JP2003051024A - Image generation system and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image generation system in which an image focused like a field-of-view image can be generated with a little processing burden and to provide an information storage medium. SOLUTION: This image generation system is provided with a blur processing part 144 for determining a pixel to become a target of blur processing on the basis of the depth values of respective pixels in a plotting area where a prescribed image after perspective projection transform is plotted, and applying semi-transparent plotting processing to the pixel to become the target of blur processing by using any of nearby pixels and an image approximated to the prescribed image, related image or worked image. A plurality of thresholds for judging the target of blur processing are set step by step, a plurality of groups of pixels to become the target of blur processing are specified by comparing a plurality of thresholds with the depth values of respective pixels, and semi-transparent plotting processing is applied to each of a plurality of specified pixel groups.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image generation system and an information storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image generation system for generating an image viewed from a given viewpoint in an object space, which is a virtual three-dimensional space, has been known. It is very popular as an experience. Taking an image generation system that can enjoy a racing game as an example, a player operates a racing car (object) to run in an object space and competes with another player or a racing car operated by a computer. You can enjoy 3D games.

In such an image generation system, it is an important technical problem to generate a more realistic image in order to improve the virtual reality of the player.

By the way, the conventional game image lacks the concept of generating an image focused according to the distance from the viewpoint like a human visual field image. For this reason, in the conventional game image and the like, a method of expressing a state in which all the subjects in the image are in focus is used.

However, an image in which all subjects are in focus from a very close distance to a long distance is an unnatural visual environment that is not experienced in daily life, and thus has an unnatural appearance.

In order to pursue more reality, it is preferable to generate an image in which the degree of focus is adjusted according to the distance between the viewpoint and the object, the direction of the line of sight, and the like. However, if the degree of focus is determined for each object in the game space depending on the distance from the viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight, and the degree of blurring is calculated for each object based on that to generate a blurred image, the calculation load will be large. Will lead to an increase.

In a game image or the like in which an image corresponding to a viewpoint that changes in real time must be generated by using limited hardware resources, it is possible to generate a focused image like a view image with a small processing load. The issue is how to generate it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to generate an image generation system capable of generating a focused image like a view image with a small processing load. And to provide an information storage medium.

[0009]

The present invention is an image generation system for generating an image in a three-dimensional space, wherein in a drawing area in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn,
And a means for determining a pixel to be subjected to the blurring processing based on the depth value of each pixel, and a means to perform pixel-by-pixel combining processing on the pixel to be subjected to the blurring processing by using pixels in the vicinity thereof. It is characterized by

An information storage medium according to the present invention is an information storage medium usable by a computer and includes a program for executing the above means. A program according to the present invention is a program that can be used by a computer (including a program embodied in a carrier wave) and includes a processing routine for executing the above means.

The present invention is also an image generation system for generating an image in a three-dimensional space, which is based on the depth value of each pixel in a drawing area in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn. Means for determining pixels to be subjected to the blurring process, the given image, an image approximate to the given image, an image related to the given image, with respect to the pixels to be subjected to the blurring process, Means for performing pixel-by-pixel combining processing using any of the images obtained by processing the given image;
It is characterized by including.

An information storage medium according to the present invention is an information storage medium that can be used by a computer and is characterized by including a program for executing the above means. A program according to the present invention is a program that can be used by a computer (including a program embodied in a carrier wave) and includes a processing routine for executing the above means.

The given image is, for example, an image which has been rendered in the rendering area by performing the rendering process once. The depth value of each pixel is, for example, the Z value of each pixel. The pixel-by-pixel combination process may be a semi-transparent drawing process such as an α blending process, an α addition process, an α subtraction process, or may be a case where a color information combination operation is performed in a pixel unit.

In conventional game images and the like, an expression method is used in which all the subjects in the image are in focus. However, the field-of-view image is usually in focus in the focus area near the gazing point, and is usually blurred as it moves away from the focus area. For this reason, the state in which all the subjects in the image are in focus is unnatural to the eye.

In general, whether or not the subject is in focus depends on the distance from the viewpoint to the object and the line-of-sight direction. According to the present invention, in a drawing area in which a given image is drawn, a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing is determined based on the depth value of each pixel. Therefore, it is possible to generate an image that is blurred according to the depth value with the direction of the virtual camera as the line-of-sight direction.

In a normal game image or the like, the player's line-of-sight direction may be regarded as the same as the line-of-sight direction of the virtual camera. Therefore, by blurring the pixel area targeted for the blurring process specified by the present invention, the player's line-of-sight image is displayed. You can get a close image. Moreover, according to the present invention, since the calculation based on the line-of-sight direction and the positional relationship between each object and the viewpoint is unnecessary, it is possible to specify the area to be subjected to the blur processing with a small calculation load.

Further, according to the present invention, the given image, the image approximate to the given image, the image related to the given image, and the given image are given to the pixel to be blurred. By performing a pixel-by-pixel combining process using any of the processed images, an image in which the pixel region that is the target of the blurring process is blurred is generated.

Here, the image related to the given image and the image approximate to the given image include, for example, an image one or several frames before. The image obtained by processing the given image includes, for example, an image obtained by subjecting the given image to a reduction / enlargement process.

According to the present invention, the perspective projection conversion and the rendering process for generating the given image need only be performed once, so that a blurred image can be generated with a small calculation load.

The image generation system, information storage medium, and program according to the present invention are texture images obtained by shifting a given image in a given direction by a given amount with respect to a given image drawn in the drawing area. Is generated, and for the pixels to be subjected to the blurring process of the drawing area in which the given image is drawn,
It is characterized in that the texture image is used to perform pixel-by-pixel synthesis processing.

By shifting the original image and synthesizing in pixel units, a blurred image can be generated by a simple process. Also, by adjusting the amount of shift, the degree of addition can be adjusted.

Further, the image generation system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention set a plurality of thresholds for determining the target of the blurring process stepwise, and set a plurality of thresholds and each pixel in the previous period. The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of pixel sets to be subjected to the blurring process are specified by comparing the depth values, and the pixel-by-pixel combining process is performed on each of the specified plurality of pixel sets.

According to the present invention, a plurality of threshold values set in stages identify a plurality of pixel sets to be subjected to blurring processing. By adjusting the degree of blur for each pixel set, it is possible to generate an image in which the degree of blur changes stepwise according to the depth value.

Further, in the image generating system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention, a plurality of pixel areas to be subjected to the blurring processing are set in a superimposed manner, and the blurring processing is performed stepwise for each pixel area. Characterize.

Since the blurring processing is performed a plurality of times on the pixels in the range set in a superimposed manner, the degree of blurring can be adjusted for each pixel by the number of blurring.

By performing the pixel-by-pixel synthesizing process stepwise, an image in which the degree of blurring changes naturally can be generated.

Further, the image generation system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are arranged in pixel units in the pixel set specified by the threshold value based on the difference between the threshold value and the depth value of the set gazing point. It is characterized in that a synthesis coefficient is set when performing the synthesis operation of.

The point of interest is the point at which the user wants to focus, and the setting method is arbitrary. In the present invention, the depth value of the set gazing point may be given.

In this case, the combination in the pixel unit combination process is performed such that the larger the difference between the previous period threshold value and the depth value of the gazing point, the greater the degree of blurring of the pixel set specified by the previous period threshold value. It is desirable to set the coefficient.

According to the present invention, it is possible to generate an image in which the degree of blurring increases as the distance from the gazing point to the front or back increases.

Further, the image generation system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention, for a pixel having a depth value before the set gazing point, use the depth value of each pixel instead of the depth value of each pixel in the previous period. It is characterized in that the pixel to be subjected to the blurring process is determined by using the inverted value.

A value obtained by reversing the depth value is a function value that reverses the magnitude relationship of the depth value. For example, when the depth value is in the range of 0 to 1, 1-depth value may be used as a value obtained by inverting the depth value.

By doing so, for example, even when an image is generated by using a hardware or software resource having a function capable of performing a given process only when the depth value is smaller than or larger than a certain value, the processing load is small. Thus, it is possible to perform the process of determining the pixel to be the subject of the blurring process.

Further, the image generating system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are characterized by using the Z value stored in the Z buffer as the depth value.

Here, the Z buffer may be provided, for example, as a Z value plane on the frame buffer, or may be provided independently of the frame buffer.

Further, the image generating system, the information storage medium and the program according to the present invention are characterized in that they perform a semi-transparent drawing process as the pixel-by-pixel combining process.

Here, the semi-transparent drawing process is, for example, α blending process or α addition process.

[0038]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Although the present invention will be described below by taking the case of being applied to a racing game as an example, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various games.

1. Configuration FIG. 1 shows an example of a block diagram of this embodiment. In the figure, in the present embodiment, at least the processing unit 100 may be included (or the processing unit 100 and the storage unit 170, or the processing unit 100, the storage unit 170, and the information storage medium 180 may be included), and other blocks. (For example, the operation unit 16
0, the display unit 190, the sound output unit 192, the portable information storage device 194, and the communication unit 196) can be arbitrary constituent elements.

Here, the processing section 100 performs various processing such as control of the entire system, instruction of commands to each block in the system, game processing, image processing, sound processing, etc., and its functions are various. Processor (CPU, DSP
Etc.) or hardware such as ASIC (gate array etc.) or a given program (game program).

The operation section 160 is for the player to input operation data, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a lever, a button, and a housing.

The storage unit 170 includes the processing unit 100 and the communication unit 1.
A work area such as 96, whose function is RAM
It can be realized by hardware such as.

An information storage medium (a storage medium usable by a computer) 180 stores information such as programs and data, and its function is that of an optical disc (C
D, DVD), magneto-optical disk (MO), magnetic disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or memory (RO
It can be realized by hardware such as M). Processing unit 10
0 performs various processes of the present invention (this embodiment) based on the information stored in the information storage medium 180. That is, the information storage medium 180 stores information (program or programs and data) for executing the means of the present invention (the present embodiment) (particularly the blocks included in the processing unit 100).

A part or all of the information stored in the information storage medium 180 will be transferred to the storage section 170 when the system is powered on. The information storage medium 1
Information stored in 80 is a program code for performing the process of the present invention, image data, sound data, shape data of a display object, table data, list data, information for instructing the process of the present invention, and instructions thereof. The information includes at least one of the information for performing the processing according to the above.

The display unit 190 outputs the image generated by the present embodiment, and its function is CRT,
LCD or HMD (head mounted display)
It can be realized by hardware such as.

The sound output unit 192 outputs the sound generated by this embodiment, and its function can be realized by hardware such as a speaker.

The portable information storage device 194 stores the player's personal data, save data, and the like. As the portable information storage device 194, a memory card, a portable game device, or the like can be considered. .

The communication unit 196 performs various controls for communicating with the outside (for example, a host device or another image generation system), and its function is various processors or communication ASICs. It can be realized by the hardware or the program.

The program or data for executing the means of the present invention (this embodiment) is distributed from the information storage medium of the host device (server) to the information storage medium 180 via the network and the communication unit 196. You may Use of such an information storage medium of the host device (server) is also included in the scope of the present invention.

The processing section 100 includes a game processing section 110, an image generating section 140, and a sound generating section 150.

Here, the game processing unit 110 accepts coins (price), sets various modes, advances the game, sets a selection screen, and sets the position and rotation angle of the object (around the X, Y or Z axis). Rotation angle) processing, object movement processing (motion processing), viewpoint position and line-of-sight angle (line-of-sight) processing,
Such as processing to arrange objects such as map objects in the object space, processing to check hits, processing to calculate game results (results, achievements), processing for multiple players to play in a common game space, or game over processing. Various game processes are performed based on operation data from the operation unit 160, personal data from the portable information storage device 194, saved data, a game program, and the like.

The image generation section 140 includes the game processing section 110.
Various kinds of image processing are performed in accordance with instructions from the. In addition, the sound generation unit 150 includes the game processing unit 110.
Various kinds of sound processing are performed in accordance with instructions from the.

All the functions of the image generating section 140 and the sound generating section 150 may be realized by hardware, or all of them may be realized by a program. Alternatively, it may be realized by both hardware and a program.

The game processing section 110 includes a movement / motion calculation section 112 and a gazing point setting section 114.

The movement / motion calculation unit 112 calculates movement information (position data, rotation angle data) and motion information (position data of each part of the object, rotation angle data) of an object such as a car. , Operation unit 1
Based on the operation data input by the player through 60, the game program, etc., processing for moving or operating the object is performed.

More specifically, the movement / motion calculation unit 114
Performs processing for obtaining the position and rotation angle of the object, for example, for each frame (1/60 seconds). For example (k-
1) The position of an object in a frame is PMk-1, the velocity is VMk-1, the acceleration is AMk-1, and the time of one frame is Δt.
And Then the position PM of the object in k frames
The k and the speed VMk are obtained, for example, by the following equations (1) and (2).

PMk = PMk-1 + VMk-1 × Δt (1) VMk = VMk-1 + AMk-1 × Δt (2) The gazing point setting unit 114 sets a gazing point according to the game situation. For example, the gazing point may be set for a vehicle running ahead, or may be set at a standard position ahead. The blurring processing unit 144 to dictate determines pixels to be subjected to the blurring processing based on the depth value of the gazing point set by the gazing point setting unit 114.

The image generating section 140 includes a geometry processing section (three-dimensional coordinate calculation section) 142, a blurring processing section 144, and a drawing section (rendering section) 146.

Here, the geometry processing section 142 performs various geometry processing (three-dimensional coordinate calculation) such as coordinate conversion, clipping processing, perspective conversion, or light source calculation.

The blurring processing unit 144 determines the pixels to be subjected to the blurring processing based on the depth value of each pixel in the drawing area in which the given image after the perspective projection conversion is drawn, and determines the pixels to be subjected to the blurring processing. The semi-transparent drawing process is performed for the pixel using the pixel in the vicinity thereof. Further, for the pixel to be subjected to the blurring processing, any one of the given image, an image approximate to the given image, an image related to the given image, and an image obtained by processing the given image. May be used to perform the semi-transparent drawing process.

For example, with respect to a given image drawn in the drawing area, a texture image is generated by shifting the given image in a given direction by a predetermined amount, and a texture image of the given area is drawn. You may make it perform semi-transparent drawing processing with respect to the pixel used as the object of blurring processing using the said texture image.

A plurality of threshold values for determining the target of the blurring process are set in stages, and a plurality of pixel sets to be the target of the blurring process are compared by comparing the plurality of threshold values with the depth value of each pixel in the previous period. May be specified, and the semi-transparent drawing process may be performed on each of the specified pixel sets.

A plurality of pixel areas to be subjected to the blurring processing may be set in a superimposed manner, and the blurring processing may be performed stepwise for each pixel area.

Based on the difference between the previous period threshold value and the depth value of the set gazing point, the α value at the time of performing the semitransparent drawing operation may be set for the pixel set specified by the previous period threshold value. .

For a pixel having a depth value before the set gazing point, the pixel to be subjected to the blurring process is determined by using the value obtained by inverting the depth value of each pixel instead of the depth value of each pixel in the previous period. You may do it.

The drawing unit 146 performs a process of drawing an object based on the object data after the geometry processing (after the perspective transformation) and the texture stored in the texture buffer.

The image generation system of this embodiment is
The system may be a system dedicated to the single player mode in which only one player can play, or a system having not only such a single player mode but also a multiplayer mode in which a plurality of players can play.

When a plurality of players play,
The game images and game sounds to be provided to the plurality of players may be generated using one terminal, or may be generated using a plurality of terminals connected by a network (transmission line, communication line) or the like. Good.

2. Features of this Embodiment A first feature of this embodiment is to determine a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing based on a depth value of each pixel in a rendering area in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is rendered. There is a point to do.

First, an example of determining pixels to be the blurring process will be described.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining an example of selecting pixels to be subjected to blurring processing using a threshold value. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a three-dimensional positional relationship between the threshold value and the object to be subjected to the blurring process before the perspective projection conversion in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not each pixel is a target of blurring processing based on the Z plane of the frame buffer in which a given image is drawn or the Z value stored in the Z buffer. To do. That is, one or a plurality of threshold values SZ _n (n = 1, 2, ...) Are set, and each threshold value is compared with the Z value of each pixel to determine whether or not the pixel is a target of blurring processing. To do.

It is assumed that the Z value is set to increase in the depth direction of the screen (the further away from the virtual camera), and three threshold values SZ ₁ , SZ ₂ , SZ ₃ (S
It is assumed that Z ₁ <SZ ₂ <SZ ₃ ) is given.

Further, it is assumed that 210 in FIG. 3 is a virtual camera, 220 is the Z axis (parallel to the line-of-sight direction), and 230 is a view volume indicating the boundary of the visual field range. At this time, the spaces partitioned by the respective thresholds are referred to as objects existing in K1, K2, and K3 as OB1, OB2, and OB3. The Z values of the pixels of the objects OB1, OB2, and OB3 after perspective projection conversion are ZOB1, ZOB2, and ZOB3 as follows.

ZOB1, ZOB2, ZOB3> SZ ₁ ZOB2, ZOB3> SZ ₂ ZOB3> SZ ₃ 310 in FIG. 2A is a frame buffer in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn, and If an area made up of pixels having a Z value larger than the threshold value SZ ₁ is 312, the area 312 becomes the first pixel area that is the target of the blurring process specified by the threshold value SZ ₁ . The first blurring process is performed on the pixels included in the first pixel region 310. Since the images after perspective projection conversion of OB1, OB2, and OB3 in FIG. 3 are all included in this first pixel area, the images after perspective projection conversion of OB1, OB2, and OB3 are slightly blurred by the first blurring process. It becomes an image.

It is assumed that the image after the first blurring process is drawn in the frame buffer 320 of FIG. 2 (B). Here, if an area consisting of pixels in which the Z value of each pixel is larger than the threshold value SZ ₂ is 322, then 322 is the second pixel area that is the target of the blurring process specified by the threshold value SZ ₂ . The second blurring process is performed on the pixels included in the second pixel area 322. OB2 and OB3 in FIG.
Since all the images after perspective projection conversion are included in this pixel region, the images after perspective projection conversion of OB2 and OB3 are further blurred by the second blurring process.

It is assumed that the image after the second blurring processing is drawn in the frame buffer 330 of FIG. Here, if an area formed of pixels in which the Z value of each pixel is larger than the threshold value SZ ₃ is 332, 332 is the third pixel area that is the target of the blurring process specified by the threshold value SZ ₃ . The third blurring process is performed on the pixels included in the third pixel area 332. Since the image after the perspective projection conversion of OB3 in FIG. 3 is included in this pixel area, the image after the perspective projection conversion of OB3 becomes a further blurred image by the third blurring process.

As described above, in the present embodiment, blurring processing is performed in a superimposed manner on a plurality of pixel regions specified by a plurality of stepwise set thresholds. As a result, it is possible to generate an image with a greater degree of blurring as the object is farther from the gazing point.

It is possible to generate an image with a natural blurring condition by performing the blurring process stepwise for a plurality of times.

The second feature of this embodiment is that for a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing in a drawing area in which a given image (hereinafter referred to as an original image) after perspective projection conversion is drawn,
The point that the semi-transparent drawing process is performed using any of the original image, an image close to the original image, an image related to the original image, an image obtained by processing the original image, or a pixel near the pixel to be subjected to the blurring process. is there.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for conceptually explaining the principle of an example of the blurring process using the original image according to the present embodiment. When the semitransparent drawing process is performed by shifting the original image 400 drawn in the drawing area in the X-axis and Y-axis directions by predetermined pixels, an image in which the original image is blurred and blurred can be generated as shown in FIG. I can. The predetermined pixel may be, for example, 0.5, or 1 or several pixels.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of a method of shifting the original image to generate a texture image and performing the semitransparent drawing process.

In this embodiment, a texture image 520 is generated by shifting the image 510 drawn in the frame buffer by a predetermined pixel in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. Then, the image 510 in the frame buffer and the texture image 520 are subjected to α blending processing using a predetermined α value to generate a blurred image (see 530). Note that 530 is an image image when the α blending process is performed on all the pixels of the frame buffer, but in reality, the α blending process is performed only on the pixels that are the target of the blurring process.

Here, the color information of the pixel FP _m subjected to the blurring process of the frame buffer is set to Cs _m (Rs _m , Gs _m ,
Bs _m ), the color information of the pixel TP _m of the texture buffer having the corresponding coordinate value is Cd _m (Rd _m , Gd _m , Bd _m ),
When the blending coefficient is α and the color information of FP _m after α blending processing is C _m (R _m , G _m , B _m ), the following formula is established.

C _m = (1-α) Cs _m + αCd _m R _m = (1-α) Rs _m + αRd _m G _m = (1-α) Gs _m + αGd _m B _m = (1-α) Bs _m + αBd _m FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the relationship between the depth value and the blur density in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a gazing point 620 is given in the line-of-sight direction 612 of the virtual camera by a given algorithm, and a predetermined range in the vicinity of the gazing point 620 is set as a focus range 630. A blurred area 650 is set.

Here, Z ₃ ', Z ₂ ', Z ₁ ',
Z ₀ ', Z ₀ , Z ₁ , Z ₂ and Z ₃ represent depth values,
It is assumed that Z ₀ 'and Z ₀ , Z ₁ ' and Z ₁ , Z ₂ 'and Z ₂ , Z ₃ ' and Z ₃ are different from the gazing point, and α ₀ , α ₁ , α ₂ , α ₃
Is the depth of blur.

In the present embodiment, the focus range 630, the blurring area 640 in the front direction and the blurring area 6 in the back direction.
In order to fit the boundary with 50, the blur density is set to α ₀ <
It is set to a value such that α ₁ <α ₂ <α ₃ ... Then, the value of the α value at the time of performing the alpha blending process is determined based on the density of this blur.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining an operation example of the blurring process in the depth direction in this embodiment. The blurring process in the back direction is a blurring process performed on the blurring region in the back direction in FIG.

An image after perspective projection conversion (hereinafter referred to as an original image) is drawn in the frame buffer (step S1).
0). An original image in a non-blurred state is drawn in the frame buffer by performing a normal rendering process once.

An image obtained by slightly shifting the original image in the frame buffer is set as a blurring texture (step S20).

Then, thresholds SZ _{1 to} SZ _N for determining the blur area and α values α _{1 to} α _N corresponding thereto are set (step S30). In the present embodiment, steps S50 to S1 are performed on the pixels selected by each threshold value.
00 blurring processing is performed. Since only N threshold values are given here, the blurring process of steps S50 to S100 is performed N times.

Next, the variables are initialized (n = 0, m = 0). Here, the variable n is a variable representing the number of blurring processes, and the variable m is a variable representing the pixel number of the frame buffer.

While incrementing the variable n (step S50), step S is performed until the blurring processing is completed N times.
The processing of 50 to S100 is performed.

Further, while incrementing the variable m (step S60), the processing of S60 to S90 is performed until the processing is completed for all the pixels of the frame buffer.

[0095] Here, when Z value PZ _m pixels for each pixel FP _m of the frame buffer is deeper than the threshold SZ _n is the pixel TP _m pixel FP _m and blur textures of the frame buffer, alpha _A semi-transparent drawing process (α blending process) is performed using _n (step S70,
S80).

The color information of the pixel FP _m of the frame buffer is Cs _m (Rs ₁ , Gs ₁ , Bs ₁ ) and the pixel TP of the texture.
_If the color information of _m is Cd _m (Rd ₂ , Gd ₂ , Bd ₂ ), α blending processing (see the following equations (1) to (4)) is performed using α _n , and each pixel is processed. The color information C _m (R _m , G _m , B _m ) of the blurred image is calculated.

C _m = C _pm · α _n + C _pm (1-α _n ) ... (1) R _m = R _pm · α _n + R _pm (1-α _n ) ... (2) G _m = G _{pm · α n + G pm (1} -α n) ‥‥ (3) B m = B pm · α n + B pm (1-α n) ‥‥ (4) by doing so, blurring only the pixel of interest Processing can be performed.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining an operation example of the blurring process in the front direction in the present embodiment. The frontward blurring process is a blurring process performed on the frontward blurring region in FIG.

Similar to the case of the depth direction, first, the image after perspective projection conversion (hereinafter referred to as the original image) is drawn in the frame buffer (step S210).

Then, the Z value of the frame buffer is inverted (step S220), and a blurring process in the depth direction (steps S20 to S100 in FIG. 7) is performed using the inverted Z value (step S230). Here, for example, the inverted Z value may be, for example, 1-PZ _m if the Z value of the frame buffer is PZ _m .

After that, a process of returning the inverted Z value to the original value by reversing it is performed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a game image when the blurring process is performed stepwise in the depth direction in this embodiment. In the game image of FIG. 9, a portion close to the viewpoint position is set as a focus range, and pixels are selected by threshold values SZ ₁ , SZ ₂ , and SZ ₃ (SZ ₁ <SZ ₂ <SZ ₃ ) so that the depth value becomes more blurred. It is an example of an image when the blurring process is performed step by step. An image 710 in front of the screen is the focus range and is in focus. A pixel area 720 is SZ ₁ <depth value <SZ ₂ and is an area to which the blurring process has been performed once. A pixel area 730 is SZ ₂ <depth value <SZ ₃ and is an area in which the blurring process has been performed twice. Reference numeral 730 denotes a pixel area with SZ ₃ <depth value, which is an area on which blur processing has been performed three times. As the number of times the blurring process is performed increases, the degree of blurring increases, so
As shown in FIG. 9, a farther blurred image can be generated.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a game image when blur processing is performed in the depth direction and the front direction in the present embodiment. In the game image of FIG. 10, the threshold value SZ ₁ ', SZ ₁ , (SZ ₁ '<depth value of the gazing point <SZ ₁ ) is set so that the car near the center of the screen becomes the gazing point and the depth value becomes more distant from the gazing point. It is an example of an image when pixels are selected by and blur processing is performed in stages. An image 820 in the center of the screen is the focus range and is in focus. Reference numeral 810 denotes a pixel area having a depth value <SZ ₁ ', which is an area where blur processing has been performed once. Reference numeral 830 denotes a pixel area with SZ ₁ <depth value, which is an area where blur processing has been performed once.

In this way, by performing the blurring processing in the depth direction and the front direction before and after the gazing point, it is possible to generate a blurred image as the depth value is farther from the gazing point.

3. Hardware Configuration Next, an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The main processor 900 is a CD982.
It operates based on a program stored in the (information storage medium), a program transferred via the communication interface 990, a program stored in the ROM 950 (one of the information storage media), game processing, image processing,
Various processing such as sound processing is executed.

The coprocessor 902 assists the processing of the main processor 900, has a product-sum calculator and a divider capable of high-speed parallel calculation, and executes matrix calculation (vector calculation) at high speed. For example, when a physical simulation for moving or moving an object requires a process such as a matrix calculation, a program operating on the main processor 900 instructs (requests) the coprocessor 902 to perform the process. ) Do.

The geometry processor 904 performs geometry processing such as coordinate transformation, perspective transformation, light source calculation, and curved surface generation, has a product-sum calculator and a divider capable of high-speed parallel calculation, and performs matrix calculation (vector calculation). Calculation) is executed at high speed. For example, when processing such as coordinate transformation, perspective transformation, and light source calculation is performed, the program running on the main processor 900 instructs the geometry processor 904 to perform the processing.

The data decompression processor 906 performs a decoding process for decompressing the compressed image data and sound data, and a process for accelerating the decoding process of the main processor 900. As a result, a moving image compressed by the MPEG system or the like can be displayed on the opening screen, the intermission screen, the ending screen, the game screen, or the like. The image data and sound data to be decoded are stored in the ROM 950,
It is stored in the CD 982 or transferred from the outside via the communication interface 990.

The drawing processor 910 is for executing the drawing (rendering) processing of an object composed of primitive surfaces such as polygons and curved surfaces at high speed. When drawing an object, the main processor 900
Uses the function of the DMA controller 970 to pass the object data to the drawing processor 910 and
If necessary, the texture is transferred to the texture storage unit 924. Then, the drawing processor 910 draws the object in the frame buffer 922 at high speed while performing hidden surface removal using a Z buffer or the like based on these object data and texture. In addition, the drawing processor 910 uses α blending (semi-transparency processing), mip mapping, fog processing, trilinear processing.
Filtering, anti-aliasing, shading processing, etc. can also be performed. Then, when the image for one frame is written in the frame buffer 922, the image is displayed on the display 912.

The sound processor 930 incorporates a multi-channel ADPCM sound source, etc., and generates high-quality game sounds such as BGM, sound effects, and sounds. The generated game sound is output from the speaker 932.

The operation data from the game controller 942, save data from the memory card 944, and personal data are transferred via the serial interface 940.

The ROM 950 stores system programs and the like. In the case of the arcade game system, the ROM 950 functions as an information storage medium,
Various programs are stored in 950. A hard disk may be used instead of the ROM 950.

The RAM 960 is used as a work area for various processors.

The DMA controller 970 is a DM between processors and memories (RAM, VRAM, ROM, etc.).
It controls the A transfer.

The CD drive 980 is a CD 982 in which programs, image data, sound data, etc. are stored.
(Information storage medium) is driven to enable access to these programs and data.

The communication interface 990 is an interface for transferring data with the outside via a network. In this case, as the network connected to the communication interface 990, a communication line (analog telephone line, ISDN), a high-speed serial interface bus, or the like can be considered. And
Data can be transferred via the Internet by using the communication line. Also, by using the bus of high-speed serial interface, other image generation system,
It is possible to transfer data to / from another game system or an information processing device (personal computer, printer, mouse, keyboard) or the like.

The respective means of the present invention may be executed entirely by hardware, or only by a program stored in an information storage medium or a program distributed via a communication interface. Good. Alternatively, it may be executed by both hardware and a program.

When each means of the present invention is executed by both hardware and a program, a program (program and program for executing each means of the present invention is executed on the information storage medium. Data) will be stored. More specifically, the program is executed by each of the processors 902, 904, which are hardware,
The processing is instructed to 906, 910, 930, etc., and data is passed if necessary. Then, each processor 90
2, 904, 906, 910, 930, etc. will execute the respective means of the present invention based on the instruction and the passed data.

FIG. 12A shows an example in which this embodiment is applied to an arcade game system. The player enjoys the game by operating the lever 1102, the buttons 1104, etc. while watching the game image displayed on the display 1100. Various processors, various memories, etc. are mounted on the built-in system board (circuit board) 1106. The program (or program and data) for executing each unit of the present invention is the memory 1 which is an information storage medium on the system board 1106.
It is stored in 108. Hereinafter, this information will be referred to as stored information.

FIG. 12B shows an example in which this embodiment is applied to a home game system. While watching the game image displayed on the display 1200, the player operates the game controllers 1202 and 1204 to enjoy the game. In this case, the above-mentioned stored information is stored in the CD 1206 or the memory cards 1208, 1209, which is an information storage medium that can be detachably attached to the main body system.

FIG. 12C shows a host device 1300,
This host device 1300 and network 1302 (LA
A terminal 130 connected via a small network such as N or a wide area network such as the Internet)
An example in which the present embodiment is applied to a system including 4-1 to 1304-n will be described. In this case, the stored information is, for example, a magnetic disk device that can be controlled by the host device 1300,
It is stored in an information storage medium 1306 such as a magnetic tape device or a memory. When the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n are capable of standalone generation of game images and game sounds, the host device 1300 sends game images,
A game program or the like for generating a game sound is provided on the terminal 1
It is delivered to 304-1 to 1304-n. On the other hand, when it cannot be generated standalone, the host device 1300 generates a game image and a game sound, and the terminal device 1304-1 ...
It will be transmitted to 1304-n and output at the terminal.

In the case of the configuration of FIG. 12C, the respective means of the present invention may be distributed and executed by the host device (server) and the terminal. Further, the above stored information for executing each means of the present invention may be distributed and stored in the information storage medium of the host device (server) and the information storage medium of the terminal.

The terminal connected to the network may be a home game system or an arcade game system. When the arcade game system is connected to a network, a portable information storage device is capable of exchanging information with the arcade game system and also with the home game system. (Memory card, portable game device) is preferably used.

The present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the inventions according to the dependent claims of the present invention, it is possible to omit some of the constituent elements of the dependent claims. Further, a main part of the invention according to one independent claim of the present invention can be made dependent on another independent claim.

In the present embodiment, when a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing is subjected to semi-transparent drawing processing by using pixels in the vicinity of the pixel, semi-transparent drawing processing is performed using an image obtained by shifting the original image. The case has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, instead of the semi-transparent drawing process, the color information combining operation may be performed pixel by pixel and the operation result may be written in the drawing area.

Also, for example, as an image related to the original image, 1
The semi-transparent drawing process may be performed using the image before the frame, or the semi-transparent drawing process may be performed using the image obtained by processing the original image.

Further, the α blending process has been described as an example of the semi-transparent drawing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, α addition processing or α subtraction processing may be performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the case of performing the stepwise blurring, the case where the blurring processing is performed in a superimposed manner by dividing the pixel set specified by each threshold into a plurality of times has been described as an example. Is not limited to this. For example, different α values may be set according to the depth value of each pixel, and stepwise blurring may be performed in a single blurring process using different α values for each pixel.

Further, the present embodiment has been described by taking the case where the depth value increases as the distance from the viewpoint increases, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the depth value may decrease as the distance from the viewpoint increases.

Further, the present invention is applicable to various games other than racing games (fighting games, shooting games, robot battle games, sports games, competition games, role-playing games, music playing games, dance games, etc.).
Applicable to

The present invention is also applicable to various images such as a game system for business use, a game system for home use, a large attraction system in which a large number of players participate, a simulator, a multimedia terminal, an image generation system, and a system board for generating a game image. Applicable to generation system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a block diagram of an image generation system of this embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining an example of selecting pixels to be subjected to blurring processing using a threshold value.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a three-dimensional positional relationship between an object before perspective projection conversion of a threshold value and a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for conceptually explaining the principle of an example of blurring processing using an original image according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of a method of generating a texture image by shifting an original image and performing a semi-transparent drawing process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a relationship between a depth value and a blur density according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagram for explaining an operation example of a blurring process in the depth direction in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of a blurring process in the front direction according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an example of a game image when the blurring process is performed stepwise in the depth direction in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an example of a game image when blur processing is performed in the depth direction and the front direction in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the present embodiment.

12 (A), (B), and (C) are diagrams showing examples of various types of systems to which the present embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 processing unit 110 Game processing unit 112 Movement / motion calculation unit 114 gazing point setting section 140 image generator 142 Geometry processing unit 144 Blur processing unit 146 Drawing unit 150 sound generator 160 Operation part 170 storage 172 main memory 174 frame buffer 176 Texture storage 180 Information storage medium 190 Display 192 sound output section 194 Portable information storage device 196 Communications Department

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C001 AA09 BA02 BA05 BA06 BC04                       BC05 BC08 CB01 CB03 CB06                       CB08                 5B050 AA08 BA08 BA09 BA18 CA02                       CA07 CA08 EA09 EA15 EA24                       EA27 EA28 FA02 FA05 FA10                 5B080 BA04 CA01 CA03 FA02 FA03                       FA17 GA02 GA22

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image generation system for generating an image in a three-dimensional space, comprising a blurring process based on a depth value of each pixel in a drawing area in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn. An image generation system comprising: a unit for determining a target pixel; and a unit for performing a pixel-by-pixel combination process on a pixel to be a blurring target by using pixels in the vicinity thereof. 2. An image generation system for generating an image in a three-dimensional space, comprising a blurring process based on a depth value of each pixel in a drawing region in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn. A means for determining a pixel to be a target, a pixel to be a blurring target, the given image, an image close to the given image, an image related to the given image, the given An image generation system comprising: means for performing a pixel-by-pixel combination process using any one of the processed images. 3. An information storage medium usable by a computer for generating an image in a three-dimensional space, wherein a depth value of each pixel is set in a drawing area in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn. A means for determining a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing based on the blurring means, a means for performing pixel-by-pixel combining processing using pixels in the vicinity of the pixel to be blurring processing, and a program for executing An information storage medium characterized by being provided. 4. A computer-usable information storage medium for generating an image in a three-dimensional space, wherein a depth value of each pixel is set in a drawing area in which a given image after perspective projection conversion is drawn. A means for determining a pixel to be subjected to blurring processing based on the given image, an image close to the given image, and a pixel related to the given image with respect to the pixel to be subjected to the blurring processing. An information storage medium, which stores an image and a unit for performing pixel-by-pixel combining processing using any one of an image obtained by processing the given image, and a program for executing the following.