JPH07296188A - Pseudo three-dimensional character plotting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a stereoscopic image by plotting the image of fine detail simultaneously with a three-dimensional computer graphics image composed of polygons or the like. CONSTITUTION:Concerning this device, a position register 11 for storing coordinate positions on a screen, Z register 10 for storing the Z value of depth information and RGB register 9 for storing the respective luminance values and respective transparent degrees of three primary colors R, G and B are provided for each pixel of pseudo three-dimensional character data, and for each pixel on the screen, this device is equipped with a memory part 5 for storing Z values and the respective luminance values and transparent degrees of RGB, address generating part 12 for calculating an address on the memory part from the coordinate value on the screen, Z value reading part 13 for reading the Z value corresponding to the address from the memory part 5, Z value comparing part 14 for comparing the Z value read from the memory part 5 with the Z value stored in the Z register 10 so as to decide whether the Z value in the memory 5 is updated into the Z value in the Z register 10 or not, and Z value writing part 16 for writing the Z value stored in the Z register 10 corresponding to the Z value in the memory part 5 to be updated and the luminance values and transparent degrees stored in the RGB register 10 to the memory part 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device used in a three-dimensional computer graphics image generating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a three-dimensional computer graphics image composed of polygons, it is difficult to draw an image with fine details because there is no means for directly specifying the brightness value of each pixel on the screen.

On the other hand, in a moving image display device such as a video game machine or a personal computer, it is general to use an "object" as a method for drawing a two-dimensional image with a small detail such as a person at high speed. It is effective. An image display device using this "object" is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-230191. The "object" is two-dimensional image data having luminance and color information for each pixel. Information such as brightness and color is added as an attribute by combining one or more characters each consisting of a plurality of dots in the horizontal and vertical directions. By transferring data from a memory in accordance with a horizontal scanning line, two-dimensional characters can be obtained. The image is drawn. For example, when drawing the image as shown in FIG. 7A, the data as shown in FIG. 7B is used.

A moving image display device using pixel characters such as "object" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-230191, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a data latch for latching data from a microprocessor and an address decoder. CPU interface 70 and C
A moving image data generation circuit 71 that reads out and outputs graphic data of an object from a character data storage area according to program data obtained through the PU interface 70, and a background pattern storage area according to program data obtained through the CPU interface 70. The background image data generation circuit 72 reads out the pattern data of the background image and outputs it, and the synthesis circuit 73 synthesizes the object and the background pattern.

A moving image data generation circuit 71 according to program data obtained through the CPU interface 70.
Thus, the graphic data of the object is read from the character data storage area and output. In accordance with the program data obtained via the CPU interface 70, the background image data generation circuit 72 reads the pattern data of the background image from the background pattern storage area and outputs it. The synthesizing circuit 73 synthesizes the graphic data of the object and the pattern data of the background image in accordance with the scan line and outputs the synthesized data.

[0006]

In three-dimensional computer graphics, when an image with fine details is to be drawn using pixel characters such as "objects", as described above, the pixel characters are different from other graphics. Is processed independently of
When the priority on the screen is determined by the hardware configuration and the 3D computer graphics image and the pixel character having the same depth position are simultaneously drawn, the pixel character has no depth.
As shown in (a), the image has a floating pixel character. When drawing information at the same time as polygon graphics etc. while giving depth information to the whole pixel character and deciding the pixel to be displayed according to the depth information, since the pixel character is a plane,
As shown in FIG. 4B, a two-dimensional character appears to be embedded in the background, and the stereoscopic effect as a three-dimensional image is lost.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an image with fine details can be drawn simultaneously with a three-dimensional computer graphics image composed of polygons, etc., and an image having a stereoscopic effect can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the aforementioned object is to provide position register means for storing coordinate positions on a screen and a first Z for storing Z values as depth information.
Register means, luminance values of RGB3 primary colors and RGB3
RGB register means for storing the transparency of each primary color is provided for each pixel of pseudo three-dimensional character data drawn on computer graphics, and Z value and R as depth information for each pixel on the screen are provided.
Memory means for storing each brightness value and transparency of the BG3 primary colors, address generating means for obtaining an address on the memory means from coordinate values on the screen, and Z value reading means for reading the Z value corresponding to the address from the memory means. , Comparing the Z value read from the memory means with the Z value stored in the first Z register means to determine whether to update the Z value on the memory means to the Z value stored in the first register means. Z value comparing means for judging, and selector means for reading the Z value stored in the first Z register means corresponding to the Z value on the memory means to be updated, and the brightness value and transparency stored in the RGB register means. A Z value writing means for writing the Z value read by the selector means, the RGB brightness value, and the transparency to the memory means.
This is achieved by the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device.

According to the invention, the aforementioned object is achieved by the first Z
The register means stores the Z value as depth information relative to the entire character of each pixel, and the third Z register means stores other Z value as the depth information of the entire pseudo three-dimensional character. Z register means,
This is achieved by the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to claim 2, comprising Z value adding means for adding the Z value of the second Z register means and the other Z value of the third Z register means.

According to the present invention, for the above-mentioned object, the memory means controls the Z buffer means for holding the Z value as depth information, each luminance value of RGB, and the transparency, and the reading and writing of data in the Z buffer means. This is achieved by the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to claim 3, which comprises Z buffer control means.

According to the present invention, the above object is achieved when the comparison means indicates that the Z value stored in the first Z register means is closer to the viewpoint than the Z value read from the memory means. This is achieved by the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to claim 4, wherein the Z value is determined to be updated.

[0012]

In the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device of the first aspect, the coordinate position on the screen is stored by the position register means for each pixel of the pseudo three-dimensional character data, and the first Z register means stores the depth information. The Z value is stored, and the RGB register means RG.
The brightness values of the B3 primary colors and the transparency of the RGB3 primary colors are stored. For each pixel on the screen, the Z value as depth information and the brightness and transparency of the RGB three primary colors are stored in the memory means, the address generating means obtains the address on the memory means from the coordinate value on the screen, and the Z value reading means. The Z value corresponding to the address is read from the memory means, the Z value read from the memory means is compared with the Z value stored in the first Z register means by the Z value comparison means, and the Z value on the memory means is compared. Is determined to be updated to the Z value stored in the first Z register means, and the Z value stored in the first Z register means corresponding to the Z value on the memory means to be updated by the selector means is determined. Also, the brightness value and the transparency stored in the RGB register are read out, and the Z value and the brightness of the RGB read out by the Z value writing means are read out. Value and clarity are written in the memory means. The depth information, the brightness values of the three RGB primary colors, and the transparency information are added to each pixel of the pseudo three-dimensional character data, so that a detailed image is a three-dimensional computer graphics image including polygons and the like. At the same time, it is possible to draw and obtain a stereoscopic image.

In the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to the second aspect, Z as the depth information relative to the entire character of each pixel by the second Z register means.
A value is stored, another Z value as depth information of the entire pseudo three-dimensional character is stored by the third Z register means, and the Z value of the Z register means and the other Z value by the Z value adding means. By adding the Z value of
Even when moving the character forward and backward, it is not necessary to prepare the absolute depth position of each pixel in advance,
The memory capacity can be reduced.

According to another aspect of the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing apparatus of the present invention, the memory means has a Z value and R as depth information.
By comprising the Z buffer means for holding each brightness value and transparency of GB and the Z buffer control means for controlling the reading and writing of the data in the Z buffer, the time required for the CPU to read and write the memory can be shortened, and the image Drawing time can be shortened.

In the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the comparison means indicates that the Z value stored in the first Z register means is closer to the viewpoint than the Z value read from the memory means. By determining to update the Z value in the memory, the character data can be three-dimensionally drawn on the background computer graphics image.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a 3D computer graphics image generating apparatus equipped with a pseudo 3D character drawing apparatus according to the present invention controls the entire apparatus.
A data storage unit 2 having U1 is connected to the CPU 1 for storing the pseudo three-dimensional character image data and the polygon graphics model data sent from the CPU1. The data storage unit 2 includes a polygon graphics drawing unit 3 for generating a three-dimensional image from the polygon graphics model data stored in the data storage unit 2, and pseudo three-dimensional character image data stored in the data storage unit 2. Is connected to the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing unit 4 for generating an image of the pseudo three-dimensional character. The polygon graphics drawing unit 3 and the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing unit 4 are connected to a memory unit 5, respectively, and the memory unit 5 is a Z buffer serving as a Z buffer means for holding Z values and RGB brightness values. 6
And a Z buffer control unit 7 as Z buffer control means for controlling the reading and writing of data in the Z buffer 6. An image output unit 8 that outputs the contents of the Z buffer 6 to a screen such as a CRT is connected to the Z buffer control unit 7.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing section 4 has an RGB register 9 as RGB register means for storing information on each RGB luminance value and each transparency, and a Z value storing section. Z as one Z register means
A register 10 and a position register 11 as position register means for storing coordinate values on screen coordinates, that is, position information are provided. The position register 11 includes an address generation unit 12 as an address generation unit that generates an address on the memory 5 from the position information stored in the position register 11.
Are connected. The address generator 12 is connected to the memory 5. Further, the memory 5 is connected to a Z value reading unit 13 as Z value reading means for reading the Z value stored in the memory unit 5 corresponding to the address generated by the address generating unit 12. The Z value reading unit 13 and the Z register 10 include a Z value comparing unit 1 as Z value comparing means for comparing the Z value read by the Z value reading unit 13 with the Z value stored in the Z register 10.
4 is connected. The RGB register 9 and the Z value comparison unit 14 are connected to a selector unit 15 as a selector unit that controls writing of data to the memory unit 5. The selector unit 15 has a Z value writing unit 1 as a Z value writing unit that writes data to the memory unit 5.
6 is connected. The memory 5 is connected to the Z value writing unit 16.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The CPU 1 instructs the data storage unit 2 to specify the data to be drawn and to start the drawing. The data storage unit 2 stores pseudo three-dimensional character image data together with model data in polygon graphics. The model data includes the coordinates of the vertices of the surface forming the three-dimensional object to be drawn, the normal vector value, the attribute value,
Information about movement and rotation of these models, viewpoint and line-of-sight information, light source information, and the like are included. Pseudo three-dimensional character image data includes RGB luminance value and transparency information of each pixel forming a character as shown in FIG. 3A, and each pixel forming a character as shown in FIG. 3B. The Z value and the position information on the screen coordinates of the character image to be drawn are included.

In the case of polygon graphics, designated model data and the like are sent from the data storage unit 2 to the polygon graphics drawing unit 3, and coordinate calculation and brightness calculation are performed according to the data sent by the polygon graphics drawing unit 3. That is, three-dimensional image data having a Z value is generated. The generated three-dimensional image is sent to the Z buffer control unit 7, and the Z buffer control unit 7 stores the depth information and the brightness information in the Z buffer 6.

In the case of drawing a pseudo three-dimensional character, among the information sent from the data storage unit 2, the brightness value and transparency information of each of RGB are stored in the RGB register 9, the Z value is stored in the Z register 10, The position information indicated by the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value on the screen coordinate is stored in the position register 11. From the position information of the position register 10, the address on the memory 5 corresponding to the coordinate value of the position information is obtained by the address generator 12. The Z value reading unit 13 reads the preZ value as depth information stored at the address obtained by the address generating unit 12 from the memory unit 5. PreZ read
The value and the Z value stored in the Z register 10 are sent to the Z value comparison unit 14, and the Z value comparison unit 14 compares the values. The larger the value of the depth information, the closer to the viewpoint. Therefore, when the Z value is larger than the preZ value, the Z value comparison unit 14 sends the Z value to the selector unit 15. When the Z value is sent from the Z value comparison unit 14, the selector unit 15 extracts the brightness value and the transparency of each of the RGB from the RGB register 9 and sends them to the Z value writing unit 16 together with the Z value, and the Z value writing unit 16 The Z value, the RGB brightness value, and the transparency are written in the memory 5 by. Z by the comparison unit 14
When it is determined that the value is smaller than the preZ value, the comparison unit 1
Since a signal is not sent to the selector unit 15 from 4, the Z value writing unit 16 does not update the data in the memory 5.

In this way, the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing unit 4
Value and RGB brightness value written from the Z value and RG written from the polygon graphics drawing unit 3.
The brightness value of B is held in the Z buffer 6 via the Z buffer control unit 7. At the stage where the drawing process is completed for all the pseudo three-dimensional character image data and the polygon graphics model data, the RGB brightness values held in the Z buffer 6 are sequentially output to the image output unit 8 by the Z buffer control unit 7. , CRT, etc. are displayed on the screen. In the three-dimensional computer graphics image generation apparatus including the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing unit 4, by performing the above-described processing, as shown in FIG. A pseudo three-dimensional character can be drawn simultaneously.

It should be noted that giving depth information to each pixel of a character image is data shown in FIG. 5B, whereas the conventional pixel character is data that looks like FIG. 5A. Although the character images seen from the viewpoint are exactly the same, the distance from the viewpoint is given for each pixel. When the character is interrupted by a plane perpendicular to the line of sight, the character in FIG. 5A can only be seen or invisible, but the character in FIG. Only the characters can be seen, and the character becomes three-dimensional. Therefore, the character image can be drawn as a pseudo three-dimensional image in the three-dimensional computer graphics image. Even in a three-dimensional computer graphics image, it is possible to draw images with fine details in an overlapping manner without impairing the stereoscopic effect. According to the above-described embodiment, the drawing of the pseudo three-dimensional character and the drawing of the three-dimensional computer graphics such as polygons are processed independently except for the comparison of the depth information, so that the drawing speed does not decrease.

The Z value sent from the data storage unit 2 to the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing unit 4 is not the absolute value in the normalized coordinate system, but the relative value in each pixel and the baseZ value which is the absolute value for the character. , The Z register 10 is used as a second Z register means for storing the relative Z value of each pixel with respect to the entire character, as shown in FIG. Base as depth information
Bas as baseZ register means for storing Z value
eZ register 18 and Z value of Z register 17 and base
It may be configured by a Z value addition unit 19 as Z value addition means for adding the baseZ value of the Z register 18. In this way, the value obtained by adding the Z value and the baseZ value becomes the Z value of the corresponding pixel and is sent to the Z value comparison unit 14. This eliminates the need to prepare the absolute depth position of each pixel even when the character is moved in the front-back direction, and the memory capacity can be reduced.

[0026]

According to the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device of the first aspect, depth information, brightness values of RGB three primary colors, and transparency information are added to each pixel of the pseudo three-dimensional character data. It is possible to draw a detailed image at the same time as a three-dimensional computer graphics image composed of polygons and the like, and to obtain an image having a stereoscopic effect.

In the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to the second aspect, even when the character is moved in the front-back direction, it is not necessary to prepare the absolute depth position of each pixel in advance, and the memory capacity can be reduced.

In the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device of the third aspect, the time required for the CPU to read and write the memory can be shortened, and the image drawing time can be shortened.

In the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device of the fourth aspect, the character data can be three-dimensionally drawn on the image of the computer graphics which is the background.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a three-dimensional computer graphics image generation apparatus including a pseudo three-dimensional character drawing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data of a pseudo three-dimensional character.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an image when a character image is drawn in a three-dimensional computer graphics image.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel character and a pseudo three-dimensional character.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a Z register of an embodiment of the pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a pixel character.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device 5 Memory section 6 Z buffer 7 Z buffer control section 9 RGB register 10 Z register 11 Position register 12 Address generation section 13 Z value reading section 14 Z value comparing section 15 Selector section 16 Z value writing section 17 Z register 18 base Z register 19 Z value adder

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A position register means for storing a coordinate position on a screen, a first Z register means for storing a Z value as depth information, and respective brightness values and R of RGB three primary colors.
An RGB register means for storing each transparency of the GB3 primary color is provided for each pixel of the pseudo three-dimensional character data drawn on computer graphics, and a Z value as depth information for each pixel on the screen and each luminance of the RBG3 primary color. Memory means for storing a value and transparency, address generating means for obtaining an address on the memory means from coordinate values on the screen, Z value reading means for reading the Z value corresponding to the address from the memory means, and reading from the memory means. Z value for determining whether to update the Z value stored in the first Z register means by comparing the Z value stored in the first Z register means with the Z value stored in the first Z register means. Z value and R stored in the first Z register means corresponding to the Z value on the memory means to be updated Pseudo three-dimensional character drawing including selector means for reading the brightness value and transparency stored in the B register means, and Z value writing means for writing the Z value read by the selector means and the RGB brightness value and transparency in the memory means. apparatus. 2. A first Z register means is provided as Z as depth information relative to the entire character of each pixel.
A second Z register means for storing a value, a third Z register means for storing another Z value as depth information of the entire pseudo three-dimensional character, a Z value of the second Z register means and a third The pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to claim 1, comprising Z value adding means for adding another Z value of the Z register means. 3. The memory means uses Z as depth information.
2. The pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to claim 1, comprising Z buffer means for holding values, RGB brightness values and transparency, and Z buffer control means for controlling reading and writing of data in the Z buffer. 4. The comparing means updates the Z value on the memory when the Z value stored in the first Z register means is closer to the viewpoint than the Z value read from the memory means. The pseudo three-dimensional character drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed.