JPH09166975A - Picture generation device and picture generation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce needless data processing by storing picture data generated by a picture generation section in a picture memory section, inputting picture data to a picture output section, changing picture data to desired picture data by inputting it to a picture output section, and outputting it. SOLUTION: A program for generating picture is stored in a main memory 3. A CPU 2 outputs a plotting command to a picture generation processor 21 according to the program, the picture generation processor 21 writes an address of a texture region in which a pixel value to be displayed in a display region of a picture memory 22 is stored according to it. Also, it writes normal line vectors of each point. A picture output processor 23 reads out a display region of the picture memory 22 according to a video synchronizing signal, reads out the texture pixel value from a texture region of the picture memory 22 according to read out texture address, and outputs a value in which the inner product of a read out normal line vector and a light source vector is multiplied by the texture pixel value as a pixel value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION Conventional Technology (FIGS. 9 to 12) Problems to be Solved by the Invention (FIG. 13) Means for Solving the Problems Embodiments of the Invention (1) Configuration of Image Generation Device (FIGS. 1 to 1) (Fig. 5) (2-1) When texture mapping is applied to a three-dimensional polygon (Fig. 6) (2-2) When performing fading to a three-dimensional polygon (Fig. 7) (2-3) 3 In the case of performing texture mapping on a two-dimensional polygon and further performing fading (Fig. 8)

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus and an image generating method, and more particularly to a game machine, a computer, etc.
It is suitable to be applied to a device having an image memory and drawing an image generated by calculation or an image read from a storage device on the image memory and outputting the image on a display.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image generating apparatus which draws image data on an image memory and reads and displays them according to a synchronizing signal of a television, pixel values themselves to be displayed are arranged and read on the image memory. Most of the devices have simply read them according to a video synchronizing signal, D / A (digital / analog) converting them and displaying them on a display.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional image generating apparatus. The image generation apparatus 1 is composed of a CPU 2, a main memory 3, an image generation processor 4, an image memory 5 and an image output processor 6, and the CPU 2, main memory 3 and image generation processor 4 are connected to a main bus 7, respectively. The data can be sent and received. Further, the image generation processor 4 and the image memory 5 are connected so that data can be exchanged. The output signal from the image memory 5 is connected so as to be sent to a monitor or the like via the image output processor 6. Main memory here 3
Stores a program for generating an image.

First, a description will be given of the case where texture mapping is performed on a three-dimensional polygon in the conventional image generating apparatus 1. A polygon is a minimum unit (triangle or quadrangle) of a figure handled by a drawing device. The CPU 2 outputs a drawing command to the image generation processor 4 according to the program stored in the main memory 3, and the image generation processor 4 reads the texture image from the image memory 5 according to the drawing command. After modifying the texture image read from the image memory 5, the texture image is written again in the display area in the image memory 5. The image output processor 6 reads and outputs the display area in the image memory 5 according to the video synchronization signal.

FIG. 10 shows an image memory 5 when the texture mapping is performed on the above-mentioned three-dimensional polygon.
The contents of the internal memory area 10 are shown. The memory area 10 is
A display area 11 in which an image to be displayed is generated,
And a texture area 12 in which a texture image is stored. A plurality of polygon areas are calculated in the display area 11, and the corresponding texture pixels are read out, transformed and written.

For example, the triangle ABC has a texture 12a.
In order to texture the triangle PQR of the triangle PQR, the triangle PQR corresponding to each point E included in the triangle ABC is
The pixel value of the point S in is copied. All of these processes are performed by the image generation processor 4, and after the processing is finished, they are written in the display area 11 of the image memory 5.

Next, description will be given of a case where the conventional image generating apparatus 1 is used for phoniding to a three-dimensional polygon. The CPU 2 outputs a drawing command to the image generation processor 4 according to the program, and the image generation processor 4 calculates the vertex coordinates of the polygon and the values of the pixels included therein according to this command, and the display area 11 in the image memory 5 is calculated. Write in. The image output processor 6 reads and outputs the display area 11 in the image memory 5 according to the video synchronization signal.

FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (B) show the contents of the memory area 10 in the image memory 5 when the above-mentioned three-dimensional polygon is subjected to phoniding. All the processing described below is performed by the image generation processor 4.
It is performed by In the display area 11 in the memory area 10, a plurality of polygon areas are calculated, and the pixel values included therein are calculated and written. For example, in order to perform honeding of the triangle ABC, the normal line on the point E in the triangle is calculated from the normal lines on the three vertices A, B, and C, and the inner product of the normal line and the light source vector is taken. The pixel value at that point. After this processing, it is written in the display area 11 of the image memory 5.

Further, in the conventional image generating apparatus 1, 3
A case will be described in which texture mapping is performed on a three-dimensional polygon, and further, phonshading is performed. C
The PU 2 outputs a drawing command to the image generation processor 4 according to the program, and the image generation processor 4 reads the textured image from the image memory 5 according to this command, modifies it, and then performs the erasing to display the image in the image memory 5 again. Write in area 11. The image output processor 6 reads and outputs the display area 11 in the image memory 5 according to the video synchronization signal.

In FIGS. 12A and 12B, the contents of the memory area 10 in the image memory 5 when the texture mapping is performed on the above-mentioned three-dimensional polygon and thereafter the function fading is performed. Is shown. The following processing is all performed by the image generation processor 4. A plurality of polygon areas are calculated in the display area 11 in the memory area 10, and the corresponding texture image is read, deformed, shaded, and written.

For example, the triangle ABC has a texture 12a.
In order to texture-map the triangle PQR, the pixel value of the point S in the triangle PQR corresponding to each point E included in the triangle ABC is copied. Furthermore, the three vertices A, B,
The normal line on the point E in the triangle is obtained from the normal line on C, the inner product of the normal line and the light source vector is calculated, and the product is multiplied by the texture value of the point to obtain the pixel value. After that, it is written in the display area 11 of the image memory 5.

[0013]

However, in the above-mentioned configuration, the image generation processor 4 once reads the pixel data from the memory area 10 (texture area 12) of the image memory 5 in which the image data is stored, and the processing is performed. After adding, it is necessary to write in the image memory 5. That is, in order to process one pixel, reading from the image memory 5 and writing to the image memory 5 are required at least once each.

In image generation, a technique called "hidden surface removal" is used to realistically represent a three-dimensional object. For example, in the image in which the hidden surface is erased by overwriting as shown in FIG. 13, more polygons are actually written in the memory than the polygons displayed on the screen. By this hidden surface erasing, even image data once drawn on the memory area 10 of the image memory 5 may be overwritten and erased, but there is a problem that the processing of the image data erased by this overwriting becomes useless.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and is intended to realize an image generating apparatus and an image generating method capable of reducing unnecessary data processing.

[0016]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a control means, a main memory for storing a program for image generation, and an image generation means for generating an image based on the program are provided. In the image generation device respectively connected to the system bus, the image generation means includes an image generation unit that generates a predetermined image, an image memory unit that stores the image data generated by the image generation unit, and an image. An image output unit that inputs data, transforms it into desired image data, and outputs the image data is provided.

Further, in the present invention, the control means, the main memory for storing the program for image generation, and the image generation means for generating the image are respectively connected to the system bus, and the image is generated based on the program. In the image generating method, a predetermined image is generated by an image generating section provided in the image generating means, the image data generated by the image generating section is stored in an image memory section, and the image data is output by the image output section. To the desired image data and output the image data.

In the image generating apparatus, an image generating unit for generating a predetermined image, an image memory unit for storing the image data generated by the image generating unit, and the image data are input to the image generating means. Transform it into the desired image data,
By providing an image output unit that outputs the image data, the amount of data processing can be reduced.

Further, in the image generating method, a predetermined image is generated by the image generating section provided in the image generating means, the image data generated by the image generating section is stored in the image memory section, and the image is generated. The data processing amount can be reduced by inputting the data to the image output unit, transforming it into desired image data, and outputting the image data.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Structure of Image Generating Device FIG. 1 in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 9 are assigned the same reference numerals shows the overall structure of the image generating device 20 of the present invention. Image generation device 20
Is a CPU 2, a main memory 3, an image generation processor 2
1, an image memory 22 and an image output processor 23, and the CPU 2, the main memory 3 and the image generation processor 21 are connected to the main bus 7 and can exchange data. The image generation processor 21 is connected to an image memory 22 which is a data output destination, and the image memory 22 and the image output processor 2 are connected.
3 is connected to exchange data with each other,
The output data from the image output processor 23 is sent to a monitor or the like. By the way, the main memory 3 stores a program for generating an image.

Next, an example of information stored in the image memory 22 is shown in FIG. There are four types of pixel modes (mode = 0 to 3) as the information stored in the image memory 22. Each of these pixel modes represents the meaning of the data stored in each pixel of the display area. For example, mode = 0 means "R
"GB" data, mode = 1 indicates "texture address", mode = 2 indicates "normal vector", and mode = 3 indicates "texture address and normal vector".

Further, in FIG. 3, the display area,
The correspondence between the texture area and the pixel mode is shown. The pixel mode is mode = 0 to 3 as described above. mode = 0 is the coordinate value (R, G,
B), and mode = 1 represents the number of pages Tp of the texture area as a texture address and the coordinate value (U, V) in the texture area. Further, mode = 2 represents the normal vector (Nx, Ny, Nz) in the display area, and mode = 3 represents the contents of mode = 1 and mode = 2, that is, the texture address and the normal vector.

Here, FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the image output processor 23. The image output processor 23
Mode determination circuit 24, read address 25, inner product 26, data selector 27, and integrator 28
It is composed of The mode determination circuit 24 inputs the data sent from the image memory 22, and outputs the mode determination result of the data to the data selector 27.

When the data from the image memory 22 is mode = 0, it is outputted to the data selector 27, and when mode = 1, it is outputted to the data selector 27 and the coordinate values (U, V) of the texture area are outputted. The address is output to the image memory 22 via the read address 25. In addition, the data from the image memory 22 is mode = 2
In this case, the inner product 26 calculates the inner product of the normal vector (Nx, Ny, Nz) which is the data from the image memory 22 and the light source vector, and outputs the inner product to the data selector 27. Further, in the case of mode = 3, the inner product of the normal vector and the light source vector obtained in the same manner as in the case of mode = 2,
The image memory 22 using the texture address of mode = 1
The RGB value of mode = 0 read from the above is multiplied by the integrator 28 and output to the data selector 27. The data selector 27 outputs to the outside the data corresponding to the mode obtained from the determination result sent from the mode determination circuit 24 among the input data.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the mode determination by the mode determination circuit 24 in the image output processor 23. First, the processing is started in step SP1. At step SP2, the mode is judged,
When the determination result is mode = 0, the process proceeds to step SP3. In step SP3, RGB values are written in the image memory 22, and in step SP4, RGB values are written from the image memory 22.
The value is read out, and the process proceeds to step SP5. When the mode determination result of step SP2 is mode = 1, the process proceeds to step SP6 and the texture address is written in the image memory 22. After that, the process proceeds to step SP7, the RGB values are again read from the image memory 22 by the texture address read from the image memory 22, and the process proceeds to step SP5.

Further, the above mode determination result is mode = 2.
At this time, the process proceeds to step SP8 and the normal vector is written in the image memory 22. After this, move to step SP9,
The inner product value of the normal vector and the light source vector read from the image memory 22 is set as the RGB value, and the process proceeds to step SP5.
Further, when the mode determination result is mode = 3, the process proceeds to step SP10 and the normal vector and the texture address are written in the image memory 22. After this step SP11
Then, the inner product of the normal vector and the light source vector read from the image memory 22 is multiplied by the RGB value read using the texture address read from the image memory 22, and the process proceeds to step SP5. Here, RGB values are output in step SP5, and the processing ends in step SP12.

(2-1) When Texturing Mapping is Performed on a Three-Dimensional Polygon In the above configuration, a case where texture mapping is performed on a three-dimensional polygon will be described first. The CPU 1 outputs a drawing command to the image generation processor 21 according to the program stored in the main memory 3, and the image generation processor 21 outputs the pixel value to be displayed in the display area 31 of the image memory 22 according to this command. The address of the texture area 32a in which is stored is written. The image output processor 23 reads the display area 31 of the image memory 22 according to the video synchronizing signal, and reads the texture pixel value from the texture area 32a of the image memory 22 according to the read texture address and outputs it.

FIG. 6 shows the memory area 30 by the processing performed by the image generation processor 21. Here, a case where the image generation processor 21 receives a vertex address and a texture address of a triangle and draws it on the image memory 22 is shown. The image generation processor 21 calculates a position where a pixel value to be drawn is stored, that is, a texture address from the positional relationship between the three vertices of the triangle ABC and the interior point E, and writes the texture address to the interior point E of the triangle ABC. .

(2-2) In the case of performing phoniding on a three-dimensional polygon Next, the case of performing phoniding on a three-dimensional polygon will be described. A program for generating an image is stored in the main memory 3. The CPU 2 outputs a drawing command to the image generation processor 21 according to the program, and the image generation processor 21 writes the RGB value of the polygon and the normal vector of each point in the display area 31 of the image memory 22 accordingly. Image output processor 2
Reference numeral 3 reads the display area 31 of the image memory 22 in accordance with the video synchronization signal, and outputs the inner product of the read normal vector and light source vector as a pixel value obtained by multiplying the RGB value of the polygon.

FIG. 7 shows the memory area 30 by the processing performed by the image generation processor 21. Here, a case where the image generation processor 21 receives a vertex address of a triangle and a normal vector and draws it on the image memory 22 is shown.
The image generation processor 21 calculates a normal vector on the pixel to be drawn from the positional relationship between the three vertices of the triangle ABC and the inner point E, and writes the RGB value and the normal vector of the polygon at the inner point E of the triangle ABC.

(2-3) Case in which three-dimensional polygon is texture-mapped and further subjected to phon-shading Next, a case in which three-dimensional polygon is texture-mapped and further subjected to phon-shading will be described. A program for generating an image is stored in the main memory 3. The CPU 2 outputs a drawing command to the image generation processor 21 according to the program, and the image generation processor 21 writes the address of the texture area in which the pixel value to be displayed is stored in the display area of the image memory 22 accordingly. In addition, the normal vector of each point is written. The image output processor 23 reads the display area of the image memory 22 according to the video synchronization signal, reads the texture pixel value from the texture area of the image memory 22 according to the read texture address, and reads the inner product of the normal vector and the light source vector. Is multiplied by the texture pixel value and output as a pixel value.

FIG. 8 shows the memory area 30 by the processing performed by the image generation processor 21. Here, the case where the image generation processor 21 receives the vertex address of the triangle, the texture address, and the normal vector and draws them on the image memory 22 is shown. The image generation processor 21 calculates a position where a pixel value to be drawn is stored, that is, a texture address from the positional relationship between the three vertices of the triangle ABC and the interior point E, and writes the texture address to the interior point E of the triangle ABC. . Further, the normal vector on the pixel to be drawn is calculated, and the RGB value of the polygon and the normal vector are written at the inner point E of the triangle ABC.

According to the above configuration, the image data is read from the texture area 32 by performing a part of the processing which is conventionally performed by the image generation processor before being written in the screen memory after being read by the image output processor. The processing amount can be reduced without writing the address to the image memory 22. That is, the image generation processor 21 can perform drawing only by writing to the display area 31. Image output processor 33
In any case, it suffices to process only the number of pixels included in the display area 31, and even an image in which polygons are multiply overlapped can be displayed only by processing the number of pixels to be displayed. From the above, it is possible to reduce the processing amount of image data, since only the processing for the finally displayed pixels is required.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control means, the main memory for storing the program for image generation, and the image generation means for generating an image based on the program are respectively connected to the system bus. In a connected image generation apparatus, an image generation unit that generates a predetermined image, an image memory unit that stores the image data generated by the image generation unit, and input the image data to obtain the desired image data. By providing a modified image output unit that outputs the image data as an image generation unit, it is possible to realize an image generation apparatus that can reduce the amount of data processing as compared with the related art.

Further, according to the present invention, a predetermined image is generated by the image generating section provided in the image generating means, and the image data generated by the image generating section is stored in the image memory section, By inputting the data to the image output unit, transforming the image data into desired image data, and outputting the image data, it is possible to realize an image generation method capable of reducing the amount of data processing as compared with the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image generating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of a pixel mode.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display area and a texture area in an image memory.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image output processor.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure by mode determination of an image output processor.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area when texture mapping is performed on a three-dimensional polygon.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area when performing three-dimensional polygon phonshading.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area when performing front shading after texture mapping on a three-dimensional polygon.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image generating apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area when texture mapping is performed on a three-dimensional polygon by a conventional image generating apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area when performing phoniding on a three-dimensional polygon by a conventional image generating apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area when performing phonshading after texture mapping on a three-dimensional polygon by a conventional image generating apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a polygon by hidden surface removal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Image generation device, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... Main memory, 4, 21 ... Image generation processor, 5, 22 ... Image memory, 6, 23 ... Image output processor, 7 ... Main bus, 10, 30 ... Memory area, 11, 31 ...
Display area, 12, 32 ... Texture area.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image generating apparatus comprising a control means, a main memory for storing a program for image generation, and an image generating means for generating an image based on the program, each connected to a system bus. The image generation means includes an image generation unit that generates a predetermined image, an image memory unit that stores the image data generated by the image generation unit, and the image data is input to transform the image data into desired image data. Then
An image generation apparatus comprising: an image output unit that outputs the image data. 2. The image memory unit stores an address at which a pixel value to be displayed is stored, and further stores a pixel value to be displayed based on the address read according to a predetermined synchronization signal. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image generation apparatus reads out and displays. 3. The image memory unit stores a predetermined intermediate value in the process of obtaining a pixel value to be displayed, and a pixel to be displayed based on the intermediate value read in accordance with a predetermined synchronization signal. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value is calculated and displayed. 4. The image memory unit stores a predetermined intermediate value in the process of obtaining a pixel value to be displayed and an address at which a pixel value to be referred to is stored, and reads it according to a predetermined synchronization signal. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pixel value to be displayed is calculated and displayed based on the intermediate value and the pixel value to be referred to. 5. An image generating method for generating an image based on the program, wherein a control means, a main memory for storing a program for generating an image, and an image generating means for generating an image are respectively connected to a system bus. In the above, in the image generation means arranged in the image generation means, a predetermined image is generated, the image data generated by the image generation portion is stored in the image memory portion, and the image data is output by the image output portion. An image generation method, which comprises inputting into an image, transforming it into desired image data, and outputting the image data. 6. The image memory unit stores an address at which a pixel value to be displayed is stored, and further stores a pixel value to be displayed based on the address read in accordance with a predetermined synchronization signal. The image generation method according to claim 5, further comprising reading and displaying. 7. The image memory unit stores a predetermined intermediate value in a process of obtaining a pixel value to be displayed, and a pixel to be displayed based on the intermediate value read in accordance with a predetermined synchronization signal. The method according to claim 5, wherein the value is calculated and displayed. 8. The image memory unit stores a predetermined intermediate value in the process of obtaining a pixel value to be displayed and an address at which a pixel value to be referred to is stored, and reads it according to a predetermined synchronization signal. The image generation method according to claim 5, wherein a pixel value to be displayed is calculated and displayed based on the intermediate value and the pixel value to be referred to.