JPH06348861A - Method and device for generating picture and household game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and exactly display the three-dimensional picture of an object. CONSTITUTION:Necessary information is read from the picture information of a three-dimensional object stored in a main memory 2. Then, the vertex coordinates of an infinitesimal polygon representing the three-dimensional object are obtained and the color and luminance data at every vertex are calculated by a geometry processor 61 in a graphic processor 6, and the coordinate value and plotting color data at an intermediate point between respective vertexes are calculated by interpolation by using the coordinate value, color, and luminance data of each vertex by a raster processor 62. Then, the plotting color data are stored on picture elements indicated by the coordinate values of a display area 51 in a video memory 5. Thus, a three-dimensional picture VD1 of the object can be plotted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image creating method and an image creating apparatus for creating an image by information processing, and a home-use game machine using the image creating method and the image creating apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a home game machine, a personal computer device, a graphic computer device or the like, almost two-dimensional images are output and displayed on a television receiver, a monitor receiver, a CRT display device or the like. Basically, an image is displayed in a form in which a two-dimensional character or the like is appropriately arranged and moved or changed on a two-dimensional planar background.

However, in the above-described two-dimensional image display and video, there are restrictions on the background and characters that can be expressed, and their movements, and it is difficult to enhance the sense of presence in a game, for example.

Therefore, for example, a pseudo three-dimensional image or video is created by the following method. That is, as the character, images viewed from several directions are prepared, and one of these images is selected and displayed in accordance with a change in the viewpoint on the display screen, or a two-dimensional image is displayed. There is a method of expressing a pseudo three-dimensional image by superimposing the images in the depth direction.
Also, when generating or creating image data, a texture mapping method such as attaching a so-called texture (texture, ground pattern) image to a desired surface such as a polyhedron,
A method of changing a display color by converting color data of an image through a so-called color look-up table is adopted.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a schematic structure of a conventional home-use game machine. In FIG. 12, a CPU 91 including a microprocessor or the like takes out operation information of an input device 94 such as an input pad or a joystick through an interface 93 and a main bus 99. Simultaneously with the extraction of this operation information, the data of the three-dimensional image stored in the main memory 92 is transferred to and stored in the source video memory 95 by the video processor 96.

Further, the CPU 91 sends to the video processor 96 the read order of the image data for displaying the images stored in the source video memory 95 in an overlapping manner. The video processor 96 uses the source video memory 9 according to the order of reading the image data.
The image data is read from 5, and the images are superimposed and displayed.

At the same time as displaying the image as described above, the audio processor 97 outputs the audio data corresponding to the displayed image stored in the audio memory 98 by the audio information in the extracted operation information. To do.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a procedure for outputting a three-dimensional image by using the data of the two-dimensional image in the home-use game machine having the configuration shown in FIG. In this Figure 13,
A case where a cylindrical object is displayed as a three-dimensional image on a checkered background image will be described.

In the source video memory 95 of FIG. 13, a checkered background image 200 and this background image 200 are shown.
A rectangular image representing the cross-section of the upper cylindrical object in the depth direction,
Data of so-called sprites 201, 202, 203, 204 are stored. This rectangular image 201, 20
Portions other than the image of the cylindrical cross section on 2, 203, and 204 are drawn in a transparent color.

The sync generator 100 in the video processor 96 generates a read address signal that matches the sync signal of the image to be displayed. The sync generator 100 also sends the read address signal to the read address table 101 provided from the CPU 91 of FIG. 12 via the main bus 99. Further, the sync generator 100 uses the source video memory 95 according to the information from the read address table 101.
Read the image data in.

The read image data is the CP
Based on the superposition order of the images in the priority table 102 given by the U 91 via the main bus 99, the superposition processing unit 103 sequentially superimposes the images. In this case, the background image 200 has the lowest rank, and the rectangular images 201, 202, 203, and 204 have higher ranks, so that the background images 200 are sequentially superimposed.

Next, in the transparent color processing unit 104, the images 201, 202, 203, 20 of the cross-sections of the above-described cylinders are superimposed in order to display a portion other than the cylinders as a background image.
A process for making a portion other than the cylinder displayed by 4 transparent is performed. Through the above-described processing, the data of the two-dimensional image of the cylindrical object is output as the image data of the three-dimensional image VD ₀ shown in FIG.

[0013]

By the way, in the above-described conventional method for outputting a three-dimensional image, the same image as the output image is not generated in the source video memory, but is stored in the source video memory. Since the three-dimensional image is generated by changing the read position of the image data of the existing two-dimensional image, and reading out and superimposing a plurality of image data, the expression capability of the three-dimensional image is limited. That is, when operating an object of a target three-dimensional image displayed on the screen by a home-use game machine,
There are times when the target object cannot be represented accurately according to the operation.

For example, after operating the target object of the three-dimensional image, the viewpoint from the operator to the target object changes, so that the position and direction of the target object of the three-dimensional image change, but The position and method of the target object in the three-dimensional image have not changed accurately, or the position and direction of the target object that can be expressed are limited, so that the operation of expressing the back side of the target object can be performed. Or not
Furthermore, there may be a case in which the screen corresponding to the operator's viewpoint is discontinuously displayed, even though the screen that moves three-dimensionally from the operator's viewpoint is displayed. ing.

In order to represent a three-dimensional screen,
Since the image data for the pseudo-motion corresponding to the motion of the operator and the motion of the target object and the image data for changing the image are prepared in advance, a huge amount of image data is stored. become.

Furthermore, it takes time to create a game because the stored two-dimensional image data is displayed as three-dimensional image data, and the amount of processing during operation of the created game increases. Execution processing speed becomes slow.

Moreover, when a two-dimensional image game is expressed using the two-dimensional image data stored in the source video memory, the two-dimensional image data is modified to operate the two-dimensional image. Therefore, the control of reading the image data from the source video memory becomes complicated, and it becomes difficult to read the image data.

Therefore, in view of the above situation, the present invention is capable of more easily and rapidly displaying a three-dimensional image in which the position and direction of the target object are accurately changed according to the operation of the operator. A method, an image creating device, and a home-use game machine are provided.

[0019]

According to the image creating method of the present invention, the coordinates of the vertices of a plurality of minute polygonal areas, which are units representing a desired three-dimensional image, stored in the first memory are read out. A step, a step of converting coordinates of each vertex of the stored polygonal area to calculate coordinates on the screen, and further obtaining color information at each vertex, and coordinates and color information on the screen of each vertex. Calculating the coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the respective vertices using, and calculating the coordinates and color information of the intermediate points between the boundary points using the coordinates and color information of the boundary points, The above-mentioned problem is solved by the step of storing the coordinates and color information of the calculated intermediate point in the second memory, and displaying the three-dimensional image by the stored color information of the intermediate point.

Further, the image creating apparatus according to the present invention includes a first memory for storing coordinates of vertices of a plurality of minute polygonal areas which are units representing a desired three-dimensional image, and the first memory.
The coordinates of the vertices of the polygonal area stored in the memory are converted to calculate the coordinates on the screen, and further, a geometry processor for obtaining color information at each vertex and each vertex calculated by the geometry processor. The coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the coordinates and the color information on the screen, and the coordinates of the intermediate points between the boundary points and the coordinates and the color information of the boundary points are calculated. A raster processor that calculates color information and a second memory that stores the coordinates and color information of the intermediate point calculated by the raster processor are provided. By storing the color information of the intermediate point, a three-dimensional image is displayed. It is characterized by displaying.

Here, it is characterized in that the first memory stores the coordinate value and color information of each vertex of the polygonal area.

Further, it is characterized in that another two-dimensional image as a texture image is transformed and pasted and displayed on the displayed three-dimensional image.

Here, the first memory stores the coordinate value of each vertex of the polygonal area and the texture coordinate indicating the coordinate position on the other two-dimensional image.

Further, one of the vertices of the polygon area is
It is characterized in that the color information of the intermediate point is calculated by interpolation, with points at both ends of a line segment obtained by slicing one vertex as a base point in the horizontal direction from this vertex as the boundary points.

The color information may be a color vector for color display or luminance or gradation data for monochrome display.

Furthermore, the home-use game machine according to the present invention is
An external storage medium in which a game program and image information used in this game program are stored, an operation unit for operating a motion of a target object in the image information of the game program stored in the external storage medium, and the game program Display means for displaying the image information of 1., a first memory for storing the coordinates of the vertices of a plurality of minute polygonal regions serving as a unit representing the target object of the three-dimensional image in the image information,
A geometry processor for calculating coordinates on the screen by converting the coordinates of each vertex of the polygonal area stored in the first memory according to the input from the operating means, and further obtaining the color information at each vertex. And the coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the on-screen coordinates and color information of the vertices calculated by the geometry processor, and the coordinates and color information of the boundary points are used. A raster processor for calculating coordinates and color information of an intermediate point between the boundary points, and a second memory for storing coordinates and color information of the intermediate point calculated by the raster processor. 3 by storing the color information of
It is characterized by displaying a three-dimensional image.

Here, the external storage medium is a CD-ROM.
Alternatively, it is a memory card.

Further, it is characterized in that it has a non-volatile storage means and records the progress of the game at the end of the game program.

[0029]

In the present invention, the coordinates of each vertex of the polygonal area stored in the first memory are converted to calculate the coordinates on the screen and the color information, and the calculated coordinates of each vertex on the screen. And the color information to calculate the coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices, and the coordinates and color information of the boundary points to obtain the coordinates and color information of the intermediate points between the boundary points. A three-dimensional image is displayed by calculating and writing the color information of this intermediate point in the second memory.

Here, another two-dimensional image such as a so-called texture source image is transformed, and one vertex of each vertex of the polygonal area is used as a base point, and n raster lines are sliced in the horizontal direction from this vertex. It is also possible to use a method of displaying a three-dimensional image by a method of pasting and displaying the color information of the intermediate points obtained by using the points at both ends of the line segment as the boundary points on the displayed three-dimensional image.

Further, the home-use game machine of the present invention is a CD
-Entering a game program stored in an external storage medium such as a ROM and a memory card, and creating a three-dimensional image displayed during execution of this game program using the above-described image creating method and image creating apparatus.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a CPU 1 which is a central processing unit including a microprocessor or the like takes out operation information of an input device 4 such as an input pad or a joystick via an interface 3 and a main bus 9.
Based on the retrieved operation information, the CPU 1 stores 3 in the main memory 2 which is the first memory.
The information of the three-dimensional image is sent to the graphic processor 6 via the main bus 9. This graphic processor 6
Converts the information of the sent three-dimensional image to generate image data. A three-dimensional image based on the generated image data is drawn on the video memory 5, which is the second memory. The three-dimensional image data drawn on the video memory 5 is read when the video signal is scanned, and the three-dimensional image is displayed on a display device (not shown).

Simultaneously with displaying the three-dimensional image as described above, the voice information corresponding to the displayed three-dimensional image in the operation information retrieved by the CPU 1 is sent to the audio processor 7. The audio processor 7 outputs the audio data stored in the audio memory 8 based on the sent audio information.

Next, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a shading method for displaying a three-dimensional image by adding a shadow of a target object will be described, and as a second embodiment, another two-dimensional image will be described. A texture mapping method for displaying a three-dimensional image by deforming and attaching the image will be described.

The coordinate system showing three dimensions is an object coordinate system for expressing the shape and dimensions of the three-dimensional object itself, and the world showing the position of the object when the three-dimensional object is arranged in space. In many cases, a coordinate system, a screen coordinate system for expressing a three-dimensional object displayed on a screen, etc. are used, but in order to simplify the description, in the embodiments described below, Become 3
A description will be given focusing on the object coordinate system and the screen coordinate system of a three-dimensional object. Also, a polygonal area, which is a unit representing a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object on the screen coordinate system, a so-called polygon will be described as a simplified triangular area.

First, the shading method of the first embodiment will be described below. The main memory 2 shown in FIG. 2 stores image information such as the coordinates of each vertex of a triangle and a color vector necessary to create an image of a target three-dimensional object. These pieces of image information are read by the CPU 1 of FIG. 1 and the graphic processor 6 shown in FIG.
To the geometry processor 61.

The geometry processor 61 uses the read image information to convert the vertex coordinates to calculate the vertex coordinates on the screen. Further, the inner product of the normal vector and the light source vector is calculated from the attribute of the target object and the light source data, and the color and brightness data of each vertex on the screen is calculated. The calculated coordinate values, color and brightness data of each vertex on the screen are sent to the raster processor 62. In this raster processor 62,
All the drawing color data of the intermediate points in the triangle surrounded by the three vertices are calculated by interpolation using the coordinate values, the color and the luminance data of the respective vertices sent above. As a result, the image V of the three-dimensional target object based on the drawing color data is displayed on the pixel indicated by the coordinate value on the display area 51 in the video memory 5.
D ₁ is drawn, and this image VD ₁ is output under the control of the graphic processor 6.

Further, in the main memory 2 shown in FIG.
Image information such as vertex coordinates of a triangle necessary for creating an image of a target three-dimensional object and texture coordinates indicating a coordinate position on another image for pasting is stored. In the texture mapping method of the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the CPU 1 of FIG. 1 reads out these image information and sends it to the geometry processor 61 in the graphic processor 6.

The geometry processor 61 calculates the vertex coordinates on the screen by converting the vertex coordinates using the read image information. Further, the inner product of the normal vector and the light source vector is calculated from the attribute of the target object and the light source data, and the brightness data of each vertex on the screen is calculated. The calculated coordinate values and luminance data of each vertex on the screen are sent to the raster processor 62. In this raster processor 62, an area in which an image to be attached to the target object corresponding to each vertex of the sent target object is stored, that is, a midpoint in a triangle surrounded by three vertices in the texture area. All the luminance data of are calculated by interpolation. As a result, an image is pasted on the pixel indicated by the coordinate value on the display area 51 in the video memory 5 in FIG. 3 using the brightness data indicated by the calculated coordinate value on the texture image 52. The image VD ₂ is drawn. This image VD ₂ is output under the control of the graphic processor 6.

Next, the procedure for displaying a three-dimensional image by the shading method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step SP1 of FIG. 4, vertex coordinates V of a minute triangle represented by the object coordinate system stored in the main memory 2 of FIG. 2 and vertex coordinates V represented by the object coordinate system. Coordinate transformation matrix R for transforming to the world coordinate system, translation vector T,
The CPU shown in FIG. 1 provides necessary information from various image information such as a line-of-sight vector, a normal vector N, and a color vector C that represent the vertex coordinates represented in the world coordinate system in the screen coordinate system.
The information is sequentially read by 1 and these pieces of information are sent to the graphic processor 6.

Next, in step SP2 of FIG. 4, the coordinate value of the apex of the triangle and the drawing color are calculated using the information of the read one triangle.

First, in the geometry processor 61 in the graphic processor 6 of FIG. 2, the vertex coordinates V displayed three-dimensionally are expressed by the following equation (1) using the coordinate transformation matrix R and the translation vector T. Is converted into the coordinate S of the two-dimensional display shown in. (X _S , Y _S , Z _S ) = (X _V , Y _V , Z _V ) × R + (X _T , Y _T , Z _T ) ... (1)

Next, the coordinates S are as follows (2),
It is perspectively transformed by the equation (3) and expressed as coordinates (X, Y) on the screen. Here, h indicates the distance from the viewpoint of the operator who operates the three-dimensional object to the screen. X = X _S × (h / Z _S ) ··· (2) Y = Y _S × (h / Z _S ) ·· (3) This perspective transformation gives a sense of perspective, so The size of the target object is changed according to the distance from the viewpoint.

The normal vector N of the surface is converted into the normal vector P of the apex shown in the following equation (4) using the coordinate conversion matrix R. (X _P , Y _P , Z _P ) = (X _N , Y _N , Z _N ) × R (4)

Therefore, the normal vector P shown in equation (4),
The drawing color D of the above coordinates is represented by the following expression (5) by the inner product of the light source vector L and the original color C of the vertex. (R _D , G _D , B _D ) = (P × L) × (R _C , G _C , B _C ) ... (5)

In step SP3 of FIG. 4, the three vertices S of one triangle in the geometry processor 61.
_It is determined whether or not the coordinate values of ₀ , S ₁ and S ₂ and the drawing color have been obtained. As a result, when all coordinate values and drawing colors of the three vertices have not been obtained, the process returns to step SP2,
The coordinate values of the vertices of the triangle that have not yet been obtained and the drawing color are obtained. However, when all coordinate values and drawing colors of the three vertices are obtained, the process proceeds to step SP4, and the raster processor 62 in the graphic processor 6 in FIG. 2 determines all the intermediate points representing the pixels in this triangle. The coordinate value is obtained, and the drawing color indicated by this coordinate value is written in the video memory 5.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the three vertices S _{0 of the} triangle for which all the coordinate values of the three vertices and the drawing color are obtained,
The coordinate values and drawing colors of S ₁ and S ₂ are S ₀ (X ₀ , Y ₀ , R ₀ , G ₀ , B ₀ ) S ₁ (X ₁ , Y ₁ , R ₁ , G ₁ , B ₁ ) S represented by _{2 (X 2, Y 2,} R 2, G 2, B 2).

First, the triangle surrounded by these three vertices S ₀ , S ₁ and S ₂ is sliced in the horizontal direction. At this time, the coordinate values of the boundary points A and B at both ends of the line segment AB sliced by n raster lines and the drawing color are obtained by interpolation. The coordinates of the boundary points A and B are represented by A (X _A , Y _A , _RA , G _A , B _A ) B (X _B , Y _B , R _B , G _B , B _B ) The coordinate value and drawing color of the boundary point A are as follows (6), (7), (8), (9), (10)
It is calculated by the formula. _{X A = X 0 × (Y} 1 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 1 -Y 0) + X 1 × n / (Y 1 -Y 0) ··· (6) Y A = Y 0 + n ··· (7) _RA = R ₀ × (Y ₁ −Y ₀ −n) / (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) + R ₁ × n / (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) ... (8) G _A = G ₀ × _{(Y 1 -Y 0 -n) /} (Y 1 -Y 0) + G 1 × n / (Y 1 -Y 0) ··· (9) B A = B 0 × (Y 1 -Y 0 -n) / (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) + B ₁ × n / (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) ... (10)

The coordinate value and drawing color of the boundary point B are (11), (12), (13), (14) and (1) below.
It is calculated by the equation (5). _{X B = X 0 × (Y} 2 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 2 -Y 0) + X 2 × n / (Y 2 -Y 0) ··· (11) Y B = Y 0 + n ··· _{(12) R B = R 0} × (Y 2 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 2 -Y 0) + R 2 × n / (Y 2 -Y 0) ··· (13) G B = G 0 × _{(Y 2 -Y 0 -n) /} (Y 2 -Y 0) + G 2 × n / (Y 2 -Y 0) ··· (14) B B = B 0 × (Y 2 -Y 0 -n) / (Y ₂ −Y ₀ ) + B ₂ × n / (Y ₂ −Y ₀ ) ... (15)

Furthermore, the line segment AB connecting the boundary points A and B is moved from the boundary point A side to the boundary point B side by a value m, and the coordinate value of the intermediate point P and the drawing color of the line segment AB. Interpolation is performed from the boundary points A and B at both ends. The coordinate value of the intermediate point P and the drawing color are represented by P (X _P , Y _P , R _P , G _P , B _P ) and the following (16), (17), (18), (1
It is calculated from the equations (9) and (20). _{X P = X A + m ···} (16) Y P = Y A ··· (17) R P = R A × (X B -X A -m) / (X B -X A) + R B × m _{/ (X B -X A) ···} (18) G P = G A × (X B -X A -m) / (X B -X A) + G B × m / (X B -X A) · _{·· (19) B P = B} A × (X B -X A -m) / (X B -X A) + B B × m / (X B -X A) ··· (20)

[0053] On the display area 51 of the video memory 5 of FIG. 2 indicated by the coordinate value of the thus determined was intermediate point P, the the obtained pixel value of the intermediate point _{P (R P, G P,} B P ) Write.

Next, in step SP5 of FIG. 4, for all triangles, the coordinate value within the triangle and the drawing color of this coordinate value are obtained, and the drawing color within this triangle is displayed in the display area in the video memory 5 of FIG. It is determined whether or not an operation of writing on 51 is performed. If the above operation is performed for all triangles, the image in the display area 51 of FIG. 2 is output as the three-dimensional image VD ₁ by the graphic processor 6 of FIG. However, if the above operation is not performed for all the triangles, the process returns to step SP1 and, further, the information for determining the coordinate positions of the three vertices of the triangle for which the drawing color of the intermediate point is not obtained is stored in the main memory 2 of FIG. The drawing color is read from inside and the drawing color at the intermediate point of this triangle is calculated.

Next, the procedure for displaying a three-dimensional image by the texture mapping method according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step SP11 of FIG. 6, the vertex coordinates V of a minute triangle represented by the object coordinate system and the vertex coordinates V represented by the object coordinate system stored in the main memory 2 are set. A coordinate transformation matrix R for transforming into the world coordinate system, a translation vector T, a line-of-sight vector representing the vertex coordinates represented in the world coordinate system in the screen coordinate system, a normal vector N, and the storage area of the original image. Necessary information is sequentially read by the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 1 from various information such as vertex coordinates, and these pieces of information are sent to the graphic processor 6.

Next, in step SP12 of FIG. 6, the coordinate value and the brightness data of the vertices of the triangle are calculated using the information of the read one triangle.

First, in the geometry processor 61 in the graphic processor 6, the vertex coordinates V displayed three-dimensionally are converted into the coordinate conversion matrix R.
And the translation vector T are converted into the coordinates S of the two-dimensional display shown in the equation (1), the coordinates S are perspective-transformed from the equations (2) and (3), and the coordinates (X , Y).

Further, the normal vector N of the surface is converted into the normal vector P of the apex shown in the equation (4) using the coordinate conversion matrix R. Here, the lighting amount l of each vertex is expressed by the following equation (21) by the inner product of the vertex normal vector P and the light source vector L shown in the equation (4). l = (P × L) (21)

In step SP13 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the geometry processor 61 has obtained the coordinate values and the brightness data of the three vertices of one triangle. As a result, if all the coordinate values and the brightness data of the three vertices have not been calculated, the process returns to step SP12, and the coordinate values and the brightness data of the vertices of the triangle that have not been calculated yet are calculated. When all the coordinate values and the brightness data of the three vertices are obtained, the process proceeds to step SP14, where the raster processor 62 in the graphic processor 6 determines the intermediate point in the triangle on the texture image 52 shown in FIG. All texture coordinate values are obtained, the brightness data indicated by the coordinate values on the display area 51 corresponding to the texture coordinate values are applied to the pixel data of the pixel indicated by the texture coordinates, and the value obtained by this is applied to the display area 51. Write in the coordinate values above.

Here, 3 of one triangle of the image on the texture image 52 to be pasted on the image of the target object.
The coordinate values of the vertices T ₀ , T ₁ , T ₂ are represented as T ₀ (U ₀ , V ₀ ) T ₁ (U ₁ , V ₁ ) T ₂ (U ₂ , V ₂ ), as shown in FIG. 7. each of the boundary point C, the point T ₀ and the boundary point D between the point T _2, and the intermediate point Q of the line segment CD of connecting the said boundary point C and the boundary points D between T ₀ and the point T ₁ this point the coordinates of the point, expressed as _{C (U C, V C)} D (U D, V D) Q (U Q, V Q).

Since the three vertices of the triangle on the texture image 52 correspond to the three vertices of the triangle on the image representing the target object, the coordinate values and brightness of the three vertices of the triangle on the image representing the target object are described. As shown in FIG. 8, the data and the texture coordinates that are the coordinate values of the image on the texture image 52 are: S ₀ (X ₀ , Y ₀ , L ₀ , U ₀ , V ₀ ) S ₁ (X ₁ , Y _{It is represented by 1} , L ₁ , U ₁ , V ₁ ) S ₂ (X ₂ , Y ₂ , L ₂ , U ₂ , V ₂ ).

First, the triangle surrounded by these three vertices S ₀ , S ₁ and S ₂ is sliced in the horizontal direction. At this time, the coordinate values of the boundary points A and B at both ends of the line segment AB sliced by n raster lines, the brightness data, and the texture coordinates are obtained by interpolation.

The coordinates of the boundary points A and B are represented by A (X _A , Y _A , L _A ) B (X _A , Y _A , L _A ).

Therefore, the coordinates of the boundary point A corresponding to the boundary point A indicating the coordinate value of the boundary point A, the brightness data, and the texture coordinates of the boundary point A are as follows (22), (23),
It is calculated by the equations (24), (25), and (26). _{X A = X 0 × (Y} 1 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 1 -Y 0) + X 1 × n / (Y 1 -Y 0) ··· (22) Y A = Y 0 + n ··· _{(23) L A = L 0} × (Y 1 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 1 -Y 0) + L 1 × n / (Y 1 -Y 0) ··· (24) C U = U 0 × _{(Y 1 -Y 0 -n) /} (Y 1 -Y 0) + U 1 × n / (Y 1 -Y 0) ··· (25) C V = V 0 × (Y 1 -Y 0 -n) / (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) + V ₁ × n / (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) ... (26)

The coordinates of the boundary point D corresponding to the boundary point B indicating the coordinate value of the boundary point B, the brightness data, and the texture coordinates of the boundary point B are as follows (27), (28),
It is calculated by the equations (29), (30) and (31). _{X B = X 0 × (Y} 2 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 2 -Y 0) + X 2 × n / (Y 2 -Y 0) ··· (27) Y B = Y 0 + n ··· _{(28) L B = L 0} × (Y 2 -Y 0 -n) / (Y 2 -Y 0) + L 2 × n / (Y 2 -Y 0) ··· (29) D U = U 0 × _{(Y 2 -Y 0 -n) /} (Y 2 -Y 0) + U 2 × n / (Y 2 -Y 0) ··· (30) D V = V 0 × (Y 2 -Y 0 -n) / (Y ₂ −Y ₀ ) + V ₂ × n / (Y ₂ −Y ₀ ) ... (31)

Further, the line segment AB connecting the boundary point A and the boundary point B is moved from the boundary point A side to the boundary point B side by the value m, the coordinate value of the intermediate point P, the brightness data, and the texture. Coordinates are obtained from the boundary points A and B at both ends of the line segment AB by interpolation. Letting P (X _P , Y _P , L _P ) be the coordinates of the intermediate point P, the intermediate point corresponding to the intermediate point P indicating the coordinate value of the intermediate point P, the brightness data, and the texture coordinates of the intermediate point P. The coordinates of Q are (32), (33), (34),
It is calculated from equations (35) and (36). _{X P = X A + m ···} (32) Y P = Y A ··· (33) L P = L A × (X B -X A -m) / (X B -X A) + L B × m _{/ (X B -X A) ···} (34) Q U = U C × (X B -X A -m) / (X B -X A) + U D × m / (X B -X A) · _{·· (35) Q V = V} C × (X B -X A -m) / (X B -X A) + V D × m / (X B -X A) ··· (36)

Pixel data is read from the pixel on the texture image 52 in the video memory 5 of FIG. 3 indicated by the obtained texture coordinates of the intermediate point P, and the value obtained by multiplying the pixel data by the above luminance data is displayed. It writes in the position which the coordinate value of the said intermediate point P on 51 shows.

Next, in step SP15 of FIG. 6, for all triangles representing the target object, coordinate values and brightness data in the triangles are obtained, and the brightness data in the triangles are displayed in the video memory 5 in FIG. It is determined whether or not a writing operation has been performed on the area 51. If the above operation is performed for all triangles, the image in the display area 51 in FIG. 3 is converted into a three-dimensional image VD ₂ by the graphic processor 6.
Is output as. However, if the above operation has not been performed for all the triangles, the process returns to step SP11, and further, information for obtaining the coordinate values of the three vertices of the triangles for which the brightness data of the intermediate points has not been calculated and the brightness data is provided to the main memory. Then, the brightness data at the midpoint of this triangle is calculated.

As described above, since the intermediate points P and Q for displaying the three-dimensional image do not always coincide with the pixels on the video memory 5, the boundary points for obtaining the intermediate points P and Q are determined. To obtain the intermediate points P and Q. Therefore, the home game machine using the image creating method of the present invention is slightly less accurate than the conventional three-dimensional image display by computer graphics, but the home game machine has good accuracy and high speed. It is possible to easily display a three-dimensional image.

The three-dimensional image creating methods according to the above-described two embodiments can be used properly according to the case.
For example, when the shape of the object which is a three-dimensional image is important in the game, the image is drawn by the shading method of the first embodiment, and when the surface pattern of the target object is more important than the target object itself. It is conceivable to render an image by the texture mapping method of the second embodiment.

Next, a home-use game machine according to the present invention using the above-described image creating method and image creating apparatus will be described below. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the home-use game machine of the present invention. In this home-use game machine, a game program is stored in a so-called CD-ROM 11 that is a read-only memory that uses a compact disk that is an external storage medium, a memory card 16 that uses a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and a ROM cartridge. Remembered. The game program can also be received from an external network.

Under the control of the CPU 1 composed of a microprocessor or the like, the information of the game program and the three-dimensional image is transmitted from the CD-ROM 11 or the memory card 16 connected to the external storage interface 10 or the external network connected to the communication interface 12. Is entered. Information on the game program and the three-dimensional image is stored in the main memory 2 via the main bus 9.
The operation information input from the controller 14, which is an input device such as an input pad or a joystick, is taken out from the input interface 13 to the CPU 1 via the main bus 9. Based on the extracted operation information, the three-dimensional image information stored in the main memory 2 is converted by the graphic processor 6 to generate image data. Further, the graphic processor 6 uses the image data to generate a video memory 5.
A three-dimensional image is drawn on the top. The three-dimensional image data drawn on the video memory 5 is read when the video signal is scanned, and the three-dimensional image is displayed on the display device 15 such as a monitor.

Simultaneously with displaying the three-dimensional image as described above, the audio information corresponding to the displayed three-dimensional image in the operation information retrieved by the CPU 1 is sent to the audio processor 7. The audio processor 7 outputs the audio data stored in the audio memory 8 based on the sent audio information.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the operation when the game is actually started by the home-use game machine of this embodiment. Here, for example, a drive game is played using the texture mapping method of the second embodiment described above. Specifically, this drive game is a game in which a vehicle is driven on a road built on a certain terrain while avoiding obstacles such as buildings.

First, in step SP21 of FIG. 10, an external storage medium such as the CD-ROM 11 or the memory card 16 is mounted on the main body of the home game machine via the external storage interface 10 or via the communication interface 12. Connect to an external network. Next, necessary information such as a game program, a function, a library, and image information is taken out from the CD-ROM 11, the memory card 16 or an external network and stored in the main memory 2, so-called loading. At this time, topographical data, building data, road data and texture data are loaded as image information. After that, the texture data is transferred from the main memory 2 to an empty area in the video memory 5. Further, the texture data does not pass through the main memory 2 but the CD-
In some cases, it may be directly loaded from the ROM 11, the memory card 16 or an external network to the empty area in the video memory 5.

Next, in step SP22, there is a possibility that a plurality of games exist in the external storage medium or the external network. Therefore, one game is selected from the plurality of games, and further, The execution mode of this selected game is selected. This operation is performed by the variable stored in the main memory 2 or the value of the register set in the CPU 1.

Thereafter, in step SP23, the CPU
By the control of 1, the game program is executed and the game is started.

As a result, a screen showing the start state of the game, that is, an initial screen is created and displayed in step SP24. Specifically, the screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. This screen is created by the following procedure.

Since the screen is sequentially created and displayed from a distant picture, the sky 20 which is the innermost picture is initially displayed. At this time, the CPU 1 causes the main memory 2 to operate.
The color data of the sky 20 is read from, and the vertex coordinates of the four corners of the screen and the color data of the sky 20 are output to the raster processor 62 in the graphic processor 6. The raster processor 62 displays a minute polygonal area of the color of the sky 20, a so-called polygon, on the video memory 5 on the display device 15.
Draw on top.

Next, the terrain 21 is displayed. CPU above
1, the three-dimensional vertex coordinates of the polygons forming the terrain 21 are read from the main memory 2 and output to the geometry processor 61. The geometry processor 61 performs coordinate transformation and perspective transformation of the three-dimensional vertex coordinates of the input polygon to calculate two-dimensional coordinate values, and further obtains texture coordinate values corresponding to these two-dimensional coordinate values. This texture coordinate value is output to the raster processor 62. The raster processor 62 reads the texture data according to the input texture coordinate value from the texture data stored in the video memory 5, and matches this texture data with the polygon given by the two-dimensional vertex coordinates. It is transformed and written on the video memory 5. By performing these processes for all the polygons forming the terrain 21, the terrain 21 as a whole is displayed on the display device 15.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8, the texture coordinate value is calculated after obtaining the coordinate value and the brightness data of each vertex of the polygon, and the texture coordinate value is calculated. A three-dimensional image is displayed by using a texture mapping method that writes texture data that is pixel data corresponding to a value.

Further, when the road 22 and the building 23 use texture data, the same processing as the processing of the terrain 21 is performed so that the road 22 and the building 23 are processed.
Is displayed on the display device 15. When the road 22 and the building 23 do not use texture data, the color data given to each of the polygons forming the road 22 and the building 23 is read from the main memory 2 and the texture is read. The road 22 and the building 23 are displayed on the display device 15 by performing the same process as the process of the terrain 21 using the color data instead of the data.

When the screen is displayed by the above processing, the process proceeds to step SP25, and waits until the button or lever provided on the controller 14 such as the game controller or the game pad is operated by the operator of this game. . When the controller 14 is operated, data corresponding to the operation is fetched by the CPU 1 via the input interface 13, and the game is progressed according to this data. For example, in this game, since the speed and direction of the driving vehicle are input from the controller 14, the positions and directions of the terrain 21, road 22 and building 23 displayed according to the input data can be changed. These changes are realized by changing the variables stored in the main memory 2 or the values of the registers in the CPU 1.

Further, in step SP26, as the game progresses, screens that have undergone changes in accordance with the data input by the operation of the controller 14 are sequentially created and displayed by the above method. Further, the audio processor 7 takes out the audio data according to the progress of the game from the audio memory 8 and outputs it.

Thereafter, depending on the progress of the game and the wishes of the operator, it is determined in step SP27 whether or not the game should be ended. If the game is not finished, the process returns to step SP25 and the controller 1
Wait until the next operation is input from 4. When ending the game, the game is ended after the progress of the game is stored in the storage means such as a non-volatile memory.

[0087]

As is apparent from the above description, the image creating method according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of minute polygonal regions serving as units representing a desired three-dimensional image stored in the first memory. A step of reading the coordinates of each vertex, a step of converting the coordinates of each vertex of the stored polygonal area to calculate coordinates on the screen, and further obtaining color information at each vertex, and a screen of each vertex The coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the above coordinates and the color information, and the coordinates and color information of the intermediate points between the boundary points are calculated using the coordinates and the color information of the boundary points. And a step of storing the coordinates and color information of the calculated intermediate point in the second memory, and a three-dimensional image is displayed by the stored color information of the intermediate point. Accurate representation of three-dimensional image objects It can be.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a first memory for storing the coordinates of the vertices of a plurality of minute polygonal areas which are units representing a desired three-dimensional image, and the first memory.
The coordinates of the vertices of the polygonal area stored in the memory are converted to calculate the coordinates on the screen, and further, a geometry processor for obtaining color information at each vertex and each vertex calculated by the geometry processor. The coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the coordinates and the color information on the screen, and the coordinates of the intermediate points between the boundary points and the coordinates and the color information of the boundary points are calculated. A raster processor that calculates color information and a second memory that stores the coordinates and color information of the intermediate point calculated by the raster processor are provided. By storing the color information of the intermediate point, a three-dimensional image is displayed. Since it is displayed, the object of the three-dimensional image can be represented accurately.

Here, since the coordinate value and color information of each vertex of the polygonal area are stored in the first memory, 3
It is possible to accurately represent the object of the three-dimensional image.

Further, another two-dimensional image as a texture image is transformed and pasted and displayed on the displayed three-dimensional image. At this time, the coordinate value of each vertex of the polygonal area is stored in the first memory. Since the texture coordinates indicating the coordinate position on the other two-dimensional image are stored, the object of the three-dimensional image can be represented accurately.

Furthermore, one of the vertices of the polygon area is
By using the two vertices as base points, the points at both ends of the line segment obtained by slicing in the horizontal direction from the vertices as the boundary points, and calculating the color information of the intermediate points by interpolation, the three-dimensional image of the three-dimensional image can be easily obtained. The object can be displayed.

The home-use game machine according to the present invention includes an external storage medium in which a game program and image information used in the game program are stored, and a target in the image information of the game program stored in the external storage medium. Operation means for operating the motion of the object, display means for displaying the image information of the game program, and apexes of each of a plurality of minute polygonal regions serving as a unit representing the target object of the three-dimensional image in the image information. A first memory in which coordinates are stored;
A geometry processor for calculating coordinates on the screen by converting the coordinates of each vertex of the polygonal area stored in the memory in accordance with the input from the operating means, and for obtaining color information at each vertex. The coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the on-screen coordinates and color information of the vertices calculated by the Geometry Processor, and the boundaries are calculated using the coordinates and color information of the boundary points. A raster processor for calculating coordinates and color information of an intermediate point between the points, and a second memory for storing coordinates and color information of the intermediate point calculated by the raster processor, and color information of the intermediate point. Since the three-dimensional image is displayed by storing, the object of the three-dimensional image can be represented accurately.

Further, the position and direction of the target object of the three-dimensional image can be changed accurately in response to the operation of the target object of the three-dimensional image, and the position and direction of the target object that can be expressed are limited. Therefore, even when the screen of the target object from the operator's viewpoint changes three-dimensionally continuously, it is possible to display the screen accurately corresponding to the three-dimensional continuous change.

Further, since the data amount of the image data necessary for expressing the three-dimensional screen is reduced and the game creation time is also reduced, the productivity of the game is improved and the execution processing of the created game is executed. The speed will also increase.

Moreover, since the three-dimensional image is created at the same time as the writing to the video memory, the written three-dimensional image is read at the time of scanning a normal video signal, so that the reading of the image data is easy.

Further, since the external storage medium is a CD-ROM or a memory card, a large-capacity game program can be stored, and the stored game program can be quickly taken out.

Further, by having a non-volatile storage means and recording the progress of the game at the end of the game program, the game can be quickly restarted from the state immediately after the end of the game program. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image creating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing processing of the first embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process of a second embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the first embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing coordinate values and drawing color of a triangle obtained by the first embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of a second embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing texture coordinates of a second embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing coordinate values and brightness of a triangle obtained by a second embodiment of the image creating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a home-use game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a game executed by the home-use game machine according to the present invention.

11 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed during the game operation of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an image creating method by a conventional image creating apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Main Memory 3 Interface 4 Input Device 5 Video Memory 6 Graphic Processor 7 Audio Processor 8 Audio Memory 9 Main Bus 10 External Storage Interface 11 CD-ROM 12 Communication Interface 13 Input Interface 14 Controller 15 Display Device 16 Memory Card 61 Geometry Processor 62 Raster processor

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A step of reading coordinates of respective vertices of a plurality of minute polygonal regions which are units representing a desired three-dimensional image stored in a first memory, and respective vertices of the stored polygonal regions. Transforming the coordinates of the above to calculate the coordinates on the screen, and further obtaining the color information at each vertex, and the coordinates of the boundary point between each vertex using the coordinates and color information on the screen of each vertex. And calculating color information, and using the coordinates and color information of the boundary points to calculate coordinates and color information of intermediate points between the boundary points, and a step of calculating the calculated intermediate points in the second memory. And a step of storing coordinate and color information, wherein a three-dimensional image is displayed by the stored color information of the intermediate point. 2. The image creating method according to claim 1, wherein the first memory stores coordinate values and color information of each vertex of the polygonal area. 3. The image creating method according to claim 1, wherein another two-dimensional image serving as a texture image is transformed and pasted and displayed on the displayed three-dimensional image. 4. The first memory stores the coordinate value of each vertex of the polygonal area and the texture coordinate indicating the coordinate position on the other two-dimensional image. Image creation method. 5. The color of the intermediate point is defined by the points at both ends of a line segment obtained by slicing in the horizontal direction from one of the vertices of the polygonal area as a base point. The image creating method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the information is calculated by interpolation. 6. An image creating apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image using three-dimensional image information, wherein coordinates of respective vertices of a plurality of minute polygonal regions which are units representing a desired three-dimensional image are stored. 1 memory, a geometry processor for converting coordinates of each vertex of the polygonal area stored in the first memory to calculate coordinates on the screen, and further obtaining color information at each vertex; The coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the coordinates on the screen and the color information of the vertices calculated by the metric processor, and the boundary points are calculated using the coordinates and the color information of the boundary points. A raster processor for calculating coordinates and color information of an intermediate point between the two, and a second memory for storing coordinates and color information of the intermediate point calculated by the raster processor, Image creating apparatus characterized by displaying a three-dimensional image by storing the color information. 7. The image creating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first memory stores the coordinate value and color information of each vertex of the polygonal area. 8. The image creating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein another two-dimensional image as a texture image is transformed and pasted and displayed on the displayed three-dimensional image. 9. The first memory stores the coordinate value of each vertex of the polygonal area and the texture coordinate indicating the coordinate position on the other two-dimensional image. Image creation device. 10. The color of the intermediate point is defined by the points at both ends of a line segment obtained by slicing in the horizontal direction from one of the vertices of the polygonal area as a base point. 9. The image creating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information is calculated by interpolation. 11. In a home-use game machine for operating a target object displayed in a three-dimensional image, an external storage medium in which a game program and image information used in the game program are stored, and the external storage medium is stored. Operating means for operating the motion of the target object in the image information of the game program, display means for displaying the image information of the game program, and a plurality of units that represent the target object of the three-dimensional image in the image information. A first memory for storing the coordinates of the vertices of the minute polygonal area of, and the coordinates of the vertices of the polygonal area stored in the first memory are converted in accordance with the input from the operating means. And the coordinates on the screen are calculated, and the geometry information for calculating the color information at each vertex is calculated. The coordinates and color information of the boundary points between the vertices are calculated using the coordinates and the color information on the screen, and the coordinates and color of the intermediate points between the boundary points are calculated using the coordinates and the color information of the boundary points. A raster processor for calculating information and a second memory for storing the coordinates and color information of the intermediate point calculated by the raster processor are provided, and a three-dimensional image is displayed by storing the color information of the intermediate point. A home-use game machine characterized by: 12. The home-use game machine according to claim 11, wherein the external storage medium is a CD-ROM. 13. The home-use game machine according to claim 11, wherein the external storage medium is a memory card. 14. A home-use game machine according to claim 11, further comprising a non-volatile storage means for recording the progress of the game at the end of the game program.