JPH0636011A - Animation image generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the device and method for generating an animation image which is smooth in motion. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with plural graphic storage parts 3 storing identical graphic data, geometric process parts 4, rendering process parts 5, and Z buffer and frame buffers 6 for the same graphic data. Consequently, images of plural frames can be generated in parallel and even the read speed of a graphic data base and one-frame image generating process capacity are lower than process capacity by which images can be seen continuously as an animation, animation images which show smooth motion can be generated by the single graphic data base, thereby almost equalizing deviation between operation and a display to that when plural data bases are used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an animation image generation device for expressing an animation image of a scene composed of many object shapes in an image display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an animation image generation apparatus for expressing an animation image of a scene composed of a large number of object shapes has been used for design simulation, interior simulation, landscape simulation that is highly necessary to generate a highly realistic animation image. It's being used.

A conventional animation image generating apparatus and method for expressing an animation image of a scene composed of many object shapes will be described below.

Conventionally, the object data represented by a polygon given the vertex coordinates, the viewpoint position, the line-of-sight direction, and the data of the position of the screen on which the object is projected are input to form a large number of object shapes. The Z-buffer method has been used as a method for generating an animated image of a scene. For the Z-buffer method, for example, "published by Corona"
Parallel Graphic Processing "on pages 38 and 80.

An example of the conventional animation image generating apparatus and method described above will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an animation image generation system for implementing the conventional method.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a figure database section for storing object data represented by polygons to which vertex coordinates are given. A pre-processing unit 2 inputs a viewpoint and a moving position of the object for each frame of the animation and combines them with the object data stored in the graphic database unit 1. A geometric processing unit 4 projects the three-dimensional vertex coordinates of the moved polygon on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position to obtain the two-dimensional screen coordinates. A rendering processing unit 5 inputs polygon vertex data represented by two-dimensional screen coordinates and fills pixels inside the polygon. A Z buffer and a frame buffer 6 store the depth and brightness of each pixel of the filled polygon. A display unit 7 displays the generated animation image.

The operation of the animation image generating apparatus and method configured as described above will be described below.

First, the preprocessing unit 2 is the first part of the animation.
The viewpoint of the frame and the moving position of the object are input, combined with the object data stored in the graphic database unit 1, and output to the geometry processing unit 4. The geometry processing unit 4 converts the three-dimensional vertex coordinates of the polygon into coordinates corresponding to the movement position, projects the coordinates on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position, and outputs the two-dimensional screen coordinates to the rendering processing unit 5. The rendering processing unit 5 fills the pixels inside the polygon represented by the two-dimensional screen vertex coordinates, and when the depth of the polygon is smaller than the depth stored in the Z buffer 6, the depth and brightness are set to the Z buffer and the frame buffer. Output to 6.

After processing all the polygons forming the scene, the image of the first frame of the frame buffer 6 is displayed on the display unit 7. Next, the second frame is processed and the image of the second frame is displayed on the display unit 7. Less than,
The above processing is repeated to generate an animation image.

[0010]

However, in the conventional configuration as described above, it is necessary to project and paint all the objects on the screen for each frame, so that the total processing amount can be changed according to the total number of objects in the generated image. Has increased, the generation time of the frame image has increased, the number of frames that can be generated per second has decreased, and there is a problem that animation motion cannot be seen continuously.

Further, in the above structure, it is necessary to take out all the objects from the graphic database unit for each frame, and the graphic database unit needs to be expensive and fast in reading speed according to the total number of objects. Had a problem.

In view of the above problems, the present invention increases the total number of objects in a generated image, and the geometry processing unit, the rendering processing unit, and the Z processing unit.
Provided is an animation image generation device that continuously looks as an animation even when the processing capabilities of a buffer and a frame buffer are lower than the processing capabilities that continuously appear as an animation.

Further, the present invention provides an inexpensive animation image generating apparatus which keeps the reading speed of the figure database unit constant even when the total number of objects in the generated image increases.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the animation image generating apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of graphic storage units, a geometry processing unit, a rendering processing unit, a Z buffer and a frame buffer. is there. Alternatively,
It is provided with a single broadcast transfer unit, a plurality of geometric processing units, a rendering processing unit, a Z buffer and a frame buffer.

[0015]

With the above-described structure, the present invention can generate images of a plurality of frames in parallel by a plurality of graphic storage units, a geometry processing unit, a rendering processing unit, a Z buffer, and a frame buffer. Therefore, the total number of objects in the generated image increases, and the geometry processing unit, the rendering processing unit, and the Z
Even if the processing abilities of the buffer and the frame buffer are lower than the processing abilities that continuously appear as an animation, it is possible to generate an animation image that continuously appears as an animation.

Further, according to the present invention, the object data broadcast from a single broadcast transfer unit can be used in a plurality of geometric processing units by the above-mentioned configuration, and the reading speed of the graphic database unit can be equivalently increased. . Therefore,
Even if the total number of objects in the generated image increases, it is possible to keep the reading speed of the graphic database unit constant and provide an inexpensive animation image generating device.

[0017]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An image generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image generation system for implementing the image generation method of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a figure database section for storing object data represented by polygons to which vertex coordinates are given. A pre-processing unit 2 inputs a viewpoint and a moving position of the object for each frame of the animation and combines them with the object data stored in the graphic database unit 1. 3a to 3b are M graphic storage units,
The polygon data forming the object data sent from the figure database unit 1 is temporarily stored. 4a
4b are M geometric processing units, which convert the three-dimensional vertex coordinates of the polygon corresponding to the moving position of the object sent from the pre-processing unit 2 and project it on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position,
This is to obtain the two-dimensional screen coordinates.

Reference numerals 5a and 5b denote M rendering processing units for inputting vertex data of a polygon represented by two-dimensional screen coordinates and filling pixels inside the polygon. Reference numerals 6a and 6b denote M Z buffers and frame buffers, which store the depth and the brightness of each pixel of the filled polygon. A display unit 7 displays the generated animation image.

The operation of the image generating apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

First, the preprocessing section 2 is the first part of the animation.
The viewpoint of the frame and the moving position of the object are input, combined with the object data stored in the graphic database unit 1, and temporarily stored in the graphic storage units 3a to 3b. At this point, copies of the same data are stored in the graphic storage units 3a to 3b.

Next, the first geometry processing section 4a converts the three-dimensional vertex coordinates of the polygon in the first figure storage section 3a into the coordinates corresponding to the moving position of the object in the first frame, and the first frame 2 by projecting on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position
The three-dimensional screen coordinates to the first rendering processing unit 5a.
Output to. The first rendering processing unit 5a fills the pixels inside the polygon represented by the two-dimensional screen vertex coordinates, and when the depth of the polygon is smaller than the depth stored in the first Z buffer 6a, the depth and the brightness are calculated. To the first Z buffer and the first frame buffer 6a.

After processing all the polygons forming the scene, the image of the first frame of the first frame buffer 6a is displayed on the display unit 7. And as shown in FIG.
A little later than the start of the processing of the first frame described above, the preprocessing unit 2 inputs the viewpoint of the second frame and the moving position of the object and combines them with the object data stored in the second graphic storage unit. Hereinafter, the same processing as that of the first frame is performed by the second geometry processing unit, the second rendering processing unit, the second Z buffer, and the second frame buffer, and the image of the second frame is displayed on the display unit 7. .

Hereinafter, the above process is delayed little by little, and the delay of the start time is adjusted so that the image generation of the Mth frame can be started when the image generation of the first frame is completed. Since the contents of the Z buffer can be initialized while displaying the contents of the frame buffer,
The image generation of the (M + 1) th frame can be started immediately after displaying the frame. The same process is repeated thereafter to generate an animation image.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing a plurality of graphic storage units, a geometry processing unit, a rendering processing unit, a Z buffer and a frame buffer, images of a plurality of frames are generated in parallel. be able to. Therefore, even if the total number of objects in the generated image increases and the processing capabilities of the geometry processing unit and the rendering processing unit, and the Z buffer and the frame buffer are lower than the processing capabilities that continuously appear as animation, they continue to appear as animation. Animated image can be generated.

In this embodiment, one Z buffer and one frame buffer are provided in each rendering processing unit.
Two may be provided in each rendering processing unit, and after the image generation of the first frame is completed, the image generation of the (M + 1) th frame may be immediately started for the other Z buffer and the frame buffer.

(Embodiment 2) An image generating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image generation system of this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the figure database unit 1, the pre-processing unit 2, the geometry processing units 4a-4b, the rendering processing units 5a-5b, the Z buffer and the frame buffers 6a-6.
b, the display unit 7 is similar to that of the first embodiment. First
The present embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that the graphic storage units 3a and 3b are not provided and the broadcast transfer unit 8 is provided.

The operation of the image generating apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, the preprocessing unit 2 is the first part of the animation.
The viewpoint of the frame and the moving position of the object are input, combined with the object data stored in the graphic database unit 1, and broadcast by the broadcast transfer unit 8. At this point, a copy of the same data is broadcast to the geometry processing units 4a-4b.

Next, the first geometry processing section 4a, the first rendering processing section 5a, the first Z buffer and the first frame buffer 6a are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the first frame image is displayed. Is generated and displayed on the display unit 7. And Figure 3
As shown in, the preprocessing unit 2 inputs the viewpoint of the second frame and the moving position of the object a little later than the start of the processing of the first frame described above, and the preprocessing unit 2 receives the second geometric processing unit through the broadcast transfer unit 8. To start the image generation of the second frame.

Thereafter, the same processing as that of the first frame is performed by the second geometry processing section, the second rendering processing section, the second Z buffer and the second frame buffer, and the image of the second frame is displayed on the display section 7. Display with.

However, in the image generation of the second frame, as shown in FIG. 3, the processing is started from the third object, not from the first object, and when the processing of the second object is finished. The image generation of the second frame ends.

Thereafter, similarly to the first embodiment, the above processing is delayed little by little to generate an animation image.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing a single broadcast transfer section, a plurality of geometric processing sections, a rendering processing section, a Z buffer and a frame buffer, broadcasting from a single broadcast transfer section is possible. The object data to be processed can be used in a plurality of geometric processing units, and the reading speed of the graphic database unit can be equivalently increased. Therefore, even when the total number of objects in the generated image increases, the reading speed of the figure database is kept constant,
It is possible to provide an inexpensive animation image generation device.

Further, according to the present embodiment, by slightly shifting the object data for starting the image generation processing of each frame in each geometry processing unit, each frame is processed immediately before the image generation processing of each frame is started. It is possible to input the viewpoint and the moving position of the object, and when performing the moving operation of the viewpoint and the object while watching the generated animation image,
The difference between the operation and the display can be suppressed to the same level as when using a plurality of databases.

In this embodiment, one Z buffer and one frame buffer are provided for each rendering processing unit.
Two may be provided in each rendering processing unit, and after the image generation of the first frame is completed, the image generation of the (M + 1) th frame may be immediately started for the other Z buffer and the frame buffer.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a plurality of graphic storage units, a geometry processing unit, a rendering processing unit, a Z buffer and a frame buffer, images of a plurality of frames are generated in parallel. You can Therefore, the total number of objects in the generated image increases, and even if the processing capacity of the geometric processing unit and the rendering processing unit and the processing capacity of the Z buffer and the frame buffer is lower than the processing capacity that continuously appears as an animation, an animation that continuously appears as an animation. Image generation is possible.

Further, according to the present invention, by providing a single broadcast transfer section, a plurality of geometric processing sections, a rendering processing section, a Z buffer and a frame buffer, a plurality of object data broadcast from a single broadcast transfer section can be obtained. It can be used in the geometric processing section of the above, and the reading speed of the figure database section can be equivalently increased. Therefore, even if the total number of objects in the generated image is increased, it is possible to keep the reading speed of the figure database unit constant and provide an inexpensive animation image generating device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an animation image generation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an animation image generation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the execution timing of the animation image generation method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional animation image generation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Figure Database Section 2 Pre-Processing Section 3a, 3b Figure Storage Section 4, 4a, 4b Geometry Processing Section 5, 5a, 5b Rendering Processing Section 6, 6a, 6b Z Buffer and Frame Buffer 7 Display Section 8 Broadcast Transfer Section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toshiya Naka, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Minoo Abe 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of projecting means for projecting an object on an image of each frame according to a viewpoint position and a line-of-sight direction of each frame of a given animation, and a display means for sequentially displaying the image of each frame. Animated image generator. 2. An image generation method used in an animation image generation device for generating an animation image, wherein an object is projected on an image of each frame according to a viewpoint position and a line-of-sight direction of each frame of a given animation. An animation image generation method having a first step of performing processing in parallel using a plurality of projection means, and a second step of sequentially displaying images of each frame. 3. An object data broadcasting means for sequentially and repeatedly broadcasting object data constituting an animation scene, and the object broadcasted on an image of each frame according to a viewpoint position and a line-of-sight direction of each frame of a given animation. An animation image generating apparatus comprising a plurality of projecting means for sequentially projecting each of the frames and a display means for sequentially displaying the image of each frame. 4. An image generating method used in an animation image generating apparatus for generating an animation image, comprising a first step of repeatedly collecting object data forming an animation scene into a plurality of object groups and sequentially repeating the same. , The same number of processes for projecting each object group one by one on the image of each frame according to the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction of each frame of the animation given immediately before the broadcasting of each object group. Using each projection means, each projection means starts execution immediately before the broadcasting of each object group and executes in parallel, and a third step in which images of each frame are sequentially displayed. An animation image generation method having: 5. An image generation method used in an animation image generation apparatus for generating an animation image, the first step of dividing object data forming an animation scene into first half and second half, and sequentially broadcasting the divided data. The second stage of sequentially projecting the first half and the latter half of the object data onto the first image according to the odd-numbered viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction of the animation given immediately before the broadcasting of the first half of the object data, and the second half. In accordance with the even-numbered viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction of the animation given immediately before the broadcast of the object data, the processing for projecting the latter half and the first half of the object data on the second image sequentially in parallel with the second step. An animation image generation method comprising a third step of performing and a fourth step of alternately displaying the first and second images.