JP2003077009A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of reducing calculation processing quantity for image composition and processing accompanied by it. SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with a storage means 4 for storing an image data including a shape data of an object, an image composition means 21 for conducting image composition based on the image data read out from the storage means 4 and outputting a video signal, and a control means 1 for controlling the image composition in the image composition means 21 in accordance with a predetermined program. As the shape data of the object, the shape of the object is made to be a data divided into a hierarchical structure. A display image of the object represented in a three dimensional space is formed by calculation in accordance with the program with the usage of the shape data hierarchically structured in the control means 1. The formed display image is image-composed in the image composition means 21.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image data as a moving image recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.
The present invention relates to an image creating apparatus that creates an image to be displayed on an RT display or the like. A CD-ROM for recording digital data as pits on an optical disk has a large recording capacity and is used as an external recording medium in a game machine or a personal computer using a microcomputer. It is considered that moving image (animation) image data is recorded on the CD-ROM, the image data is read out and supplied to a host computer, and the moving image is displayed on a display such as a CRT. In this case, it is necessary to change the manner in which the moving image displayed on the display of the game machine is displayed as the game progresses. That is, unlike the case where a video program such as a movie is reproduced from a VTR or the like, an image to be displayed next changes depending on the operation state of the game.
Therefore, in order to smoothly advance the game, it is necessary to perform a process of sequentially changing the display image on the computer side (that is, creating a sequential display image) in accordance with the operation state of the game. Here, as a configuration of an actual game machine using a CD-ROM, image data read from the CD-ROM and a program for creating a display image from the image data are stored on the host computer side of the game machine main body. The image data stored in the memory is transferred to the buffer memory prepared in the above, and necessary processing is performed on the image data to obtain display image data. This display image data is a video signal in a predetermined format (NTSC system, etc.). As output. By the way, as an image display mode performed in such a game machine, there is a case where a certain object is displayed while being sequentially deformed. For example, considering the case where a human arm is displayed as a moving image, FIG.
Since the arm moves around the joints P1, P2, and P3, for example, the hand at the tip of the arm affects the display position by movement at all the joints P1, P2, and P3. It becomes a very complicated movement. For this reason, when displaying a deformed object such as an arm as a moving image, a very complicated calculation process is required for the image composition process. [0006] Further, as a game performed by displaying an image on a game machine, there is a type of game in which an object such as an airplane is displayed in the image and the object is shot down with a missile or the like. In such a case, the coordinate position of the aircraft and the coordinate position of the missile are determined, and it is assumed that the two coordinate positions have overlapped. Display an image to be displayed). When such processing is performed, if the target object such as an airplane is an object expressed in a three-dimensional space, it has very complicated data as coordinate data, and arithmetic processing for collision determination is performed. In order to do so, a very complicated calculation process was required. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image creating apparatus of this kind that can reduce the amount of calculation processing for image composition and processing accompanying it. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, storage means 4 for storing image data including shape data of an object, and image data read from the storage means 4 are stored. An image composition means 21 for performing image composition on the basis of the image composition and outputting a video signal; and a control means 1 for controlling image composition in the image composition means 21 according to a predetermined program. The data is obtained by dividing the shape into a hierarchical structure, and calculation according to a program using the hierarchically structured shape data in the control means 1
A display image of an object expressed in a three-dimensional space is formed, and the formed display image is synthesized by the image synthesis means 21. Further, the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG.
Storage means for storing image data including object shape data, and image composition means 21 for performing image composition based on the image data read from the storage means 4 and outputting a video signal
And control means 1 for controlling the image composition in the image composition means 21 in accordance with a predetermined program, and as the object shape data, the first shape data indicating the actual shape of the object, and the object is simplified. Second shape data indicating the shape of the object is prepared, and a display image of the object represented in the three-dimensional space is formed by calculation according to a program using the first shape data in the control unit 1; The formed display image is converted into a video signal by the image synthesizing unit, and the display mode determination calculation by the control unit 1 is performed using the second shape data. The object shape data is obtained by dividing the object shape into a hierarchical structure, so that the calculation processing of the change in the composite state of the display image according to the change in the object shape can be performed in the hierarchical structure. It becomes systematic and can be done with a small amount of calculation. Further, by preparing the first shape data indicating the actual shape of the object and the second shape data indicating the simplified shape of the object, the situation of the collision of the display image is simulated. When performing a simple calculation, the use of the second shape data simplifies the calculation process and enables a small calculation amount. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this example, as the game is executed, C
An image creating apparatus that reads out image data recorded in a D-ROM and displays an animation or the like is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central control unit (CPU) constituted by a microcomputer. The central control unit 1 is connected to a control pad 2 and is operated according to the operation of keys and the like arranged on the control pad 2. The game progresses and each part is controlled. In this case, a backup memory 3 is connected to the central controller 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a CD-ROM reproducing unit. An optical disc (CD) mounted on the CD-ROM reproducing unit 4 is shown.
-Reproduce data such as game programs from ROM). Then, the data reproduced from the CD-ROM reproducing unit 4 is supplied to the CD-ROM decoding unit 5 to decode the data. In this case, a buffer memory 6 is connected to the CD-ROM decoder 5. Here, the recording data of the CD-ROM reproduced by the CD-ROM reproducing unit 4 of this example will be described. The image data recorded on the CD-ROM is expressed in a three-dimensional space. Modeling data and geometry data as object image data are included.
This modeling data is data indicating the shape of the object, and is composed of a collection of polygon data that is a polygon connecting the vertices of the shape of the object. The geometry data is data indicating the coordinate position (coordinate system) where the object is displayed. In this example, as modeling data for each object, there are two types of modeling: a collection of polygon data indicating the actual shape of the object, and a collection of polygon data indicating the simplified virtual shape of the object. Data is prepared and recorded on a CD-ROM.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the modeling data of the object is composed of a first polygon group indicating the actual shape of the object and a second polygon group indicating the simplified virtual shape of the object. In this case, since the shape of the second polygon group is simple, the number of polygons formed is smaller than that of the first polygon group, and the amount of data is accordingly reduced. Further, when the object is deformed, modeling data of the object is divided into a plurality of parts according to the deformation state, and each divided data has a hierarchical structure. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of image data for displaying a human arm, modeling data for the upper arm a, modeling data for the lower arm b,
Divided into 3 pieces of modeling data of hand c. The upper arm a and the body are connected at the joint P1, and the upper arm a is connected at the joint P2.
And the lower arm b are connected, and the joint P3 is instructed to connect the lower arm b and the hand c, and the movement of the entire arm (X in FIG. 2) is shown in FIG. The movement of each part is hierarchical so that the movement of the lower arm (Y in FIG. 2) moves the arm b and the hand c, and the movement of the hand (Z in FIG. 2) can move only the hand c. Keep it in the structure. Due to such a hierarchical structure, as shown in FIG. 4, when the arm is rotated around the joint P1, the coordinate conversion processing of all the arms a and b and the hand c is required. When the arm is rotated around the center, the coordinate conversion processing of the arm b and the hand c is necessary, and when the hand is rotated around the joint P3, the coordinate conversion processing of only the hand c is necessary. Then, the data reproduced from the CD-ROM comprising the recording data and decoded by the CD-ROM decoder 5 is transferred to the main memory 7 via the bus line, and the central controller 1 Processing necessary for control is performed. In this case, the memory controller 8 is connected to the bus line, and data is written to and read from the main memory 7 under the control of the memory controller 8 in accordance with a command from the central controller 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a voice synthesis circuit. The voice synthesis circuit 11 is supplied with voice data and a program for decoding the voice data from the main memory 7 via a bus line, and the voice data is converted based on the decoding program. Performs audio processing for decoding into a digital audio signal, supplies the obtained digital audio signal to the audio output circuit 13 to convert it into an analog audio signal, and outputs audio from a speaker connected to the output terminal 14 of the audio output circuit 13 Let
In this case, the speech synthesis circuit 11 includes a buffer memory 12.
Are connected, and the buffer memory 12 is used for audio processing. Reference numeral 21 denotes an image composition unit. The image composition unit 21 is supplied with image data and a program for decoding the image data from the main memory 7 or the CD-ROM decoding unit 5 via the bus line. Is synthesized into an image of one field based on a decoding program. In this case, two field memories 22 and 23 are connected to the image synthesizing unit 21, and these two memories 22 and 23 are alternately used in a one-field cycle to obtain 1
Performs field image composition processing. That is, in a certain field period, image data is written in one memory 22 according to a program to perform image composition processing,
The image data written in the other memory 23 is read and output. In the next field period, image data written in one memory 22 is read out and output, and at the same time, image composition processing is performed in which image data is written in the other memory 23 according to a program. Therefore, one image (1 in the image composition unit 21 using both memories 22 and 23).
Field) image composition processing is normally completed within one field period. This image composition process
Based on the program stored in the main memory 7, the control is performed by the central controller 1. However, the main memory 7
The image data and the like are transferred from the image composition unit 21 to the image composition unit 21 side under the control of the memory controller 8. In this way, the two memories 22, 23
Is used to alternately perform image composition processing in one field period, and the image data read from both memories 22 and 23 is supplied from the image composition unit 21 to the image output unit 24, and NTSC.
The video signal is output from the output terminal 25 as a video signal of a predetermined format such as a system, and the synthesized image is displayed on the screen of the monitor receiver 26 connected to the output terminal 25. Reference numeral 31 denotes a coordinate conversion unit. The coordinate conversion unit 31 performs conversion processing of modeling data and geometry data included in image data transferred to the main memory 7 and the like. In other words, in this example, when image synthesis of an object expressed in a three-dimensional space is performed, the data of the object expressed in the three-dimensional space is data indicating at least the shape of the object as described above. It consists of modeling data and geometry data which is data indicating the coordinate position (coordinate system) where the object is displayed. Then, when it is necessary to change the coordinate position of the object indicated by the modeling data as the game progresses, the coordinate conversion unit 31 converts the geometry data stored in the main memory 7. This conversion process is necessary, for example, when deforming an object to be displayed, and is performed under the control of the central controller 1. Next, a description will be given of processing in the case of synthesizing an image of an object expressed in a three-dimensional space using the modeling data and geometry data. In this example, since modeling data and geometry data are recorded on the CD-ROM, when performing this image synthesis, the modeling data and geometry data are stored on the CD.
Reproduce from ROM and transfer to main memory 7 The modeling data and geometry data stored in the main memory 7 are supplied to the image composition unit 21 while being subjected to coordinate conversion processing by the coordinate conversion unit 31 as necessary, and the image composition memory 22 is supplied. Alternatively, data is written in an area corresponding to the display location of 23, image data to be displayed after being synthesized is obtained, the image data written in the memory 22 or 23 is read, and the video output unit 24 Get a signal. Here, in this example, when the object is deformed, the modeling data of the object is divided into a plurality of parts according to the deformation state, and each divided data has a hierarchical structure. The coordinate conversion processing of modeling data for image composition can be performed with a small amount of calculation. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, since the hierarchical structure is selected, modeling data to be subjected to necessary coordinate transformation is selected according to the state of movement of the object. For example, in the example of FIG. In the case of just rotating around the center, only the modeling data of the hand c need be coordinate-transformed, the modeling data of the arms a and b need not be coordinate-transformed, and the calculation processing amount is reduced accordingly. . In this example, when calculating the collision of an object displayed on the image, the arithmetic processing for this can be executed by a simple calculation. That is, in this example, as modeling data for each object, a collection of polygon data indicating the actual shape of the object, and a collection of polygon data indicating the simplified virtual shape of the object,
Since two types of modeling data are prepared and recorded on the CD-ROM, by using polygon data indicating the actual shape of the object for image composition processing, as shown in FIG. M1 is displayed. Then, in order to determine the collision between the object M1 and another object, a simplified virtual object M2 of the object (the object shape M2 indicated by the broken line is not actually displayed) is used. The collision can be determined only by determining the coordinate position of an object having a simple shape. For example, when determining the collision position of each part (fuselage, wing, etc.) of an airplane as shown in FIG. In comparison, the amount of calculation processing can be greatly reduced. As described above, since the amount of data calculation processing is reduced in each case, the time required for data processing can be shortened, and the composition processing of one field image is completed within one field period. And will be able to process the video in real time. If the collision determination is performed using the virtual shape, a slight error may occur from the actual image display collision state. However, there is no problem in the progress of the game in a normal game machine. Error. In the above embodiment, the virtual shape data is used for the collision determination. However, the virtual shape data may be used for calculations associated with image processing other than the collision determination. In the above embodiment, only the case where an image of an object expressed in a three-dimensional space is displayed using modeling data and geometry data has been described. However, only a part of the synthesized image is displayed. An image formed using modeling data and geometry data may be used, and image data having other data structures may be used for other portions. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an image display device of a game machine, but it can also be applied to other similar image composition devices. As a recording medium for image data, a CD-R
A recording medium other than OM may be used. According to the present invention, the object shape data is obtained by dividing the object shape into a hierarchical structure, so that the change in the composite state of the display image corresponding to the change in the object shape can be achieved. Arithmetic processing is organized in a hierarchical structure and can be performed with a small amount of calculation, and simple data processing suitable for real-time processing of moving images can be performed. Further, by preparing the first shape data indicating the actual shape of the object and the second shape data indicating the simplified shape of the object, the situation of the collision of the display image is simulated. When performing a simple calculation, using the second shape data simplifies the calculation process and can be performed with a small amount of calculation, and simple data processing suitable for real-time processing of a moving image can be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical structure of data to which one embodiment is applied. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cooperative state of movement in a hierarchical structure according to an embodiment. . FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a modeling data formation state according to an embodiment; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed according to an embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols] 1 Central control unit (CPU) 4 CD-ROM playback unit 5 CD-ROM decoding unit 7 Main memory 8 Memory controller 21 Image composition unit 24 Image output unit 31 Coordinate conversion unit

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. Storage means for storing image data including shape data of an object; and image composition means for performing image composition based on image data read from the storage means and outputting a video signal. And control means for controlling creation of the image composition by the image composition means according to a predetermined program, and the first shape indicating the actual shape of the object as the shape data of the object
And the second shape data indicating the simplified shape of the object are prepared, and in the three-dimensional space by the calculation according to the program using the first shape data in the control means The display image of the object expressed in (3) is formed, the formed display image is combined by the image combining unit, and the calculation for display mode determination by the control unit is performed using the second shape data. An image creation device designed to be used.