBn−Vn) × Rn + Vn [1] In the equation [1], for example, when the ratio Rn = 1, the vertex coordinate = VBn, and as shown in FIG. Displace from the coordinate at this timing to the coordinate at the previous timing. Similarly, for example, the ratio Rn
= 0.5, it is displaced to an intermediate position coordinate between the current vertex coordinate and the previous vertex coordinate. In this way, the displacement length of each vertex is obtained according to the current coordinates and the previous coordinates of each vertex.

FIG. 9 is an example of an object displayed based on the rearward displaced vertex coordinates. FIG. 9A shows
In the schematic display example of the object by the above formula [1], when the ratio Rn for each vertex is the same, the displacement length of the vertex, that is, the length to which the polygon is stretched is the same. For example, in FIG. 9A, each vertex P1,
The direction of the normal vector (each arrow) of P2, P3, and P4 is different, but the displacement length is the same L.

(2) In addition to the above (1), the coordinates of the vertices are determined so that the vertices having a larger angle with the moving direction move longer.

Vertex coordinates = (VBn−Vn) × Rn × (−IPn) + Vn [2] The larger the angular difference between the normal vector NVn of each vertex and the movement direction vector MV, the greater the absolute value of the inner product IPn. Become. Therefore, by multiplying the inner product IPn as in the above formula [2], even if the moving distance ratio Rn of each vertex is the same, according to the angular difference from the moving direction vector MV,
The moving distance of each vertex is different. That is, the larger the angular difference (the maximum angular difference is 180 degrees in the opposite case), the greater the rearward displacement length of the apex.

FIG. 9B is a display example of the object by the above equation [2], in which the normal vector NVn of each vertex is shown.
And the moving direction vector MV, the rearward displacement length of the apex differs, resulting in a more natural afterimage display. For example, in FIG. 9B, each vertex P1, P2, P3, P4
The directions of the normal vectors (arrows) are different, and the vertices P1 and P4 having a relatively small angle difference from the moving direction have a shorter displacement length than the vertices P2 and P3 having a relatively large angle difference (L1 < L2).

(3) It is displaced in the direction opposite to the moving direction.

Vertex coordinates = (− MV) × Rn + Vn [3] In the above formulas [1] and [2], the vertices are calculated based on the coordinates Vn at the current timing and the coordinates VBn at the previous timing for each vertex. Although the coordinates are determined, the above equation [3] and the following equation [4] have the same magnitude of the moving direction vector MV for each vertex, that is, the moving amount or the moving speed of the object (the moving direction vector is a unit vector). Except when) is used. As a result, the amount of calculation can be reduced. When the moving distance between the respective sampling timings is the same at each vertex and the moving distance is the same as the magnitude of the moving direction vector MV, the same result as the above-mentioned expression [1] is obtained.

(4) The inner product IPn is added to the above (3).

Vertex coordinates = (− MV) × Rn × (−IPn) + Vn (4) As in the case of the above formula [2], by considering the inner product IPn, the angular difference from the moving direction vector is determined. The rearward displacement length is required. When the moving distance between the sampling timings is the same at each vertex and the moving distance is the magnitude of the moving direction vector MV, the same result as the above expression [2] is obtained.

The displacement length may be determined based on, for example, the moving acceleration and the moving direction of the object in addition to the above case.

[Designation of Transparency] As described above, in the rendering process, by displacing the vertices of the polygon backward, it is possible to display the rear part of the object as if it were trailing, and the object moves. What you are doing can be displayed more effectively. Then, in the present embodiment, with respect to the polygon stretched rearward, the rearward portion is made transparent so that the trailing portion is displayed more naturally.

For that purpose, the transparency α of the vertex displaced rearward is adjusted. Transparency α is 1 and is completely opaque, and 0
(Zero) is completely transparent. The preset transparency α for the vertices of the polygons forming the object is 1 (completely opaque), and in the present embodiment,
The transparency α is determined according to the rearward displacement length. However, the preset transparency α is not always 1
It doesn't have to be.

(1) Let (1-Rn) be the transparency α.

The ratio Rn is a value from 0 (zero) to 1, and the displacement length is maximum when the ratio Rn = 1. Therefore, in the transparency α = 1-Rn, when the ratio Rn = maximum value 1, the transparency α of the apex displaced rearward is α = 0 (zero).
Becomes Therefore, the rearmost part (displaced apex) of the stretched polygon becomes completely transparent, and the part close to the object becomes less transparent and gradually becomes opaque, giving a gradation to the polygon. it can. This is because the transparency of the polygon is determined by the mixture ratio of the transparency α of each vertex of the polygon, and the transparency of the polygon portion near the other vertex having the transparency α of 1 or a value close to the transparency α decreases.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the transparency of a polygon extended from an object to the rear thereof gradually changes. As shown in FIG. 10, as the distance from the object increases, the transparency α of the polygon A is extended.
By setting the height to be higher, the moving state of the object can be displayed more naturally and effectively. Note that, in FIG. 10, the transparency α is represented by the intervals of the diagonal lines, and the transparency α changes stepwise for convenience,
In reality, it changes continuously.

(2) Let (1-(-IPn)) be the transparency α.

When the above equation [2] or [4] is used to determine the vertex coordinates, the greater the angular difference between the vertex normal vector NV and the moving direction vector MV, the greater the inner product IPn The greater the absolute value of), the greater the backward displacement length. Therefore, as the transparency α, (1-(-I
Pn)) is set, depending on the angular difference between the moving direction and the normal vector, as in the case of (1) above, in the polygon stretched rearward from the object, it is further separated from the object. It is possible to give a gradation effect in which the transparency becomes lower as it gets closer to the object, by increasing the transparency of the part.

In the above-described embodiment, the direction in which the afterimage of the object is displayed is not limited to the direction opposite to the moving direction of the object, and the component in the opposite direction to the moving direction, such as the diagonal direction opposite to the moving direction. Any direction may be included.

Further, the modification of the gradation of the extended polygon is not limited to the modification of the transparency set at the displaced vertex as in the above-described embodiment, but the saturation, the brightness, and the brightness set at the displaced vertex. The hue may be changed. The degree of change may be determined according to the displacement ratio or the direction (inner product) of the normal vector as described above, or may be determined according to the moving amount, moving speed, moving acceleration, or moving direction of the object. Good.

Further, the polygon extension processing (afterimage display processing) in the present embodiment does not have to be applied to all polygons forming the object. For example, it may be applied to a part of polygons forming an object. For example, in a competitive fighting game, only for the "attacking arm part" and "the part with the most movement" of a humanoid character, or only for the polygon of the "taillight part" of a car character in a car racing game, The image processing method according to this embodiment may be applied.

Further, the deformed polygon may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the object. As a result, the original object itself may not be deformed, but may be deformed and the object may be displayed as an afterimage object so as to be superimposed on the original object.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the afterimage is represented by extending the polygon, but the application of the present invention is not limited to such a method.

That is, unlike the structure in which the afterimage is expressed by extending the polygon, it is also possible to perform the processing of moving or extending (copying) the pixels forming the object in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the object.

FIG. 11 to FIG. 17 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment in which processing for moving or extending the pixels forming such an object in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the object is performed.

FIG. 11 shows that the object is stationary or
It is a figure showing a state at the time of slow movement, and is an image which displays a two-dimensional vehicle formed of a set of pixels.

FIG. 12 shows that, according to the present invention, an object (representing a vehicle as a moving body) is moved in a direction including a vector in the direction opposite to the moving direction MD from an arbitrary reference point (approximately the center CP of the object as an example). The pixel is stretched.

In this embodiment, the shape of the object is not changed, but the pixels are stretched to express the afterimage, and the movement of the object is effectively expressed. As a method of extending the pixels, as shown in FIG. 12, not only the pixels are simply added or copied in the direction opposite to the movement of the object, but also the pixels forming the portion of the object corresponding to the added area are added. By not displaying, it is possible to give more sense of speed to the movement of the object.

This method can be applied not only to the two-dimensional image shown in FIG. 11 but also to a three-dimensional image, that is, similarly to a three-dimensional image by extending the pixels forming a polygon. It is possible.

In FIG. 12, the pixels are extended in the direction including the vector in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the object with reference to the substantially center CP of the object. However, in FIGS. 13 and 14, an arbitrary reference point is set as the object. It is a figure of an example when it puts in the first half part of.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the pixel extending direction is set to be an oblique direction with respect to the moving direction.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an embodiment when an arbitrary reference point is placed in the latter half of the object.

Further, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example in which the contour of a portion where an afterimage is to be generated is extracted and the afterimage processing is performed only on the contour in the embodiment.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, it is also possible to represent the high speed movement of the object by superimposing the afterimages semitransparently without deforming the main body. Note that FIG.
For the sake of easy understanding, the afterimage is displayed with a slight shift.

Conventionally, afterimage objects are overlapped,
Although an afterimage is drawn on the moving image pattern of movement, it is not necessary to prepare an image for afterimage according to the present invention as shown in FIGS. 11 to 17. This can save labor in design work.

The image processing apparatus that executes the image processing method according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the computer game apparatus arranged in the amusement facility as shown in FIG. It may be a computer game device.

The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but covers the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention, by displacing predetermined vertices of polygons forming an object backward with respect to a moving object, the object can be displayed with an afterimage representation. In addition, this makes it possible to display a moving object with richer expressive power.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer game device that is an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of an image of a three-dimensional virtual space displayed on the display 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a configuration example of a game unit incorporated in a computer game device.

FIG. 4 is an example of a three-dimensional virtual space in which a character is placed.

FIG. 5 is an example of an object displayed by the image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a computer game screen using the image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention (No. 1).

FIG. 7 is an example of a computer game screen using the image processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention (No. 2).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of an object displayed based on rearward displaced vertex coordinates.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the transparency of a polygon stretched behind an object is gradually changed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram (No. 1) for explaining a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram (No. 2) for explaining a further embodiment example of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram (No. 3) for explaining a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram (No. 4) for explaining a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram (No. 5) for explaining a further embodiment example of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram (No. 6) explaining a further embodiment example of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram (No. 7) explaining a further embodiment example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 display 3 operation part 101 CPU 102 RAM 103 ROM (program storage device) 104 Geometry processing unit 105 Rendering processing unit 108 frame buffer 109 Video processing unit

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Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. An image processing method for displaying an object composed of a plurality of polygons moving in a virtual three-dimensional space, wherein a normal vector of the vertices of polygons forming the object is the object. Obtaining at least one vertex coordinate containing a component in the opposite direction to the moving direction vector at every predetermined sampling timing, and the vertex coordinate has a predetermined length in a direction including a component opposite to the moving direction. And a step of displaying a polygon having the apex at the displaced position. 2. The normal vector of each vertex according to claim 1, based on the inner product of the normal vector of each vertex and the moving direction vector of the object,
An image processing method comprising the step of determining whether or not the moving direction vector has a component in the opposite direction. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined length is determined based on at least one of a moving amount, a moving speed, a moving acceleration, and a moving direction of the object. Processing method. 4. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined length is determined based on the coordinates at the current sampling timing and the coordinates at the previous sampling timing. 5. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined length is determined based on the magnitude of the moving direction vector. 6. The image processing according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined length is further determined in consideration of an inner product of a normal vector of each vertex and a moving direction vector of the object. Method. 7. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined length is further determined in consideration of a displacement ratio given to each vertex. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the displacement ratio is set to a different value for each vertex. 9. The image processing according to claim 7, further comprising the step of setting the transparency set for the vertex to a value obtained by subtracting the displacement ratio of each vertex from a preset value. Method. 10. The image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of setting the transparency set at the vertex to a value lower than a preset value. 11. The transparency set to the apex according to claim 10, wherein the transparency set to a value obtained by subtracting the absolute value of the inner product of the normal vector of each vertex and the moving direction vector of the object from the preset transparency. An image processing method characterized by being set. 12. The image according to claim 1, wherein the displayed polygon is displayed so that at least one of transparency, saturation, brightness, and hue changes toward the vertex. Processing method. 13. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein the degree of change is determined based on at least one of a moving amount, a moving speed, a moving acceleration, and a moving direction of the object. . 14. A program for causing a computer device to execute each step in the image processing method according to claim 1. Description: 15. An image processing apparatus for displaying an object composed of a plurality of polygons moving in a virtual three-dimensional space, wherein among the vertices of polygons forming the object, a normal vector of which is the object. An acquisition unit that acquires the coordinates of at least one apex including a component in the direction opposite to the movement direction vector at every predetermined sampling timing, and the coordinates of the apex have a predetermined length in a direction including a component opposite to the movement direction. An image processing apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a polygon having the apex at a position displaced by an amount. 16. An image display method for displaying an object displayed so as to move on a screen, wherein the object is composed of a set of a plurality of pixels, and at least a part of the area composing the object is composed. An image processing method, comprising: copying a plurality of pixels for a predetermined length in a direction including a component opposite to the moving direction of the object. 17. The image processing method according to claim 16, wherein at least a part of the plurality of pixels forming the part of the region is made non-display. 18. An image processing method for displaying a state of an object composed of a plurality of polygons moving in a virtual three-dimensional space moving in the virtual three-dimensional space, wherein the plurality of polygons forming the object are provided. A step of selecting at least one of the vertices of, the coordinates of the selected vertices, as a position displaced by a predetermined length in a direction including a component opposite to the moving direction of the object, And a step of deforming and displaying a polygon having the selected apex. 19. The apex according to claim 18, wherein the selected vertex defines a predetermined reference point on the object, and of a plurality of polygons forming the object, a direction opposite to the moving direction with respect to the reference point. An image processing method characterized by being selected from a plurality of vertices in. 20. The image processing according to claim 19, wherein the selected vertices are a number of vertices less than a total number of a plurality of vertices in a direction opposite to the moving direction with respect to the reference point. Method. 21. When the coordinates of the selected vertices are adjacent to each other, the predetermined lengths displaced in a direction including a component opposite to the moving direction of the object are set to be different from each other. An image processing method characterized by the above. 22. The polygon to be deformed according to claim 21, wherein at least one of transparency, saturation, brightness, and hue changes toward a selected vertex located at a position displaced by the predetermined length. An image processing method characterized by being displayed as follows. 23. The moving amount and moving speed of the object according to claim 22, wherein one of the displaced predetermined length of the deformed polygon and the changing transparency, saturation, lightness, or hue is , Or an image processing method which is set according to the moving acceleration. 24. The image processing method according to claim 23, wherein the deformed polygon is displayed in an overlapping manner on the object. 25. The image processing method according to claim 24, wherein the deformed polygon is transparently displayed on the object. 26. The image processing method according to claim 24, wherein the deformed polygon is displayed in an overlapping manner at a position displaced in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the object. 27. An image processing method for displaying a state in which an object constituted by a plurality of pixels moves in a virtual three-dimensional space, wherein at least one of the plurality of pixels constituting the object is selected. An image including: a step of moving or copying the selected pixel to a position displaced by a predetermined length in a direction including a component opposite to a direction in which the object moves, and displaying the image. Processing method. 28. The image processing method according to claim 27, wherein the selected pixel is selected from pixels of a portion displaying an outline on the object. 29. The selected pixel defines a predetermined reference point on the object, and in a plurality of pixels forming the object, a direction opposite to the moving direction with respect to the reference point. An image processing method characterized by being selected from a plurality of pixels in. 30. The image processing according to claim 27, wherein the selected pixels are less than the total number of a plurality of pixels in the direction opposite to the moving direction with respect to the reference point. Method. 31. When the selected pixels are adjacent to each other, the predetermined lengths to be moved in a direction including a component opposite to the moving direction of the object are set to be different from each other. Characterized image processing method. 32. The pixel to be moved according to claim 31, wherein the pixel to be moved has at least transparency toward the selected pixel at a position moved by the predetermined length.
An image processing method characterized by displaying such that any one of saturation, brightness, and hue changes. 33. The movement amount and movement speed of the object according to claim 32, wherein any one of the moved predetermined length of the moved pixel and / or the changing transparency, saturation, lightness or hue. , Or an image processing method which is set according to the moving acceleration. 34. The image processing method according to claim 32, wherein the moved pixel is displayed in an overlapping manner on the object. 35. The image processing method according to claim 34, wherein the moved pixels are transparently displayed with respect to the object. 36. The image processing method according to claim 34, wherein the moved pixels are overlapped and displayed at positions displaced in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the object.