JPH04216183A - Method and device for drawing picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To store object data in plural processor in a scattered state so as to reduce the required storing capacity. CONSTITUTION:A spatial area 21 in which object data expressed in a screen coordinate system is contained is divided into sections along the direction parallel to a screen 22. Then such a process that the divided spatial section containing the largest number of objects is further divided is repeated until the number of objects contained in a divided section becomes smaller than the quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the numbers of objects contained in each divided spatial section by the number of processors. Then another process for assigning one divided spatial section to each processor is repeated from the divided spatial section containing the largest number of objects. The object data contained in the divided spatial space assigned to each processor are stored and the picture in a divided screen area 24 corresponding to an assigned divided spatial section 23 is drawn.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image generation method and apparatus for generating an image from shape data of an object and viewpoint position data.

0002

[Prior Art] In recent years, image generation methods and devices have been widely used in design simulation, interior simulation,
It is used for landscape simulation.

Conventional image generation methods and devices include:
For example, Information Processing Society of Japan 32nd National Conference Proceedings 2079~
It is shown on page 2080.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional image generation method and apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 3
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image generation device. 10 is a host computer, 11a and 11b are processor elements, 12 is a local storage section, 13 is a calculation section, and 14 is a display section.

[0005] A conventional image generation device configured as described above will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 4 and 5 are conceptual diagrams showing divided screen areas in which each processor element of a conventional image generation device is responsible for image generation.

First, the host computer 10 transfers all object data to the local storage units 12 of all the processor elements 11a to 11b, and then each processor element transfers the image within the divided image area 24 responsible for image generation as shown in FIG. is generated and transferred to the display unit 14, and the image is displayed.

Further, the host computer 10 allocates the divided image areas 24 shown in FIG.
Each processor element generates an image within the divided image area shown in FIG. 5 and transfers it to the display unit 14 to display the image.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above configuration, the method of allocating divided image regions to each processor element as shown in FIG. The problem was that it was necessary. Furthermore, in the method of allocating divided image regions to each processor element shown in FIG. Since the image generation processing time of the processor elements differs greatly, there has been a problem that the performance of the entire processor element cannot be effectively utilized.

Furthermore, in the method of allocating divided image regions to each processor element shown in FIG. 5, by moving the viewpoint and object and changing the shape of the object, There was a problem in that the object data had to be retransferred from the host computer.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the storage capacity required for storing object data, and calculates the amount of object data contained in a divided spatial area corresponding to an allocated divided image area for each processor element. The object data contained in the divided space area corresponding to the allocated divided image area is transferred between the processor elements by moving the viewpoint and the object and changing the shape of the object. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image generation method and apparatus that reduce the amount of transfer and enable inexpensive and high-speed image generation.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the image generation method and apparatus of the present invention provide an image generation method and an apparatus for generating images that are larger in number than the total number of objects included in a divided spatial region divided by the number of processor elements. Until there are no more divided space regions,
The step of repeating the process of further dividing the divided space region containing the largest number of objects, and the process of allocating one divided space region containing the largest number of objects to each processor element one by one, are repeated until all the divided space regions are allocated. It has stages.

[0012] In addition, when generating a projected image of an object according to change data of the viewpoint, the position of the object, and the shape of the object,
The step of calculating the object average center position which is the average value of the center position of the spatial region in which each object exists over all objects, the step of calculating the object average center position which is the value obtained by averaging the center position of the spatial region where each object exists, the plane parallel to the screen after changing the viewpoint that passes through the object average center position, and each processor element The intersecting plane with the divided spatial area before the viewpoint change assigned to is determined, the divided spatial area is divided into divided spatial areas with the intersection plane as the bottom plane, and the total number of objects included in each divided spatial area is divided by the number of processor elements. The step of repeating the process of further dividing the divided space region containing the largest number of objects until there is no divided space region that has more objects than the number of objects; The process of allocating the object data included in a divided spatial region to the processor element that stores the largest amount of object data in its local storage means, and then allocating the remaining divided spatial regions to the remaining processor elements can be assigned to all processor elements. repeating the process until all the divided space regions are allocated; and the step of repeating the process until all the divided space regions are allocated; transferring the object data from the processor element already stored in the local storage means.

[0013]

[Operation] With the above-described configuration, the present invention reduces the storage capacity necessary for storing object data, and stores the amount of object data contained in the divided spatial regions corresponding to the allocated divided image regions for each processor element. The object data contained in the divided space area corresponding to the allocated divided image area is transferred between the processor elements by making them almost the same, moving the viewpoint and the object, and changing the shape of the object, and transferring the object data between the processor elements. It is possible to reduce the amount of images and generate images at low cost and at high speed.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image generation method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1a to 1b are processor elements, 2
is a local storage unit, 3 is a calculation unit, 4 is a divided space area storage unit,
5 is an object data storage unit, 6 is a divided image area storage unit, 7 is a storage unit for correspondence between divided spatial areas and processor elements,
8 is a display section, and 9 is a transfer section. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a spatial region where an object exists, its divided spatial regions, and divided screen regions in this embodiment.

The operation of the image generation method of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the processor element 1a receives object data and stores it in the object data storage section 5 of each processor element 1a-b in a distributed manner. Next, all processor elements 1a-b set the same viewpoint position and screen 22. Each of the processor elements 1a to 1b converts each object data stored in the object data storage section 5 into a screen coordinate system, determines a spatial region in which each object exists, and stores it in the divided spatial region storage section 4. Divided space area storage unit 5 of each processor element
A correspondence table between the spatial areas stored in 1 and each processor element is created and stored in the correspondence storage unit 7 between the divided spatial areas and processor elements of all the processor elements 1a to 1b. The center position of the spatial region in which each object exists is averaged over all objects, and the average center position of the object is defined as the object average center position.

The processor element 1a equally divides the spatial region 21 in which all objects exist in a direction parallel to the screen 22. Until there is no divided space area that contains more objects than the sum of the number of object data included in each divided space area 23 over all divided spaces divided by the number of processor elements, the divided space with the largest number of objects remains. The process of further dividing the area is repeated.

The processor element 1a creates a spatial list in which all divided spatial regions are arranged in descending order of the number of objects included, and enters all the processor elements into the processor list. The divided spatial region with the largest number of objects is extracted from the spatial list, one processor element is extracted from the processor list, and the extracted divided spatial region is assigned to the extracted processor element. If the processor list becomes empty, all processor elements are placed in the processor list. The above allocation process is repeated until the space list is empty.

The processor element 1a stores the divided space regions allocated to each processor element in the correspondence storage unit 7 between the divided space regions of all the processor elements 1a to 1b and the processor elements. In addition, a correspondence table between the objects included in each divided space area and the divided space area is created, and the correspondence table and the divided space area data are stored in the divided space area storage units 4 of all the processor elements 1a to 1b.

Each of the processor elements 1a to 1b refers to the divided spatial region storage section 4 and the correspondence storage section 7 between divided spatial regions and processor elements, and stores the object data included in the allocated divided spatial region. The data is transferred from the object data storage unit 5 of the processor element located therein and stored in the object data storage unit 5.

Each processor element 1a-b has a divided screen area 24 corresponding to the allocated divided space area 23.
is calculated and stored in the split screen area storage section 6. Each processor element 1a-b generates an image within the split screen area stored in the split screen area storage unit 7 from the object data stored in the object data storage unit 5, transfers it to the display unit 8,
Display the first frame image.

[0022] Next, all processor elements 1a-b
inputs change data of the viewpoint, the position of the object, and the shape of the object, and converts the object data stored in the object data storage section 5 into the changed screen coordinate system.

The processor element 1a finds an intersecting plane between a plane passing through the object average center position and parallel to the screen after the viewpoint change and the divided space area before the viewpoint change, and creates a screen after the viewpoint change with the intersecting plane as the bottom surface. in the direction parallel to
Divide the spatial region in which all objects exist to obtain new divided spatial regions. The divided space region with the largest number of objects continues until there is no divided space region that contains more objects than the sum of the number of object data included in each divided space region over all divided spaces divided by the number of processor elements. The process of further dividing is repeated.

The processor element 1a creates a spatial list in which all divided spatial regions are arranged in descending order of the number of objects included, and enters all the processor elements into the processor list. The divided spatial region with the largest number of objects is extracted from the spatial list, one processor element that stores the largest number of objects included in the retrieved divided spatial region is extracted from the processor list, and the retrieved divided spatial region is assigned to the retrieved processor element. Assign. If the processor list becomes empty, all processor elements are placed in the processor list. The above allocation process is repeated until the space list is empty.

The processor element 1a stores the divided space regions allocated to each processor element in the correspondence storage unit 7 between the divided space regions of all the processor elements 1a to 1b and the processor elements. In addition, a correspondence table between the objects included in each divided space area and the divided space area is created, and the correspondence table and the divided space area data are stored in the divided space area storage units 4 of all the processor elements 1a to 1b.

Each of the processor elements 1a to 1b refers to the divided space region storage section 4 and the correspondence storage section 7 between divided space regions and processor elements, and stores the object data already included in the allocated divided space region. The remaining object data excluding the object data stored in the storage section 5 is transferred from the object data storage section 5 of the processor element that has already stored it and stored in the object data storage section 5.

Each processor element 1a-b obtains a new split screen area 24 corresponding to the newly allocated split space area 23 and stores it in the split screen area storage section 6. Each processor element 1a-b generates an image within the split screen area stored in the split screen area storage unit 7 from the object data stored in the object data storage unit 5, and
The images from the second frame onward are displayed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, until there is no divided space region in which the number of objects is greater than the total number of objects included in the divided space region divided by the number of processor elements, The method includes the steps of repeating the process of further dividing the divided spatial region, and the step of repeating the process of allocating the divided spatial regions containing the largest number of objects to each processor element one by one until all the divided spatial regions are allocated. This makes it possible to reduce the storage capacity required for storing object data, and to make the amount of object data contained in the divided spatial regions corresponding to the allocated divided image regions approximately the same for each processor element, making it possible to reduce the amount of object data required to store object data, making it possible to achieve an inexpensive and high-speed method. Image generation becomes possible.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, when a projected image of an object is generated according to change data of the viewpoint, the position of the object, and the shape of the object, the center position of the spatial region in which each object exists is set for all objects. the step of calculating the object average center position, which is the average value across Find the plane and divide it into divided space regions with the intersecting plane as the base,
repeating the process of further dividing the divided spatial region with the largest number of objects until there is no divided spatial region in which the number of objects is greater than the total number of objects included in each divided spatial region divided by the number of processor elements; The object data contained in the divided space area is allocated to the processor element that stores the most object data in the local storage means among all the processor elements in order from the divided space area containing the largest number of objects, and then to the remaining processor elements. On the other hand, the process of allocating the remaining divided space area is repeated until it is allocated to all processor elements.
The step of repeating until all the divided space regions are allocated, and the step of locally deleting the remaining object data by removing the object data already stored in the local storage means of each processor element from the object data included in the allocated divided space regions. By having the step of transferring the object data from the processor element already stored in the storage means, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity required for storing the object data, and the object data included in the divided spatial region corresponding to the allocated divided image region can be reduced. The amount of data can be made almost the same for each processor element, and by moving the viewpoint and object and changing the shape of the object, object data contained in the divided spatial area corresponding to the allocated divided image area is transferred between processor elements. This reduces the amount of object data transferred between processor elements, and enables inexpensive and high-speed image generation.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, until there is no divided space region in which the number of objects is greater than the total number of objects included in the divided space region divided by the number of processor elements,
The step of repeating the process of further dividing the divided space region containing the largest number of objects, and the process of allocating one divided space region containing the largest number of objects to each processor element one by one, are repeated until all the divided space regions are allocated. By having a step, the storage capacity required for storing object data can be reduced, and the amount of object data included in the divided spatial regions corresponding to the allocated divided image regions can be made almost the same for each processor element. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and high-speed image generation device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image generation device in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a spatial region where an object exists, its divided spatial regions, and divided screen regions in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image generation device.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing divided image regions in which each processor element of a conventional image generation device is responsible for image generation.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing divided image regions in which each processor element of a conventional image generation device is responsible for image generation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a-b Processor element 2 Local storage section 3 Arithmetic section 4 Divided spatial region storage section 5 Object data storage section 6 Divided image region storage section 7 Correspondence storage section between divided spatial regions and processor elements 8 Display section 9 Transfer section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An object comprising a plurality of processor elements comprising a local storage means and a calculation means directly connected to each other, and a display means, the object comprising shape data of the object and surface optical attribute data stored in the local storage means. For the data, a screen is set that corresponds to the viewpoint and the display area of the display means, and when generating a projected image of the object, the spatial area where all objects exist expressed in the screen coordinate system is set on the screen. Divide in parallel directions and display the divided space region with the largest number of objects on the screen until there is no divided space region with more objects than the total number of objects contained in each divided space region divided by the number of processor elements. The first step is to repeat the process of further dividing the space in parallel directions, and the second step is to repeat the process of allocating the divided space regions containing the largest number of objects to each processor element one by one until all the divided space regions have been allocated. , the object data included in the allocated divided space area is stored in the local storage means of each processor element, and the object data stored in the local storage means is used to display the data on the screen corresponding to the allocated divided space area. An image generation method comprising the steps of: generating an image within a split screen area; and transmitting the generated image to a display means to display the image. 2. An object comprising a plurality of processor elements comprising a local storage means and a calculation means directly connected to each other, and a display means, the object comprising shape data of the object and surface optical attribute data stored in the local storage means. A screen corresponding to the viewpoint and the display area of the display means is set for the data, and when a projected image of the object is generated according to the change data of the viewpoint, the position of the object, and the shape of the object. a fifth step of calculating an object average center position, which is a value obtained by averaging the center position of the spatial region over all objects; the first, second, and third steps; and the viewpoint, the position of the object, and the shape of the object. a fifth step of converting the object data in the divided space area allocated to each processor element into the changed screen coordinate system according to the changed data; and Find the intersecting plane between the plane and the divided spatial region before the viewpoint change assigned to each processor element, divide it into divided spatial regions parallel to the screen after the viewpoint change with the intersection plane as the bottom surface, and divide each divided spatial region into The process of further dividing the divided space region with the largest number of objects in the direction parallel to the screen is repeated until there is no divided space region where the number of objects is greater than the total number of objects included in the number divided by the number of processor elements. Step 6, allocating the object data included in the divided space area among all the processor elements in order from the divided space area containing the largest number of objects to the processor element that stores the largest amount in the local storage means; a seventh step of repeating the process of allocating the remaining divided space regions to the remaining processor elements until all the divided space regions are allocated to all the processor elements; and The remaining object data after removing the object data already stored in the local storage means of each processor element from the object data included in the processor element is transferred from the processor element already stored in the local storage means and stored in the local storage means. an eighth step of generating an image within a split screen area on the screen corresponding to the allocated split space area from the object data, and transmitting the generated image to a display means to display the image. , 5th
2. The image generation method according to claim 1, wherein the sixth, seventh, and eighth steps are repeated to generate a moving image. 3. A plurality of processor elements comprising directly connected local storage means and arithmetic means, and a display means, comprising shape data of an object and optical attribute data of a surface stored in the local storage means. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a screen associated with a viewpoint and a display area of the display means is set for object data, and a projected image of the object is generated according to change data of the viewpoint, the position of the object, and the shape of the object. An image generation device that performs the image generation method described in 2.