JPH02166575A - Picture producing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit an object data conversion/transfer process by providing plural object data memory parts which can write the object data at one time via an object data arithmetic part and also can read the object data independently out of each picture production arithmetic part. CONSTITUTION:The arithmetic results of an object data arithmetic part are stored in the plural object data memory parts 3a - 3c, then the object data necessary for production of pictures of the allocated partial picture areas are read out of the parts 3a - 3c connected with the picture production arithmetic parts 2, 4b and 4c respectively for production of pictures. As a result, the object data conversion/transfer time can be omitted and therefore the object data conversion/transfer operation is not required. Furthermore the working efficiency of the object data arithmetic part is substantially improved since a master process part 2 and the plural slave process parts 4b and 4c perform the computing operations for production of pictures after the part 2 computed the object data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image generation device that generates an image of an object.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image generation devices have been used in a wide range of fields such as displaying CAD/CAM computer simulation results. However, since image generation requires a huge amount of calculations, a large number of expensive high-speed calculation units are required to generate images in a practical calculation time.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional image generation device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of a conventional image generation device. In FIG. 2, 11 is an object data input section. 12 is an object data calculation unit, 13゜151L, 1
sb is an object data memory section, 14 is an object data conversion and transfer section, 16a and 1ab are image generation calculation sections, and 17 is an image display section.

The operation of the image generation device configured as described above will be described below.

First, the object data input unit 11 inputs data necessary for image generation, such as the position and shape of the object, the optical properties of the surface, the position, shape, and intensity distribution of the light source, the position of the viewpoint, and the direction of the line of sight. The object data calculation unit 12 performs calculations such as converting the shape and position of the object into a coordinate system with the viewpoint position as the origin and the direction of the line of sight as the coordinate axis, and the results are stored in the object data memory unit 13.
Let me remember it. The object data conversion and transfer section 14 selects only the data necessary for image generation from the object data memory section 13 and writes them into the object data memory sections 151L and 15b at the same time. Image generation calculation units 16IL and 1sb are connected to object data memory units 15&, 15, respectively.
Object data necessary for image generation of the allocated partial image area is read from b to generate an image, and the image is output to the image display section 17. (For example, Information Processing Society of Japan Computer Architecture Study Group Material 86-0-58-5) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the image generation time can be shortened by providing a large number of image generation calculation units. However, the overall operating time is not reduced below the object data conversion and transfer time.

In addition, an expensive high-speed computing unit is required to shorten the object data computation time, but since object data computation requires less computation compared to image generation computation, the image generation computation unit and object data computation unit If a computing unit with the same performance is used for the object data computing section, there is a problem in that the operating rate of the object data computing section is low.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an image generation device that does not require conversion and transfer of object data, increases the operating rate of the object data calculation section, and has high cost performance.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image generation device of the present invention has a plurality of image generation devices capable of simultaneously writing object data from the object data calculation section and reading object data independently from each image generation calculation section. It is equipped with an object data memory section.

Furthermore, in order to increase the operating rate of the object data calculation section, the apparatus is provided with a parent processing section that executes image generation calculation after the object data calculation ends and outputs the generated image to the image display section.

Effect of the present invention With the above-described configuration, the calculation results of the object data calculation section are stored in a plurality of object data memory sections,
To eliminate object data conversion and transfer time by reading object data necessary for image generation of an allocated partial image area from an object data memory section to which a plurality of image generation calculation sections are respectively connected and generating an image. becomes possible.

Further, after the parent processing unit performs object data calculation, the parent processing unit and a plurality of child processing units perform image generation calculations, thereby making it possible to substantially increase the operating rate of the object data calculation unit.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an image generation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of an image generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an object data input section. The object data input section and the parent processing section 2 are connected. The parent processing unit 2 includes a plurality of object data memory units 3.
+! L, 3b, and 30 are connected. The read signal of the object data memory section 31L is connected to the parent processing section 2, the read signal of the object data memory section 3b is connected to the child processing section 4b, and the read signal of the object data memory section 3c is connected to the child processing section 4C.

Image output signals from the parent processing section 2 and child processing sections 4b and 40 are connected to an image display section 6.

The operation of the image generating apparatus configured as described above will be explained using FIG. 1.

First, the object data input unit 1 inputs data necessary for image generation, such as the position and shape of the object, the optical properties of the surface, the position, shape, and intensity distribution of the light source, the position of the viewpoint, and the direction of the line of sight.

The parent processing unit 2 performs calculations such as converting the shape and position of the object into a coordinate system with the viewpoint position as the origin and the direction of the line of sight as the coordinate axis, and transmits the results to a plurality of object data memory units 3iL,
3b and 30 are written and stored at the same time.

Next, the parent processing unit 2 and the child processing units 4b and 4c are connected to the object data memory unit 3! L.

Object data necessary for image generation of the allocated partial image area is read out from sb and 3c, an image is generated, and the image is output to the image display unit 6.

As described above, according to this embodiment, object data can be simultaneously written from a parent processing unit that performs object data calculations, and object data can be read independently from the parent processing unit and child processing units that perform image generation calculations. By providing the object data memory section, the object data conversion and transfer processing that was conventionally necessary becomes unnecessary, and the processing time of the entire image generation apparatus can be shortened.

Furthermore, by providing a parent processing unit that performs image generation calculations after object data calculations, the object data calculation unit, which has hitherto had a low operating rate, can be used efficiently, and an image generation device with high cost performance can be provided.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention has a plurality of object data memory sections that can simultaneously write data from the object data calculation section and read object data independently from each image generation calculation section.
The object data conversion and transfer processing that was previously required is no longer necessary.
The processing time of the entire image generation device can be shortened.

Furthermore, by providing a parent processing unit that can sequentially execute object data calculations and image generation calculations, the object data calculation unit, which has hitherto had a low operating rate, can be used efficiently and cost performance can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional image generation device. 1...Object data input unit, 2...Parent processing unit, 31L, 3b, 30...Object data memory unit, 4b. 4G: child processing unit, 6: image display unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) an object data calculation section that processes object data indicating the shape and optical properties of the surface of the object; a plurality of object data memory sections into which object data can be directly and simultaneously written from the object data calculation section; An image generation device comprising a plurality of image generation calculation units that directly and independently read object data from each object memory unit and perform image generation calculations. (2) An image generation device characterized by comprising a parent processing section that sequentially executes object data calculations and image generation operations, and a child processing section that executes image generation operations.