JPH0973553A - Picture display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional picture display easy for the moving operation of an observing point by displaying a path enabling the observing point to move, setting the moving course of the observing point by selecting it, and controlling the observing point to move along the moving course. SOLUTION: A cursor is moved onto a moving path object displayed on a display 21 and at the time of depressing a button then, a two-dimensional coordinate is inputted to select a specified object from among three-dimensional objects displayed from the two-dimensional coordinate. Then a moving path identifier corresponding to the object is read from a corresponding relation storing means 4 and written in a moving path identifier register 7 as the moving path of the observing point to pass next. When the moving instruction of the observing point is inputted, the coordinate of the position of the observing point is updated along the moving path stored in the moving path identifier register 7. When the position of the observing point is updated, a display data preparing means updates the data of a frame buffer 6 and the display 21 displays this to update the displayed picture.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention projects a scene in a virtual space on a display surface, and switches the projected image according to the operation of an operator so that it looks as if it were moving in the virtual space. The present invention relates to an image display device that gives a feeling to an operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid development of drawing technology for three-dimensional computer graphics, much research has been conducted to realize "virtual walkthrough" using this drawing technology. "Virtual Walkthrough"
By projecting a scene in the virtual space on the display surface and switching the projected image according to the operation of the operator, the operator can feel as if he were moving in the virtual space. Yes, it can be developed into various 3D simulation systems. Simulation systems that have developed this "virtual walkthrough" include virtual tourist information systems, interior simulations, virtual store systems, car navigation simulations, and the like.

In the virtual tourist information system, the "virtual walkthrough" is used to replace the existing locations of famous tourist spots and the introduction of famous buildings, which were conventionally done in pamphlets or tourist mooks. Gives the operator the feeling of walking. In the virtual store system, various products that were conventionally printed on paper such as catalogs in mail order are introduced in the virtual store formed by computer graphics, and "Virtual walkthrough" is performed in this virtual store. ], Perform a concrete image of the product to the operator, and inspire purchase.

In the interior simulation, the layout of sofas, kitchens, tables, etc. is replaced by the layout of three-dimensional graphics data, and a "virtual walkthrough" is carried out in that, and what is the impression of the layout? To verify. In car navigation simulation, computer graphics are created based on information about national roads and private roads, and information on buildings existing in those areas, and based on this, "virtual walkthroughs" are performed to reach the destination. The operator is instructed by using three-dimensional graphics what route should be taken to reach the destination.

By the way, as for the movement operation of the viewpoint, it is general to use a command that defines commands such as forward, backward, ascend, and descend of the viewpoint as a button, or a command defined as a mouse operation pattern. Target. The same applies to the operation of changing the line-of-sight direction. An example of a mouse operation pattern is to bring the cursor to the center of the screen, press the button there, and move it upward to move the viewpoint forward, and downward to move the viewpoint backward. There is. In this operation pattern, when the cursor is moved rightward, the line-of-sight direction turns right, and when it is moved leftward, the line-of-sight direction turns left.

[0006]

However, according to the above-mentioned "virtual walkthrough" of the prior art, it is necessary to determine where to turn in the virtual space by moving the gaze direction variously and looking around. . Since such a judgment is very difficult to make in the virtual space, there is a problem in that it is very troublesome to make a turn at a crossroad.

This is because it is difficult to grasp from the graphics whether or not the position of the viewpoint has reached the intersection. That is, since the intersection is displayed on the display when the viewpoint is located in front of the intersection, the positional relationship between the viewpoint and the intersection can be grasped, but in this state, the position of the viewpoint advances and the position of the viewpoint becomes the true value of the intersection. When you reach the top, the intersection itself is out of the field of view, so it is not displayed on the display.

As described above, if the position of the viewpoint cannot be grasped by the display graphics, it is necessary to rely on the judgment that the vehicle will reach the corner if it is advanced so much from the state where the corner is in the field of view. When the viewpoint does not reach the desired position, it is necessary to repeatedly move and turn the viewpoint until the desired position is reached. However, in a space expressed by 3D graphics, it is hard to get a sense of perspective, so this repetitive processing does not work well.

Even when looking around in a virtual space along a preset course, it is necessary to always pay attention to whether or not the viewpoint has moved to the position of the corner, and if the corner is reached, it is necessary to operate at a good timing. Will be required. Even if you make a turn, if the right and left turn angles at that time are above or below the angle between passages and the viewpoint continues to move, the viewpoint will deviate from the course on the aisle. There is also.

Although there have been toys that advance through a maze drawn in three-dimensional graphics, unlike "toys like this" in the "Virtual Walkthrough", the movement of the viewpoint is wiggled or the viewpoint is stopped. It is required to change the direction of the line of sight as it is to give a more realistic feeling. If the movement is broken down in this way, the above-mentioned usability will be further enhanced.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image display device capable of easily turning a crossroad and suitably realizing a "virtual walkthrough".

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an image display device according to a first aspect of the present invention moves a viewpoint on a plurality of passages in a virtual space, and enters the visual field of the viewpoint along with the movement. An image display device for displaying a scene in a virtual space on a display surface, a moving means for receiving an operation of an operator and moving a viewpoint on a passage designated in the virtual space, and a movement of the viewpoint on the passage. Accordingly, when a projection means for projecting a scene of a virtual space within the field of view of the viewpoint onto the display surface and a branch consisting of two or more paths are projected onto the display surface, which one of the paths forming the branch is displayed? An instruction means for instructing the operator in advance as a movement destination in the visual field, and when the viewpoint is located at the branch point of the crossroad, the moving means moves the viewpoint to the passage instructed by the instruction means. Characterized by There.

In the image display apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the instructing means includes a pointing device for instructing an operator to indicate a position on the display surface, and a passage including a position on the display surface instructed by the pointing device. And a first determining means for determining the destination of the move.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image display device according to the first or second aspect, the branch formed by two or more passages in the virtual space and the passage forming each branch are branched in advance. A branch-planned passage storage means for storing a predetermined passage, which is a predetermined passage, in association with each other is provided. When the viewpoint is located at a branch point of the branch, the branch is defined in the branch-planned passage storage means. The present invention is characterized in that the viewpoint is moved to the planned passage, and when the instruction means indicates one of the passages forming the crossroads on the display surface, the viewpoint is moved to the indicated passage.

An image display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a passage-coordinate storage unit that stores all passages in the virtual space and coordinates of both ends of each passage in the virtual space in association with each other, and a line-of-sight direction of a viewpoint. A first vector for calculating a vector indicating the direction of the passage with the current viewpoint based on the coordinates of both ends of the passage with the viewpoint stored in the passage-coordinate storage means and the line-of-sight vector storage unit A calculating means, a writing means for writing the calculated vector in the line-of-sight vector storage means, and a visual-field determining means for determining a visual field based on the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means when writing is performed by the writing means. The projection means projects the projected image of the visual field determined by the visual field determination means onto the display surface.

The image display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is based on the reading means for reading from the passage-coordinate storage means the coordinates of both ends of the passage indicated by the indicating means, and the virtual coordinates based on the coordinates read by the reading means. Second vector calculation means for calculating a vector indicating the direction of the passage in the space, angle calculation for calculating an angle formed by the vector calculated by the second vector calculation means and the vector calculated by the first vector calculation means Means and rotation means for rotating the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means by the calculated angle when the angle is calculated. It is characterized by writing the line-of-sight vector after rotation when is reached.

Further, in the image display device according to a sixth aspect, the moving means is a current coordinate storage means for storing the coordinates of the current position of the viewpoint in the virtual space, and a vector calculated by the first and second vector calculation means. Unit vector calculation means for calculating the unit vector, and each time the operation of the operator is received and the operation is performed, only the size of the unit vector is stored in the current coordinate storage means in the direction of the calculated unit vector. A forward direction means for advancing the stored coordinates forward, the visual field determination means determines a visual field based on the current position advanced by the forward means and the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means, The projection means is
Each time the visual field is determined, the projected image of the visual field determined by the visual field determining means is projected on the display surface.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image display device, the moving means refers to the stored contents of the passage-coordinate storage means, and the coordinates of the current position advanced by the advance means are the end points of the passage where the current viewpoint is. It is characterized in that the writing means writes the line-of-sight vector after rotation when the second judging means judges that the end point has been reached.

The image display device according to claim 8 further comprises a three-dimensional object storage means for storing each three-dimensional object provided in the virtual space and the coordinates occupied by each three-dimensional object in association with each other. The projecting means projects a passage and a three-dimensional object, which are determined to be within the visual field determined by the visual field determining means, to the display surface each time the visual field is determined. And a projection unit that operates.

An image display device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention receives and stores the rotation axis storage means for storing the rotation axis of the line of sight, the operation of the operator to rotate the line of sight, and the rotation amount thereof. The rotation axis is used as a reference axis, and the rotation means is provided with rotation control means for rotating the direction of the line-of-sight vector by the amount of rotation, and the writing means rotates the direction of the line-of-sight vector by the rotation control means. Is written in the line-of-sight vector storage means.

Further, the image display device according to the tenth aspect takes the cross product of the vector calculated by the second vector calculation means and the vector indicating the direction of the passage where the current viewpoint is calculated by the first vector calculation means. A rotation axis calculation means for calculating a rotation axis of the vector from the outer product and storing the rotation axis in the rotation axis storage means, and the angle calculation means,
A vector calculated by the second vector calculation means,
The inner product with the vector indicating the direction of the passage having the current viewpoint calculated by the first vector calculation means is calculated, and the angle formed by the two vectors is calculated from the inner product, and the rotation means calculates the angle. And the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage unit is rotated by the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit with reference to the rotation axis stored in the rotation-axis storage unit.

Further, in the image display apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, when the angle is calculated by the angle calculating means, the rotating means rotates the line-of-sight vector by a predetermined reference angle, and the line-of-sight vector rotates. Then, the writing control unit that controls the writing unit to write a predetermined reference angle into the line-of-sight vector storage unit, the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit, and the total rotation angle written by the writing control unit so far. If the difference is greater than or equal to the reference angle, a difference magnitude determination unit that determines whether the difference is greater than or equal to the reference angle; And a second rotation control unit for controlling the line-of-sight vector rotation unit to rotate the line-of-sight vector by a difference.

An image display device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is provided with a link path storage means for storing a link pair which is a combination of end points of paths having connection relations even though the coordinates of the end points do not match, and the reading means. When the viewpoint moves to a path having one end of the link pair, the coordinates of both ends of the path on the other side of the link pair are read from the link path storage means, and the second vector calculation means is read by the reading means. A vector indicating the direction of the passage in the virtual space is calculated based on the coordinates of both ends of the passage, and the angle calculation means is calculated by the vector calculated by the second vector calculation means and the first vector calculation means. The angle formed by the vector and the rotating means calculates the angle, and the angle is calculated by the angle calculating means. Rotating the line-of-sight vector only stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means, said writing means,
When the rotation is performed by the rotating means, the line-of-sight vector rotated by the rotating means is written.

In the image display device according to a thirteenth aspect, the passage having the current viewpoint, the passage which is the planned passage of the passage in the branch-planned passage storage means, or the passage designated by the instructing means as the destination. And the current-front and rear passage storage means for storing the passage that the viewpoint has just passed through in association with each other, and the projection unit, when the viewpoint is moved by the moving means, the current-front and rear passage storage means in the branch-planned passage storage means. A search unit for searching all passages that are linked to each other as a planned passage and the passages stored in the current-front and rear passage storage means, and a projection of all passages searched by the search means. A first drawing unit that draws the image in the first color, and a second color that draws the passage drawn in the first color and a passage that is not chained as a planned passage First A drawing unit, while entering the field of view of the viewpoint, it is characterized in that it comprises a third rendering unit that renders a first projected image of the passage that is not drawn by the second drawing unit in a third color.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image display device, the pointing device has a button, the passage is instructed by the pointing device, and when the button is pressed in the instructed state, the number of times of pressing is changed. A forward / backward control means for causing the moving means to move the viewpoint forward or backward, and a stop control means for stopping the movement of the moving means when a position other than the passage is instructed by the pointing device. I am trying.

Further, in the image display device according to the fifteenth aspect, when the pointing device has a button, the passage is instructed by the pointing device, and the button is pressed in the instructed state, the number of times of pressing is changed. When the forward-back control means for moving the moving means to move forward or backward the viewpoint and both sides of the display surface are instructed by the pointing device, the rotating means moves the line-of-sight vector to the right,
Alternatively, it is characterized by comprising rotation control means for rotating to the left and stop control means for stopping the movement of the moving means when a position which is neither a passage nor both sides of the display surface is indicated by the pointing device. There is.

[0027]

According to the image display device of the first aspect, the viewpoint can be moved by the moving means on the designated path in the virtual space in accordance with the operation of the operator. As described above, when the viewpoint moves on the passage, the scene of the virtual space that is included in the visual field of the viewpoint is projected on the display surface by the movement of the viewpoint.

When a branch consisting of two or more passages is projected on the display surface by projection by the projection means, any one of the passages forming the branch is designated as the destination in the visual field to the operator by the instruction means. You will be instructed in advance. When the instruction means indicates the passage and then the moving means positions the viewpoint at the branch point of the crossroad, the viewpoint is moved to the passage indicated by the instruction means.

According to the image display device of the second aspect, the pointing means causes the pointing device to point the position on the display surface. The passage including the position designated by the pointing device on the display surface is determined as the movement destination of the viewpoint by the first determination means.

Further, according to the image display device of the third aspect, the branch-planned passage storage means preliminarily branches the branch formed by two or more passages in the virtual space and the passage forming each branch. The planned passage, which is the determined passage, is stored in association with each other. When the viewpoint is located at the branch point of the crossroads, the moving means moves the viewpoint to the planned passage where the branch is defined in the crossroad-planned passage storage means.

When any one of the passages forming a branch on the display surface is instructed by the instruction means, the viewpoint is moved to the passage instructed by the moving means. According to the image display device of claim 4, the passage-
The coordinate storage unit stores the coordinates of both ends of each passage in the virtual space in association with each other in all the passages in the virtual space. The line-of-sight vector storage means stores a line-of-sight vector indicating the line-of-sight direction of the viewpoint.

In this way, based on the coordinates of both ends of the passage having the viewpoint stored in the passage-coordinate storage means, the first
The vector calculation means calculates a vector indicating the direction of the passage where the current viewpoint is. The calculated vector is written in the line-of-sight vector storage unit by the writing unit. The visual field is determined by the visual field determination unit based on the visual line vector stored in the visual line vector storage unit as a result of writing by the writing unit.

The projected image of the visual field determined by the visual field determination means is projected on the display surface by the projection means. According to the image display device of the fifth aspect, the coordinates of both ends of the passage indicated by the indicating means are read from the passage-coordinate storage means by the reading means. When read, a vector indicating the direction of the passage in the virtual space is calculated by the second vector calculation means based on the coordinates.

The angle formed by the vector calculated by the second vector calculation means and the vector calculated by the first vector calculation means is calculated by the angle calculation means. When the angle is calculated, the line of sight is calculated by the calculated angle. The line-of-sight vector stored in the vector storage means is rotated by the rotation means. When the viewpoint reaches the branch point of the crossroad by the moving means, the rotated line-of-sight vector is written by the writing means.

According to the image display device of the sixth aspect, the coordinates of the current position of the viewpoint in the virtual space are stored in the current coordinates storage means. The unit vector of the vector calculated by the first and second vector calculating means is calculated by the unit vector calculating means. Each time the operator's operation is received and the operation is performed, the forward movement means moves the coordinates currently stored in the coordinate storage means to the front by the magnitude of the unit vector in the direction of the calculated unit vector. Can be advanced.

The visual field is determined by the visual field determination means on the basis of the visual line vector stored in the visual line vector storage means according to the current position advanced by the forward movement means,
Each time the visual field is determined, the projection image of the visual field determined by the visual field determination means is projected on the display surface by the projection means. Further, according to the image display device of the seventh aspect, the stored contents of the passage-coordinate storage means are referred to, and whether the coordinates of the current position advanced by the advance means has reached the end point of the passage where the current viewpoint is is the second determination means. It is judged by. Second
When the determination unit determines that the end point has been reached, the writing unit writes the rotated line-of-sight vector.

According to the eighth aspect of the image display device, the three-dimensional object storage means stores the three-dimensional object provided in the virtual space in association with the coordinates occupied by each three-dimensional object. ing. Each time the visual field is determined, the determining unit determines a passage and a three-dimensional object that are within the visual field determined by the visual field determining means. The passage and the three-dimensional object that are determined to be accommodated by the projection unit are projected on the display surface.

According to the image display device of the ninth aspect, the rotation axis of the line of sight is stored in the rotation axis storage means. Depending on the operation of the operator to rotate the line of sight and the amount of rotation thereof, the direction of the line-of-sight vector is set by the rotation control means and the rotation means with the stored rotation axis as the reference axis. Is rotated.

When the direction of the line-of-sight vector is rotated by the rotation control unit, the writing unit writes the line-of-sight vector in the line-of-sight vector storage unit. Claim 1
According to the image display device of No. 0, the outer product of the vector calculated by the second vector calculation unit and the vector indicating the direction of the passage where the current viewpoint is calculated by the first vector calculation unit is obtained, and from the outer product , The rotation axis of the vector is calculated and stored in the rotation axis storage means.

The inner product of the vector calculated by the second vector calculating means and the vector indicating the direction of the passage having the current viewpoint calculated by the first vector calculating means is obtained by the angle calculating means, and the inner product is calculated from the inner product. The angle formed by the two vectors is calculated. When the angle is calculated, the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means is rotated by the rotation means by the angle calculated by the angle calculation means with reference to the rotation axis stored in the rotation axis storage means. Is rotated.

According to the image display device of the eleventh aspect, when the angle is calculated by the angle calculating means, the line-of-sight vector can be rotated by a predetermined reference angle. When the line-of-sight vector rotates, the writing control unit controls the writing unit to write a predetermined reference angle in the line-of-sight vector storage unit.

The difference magnitude determination unit determines whether the difference between the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit and the total rotation angle written by the write control unit is larger or smaller than the reference angle. The line-of-sight vector rotation unit is controlled by the one-rotation control unit, and rotation of the reference angle is performed. When it is smaller, the line-of-sight vector rotation unit is controlled by the second rotation control unit, and the line-of-sight vector is rotated by the difference.

According to the twelfth aspect of the image display device, the link path storage means stores a link pair which is a combination of the end points of the paths having connection relations even though the coordinates of the end points do not match. There is. When the viewpoint moves to the path having one end of the link pair, the coordinates of both ends of the path on the other side of the link pair are read from the link path storage means by the reading means, and both ends of the path read by the reading means are read. A vector indicating the direction of the passage in the virtual space is calculated by the second vector calculation means based on the coordinates of. The angle calculated by the vector calculated by the first vector calculation means by the vector calculated by the second vector calculation means is calculated by the angle calculation means, and when the angle is calculated, the angle calculated by the angle calculation means is calculated. The line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage unit is rotated by the rotating unit, and the line-of-sight vector rotated by the rotating unit is written by the writing unit.

According to the image display device of the thirteenth aspect, the current-front and rear passage storage means includes a passage having a current viewpoint,
In the branch-planned passage storage means, the passage which is the planned passage of the passage or the passage designated by the instruction means as the destination and the passage which the viewpoint has just passed are stored in association with each other. When the viewpoint moves by the moving means,
In the branch-planned passage storage means, the search portion searches for all passages that are linked to the passages stored in the current-front and rear passage storage means as planned passages. After the search, the passages stored in the current-front-rear passage storage means and the projected images of all the passages searched by the search means are drawn in the first color by the first drawing unit. The second drawing unit draws a passage, which has a branch with the passage drawn in the first color but is not linked as a planned passage, in the second color. The projection image of the passage, which is not drawn by the first and second drawing units, is drawn in the third color by the third drawing unit while entering the visual field of the viewpoint.

According to the image display device of the fourteenth aspect, the pointing device has a button, the passage is instructed by the pointing device, and when the button is pressed in the instructed state, the number of times of pressing is changed. Accordingly, the forward / backward control means causes the moving means to move the viewpoint forward or backward.

When the position other than the passage is designated by the pointing device, the movement of the moving means is stopped by the stop control means. According to the image display device of the fifteenth aspect, the pointing device has a button, and the passage is instructed by the pointing device.
When the button is pressed in the instructed state, the forward / backward control means causes the moving means to move the viewpoint forward or backward according to the number of times the button is pressed. When both sides of the display surface are instructed by the pointing device by the rotation control means, the line-of-sight vector is directed to the rotation means in the right direction, or
Can be rotated to the left. When the pointing device indicates a position that is neither a passage nor both sides of the display surface, the movement of the moving means is stopped by the stop control means.

[0047]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, the external appearance of the image display device will be described with reference to the explanatory views of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the image display device. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the virtual space and the display surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image display device has a display 21 for displaying a scene of a virtual space on a display surface, a keypad 22 and a pointing device 23 operated by an operator. As shown in FIG. 2, a scene in the virtual space is displayed on this display surface. And the scene of the virtual space reflected on the display surface is
The keypad 22 and the pointing device 23 shown in FIG. 1 are switched by an instruction. Therefore, when the operator gives an instruction to the keypad 22 or the pointing device 23, he or she can feel as if he or she is walking in the virtual space.

Next, the correspondence between the virtual space and the display surface will be described with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, passages and structures provided in the virtual space are projected on the display surface. By operating the keypad 22 and the pointing device 23, the viewpoint moves along the passage in the figure, and the projection image on the display surface switches accordingly.

Next, with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. 3, the image of the virtual space displayed on the display surface, the moving path in the virtual space, and the layout of buildings will be described. FIG. 3A is an image when the virtual space in the present embodiment is viewed from the position A facing the front. Further, FIG. 3B is a top view showing coordinates in the virtual space mapped in the XZ coordinate system.
Further, FIG. 3C shows the position A in the virtual space in this embodiment.
It is an image when viewed obliquely from.

In FIG. 3B, the position A is the end point of the moving path 1 (the moving path and the path are synonymous). The moving path 1 and the moving paths 2, 3, 4 form a cross path. Therefore, it is possible to branch from the moving path 1 to any one of the moving path 2, the moving path 3, and the moving path 4. Further, the moving path 2 connected to the moving path 1 forms a T-shaped path with the moving path 6 and the moving path 7, and is branched from the moving path 2 to either the moving path 6 or the moving path 7. It is possible.

Since the viewpoint from this position A is directed to the position B in FIG. 3 (b), the display surface is formed from the moving paths 1, 2, 3, 4 as shown in FIG. 3 (a). A crossroad is shown, and beyond that, a T-shaped road consisting of a moving path 6 and a moving path 7 is shown. In contrast to the display example of FIG. 3A, in the display example of FIG. 3C, the moving path is directed slightly diagonally to the left, but this is because the viewpoint is at position A but the line of sight is right. It shows that it is turning to. This figure 3
In the present embodiment, as in the display example of (c), the line-of-sight direction of the viewpoint can be arbitrarily changed on the moving path.

Next, the internal structure of the image display device will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image display device in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the image display device includes a movement path storage unit 1, a connection relation storage unit 2, an object storage unit 3, a correspondence relation storage unit 4, a rendering unit 5, a frame buffer 6, and a movement unit. Road identifier register 7, start point end point register 8, line-of-sight vector register 9, rotation axis vector register 10, movement vector register 11
1, a movement command register 13, a control unit 14, a display 21, a keypad 22, and a pointing device 23.

The keypad 22 also shown in FIG. 1 has two buttons for instructing forward and backward movement of the viewpoint in this figure (referred to as forward and backward buttons as shown in the figure),
Two buttons for instructing right turn and left turn in the line-of-sight direction (referred to as a turn button as shown in the figure) and a button for reversing the direction of movement of the viewpoint (reverse as shown in the figure). The pointing device 23 has a display 21 with a mouse cursor.
The operator is prompted to specify any of the above coordinates, and the mouse click is accepted by the click button.

As shown in FIG. 5, the moving path storage means 1 stores a moving path defined by a line segment connecting arbitrary two points in the virtual space as a combination of coordinates of two end points. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between the moving path identifier and the end points of the moving path stored in the moving path storage unit 1. The moving path in the virtual space is represented by how the moving path is located in an orthogonal coordinate system with the XZ axis as the reference axis. FIG. 5 shows how the moving path is stored in the moving path storage means 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the moving path is X-
It is represented by its start point and end point in the Z-axis coordinate system and the identifier attached to each moving path.

For example, as shown in the figure, the moving path 1 to which the identifier 1 is attached is from the coordinates (8, 3, 0) on the X axis to Z.
Since it extends to the positive direction of the axis up to the coordinates (8, 3, 4), the identifier 1 of the moving path 1 has the coordinates (8, 3, 0) (8, 3, 4,) as shown in FIG. ) Is associated with.
On the other hand, the coordinates (8, 3, 4) are the starting points of the moving path 2, the moving path 3, and the moving path 4 in FIG. 3, and any of these moving paths can be selected.

In this way, the moving paths 2, 3 and 4 forming the cross road have their starting points at (8, 3 and 4) in FIG. 2, and the ending point of the moving path 2 in the Z-axis direction is "
It is represented by (8, 3, 7) which is separated by 3 ″. The moving path 3 is 5 in the X-axis direction from the end point 2 (end point) of the moving path 1.
It only grows and ends at (13, 3, 4). As described above, in the moving path storage unit 1, how the moving path is formed in the virtual space is mapped and stored in the XZ coordinate system.

The connection relation storage means 2 is the moving path storage means 1
The connection relationship between each of the moving paths stored in 1) and another moving path connected to two end points of the moving path is stored. Further, the connection relation storage means 2 stores, on the premise that a moving path is passed, which path should be selected at the time of moving as automatic connection information and selected connection information in association with each moving path. .

FIG. 6 shows the connection relations of the moving paths stored in the connection relation storage means 2. Here, the automatic connection information is
Information that indicates a moving route that is automatically connected to the current moving route when the operator does not select the moving route (see FIG. 3).
In (b), it is shown by a solid line arrow (see moving path 4). ), The selective connection information is information indicating a moving path to be connected by an operation of selecting a moving path by the operator (in FIG. 3B, it is indicated by a dashed arrow (moving path 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)).

As shown in the figure, at the end point 1 of the moving path 1, "-1" is described in the selective connection information, and "-1" is also described in the automatic connection information. This is because no moving path is connected to the end point of the moving path 1 in FIG. 3B, and the viewpoint cannot proceed downward from the end point 1 in the Z-axis direction. On the other hand, since the end point 2 forms a cross road with the moving paths 2, 3, and 4, the moving paths 2, 3, and 4 are set in the selective connection information. In contrast to the selected connection information, the moving path 2 is set in the automatic connection information of the moving path 1. This means that when the viewpoint proceeds on the moving path 1 and approaches the crossroad at (8, 3, 4), the moving direction of the viewpoint is selected to the moving path 2.

As shown in the figure, the moving paths 6 and 7 are set in the selective connection information at the end point 2 of the moving path 2, and the moving path 6 is set in the automatic connection information among them. This means that when the viewpoint advances from the end point 1 of the moving path 2 toward the end point 2, the viewpoint automatically moves toward the moving path 6. Since the connection between the moving paths is stored in the connection relationship storage means 2 in this way, when a crossing road is approached, the path is uniquely selected without any special operation. .

The object storage means 3 stores the shape data of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object.
The three-dimensional object imitates a three-dimensional object in a virtual space such as a mountain or a building, is arranged at a certain distance along each moving path, and these projected images are projected on the display surface.
In addition, the projected images of these three-dimensional objects are switched one after another as the viewpoint moves. Other than this 3
The dimensional object also has the role of blocking the view of the viewpoint,
It also has the role of raising the sense of presence. The moving path object is a moving path drawn by the perspective method.
As shown in the display example of FIG. 3, the shape is wide on the front side and narrower toward the back, and the movement path extends toward the back.

The correspondence relationship storage means 4 stores the correspondence relationship between the moving path object and the three-dimensional object, which indicates which moving path is provided with which three-dimensional object. As shown in FIG. 7, the correspondence relationship storage means 4 uses the identifiers and the moving path identifiers attached to the moving path objects to associate the moving path objects with the information on the moving paths, and the viewpoint on which moving path is displayed. , The moving path object can be switched and displayed.

The rendering unit 5 is composed of high-speed graphics hardware and its control software, generates an image that appears in the viewpoint when viewing the virtual space in the line-of-sight direction of the viewpoint, and generates the generated image. Write to the frame buffer 6. In the rendering unit 5, various processes such as model view conversion, projective conversion, viewport conversion, illumination processing, antialiasing processing, and texture mapping processing, which are widely known as three-dimensional computer graphics generation methods, are pipelined. , The final two-dimensional bitmap data is generated. A representative example of the control software used here is "Open" by Silicon Graphics.
There is GL ".

Next, the image drawn on the display surface will be described with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. As is well known, the display screen is formed by the display 21 drawing the bitmap pattern developed in the frame buffer 6. FIG. 8 shows how data is written in the frame buffer 6 in this embodiment. As shown by arrows a1, a2, a3, and a4 in FIG.
32-bit data in the frame buffer 6 is assigned to each pixel. Of the 32 bits, 8 bits for each RGB indicating the brightness of each color are given to the lower 24 bits, and an object identifier is given to the upper 8 bits of 8 bits. This object identifier is written together with the color of the three-dimensional object when the virtual space is projected on the display surface. The object identifier written in this way is
Used to refer to whether the object exists.

Among the moving path objects displayed on the display 21, the identifiers of the objects designated by the cursor of the pointing device 23 are extracted. The pixels forming the projected image of the object on the display surface are written with the RGB value together with the identifier of the object during the projection process.
By referring to the identifier written in, it becomes clear which object is designated by the cursor.

Next, with reference to the explanatory views of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, how the information about the viewpoint such as the line of sight and the visual field of the viewpoint is processed will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the image on the display surface shown in FIG. 3A is a projection of a scene of a virtual space that enters the visual field of the viewpoint (in the figure, the visual field of the visual point is a dashed cone). It shows.). FIG.
In Fig. 10, the position of the viewpoint is represented by the coordinates in the virtual space (start point position (8, 3, 0) in Fig. 10), and the line of sight of the viewpoint is represented by the unit vector of the moving path where the viewpoint is currently located (Fig. Line-of-sight vector (0, 0, 1)). In addition, the identifier of the current moving path, the identifier of the moving path that was immediately before itself, and the identifier of the moving path that is about to proceed are stored in association with each other (moving path identifier (2, 1, -1)). The coordinates of the start point and the end point of this current moving path are stored (start point end point (end point 2, end point 1) in the figure). In addition, a movement vector indicating which direction the viewpoint is heading on this current movement path is stored (movement vector (0, 0, 1) in the figure), and when the operator makes a turning operation, Stores which direction is used as a reference for rotation (rotation axis vector (0, 0, 1) in the figure).

Next, referring again to the block diagram of FIG. 4, how the information about the above viewpoints is stored in the image display device will be described. In FIG. 4, the moving path identifier register 7 stores the identifier of the moving path (current moving path) where the viewpoint is currently located, the identifier of the previous moving path and the identifier of the rear moving path connected before and after the current moving path. The start point / end point register 8 for storing which of the two ends of the current moving path is the start point and which is the end point.

The line-of-sight vector register 9 stores a unit vector indicating the direction of the line of sight. Rotation axis vector register 1
0 holds the axis that serves as a reference when turning the line of sight, that is, the rotation axis vector. The movement vector register 11 stores a vector indicating the movement direction of the viewpoint, that is, a movement vector.

The viewpoint position register 12 stores the coordinates of the position of the viewpoint. The movement instruction register 13 stores an instruction (moving instruction) for moving the viewpoint, which is acquired by the pointing device 23. The control means 14 controls the image display device. The control contents of the control means 14 are shown in FIGS.
It is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The control contents of the control means 14 will be described with reference to the explanatory views of FIGS.

FIG. 11 shows the main flow chart. When the image display device is activated, initialization processing is performed (step S91), and an event waiting state is set (step S9).
2). Then, according to the event that has occurred, the move instruction corresponding to the event is determined, and the determined instruction is stored in the move instruction register 13. Next, it is determined whether the movement command stored in the movement command register 13 is a forward movement command, a backward movement command, a turning command, or a movement direction change command. , The flow of FIG.
Advance processing of the viewpoint position shown in the chart is performed (step S
93). If it is a backward command, the flow chart of FIG.
The backward processing of the viewpoint position shown in FIG.
4) Also, if it is a turn command, the flow chart of FIG.
Processing for changing the moving direction of the line of sight shown in FIG.
5), if it is a reverse direction instruction, the flow chart of FIG.
Processing for changing the moving direction of the viewpoint shown in FIG.
6). If it is a click button, the moving path is changed (step S97).

(Initializing Operation) FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the initializing operation. The initialization is performed by the control means 14 setting the initial values in the above six registers. Here, the viewpoint is located at the position A shown in FIG. 3B, and the moving path 1 is about to proceed in the positive direction of the Z axis.

In step 11, the moving path identifier register 7
Is set as the current moving path, the identifier of the moving path that is automatically connected to the moving path indicated by the leading moving path identifier in FIG. 4 is obtained from the correspondence storage means 4 in FIG. 4, and the front moving path and the rear moving path are initialized. Turn into. Here, the front moving path is set to 2, the current moving path is set to 1, and the rear moving path is set to -1. If the moving path identifier is -1, it means that there is no moving path to be connected.

In step 12, the moving path identifier register 7
The moving path indicated by the current moving path identifier is read from the moving path storage means 1, and its end point 1 is set as the start point of the start point end point register 8 and end point 2 is set as the end point of the start point end point register 8.
In step 13, the movement vector is obtained from the coordinates of the movement path storage means 1 from the start point of the start point end point register 8 to the end point, and is set in the movement vector register 11. In this case, the movement vector is set to the unit vector in the AB direction.

In step 14, the line-of-sight vector and the rotation axis vector are set in each register. The line-of-sight vector is set to the same value as the movement vector, and the rotation axis vector is (0,
It is set to 1, 0). In step 15, the viewpoint position register 12 is initialized with the coordinates of the end point 1 of the current moving path. In this case, it is set to A (8, 3, 0).

In step 16, (0, 0) is set in the cursor position register provided inside the pointing device 23. When the initialization operation is completed, the rendering unit 5 draws a projected image in the frame buffer 6 and draws a rear cursor on the projected image. The screen image when the display 21 displays this display data is shown in FIG.
It is (a).

(Forward and Forward Processing of Viewpoint Position) FIG. 1
3 and 14 are flowcharts showing the operation when changing the viewpoint position. 13 shows the viewpoint forward processing, and FIG. 14 shows the viewpoint backward processing. The operator operates the keypad 22 to move the viewpoint position forward and backward along the current movement path. (Forward processing in the moving path by the forward button Step 5
(Repeat 1, 52, 53, 66) It is assumed that the viewpoint is now at position A in FIG. The value of the moving path identifier register 7 at this time is (2, 1, -1).

In step 51 of FIG. 13, it is determined whether the current position of the viewpoint has reached the end point of the moving path. Specifically, of the end points of the moving path indicated by the current moving path in the moving path identifier register 7, the coordinates of the end point of the start point end point register 8 are obtained from the moving path storage means 1 and the coordinates and the viewpoint position register 12 are obtained. Compare and end if equal. In this case, the viewpoint is still at the start point (position A) of the moving path, so the process proceeds to step 52.

In step 52, the coordinates of the current viewpoint are directed toward the end point by the magnitude of the movement vector of the movement vector register 11. Since the movement vector is a unit vector,
By updating the movement vector register 11, the viewpoint advances little by little on the movement path. Here, if the end point of the start point end point register 8 is in the middle of the movement vector, the coordinates of the end point are obtained again as in step 51 and written in the viewpoint position register 12.

In step 53, the coordinates of the current viewpoint position are compared with the coordinates of the end point of the start point end point register 8. If the end point is reached, the process proceeds to step 54. In this case, since the end point has not been reached, the process proceeds to step 66. In step 66, with respect to the position of the viewpoint updated in step 52, the scene of the virtual space viewed from the position is projected on the display surface. Specifically, the rendering unit 5 is caused to perform the rendering process on the updated position, and the projection images of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object are written in the frame buffer 6.

When the above steps 51, 52, 53, and 66 are repeated, each time step 52 is performed, the position of the viewpoint advances by the magnitude of the movement vector, and then step 66. At, the projection on the display surface is performed at the updated viewpoint position. The processing of these steps 51, 52, 53, 66 is repeated, and the scene along the moving path switches from the back side to the front side as the forward button is pressed. 20 (a)-
The display example of (f) shows how the display surface is displayed each time step 66 is executed once the processes of steps 51, 52, 53, and 66 are repeated, and FIG. The switching from (a) to FIG. 20 (b) and the switching from FIG. 20 (b) to FIG. 20 (c) represent the advance of the viewpoint moving vector. That is, FIG.
In (a) Projection image 20 (b), the cross road in front of the moving path on the side of FIG. 20 (b) is approaching to the front, and the viewpoint is moving forward on the moving path. ing. FIG.
The switching from (b) to FIG. 20 (c) is performed as shown in FIG. 20 (b).
Then, the crossroad that entered the field of view is shown in Fig. 20 (c).
It disappears, and in FIG. 20 (c), another T-shaped road is approaching to the front, so it is clear that the road is moving forward and standing at the crossroads.

(When the viewpoint reaches the end point of the moving path and the branch is performed by the automatic connection information) The above step 51,
The process of 52, 53, and 66 is repeated, and the viewpoint advances in the moving path. Then, it is assumed that the end point of the moving path 1 is reached. When the end point is reached, Yes is determined in step 53, and the process proceeds to step 54. Here, how the branch from the moving path to the moving path is performed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing how the movement vector is updated when the movement path is branched.

In FIG. 18, the moving vector of the viewpoint is calculated from the coordinates of both end points of the moving path where the current viewpoint is (moving vector in the figure = end point 2−end point 1). When the direction of the viewpoint is switched, the movement vector of the viewpoint must be updated to the movement vector of the moving path to be switched (in the case of this figure, the switching destination is the movement vector 2, This is obtained by the calculation of movement vector = end point 4−end point 3 in the figure.) Therefore, when branching the viewpoint to a different moving path, the moving vector of the viewpoint must be updated to the moving vector of the moving path to be switched. To update this movement vector, first of all,
The angle α formed by the two vectors is calculated, and the direction of the viewpoint is rotated by the calculated angle. Further, the rotation axis vector of the viewpoint is also updated along with the branch of the moving path, and the viewpoint uses the updated rotation axis vector for the rotation of the line of sight on the branch destination moving path.

Next, branching of the moving path will be described with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. If the angle α formed by the moving paths 1 and 2 is obtained as described above, it becomes possible to switch the direction of the viewpoint from the moving path 1 to the moving path 2, but in this embodiment, this angle α Do not rotate at once. This is because, if the line of sight of the viewpoint faces the moving path 2 at a time, the sense of reality of turning around the moving path is impaired. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small rotation angle γ is set, and the rotation of the viewpoint is determined by this angle γ.
Each time it is done in small increments, each time it is rotated by the angle γ,
On the display surface, a scene tilted by an angle γ from the state before rotation is displayed. With each rotation of the angle γ, the virtual space is projected, and a state in which the vehicle gradually bends between the moving paths is expressed.

The processing of steps 55 to 66 of FIG. 13 is configured so that the above-described movement path switching is performed. Hereinafter, the processing of each step will be described step by step. In step 54, the identifier of the previous moving path is checked, and if it is negative, the process proceeds to step 66. In this case, since the previous moving path exists, the result is Yes and the process proceeds to step 55. In step 55, since the viewpoint moves to another moving path, the moving path identifier is moved down. That is, the identifier of the current moving path is updated with the identifier of the current moving path of the moving path identifier register 7, and the identifier of the current moving path is updated with the identifier of the previous moving path. The identifier of the moving path that is automatically connected to the moving path indicated by the identifier of the preceding moving path is read from the connection relation storage means 2, and the identifier of the preceding moving path is updated accordingly.

In step 56, the moving path stored in the moving path storage means 1 is searched for a moving path having the same coordinates as the one indicated by the end point of the start point end point register 8 and the end point number of the moving path is set as the starting point. Write to the start point of the end point register 8. The other number is written in the end point. In step 57, the movement vector is temporarily stored in the internal register, the coordinates of the start point and the end point of the start point end point register 8 are obtained from the movement path storage means 1, and the movement vector is calculated by subtracting the start point vector from the end point vector. Then, the movement vector register 11 is updated with the unit vector divided by the size.

At step 58, the value of cos α is obtained from the inner product of the movement vector temporarily stored in the internal register and the movement vector of the movement vector register 11, and α is obtained from this and the trigonometric table stored inside. In step 59, a vector perpendicular to the two vectors is obtained from the outer product of the movement vector temporarily stored in the internal register and the movement vector of the movement vector register 11, and the vector of the rotation axis vector register 10 is set to α with this vector as the axis. The rotation axis vector register 10 is updated with the rotated vector.

In step 60, θ is set to α as an initial value for turning the line-of-sight vector. Step 61
Then, compare the preset angles γ and θ and γ <= θ
If yes, go to step 62. Otherwise, go to step 65. In step 62, the line-of-sight vector register is updated with a value obtained by rotating the line-of-sight vector by γ around the rotation axis vector.

In step 63, with respect to the line-of-sight vector updated in step 62, the scene of the virtual space seen from the line of sight is projected on the display surface. Specifically, the rendering unit 5 is caused to perform the rendering process on the updated position, and the projection images of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object are written in the frame buffer 6. In step 64, θ is reduced by γ and the process returns to step 61.

When the above steps 61 to 64 are performed, the view of the virtual space rotated by the angle γ is displayed on the display surface. Then, by repeating steps 61 to 64, the scene for each angle γ is switched. In step 65, the line-of-sight vector register is updated with a value obtained by rotating the line-of-sight vector by θ around the rotation axis vector.

In step 66, with respect to the line-of-sight vector updated in step 62, the scene of the virtual space viewed from the line of sight is projected on the display surface. Specifically, the rendering unit 5 is caused to perform the rendering process on the updated position, and the projection images of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object are written in the frame buffer 6. In this way, the scene along the moving path 2 appears on the display surface by the display switching of the display surface by repeating steps 61 to 64 and the display switching by steps 65 and 66.

Hereinafter, with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. 21, the manner in which the scenes of the virtual space displayed on the display surface are switched by repeating steps 61 to 66 will be described. 21A to 21F show how the images on the display surface are switched when the processes of steps 62 to 66 are repeated. Each time step 62 is performed, the direction of the line-of-sight vector rotates by the angle γ, and then,
In step 63, since the updated sight line of the viewpoint is projected on the display surface, the movement path 1 to the movement path 2
By branching to, the display examples of FIGS. 21A to 21F appear one after another on the display surface. 21 (a) to FIG.
The switching to (b) and the switching from FIG. 21 (b) to FIG. 21 (c) represent rotation of the line of sight by the angle γ. That is, in FIG. 21 (a) and FIG. 21 (b), FIG.
The triangular pyramid on the left side of the moving path flows to the right,
It clearly shows how the line of sight of the viewpoint turns to the left.
Switching from FIG. 21B to FIG.
In FIG. 2B, the triangular pyramid located in the center of the display surface is shown in FIG.
1 (c), it is on the right side, and in FIG. 21 (d), the triangular pyramid is only reflected on the right edge of the display surface. In addition, in FIG. 21 (e), the triangular prism disappears from the display surface, which clearly shows that the line of sight of the viewpoint is directed to the moving path 2.

(Processing when the backward button is pressed) The above is the processing when the forward button is pressed. Next, the processing when the backward button is pressed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Since the backward movement is processed in the same way as the forward movement, emphasis will be placed on the difference. In the following description, it is assumed that the viewpoint is on the moving path 1 and the operator presses the backward button.

In step 71, it is compared whether or not the viewpoint coordinates are equal to the start point of the start point / end point register 8. in this case,
Assuming that the viewpoint is in the middle of the moving path, the process proceeds to step 83. In step 83, the value of the viewpoint position register 12 is set to
In the direction of the movement vector register 11, the size of the movement vector is advanced. Here, if the coordinates of the start point are exceeded, the viewpoint position register 12 is updated with the coordinates of the start point, and the process proceeds to step 87.

In step 87, the view of the virtual space viewed from the position of the viewpoint updated in step 83 is projected on the display surface. Specifically, the rendering unit 5
Let's do the rendering process for the updated position,
The projected images of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object are written in the frame buffer 6. Step 7 above
When the processes of 1, 83, and 87 are repeated, the position of the viewpoint moves toward the starting point of the moving path. By repeating this, when the viewpoint reaches the starting point of the moving path, step 71
If Yes, the process moves to step 72.

In step 72, the identifier of the previous moving path is checked, and if it is negative, the process proceeds to step 87. In this case, the moving path where the viewpoint is connected to other moving paths,
Proceed to step 73. In step 73, step 55
Similarly to, the contents of the object storage means 3 are moved down as the backward button is pressed. That is, the identifier of the current moving route in the moving route identifier register 7 is updated to the identifier of the previous moving route, the identifier of the current moving route is updated to the identifier of the rear moving route, and the moving route indicated by the identifier of the rear moving route is automatically updated. The identifier of the moving path to be connected is read from the connection relation storage means 2, and the identifier of the subsequent moving path is updated accordingly.

At step 74, like step 56,
Among the coordinates of the end points of the moving path of the moving path storage means 1 indicated by the previous moving path, the same coordinates as the one indicated by the start point of the start point end point register 8 are set from the moving path of the moving path storage means 1 indicated by the current moving path. Then, the end point number of the coordinates is written in the end point of the start point end point register 8. On the other hand, another number is written in the end point.

In step 75, similar to step 57,
The movement vector is temporarily stored in an internal register, and the coordinates of the start point and the end point of the new branch destination movement path are stored in the movement path storage unit 1.
Then, the movement vector is calculated from the calculated value, and the movement vector register 11 is updated with the unit vector divided by the magnitude. In step 76, as in step 58, the value of cosα is obtained from the inner product of the movement vector temporarily stored in the internal register and the movement vector of the movement vector register 11, and the angle required for branching is calculated from that value and the trigonometric table stored inside. Find α.

In step 77, as in step 59,
A vector obtained by finding a vector perpendicular to the two vectors from the outer product of the movement vector temporarily stored in the internal register and the movement vector of the movement vector register 11, and rotating the vector of the rotation axis vector register 10 by α with the vector as the axis. The rotation axis vector register 10 is updated with. In step 78, as in step 60, the angle θ is set to the angle α as an initial value for turning the line-of-sight vector.

In step 79, as in step 61,
The preset angles γ and θ are compared, and if γ <= θ, the process proceeds to step 84. Otherwise step 8
Go to 0. In step 80, as in step 62, the line-of-sight vector register is updated with a value obtained by rotating the line-of-sight vector by γ around the rotation axis vector.

At step 81, like step 63,
With respect to the line-of-sight vector updated in step 62, the scene of the virtual space viewed from the line of sight is projected on the display surface. Specifically, the rendering unit 5 is caused to perform the rendering process on the updated position, and the projection images of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object are written in the frame buffer 6.

In step 82, as in step 64,
Decrement θ by γ and return to step 79. By performing the above steps 79 to 81, the scene of the virtual space rotated by the angle γ is displayed on the display surface. Then, from step 79
By repeating 81, the scene is switched for each angle γ.

In step 84, as in step 65,
The line-of-sight vector register is updated with a value obtained by rotating the line-of-sight vector by θ around the rotation axis vector. Step 85
Then, with respect to the line-of-sight vector updated in step 65, the scene of the virtual space viewed from the line of sight is projected on the display surface. Specifically, the rendering unit 5 is caused to perform the rendering process on the updated position, and the projection images of the three-dimensional object and the moving path object are displayed in the frame buffer 6
To be written.

At step 86, the movement vector register 1
The value of 1 is added to the value of the viewpoint position register 12. Here, if the coordinates of the start point are exceeded, the viewpoint position register 12 is updated with the coordinates of the start point. In step 87, the rendering unit 5 writes the three-dimensional object and the cursor in the frame buffer 6, and the display 21 displays.

In this way, display switching of the display surface by repeating steps 79 to 81 and steps 82 to 87.
When the display is switched by, a scene along the moving path 2 appears on the display surface. (Changing the moving direction to the opposite direction) FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of changing the moving direction of the viewpoint (when changing to the opposite direction). When the operator presses the button for changing the moving direction, the flow chart of FIG. 11 is branched to the flow chart of FIG.

In step 31, the identifiers of the front moving path and the rear moving path in the moving path identifier register 7 are exchanged. In step 32, the reverse vector of the current movement vector is obtained and the movement vector register 11 is updated. In step 33,
180 ° around the current rotation axis vector
The line-of-sight vector register 9 is updated with the rotated vector.

At step 34, the start point and end point of the start point end point register 8 are exchanged. As described above, after the movement path identifier register 7, the movement vector register 11, and the line-of-sight vector register 9 are updated, when the viewpoint is moved forward,
In the projection process of step 66 of the flowchart of No. 4, the reverse scene is projected on the display surface. (Turning the line-of-sight direction to the left and right) FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation when changing the line-of-sight direction. In the following description, it is assumed that the viewpoint is on the way of the moving path and the operator presses the turn button in this state.

In step 41, it is judged whether or not the right turn button is pressed, and if it is pressed, step 42 is executed.
Proceed to. Otherwise, go to step 43. In this case, assuming that the right turn button has been pressed, in step 42 the line-of-sight vector is rotated to the right around the rotation axis vector by a preset amount θ °. In step 43, it is determined whether or not the left turn button has been pressed.
If the left turn button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 44, and if not, the process ends.

In step 44, it is assumed that the left turn button is pressed, and the line-of-sight vector is rotated to the left around the rotation axis vector by a preset angle θ °. In step 45, the three-dimensional object and the cursor in the virtual space which are within the visual field of the line of sight rotated by the angle θ are projected on the frame buffer 6. By this, on the display surface,
The view of the virtual space rotated by the angle θ is displayed.

In this step 45, the sight of the virtual space after turning is projected on the display surface, so that the line-of-sight direction can be turned to the left and right and the surrounding area can be seen. Note that here, one rotation axis vector is used to change the line-of-sight direction, and only turning to the left and right is possible. However, if another rotation axis vector is used, the line-of-sight direction in the vertical direction can be changed. You can change it. The vertical rotation axis vector at this time becomes a vector perpendicular to the two vectors of the left and right rotation axis vectors and the line-of-sight vector, and can be easily obtained by the outer product of the vectors.

(Operation when changing the moving path) FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation when changing the moving path. In the following description, it is assumed that the viewpoint is on the way of the moving path, and in this state, the operator points the moving path object on the display 21 with the cursor. When the cursor is moved onto the movement path object and the attached button is clicked, the cursor position is sent from the pointing device 23 to the control means 14.

In step 21, the value of the pixel (pixel) specified by the two-dimensional coordinates of the input cursor position is acquired from the frame buffer 6. In step 22, the object identifier is extracted from the pixel value. Step 23
Then, it is determined whether or not the extracted object identifier is the moving path object identifier, and if not, this processing is ended. In this embodiment, the relationship of moving path object identifier> 0 is set. In this case, since a click is made on the moving path object, a positive number is returned as the moving path object identifier, and the process proceeds to step 24. .

At step 24, the moving path identifier corresponding to the object identifier is read from the correspondence storage means 4. In step 25, it is judged whether or not the read travel route identifier is included in the selected connection information of the two end points of the connection relation storage means 1 of the current travel route. In this case, since the read identifier of the moving path is included in the selected connection information destination of the current moving path in the connection relation storage means 1, the moving path of the read identifier is determined as the branch destination. If so, go to step 24. If not, proceed to step 26.

At step 26, the end point including the selected connection information is compared with the start point and end point of the start point end point register, and if they are equal to the start point, the rear movement path of the movement path identifier register 7 is updated. If it is equal to the end point, the previous moving path is updated. When the operator selects the moving path object 4, the moving path identifier register 7 becomes (4, 1, -1). In addition, in the present embodiment, the document “OpenGL Program” is used.
The method of selecting an object using a so-called backward buffer shown in "Ming Guide" is adopted. There are various methods for selecting objects, and this document also describes a method for selecting objects using the selection mode, but it goes without saying that this method can be used.

In this way, the object storage means 3 is updated in step 26, and when the forward instruction is repeated thereafter, the direction of the viewpoint is changed to the pointing direction in the forward processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Switching to the moving path selected by the device 23. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the branching of the branch can be performed by selecting the moving path object with the cursor and moving forward or backward. In this way, if the selection of the moving path with the cursor is realized, (1) move to the intersection in the crossroad, (2) check whether the intersection has been reached, (3) continue moving, if (4) reach If so, the series of operations (1) to (4) of changing the moving direction and continuing the movement becomes unnecessary, and the operability is significantly improved.

Further, since the moving range of the viewpoint is clearly indicated by the moving path object, the creator who creates the virtual space can easily grasp the part which the operator can see and the part which cannot be seen, and creates the virtual space. It is easy for the creator to understand the data creation range. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wasteful work of creating the data of the invisible portion, and there is an effect that the efficiency of creating the three-dimensional data is very high.

In this embodiment, the start point / end point register stores the numbers of the start point and the end point. However, if the start point number is known, the end point number can be known. Therefore, either one may be stored. In the above-described first embodiment, the description has been given by taking the schematic virtual space as an example. Next, a specific example in which the image display device is applied to the virtual store system will be described. 35 (a) (b), FIG. 36 (a) (b), FIG.
(A) and (b) are display examples when the configuration of the present embodiment is applied to a three-dimensional virtual store system for a home electric appliance store.

FIG. 35A shows a scene in which a crossroad exists in a virtual store. In the figure, four white road objects at the center of the display surface form a cross road. This crossroad is in front of the current viewpoint.
On this current path, three VCRs are displayed on the right-hand side shelf, and three TVs b4, b5 are displayed on the left-hand side shelf.
b6 is displayed. And the refrigerator b7 is displayed on the other side across the crossroads. These video decks b1, b2, b3 and televisions b4, b5, b6 are three-dimensional objects, and are stored and managed in the above-mentioned moving path storage means 1, connection relationship storage means 2, and object storage means 3. ing.

In this virtual store system, when the video decks b1, b2, b3 and the televisions b4, b5, b6 are pointed by the cursor, explanations about them are displayed. The description is omitted because it is not a target. It is assumed that the operator moves the cursor to the position A and presses the forward button to turn left through the passage. In this case, since the tip of the cursor points to the moving path 8 arranged to the left, the moving path 8 is determined as the branch destination.

It is assumed that the operator moves the cursor to the position B and presses the forward button. By pressing the forward button, the position of the viewpoint advances by a few steps, and the image of FIG. 35 (b) is displayed. FIG. 36A is an image when the viewpoint reaches the crossroads. In this case, the operator cannot obtain information from the display example whether or not the operator has reached the crossroads.
In the conventional walk-through operation method, it is necessary to move the line of sight to the left or right or look at the feet.
On the other hand, in the invention, when the vehicle reaches the crossroads, the viewpoint is automatically controlled to move to the next direction, so that it is not necessary to perform such an operation, that is, the forward button can be pressed. For example, the viewpoint turns to the left. 36 (b), 37 (a), and (b) are display examples in which the line-of-sight direction is automatically turned to the left.
In FIG. 36 (b), the refrigerator on the other side of the moving path appears in the center of the display surface, and in FIG. 37 (a), the refrigerator located in the center moves closer to the right side of the display surface and on the right side of the moving path 2. The home appliances that are placed are displayed. In FIG. 37 (b), the moving path object of the moving path 8 is located at the center of the display surface and is in the direction of the moving path 2. The image of FIG. 35 (a) shows a large television on the other side of the moving path 8 which did not appear on the display surface at all on the display surface.

In addition to the example of the virtual store described above, a concrete example in which the present invention is applied to a car navigation system will be described with reference to FIG. As described as the prior art, there are some car navigation systems for the purpose of simulation, such as displaying and confirming the route to the destination at home before actually driving the automobile. In this simulation, as shown in FIG. 22, a moving road object or a three-dimensional object is displayed on the display surface based on the layout of the immediately preceding building or road (passage) stored in the car navigation system. The operator is made to perform forward and backward operations on the scene on the display surface, and the image on the display surface is switched in response to the operation. If you are familiar with the scene of reaching the destination in advance by such a simulation, it is very suitable for driving later. In this case, if the movement path is selected via the pointing device, the movement path can be easily selected, and the simulation can be performed very easily.

As described above, the configuration of this embodiment can be widely applied to any walk-through system as long as it is a walk-through system that displays an image by projecting a scene in the virtual space on the display surface. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the connection of the moving paths was premised on that the coordinates of the end points in the virtual space are the same, but in the second embodiment, even if the coordinates of the end points are the same. Even if it is not done, if a logical connection relation such as a link attribute is defined in the connection relation of the moving paths, it is assumed that these moving paths are connected and the viewpoint is moved.

Since the above link attributes have been set,
The connection relation storage means 2 shown in FIG. 4 stores the link attribute between two moving paths in addition to the storage contents of the first embodiment. FIG. 23 shows the contents of the connection relation storage means 2 in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 23, the automatic connection information and the selective connection information of the end point 2 of the moving path 4 and the end point 7 of the moving path 7 are shown.
Link attribute "-2" to automatic connection information and selected connection information
Is given. Referring to FIG. 3, since the coordinates of the end point 2 of the moving path 4 are (3, 3, 4) and the coordinates of the end point 2 of the moving path 7 are (3, 3, 7), these are , There is no coincidence on the coordinates, but since the logical connection relation such as "-2" is defined, the movement path 4 and the movement path 7 are
It is possible to go back and forth. In the map shown in FIG. 3B, the moving paths 4 and 7 should be dead ends as they move in the X-axis direction. Since the connection is specified, if you move in the negative direction of the X-axis on the moving path 4, it will automatically branch to the moving path 7 and go on the moving path 7 in the positive direction. Has become. On the contrary, if the traveling path 7 is advanced in the negative direction of the X-axis, it is automatically branched to the traveling path 4 and proceeds in the positive direction on the traveling path 4.

Further, in the second embodiment, link relation storage means is added in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. The link relation storage means stores the link source movement path identifier, the link destination movement path identifier, and the end point which is the starting point of those movement paths. FIG. 24 shows the link relationship between the moving paths 4 and 7 in FIG. 2 stored in the link relationship storage means. FIG.
In the stored contents of the link relation storage means shown in (1), the link source moving path identifier, the link destination moving path identifier, and the starting point are associated with each other, and the link relationship between the two moving paths is defined.

The operation of the second embodiment constructed as above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the processing when the forward button is pressed. This flowchart and Figure 1
The difference from the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
The point is that steps 101 and 102 are added.

Now, it is assumed that the viewpoint diverges from the moving path 2 to the moving path 7 shown in FIG. 2 and the moving path 7 is currently moving. At this time, the value of the moving path identifier register 7 is (-
2, 7, 2). Here, it is assumed that the forward button is pressed, the processing of the moving path of steps 51, 52, 53, 66 is repeated, and the viewpoint reaches the end point of the moving path 7. Therefore, step 53 becomes Yes and the process moves to step 54. The connection information of the end point 2 of the moving path 7 is as described above, −
2 and step 54 becomes No, step 101
Move to

At step 101, it is judged whether or not the previous moving path has a link attribute. Step 66 if not a link attribute
Proceed to. In step 102, the link process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 20 is performed. As a result, the viewpoint is moving path 4.
Proceed to endpoint 2.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the processing when the backward button is pressed. This flowchart and Figure 1
The difference from the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is that steps 111 and 112 are added in FIG.
Now, the viewpoint moves along the path of the moving path 7 → the moving path 4 of FIG.
It is assumed that the end point 2 of the moving path 4 is currently being started and is moving toward the end point 1. At this time, the value of the moving path identifier register 7 is (3, 4, -2).

Here, the backward button is pressed, and step 7
It is assumed that the processing of the moving paths 1, 83 and 87 is repeated and the viewpoint reaches the end point of the moving path 4. Therefore, step 71 becomes Yes and the process proceeds to step 72. As described above, the connection information of the end point 2 of the moving path 4 is −2, the step 72 becomes No, and the process proceeds to the step 111.
In step 111, it is determined whether or not the rearward movement path has the link attribute, and if the link attribute, that is, -2, is step 11
Proceed to 2. If it is not a link attribute, the process proceeds to step 87.

At step 112, the flow chart of FIG.
Link processing shown in FIG. As a result, the viewpoint is moving path 7.
Proceed to endpoint 2. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the link processing. When the processing shifts to the above steps 102 and 112, a series of processing of this flow chart is executed. In this flowchart, in step 121, the moving path identifier of the link destination whose current moving path in the moving path identifier register 7 is the link source is read from the link relation storage means,
Write to the current movement path of the object storage means 3.

Next, the moving path to be automatically connected to the end point side of the current moving path is read from the connection relation storage means 2 and written in the previous moving path. Finally, write -2 on the rear moving path. Step 12
In 2, the start point number of the link relation storage means is written in the start point of the start point end point register 8, and the end point is written with a different number. In step 123, a vector advancing from the start point of the start point end point register 8 to the end point is written in the movement vector register 11.

In step 124, the same vector as the movement vector register 11 is written in the line-of-sight vector register 9. In step 125, the coordinates corresponding to the start point of the link relation storage means are read from the moving path storage means 1 and written in the viewpoint position register 12. In step 126, a vertical vector and a turning angle are obtained from the link source movement vector and the link destination movement vector, and a vector obtained by rotating the rotation axis vector by the turning angle around the vertical vector is obtained and written in the rotation axis vector register.

In this way, the object storage means 3, the correspondence relation storage means, the rotation axis vector register 10, and the control means 14 are updated, and when the process proceeds to step 66 (this is the case of forward movement, and the case of backward movement, step 87), the information about the moving path 4 is written in the rotation axis vector register 10 and the moving path storage means 1, so that the scene along the moving path 4 is displayed on the display surface.

Specifically, when the viewpoint advances along the moving path 4 which should be stopped immediately above and reaches the end point 2, the link processing shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the correspondence storage unit, the rotation axis vector register 10, and the control unit 14 are updated to the information about the moving path 7. Therefore, on the display surface, the scene of the moving path 4 is switched to the scene of the moving path 7, and the operator can feel as if these moving paths are connected.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the viewpoint can be moved back and forth between the moving paths which are not directly continuous on the coordinate. Therefore, even if the size of the virtual space is limited, the viewpoint can be changed. Can be moved around. Also, when there is a three-dimensional object that is an obstacle between two points where you want to move the viewpoint and it is not possible to place a moving path between them, the two points are logically linked by a link attribute. By connecting, the viewpoint can be moved back and forth between these two points.

(Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, when the pointing device 23 is clicked once on the movement path object, the mouse moves forward, and when it is clicked twice or more, the mouse moves backward.
The movement of the viewpoint is controlled according to the cursor position and the number of clicks, such as stopping when the mouse is clicked on a place other than the movement path object.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the following frequency register is added. The number-of-times register stores the correspondence relationship between the number of clicks and the move command corresponding to the number of clicks. FIG. 28 shows the correspondence between the number of clicks and the move command. As shown in FIG. 22, if the number of clicks is 0, the move command is a stop command, and if the number of clicks is 1, the move command is a forward move. If the number of clicks is two or more, the move command is backward.

Since the control based on the above-mentioned number of clicks is performed, the flow path change processing flow chart shown in FIG. 17 includes steps 20 and 2 as shown in FIG.
7 and step 28 are added. In FIG. 29, in step 20, when the button is clicked, the number of times the button is clicked is counted and the number is written in the number register.

After executing step 20, in step 21,
The movement path identifier is acquired from the pixel designated by the pointing device 23, and the object identifiers are sequentially extracted in step 22, and when step 28 is reached, a movement command corresponding to the number of times in the number register is moved in step 28. Write to the instruction register 13. By performing the above steps 20 to 28, the movement instruction register 13 stores the movement instruction corresponding to the number of clicks.

Next, the processing when the object identifier does not belong to the object (determined in step 25)
No) will be explained. If step 23 is No, the number register is cleared to 0 in step 27. After shifting to step 27, the process shifts to step 28. In step 28, a move command that has been cleared to 0, that is, a stop command is given.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the operator moves forward on the moving path object displayed on the display 21 by clicking the pointing device 23 once, and moves backward by moving the pointing device 23 twice or more. Since the viewpoint moves so as to stop when clicked on a place other than the road object, the viewpoint can be moved more easily and the operability is improved.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the third embodiment, the forward and backward movements are performed depending on the number of clicks. In the fourth embodiment, however, the right turn and the left turn in the line-of-sight direction are further changed depending on the cursor position of the pointing device 23. It is possible. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 30, the right side and the left side are allocated to the areas 2 and 3 on the display surface, and the other areas are allocated to the area 1. In these areas, as shown in FIG. 31, area 1 is assigned to stop and area 2 is assigned to right turn. Area 3
Is assigned to turn left.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, the steps shown in FIG. 32 are added to the flow chart shown in FIG.
That is, in the fourth embodiment, when the object identifier obtained from the pixel value is not the one of the moving path object in the determination at step 23 in FIG. 29 (No.
In the case of), the process proceeds to step 53 in FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 32, step 54 and step 5
When the process of 6 is performed, the process proceeds to "end" in FIG. 29, and when it is determined No in step 55, the process proceeds to step 28 in FIG.

Hereinafter, the steps shown in FIG. 32 will be described step by step. In step 53, it is determined whether or not the clicked position is on the right side of the display surface. If it is on the right side, the right rotation instruction is stored in the movement instruction register 13. In step 55, it is determined whether or not the clicked position is on the left side of the display surface. If it is on the left side, the left rotation instruction is stored in the movement instruction register 13.

After the execution of the above steps 53 and 55, the main flow chart of FIG. 11 is entered. In this state, the movement command register 13 stores the turning command, so the flow chart of FIG. 16 is executed to rotate in the line-of-sight direction. As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to improving the operability in the third embodiment, it is possible to rotate the line of sight by clicking on the display surface. Therefore, the operability can be further improved.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the fifth embodiment, the moving path object stored in the moving path identifier register on the display surface, the moving path connected to the current moving path, and the moving path object And are displayed in different colors. Fifth
FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing how color coding of the moving path is performed in the embodiment. The correspondence chart in FIG. 33 (a) shows the correspondence between the moving path identifier, the color of the moving path, and the color. That is, in this figure, the moving path identifier 1 is drawn by the system 1. The moving path identifier 3 indicates that it is drawn by the system 2. The color coding of these moving paths corresponds to the connection relationship between the moving paths in FIG. That is, in FIG. 6, the current moving path and the moving paths before and after the current moving path stored in the moving path identifier register 7 are all drawn in the color of the system 1. Further, in FIG. 6, all the moving paths whose connection relationship is the selective connection are drawn in the color of the system 2. Furthermore, these movement paths that have no connection relationship with the movement path where the viewpoint is now,
It is drawn in the original color.

In the fifth embodiment, the rendering unit 5 shown in FIG. 4 stores the correspondence chart shown in FIG. 33 (a),
By the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 34, a projected image is drawn on the display surface. This drawing process will be described with reference to FIG. Now, it is assumed that the viewpoint passes through the moving path 1 in FIG. 2 and the moving path 2 is moving toward the moving path 6. At this time, the value of the moving path identifier register 7 is (6, 2, 1). The rendering unit 5 calls a color conversion routine shown in FIG. 34 when projecting a three-dimensional object.

The flow chart of FIG. 34 has a structure in which the processing of steps 141 to 148 is repeated for all objects. In step 141 of FIG. 34, the object identifier is extracted from the original color code of one object. In step 142, it is determined whether or not the extracted object identifier belongs to the movement path object, and if so, the process proceeds to step 143, and if not, the process proceeds to step 148.

At step 143, the moving path identifier corresponding to the object identifier is read from the correspondence storage means 4. In step 144, it is determined whether or not the travel route identifier is equal to any of the travel route identifiers stored in the travel route identifier register 7. That is, whether the moving path identifier is the current moving path where the viewpoint is now, or the moving path identifier register 7
If it is the current moving path and the moving paths before and after the current moving path stored in, the process proceeds to step 146. If not equal, step 1
Proceed to 45.

In step 146, the original color of the moving path object is converted into a predetermined system 1 color, and the moving path object having the object identifier is drawn in that color. By drawing with the system one color as described above, the current moving path and the moving paths before and after the current moving path stored in the moving path identifier register 7 become visible on the display surface.

In step 145, it is compared with the stored contents of the connection relation storage means 2 whether the moving path identifier read in step 143 is equal to any of the selectable moving path identifiers stored in the moving path identifier register 7. . If they are equal, the process proceeds to step 147. If not equal, proceed to step 148. In step 147, the original color of the moving path object is converted into a predetermined system 2 color, and the moving path object of the object identifier is drawn in that color. By drawing in such two colors of the system, the moving path selectively connected to the current moving path can be seen on the display surface.

At step 148, the moving path object is written in the frame buffer 6 with the original color code of the three-dimensional object. In this way steps 141 to 1
When 48 is repeated for all objects, the system 1 draws the current moving path in which the viewpoint is currently, and the current moving path stored in and the moving paths before and after the current moving path are selectively connected to the current moving path. The moving paths to be drawn are drawn by the system 2, and the moving paths other than those are drawn in the original color, and the projected image on the display surface is given a sharp fit.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the projected image on the display surface is given a sharpness, the operator grasps in which direction the viewpoint advances from the projected image on the display surface. This makes it easier to walk through. In the fifth embodiment, in the system 1 color drawing, the moving path stored in the moving path identifier register 7 is searched for a moving path which is automatically connected, and all the found ones are searched for by the system 1. May I.

Although the description has been given based on the above embodiment, the present invention can be modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the following modifications (a) to (c) can be implemented. (A) In the first to fifth embodiments, when the cursor is located in a specific area, the rotation in the line-of-sight direction corresponding thereto is performed, but the cursor is located in the area and the operator moves the cursor outside the display 21. The control may be performed so that the rotation in the line-of-sight direction is performed when the operation is performed in the direction of. In this case, there is an advantage that the object at the edge of the screen can be easily selected without being rotated in the line-of-sight direction simply by entering the cursor in the area. Needless to say, the vertical line of sight can be rotated by setting the vertical rotation axis.

(B) In FIG. 4, each storage means is described as one block, but this is merely for the convenience of description. That is, it goes without saying that the stored contents of each storage unit may be recorded on a medium such as an optical disk so as to be updatable. In this case, an optical disc may be mounted, the disc may be rotationally driven, and a general-purpose driver mechanism for reading data from the optical pickup may be built in or externally connected.

In the description of (c) and (b), it has been mentioned that the stored contents are updated by an optical disk or the like, but it goes without saying that they can be updated via a communication network. That is, the image display device is equipped with a communication interface or modem for a digital network such as ISDN or LAN, and ISD
It is also possible to access a data server of N or LAN, read out necessary data, and update the stored contents with the read data.

[0157]

As described above, according to the image display device of the first or second aspect of the invention, the branch destination is determined by instructing the projected image of the passage projected on the display surface. , (1) Move to the intersection on the crossroads, (2) Check if the intersection has been reached, (3) Continue the movement if not reached, (4)
If it is reached, change the moving direction, (5) Continue moving (1)
The series of operations (5) to (5) become unnecessary, and the operability is significantly improved.

Further, since the moving range of the viewpoint is clearly indicated by the moving path object, the creator who creates the virtual space can easily grasp the part which the operator can see and the part which cannot be seen, and creates the virtual space. It is easy for the creator to understand the data creation range. Therefore, the wasteful work of creating the invisible data can be prevented, and the efficiency of creating the three-dimensional data is very high.

According to the image display device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, when the area occupied by the passage on the display surface is designated, the passage is determined as the destination. If no instruction is given, the planned passage is determined, so that the operator does not have to take time to branch the passage.

According to the image display device of the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the line of sight and the field of view are determined by the vector indicating the direction of the passage. , "Virtual walkthrough" is realized. According to the image display device of the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of claim 1, branching from passage to passage calculates an angle formed by the vector of the passage and rotates the line of sight by the angle. By doing so, it is realized by a low-load calculation, so that the "virtual walkthrough" is suitably realized.

According to the image display device of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the movement of the viewpoint is performed by the advancing means in small increments of the unit vector. The projected image on the display surface switches each time the vector moves forward, realizing a realistic "virtual walkthrough".

According to the image display device of the seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the movement of the viewpoint is performed by the advancing means in increments of a unit vector. When the viewpoint reaches the end point of the passage by advancing by the size of the vector, the writing means writes the line-of-sight vector, so that a "virtual walkthrough" realizes a realistic branch between branches.

According to the image display device of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is possible to receive the operation of the operator to rotate the line of sight and rotate the line of sight. The line of sight can be changed without changing the moving direction. According to the image display device of the tenth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, when branching between the passages, the rotation axis in the branch passage is calculated from the outer product of the passages. Even if the axis is slightly inclined from the normal, the inclination can be maintained even after branching.

According to the image display device of the eleventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the rotation of the line-of-sight vector is performed by a predetermined reference angle, and the writing control means is performed each time. Since the line-of-sight vector is written in the line-of-sight vector storage means, when branching between the passages, projected images are displayed on the display surface by a predetermined angle. Therefore, it is possible to express how the viewpoint gradually turns.

According to the image display device of the twelfth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, by defining a logical connection relationship such as a link pair between the passages, direct continuation on the coordinates is possible. Since it is possible to move back and forth between moving paths that have not been performed, the viewpoint can be moved around even if the size of the virtual space is limited.

According to the image display device of the thirteenth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, of the images on the display surface, the one which becomes the planned passage is drawn in the first color, Since the other passages are drawn in the second and third colors, the display surface is conspicuous and the visibility is improved.

Further, according to the image display device of the fourteenth and fifteenth inventions, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the point of view can be obtained by pointing the area on the display surface with the pointing device and by pressing the button. Since the vehicle moves forward or backward, the operability of "Virtual Walkthrough" is greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image display device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence between a virtual space and a display surface.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a correspondence between a visual field and an image on a display surface. (B) It is a top view which shows the coordinate in the virtual space mapped by the XZ coordinate system. (C) An image when the virtual space in the present embodiment is viewed obliquely from the position A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image display device in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between a travel path identifier and an end point of a travel path stored in a travel path storage unit 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between each travel path identifier stored in a connection relationship storage means 2 and other travel paths.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between an object identifier and a moving path identifier stored in a correspondence relationship storage means.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing storage contents of a frame buffer 6.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence between a field of view and an image on a display surface.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a line-of-sight vector, a movement vector, a start point end point vector, a start point position, and the like.

FIG. 11 is a main flowchart of the control operation of the control means 14.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the initialization process performed by the control means 14.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of forward processing in viewpoint position changing processing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the backward movement process in the viewpoint position changing process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a process of changing a moving direction of a viewpoint.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a process of changing the line-of-sight direction.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a moving path changing process.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a viewpoint turns between moving paths.

FIG. 19 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a viewpoint turns between moving paths. (B) It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between turning angle (alpha) and turning angle (beta).

FIG. 20 (a) to (c) When moving forward on the moving path 1,
It is a display example that appears on the display surface.

21A to 21E are display examples appearing on the display surface when branching from the moving path 1 to the moving path 4.

FIG. 22 is a display example when the configuration of the present invention is applied to a car navigation system.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between each travel path identifier and another travel path stored in the connection relationship storage means 2 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between each moving path identifier by link connection and other moving paths.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of forward processing in viewpoint position changing processing.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the backward movement process in the viewpoint position changing process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of link processing in the second embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a table showing the correspondence between the number of clicks and a move command.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a moving path changing process in the third embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a display example showing an image on a display surface and allocation of regions on the image.

31 is a diagram showing a correspondence between a region allocated on the display surface shown in FIG. 30 and a rotation command corresponding to the region.

FIG. 32 is a step added in the fourth embodiment in the process of changing the moving path.

FIG. 33 (a) is a diagram showing a correspondence between a moving path identifier and a color of the identifier. (B) It is explanatory drawing which shows the moving path color-coded by the color shown to Fig.33 (a).

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the processing of the rendering unit 5 in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 35 (a) is a display example that appears on the display surface when the moving path in the virtual store is advanced and the moving paths are branched. (B) It is a display example that appears on the display surface when the moving path in the virtual store is advanced and the paths are branched.

FIG. 36 (a) is a display example that appears on the display surface when the moving path in the virtual store is moved forward and the moving paths are branched. (B) It is a display example that appears on the display surface when the moving path in the virtual store is advanced and the paths are branched.

FIG. 37 (a) is a display example that appears on the display surface when the moving path in the virtual store is moved forward and the moving paths are branched. (B) It is a display example that appears on the display surface when the moving path in the virtual store is advanced and the paths are branched.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 moving path memory means 2 connection relationship memory means 3 object memory means 4 correspondence relationship memory means 5 rendering section 6 frame buffer 7 moving path identifier register 8 start point end point register 9 line-of-sight vector register 10 rotation axis vector register 11 moving vector register 12 viewpoint position Register 13 Move command register 14 Control means 21 Display 22 Keypad 23 Pointing device

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image display device for moving a viewpoint on a plurality of passages in a virtual space, and displaying a scene in the virtual space within the visual field of the viewpoint on the display surface according to the movement. Moving means for receiving the operation of and moving the viewpoint on the designated passage in the virtual space, and projection means for projecting a scene of the virtual space within the visual field of the viewpoint on the display surface as the viewpoint moves on the passage. When a crossroads consisting of two or more passages is projected on the display surface,
An instruction means for causing the operator to previously instruct one of the passages forming the crossroads as a destination of movement in the field of view, the movement means, when the viewpoint is located at the branch point of the crossroad, An image display device characterized in that a viewpoint is moved on a designated passage. 2. A first determination for determining, as a moving destination of a viewpoint, a pointing device that causes an operator to indicate a position on a display surface, and a passage including a position indicated by the pointing device on the display surface. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The image display device further corresponds to a branch formed by two or more passages in the virtual space and a planned passage which is a passage having a predetermined branch among the passages forming each branch. A crossroad-planned passage storage means for additionally storing, when the viewpoint is located at the branch point of the crossroad, the moving means moves the viewpoint to the planned passage where the branch is defined in the crossroad-planned passage storage means, 3. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein, when any one of the passages forming a branch on the display surface is instructed by the means, the viewpoint is moved to the instructed passage. . 4. The image display device further includes a passage-coordinate storage unit that stores all passages in the virtual space and coordinates of both ends of each passage in the virtual space in association with each other, and a sight line indicating a sight line direction of a viewpoint. First vector calculation means for calculating a vector indicating the direction of the passage where the current viewpoint is based on the line-of-sight vector storage means for storing the vector and the coordinates of both ends of the passage where the viewpoint is stored in the passage-coordinate storage means And writing means for writing the calculated vector in the line-of-sight vector storage means and field-of-view determination means for determining the visual field based on the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means when writing is performed by the writing means. The projection means projects a projection image of the visual field determined by the visual field determination means onto a display surface. Any of the image display device. 5. The image display device further sets the coordinates of both ends of the passage indicated by the indicating means to the passage-.
The reading means for reading from the coordinate storage means, the second vector calculating means for calculating a vector indicating the direction of the passage in the virtual space based on the coordinates read by the reading means, and the second vector calculating means for calculating Vector and the
An angle calculation unit that calculates an angle formed by the vector calculated by the first vector calculation unit, and, when the angle is calculated, a rotation that rotates the line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage unit by the calculated angle. 5. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the writing unit writes the line-of-sight vector after the rotation when the viewpoint reaches the branch point of the crossroads by the moving unit. 6. The moving means includes a current coordinate storage means for storing coordinates of a current position of a viewpoint in a virtual space, and a unit vector calculation for calculating a unit vector of the vectors calculated by the first and second vector calculation means. Means and the operation of the operator is accepted, and each time the operation is performed,
In the direction of the calculated unit vector, advance means for advancing the coordinates currently stored in the coordinate storage means by the size of the unit vector is provided, and the visual field determination means is the current position advanced by the advance means. , A visual field is determined based on the visual line vector stored in the visual line vector storage unit, and the projection unit causes the projected image of the visual field determined by the visual field determination unit to be displayed on the display surface each time the visual field is determined. The image display device according to claim 5, wherein the image is projected. 7. A second means for determining whether or not the coordinates of the current position advanced by the advance means have reached the end point of the path where the current viewpoint is, by referring to the stored contents of the path-coordinate storage means. 7. The image display device according to claim 6, further comprising: a determining unit, wherein the writing unit writes the line-of-sight vector after rotation when the second determining unit determines that the end point has been reached. 8. The image display device includes a three-dimensional object storage unit that stores each three-dimensional object provided in a virtual space and coordinates occupied by each three-dimensional object in association with each other. A determining unit that determines a passage and a three-dimensional object that are within the visual field determined by the visual field determining unit and a projection unit that projects the passage and the three-dimensional object that are determined to be within the visual field each time the visual field is determined. The image display device according to claim 7, further comprising: 9. The image display device further includes rotation axis storage means for storing a rotation axis of the line of sight, an operation of an operator to rotate the line of sight, and a rotation amount that is stored by receiving the rotation amount thereof. Rotation control means for rotating the direction of the line-of-sight vector by the amount of rotation about the axis as a reference axis, and the writing unit rotates the line-of-sight vector by the rotation control means. 9. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the image is written in the vector storage means. 10. The image display device includes a vector calculated by a second vector calculation means,
A rotation axis calculation unit that calculates an outer product of the vector calculated by the first vector calculation unit and a vector indicating the direction of a passage having the current viewpoint, calculates the rotation axis of the vector from the outer product, and stores the rotation axis in the rotation axis storage unit. And the angle calculation means includes a vector calculated by the second vector calculation means,
The inner product with the vector indicating the direction of the passage with the current viewpoint calculated by the first vector calculation means is calculated, and the angle formed by the two vectors is calculated from the inner product, and the rotation means calculates the angle. 10. The line-of-sight vector stored in the line-of-sight vector storage unit is rotated by the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit with reference to the rotation axis stored in the rotation-axis storage unit. The image display device described. 11. The rotating means controls the writing means when the line-of-sight vector rotation unit rotates the line-of-sight vector by a predetermined reference angle when the angle is calculated by the angle calculating unit, and controls the writing unit when the line-of-sight vector rotates. , A writing control unit for writing a predetermined reference angle in the line-of-sight vector storage unit, and whether the difference between the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit and the total rotation angle written by the writing control unit is larger than the reference angle. A difference magnitude determination unit that determines whether the difference is small, a first rotation control unit that controls the line-of-sight vector rotation unit to rotate the reference line angle when the difference is large, and a first rotation control unit that controls the line-of-sight vector rotation unit to rotate the reference angle The image display device according to claim 10, further comprising a second rotation control unit that rotates the line-of-sight vector by a difference. 12. The image display device further comprises a link path storage means for storing a link pair which is a combination of end points of paths having connection relations even though the coordinates of the end points do not match, and the reading means comprises: When the viewpoint moves to the path having one end of the link pair, the coordinates of both ends of the path on the other side of the link pair are read from the link path storage means, and the second vector calculation means is the path read by the reading means. Calculating a vector indicating the direction of the passage in the virtual space based on the coordinates of both ends of the angle;
The angle formed by the vector calculated by the first vector calculation means is calculated, and the rotation means calculates, when the angle is calculated, the line-of-sight stored in the line-of-sight vector storage means by the angle calculated by the angle calculation means. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein a vector is rotated, and the writing unit writes the line-of-sight vector rotated by the rotating unit when the rotating unit rotates the vector. 13. The image display device comprises a passage having a current viewpoint, a passage which is a planned passage of the passage in the branch-planned passage storage means, or a passage which is designated by the instruction means as a destination, and a viewpoint. Is associated with the passage that has just passed, and is stored in the current-front / rear passage storage means in the cross-planned passage storage means when the viewpoint is moved by the moving means. A search unit for searching all passages that are linked to each other as a planned passage, a passage stored in the current-front and rear passage storage means, and projected images of all passages searched by the search means. Is drawn with a first color, and with a second color that draws a passage that has a branch with the passage drawn in the first color but is not linked as a planned passage in the second color. 2 drawing 4. A third drawing unit that draws a projected image of a passage, which is not drawn by the first and second drawing units, in a third color while entering the visual field of the viewpoint. Image display device. 14. The image display device further has a pointing device having a button, and when the pointing device indicates a passage and the button is pressed in the instructed state, the image display device moves according to the number of times the button is pressed. A forward-backward control means for causing the means to move forward or backward from the viewpoint, and a stop control means for stopping the movement of the moving means when a position other than the passage is instructed by the pointing device. The image display device according to claim 2. 15. The image display device further has a pointing device having a button, and when the pointing device indicates a passage and the button is pressed in the instructed state, the image display device moves according to the number of times the button is pressed. Forward-backward control means for causing the means to perform forward or backward movement of the viewpoint, and rotation control means for causing the rotating means to rotate the line-of-sight vector to the right or left when the both sides of the display surface are instructed by the pointing device. 14. A stop control means for stopping the movement of the moving means when a position other than a passage or both sides of the display surface is indicated by the pointing device, and the stop control means is provided. Image display device.