JPH0981784A - Three-dimensional object selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the device which automatically selects graphic data in a viewpoint direction by intuitively changing a viewpoint for the graphic data to be selected, and performs the viewpoint changing and the operation for selecting the graphic data at the same time. SOLUTION: The viewpoint position of a user is inputted directly through a viewpoint position detection part 3 and stored in a spatial graphic data storage part 2. Spatial graphic data viewed from the viewpoint position are generated by a spatial graphic data processing part 1. An indication area setting part 4 sets an indication area corresponding to the viewpoint position of the user. A display control part 5 judges whether or not the spatial graphic data are in the indication area set by the indication area setting part 4, and selects and display a plurality of spatial graphic data, which are stored as spatial graphic data in the indication area or selectable objects, on a display unit 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional object selecting apparatus capable of simultaneously changing the viewpoint and selecting an object in a three-dimensional space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computer graphics technology for displaying a three-dimensional figure on a two-dimensional display is used in many fields. In order to select the graphic data in the three-dimensional space, the graphic data to be selected is
It should be displayed on the display in a size that is easy to operate and in a position that is easy to operate. If the graphic data to be selected is not properly displayed on the display, the visual field information for the graphic data must be changed and then the selection operation must be performed. In the case of a perspective view in which a three-dimensional figure is three-dimensionally displayed on a plane, the change of the view field information with respect to the figure data may include movement of the viewpoint, movement of the gazing point, and adjustment of the spread of the viewing angle. The change of the visual field information is difficult to understand the operation on the three-dimensional figure represented on the two-dimensional display.
An apparatus for providing a viewpoint, a gazing point, a projection drawing, and a second projection drawing by a clipping view volume, which is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 166265, "Three-dimensional graphic display device" (hereinafter referred to as Document 1), and JP-A-62-209682 Japanese Patent Publication "Method of Displaying Line-of-sight Direction of Three-dimensional Graphic" (hereinafter referred to as Reference 2),
There have been proposed devices and methods for providing a dedicated window for changing visual field information on a display, such as a method for providing a support window for rotating a viewing volume figure according to the direction of the line of sight.

In addition, changing the visual field information in order to select the graphic data has a problem that the operation efficiency is low. To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-15
There is a device described in JP-A-0981 “Three-dimensional graphic display device” (hereinafter referred to as Document 3), which retrieves a graphic close to a viewpoint and obtains it as a pick graphic.

Further, when selecting a three-dimensional figure displayed on a two-dimensional display, there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp the depth direction. In order to solve this problem, a reference object is displayed and sizes are compared. JP-A-05-274421 "Cursor control device"
(Patent Document 4 below) and color changing depending on the distance to the device or the pointing object
No. 22, "Pointing device" (hereinafter referred to as Document 5), and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-174191 "Three-dimensional display device" (hereinafter referred to as "Three-dimensional display device")
There is a device described in Reference 6).

[0005]

However, in the device described in Document 1 and the method described in Document 2, in order to make the change of the visual field information easy to understand, it is necessary to directly act on the graphic data to be operated. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

Further, the device described in Document 3 provides a device with high operation efficiency by combining a selection operation and a viewpoint change, but it is difficult to change the visual field information for properly displaying the selected figure. However, the conventional problem remains.

The devices described in Documents 4, 5, and 6 have been proposed for selecting a three-dimensional figure displayed on a two-dimensional display. However, the visual field information for appropriately displaying the selected figure is displayed. The problem described above still remains in that it is difficult to change.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to intuitively change the viewpoint for graphic data to be selected,
Graphic data in the viewpoint direction is automatically selected, and
You can change the viewpoint and select graphic data at the same time 3
It is to provide a three-dimensional object selection device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a viewpoint position detecting unit for detecting a viewpoint position of a user, a spatial graphic data storage unit for storing data of a spatial graphic to be presented to the user, A spatial graphic data processing unit that creates shape data of the spatial graphic viewed from the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection unit, and a designated area on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection unit. The display area to be presented to the user is created by referring to the designated area setting section to be set and the shape data of the spatial figure from the spatial figure data processing section, and further set by the designated area setting section. A display control unit that determines whether or not there is a selectable space figure in the designated area, and if there is a selectable space figure, creates display data in which the display attributes of the selectable space figure are changed, Serial characterized in that it is composed of a display for displaying the display data generated by the display control unit.

In a second aspect of the present invention according to the first aspect, there is provided a selection candidate storage section for storing the shape data of the spatial figure, wherein the display control section has the space from the spatial figure data processing section. By referring to the shape data of the figure, the display data to be presented to the user is created, and it is judged whether or not there is a selectable space figure in the designated area set by the designated area setting section, and the display is selectable. When there is a space figure, shape data of the space figure is stored in the selection candidate storage unit as a selection candidate. When there are a plurality of selection candidates, the z coordinate of the shape data stored in the selection storage unit is stored. Are compared, the smaller one is adopted as the selectable space figure, and the display data in which the display attribute of the selectable space figure is changed is created.

A third aspect of the present invention is a viewpoint position detecting section for detecting a viewpoint position of a user, a spatial figure data storage section for storing data of a spatial figure to be presented to the user, and the viewpoint position detecting section. A spatial figure data processing unit that creates shape data of the spatial figure viewed from the detected viewpoint position, and an instruction area setting unit that sets an instruction area on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection unit And a selectable object storage section that stores a table in which one or more spatial figures are associated with selectable objects, and the shape data of the spatial figure from the spatial figure data processing section are referred to, and the user Display data to be presented to the user, and further stored in the selectable object storage unit selectable in the designated area set by the designated area setting unit. To determine whether or not there is object,
When there is a selectable object, a display control unit that creates display data in which the display attributes of one or more spatial figures in the selectable object are changed, and the display data created by the display control unit are displayed. It is characterized by being configured with a display device.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention based on the third aspect, the display control section has a selection candidate storage section for storing the selectable object, and the display control section is provided with the spatial figure from the spatial figure data processing section. The shape data is referred to, display data to be presented to the user is created, and it is determined whether or not there is a selectable object in the designated area set by the designated area setting unit. In some cases, the selection candidate storage unit stores the object as a selection candidate, and when there are a plurality of selection candidate objects, the value of the z coordinate of the shape data in the object stored in the selection storage unit. , The one with the smaller value is adopted as the selectable object, and the display attribute of one or more spatial figures in the selectable object. Characterized in that it created a modified display data.

[0013]

In the present invention, the viewpoint position of the user is directly input by the viewpoint position detection unit, and the spatial graphic data processing unit generates the shape data of the spatial graphic viewed from the viewpoint position. The pointing area setting unit sets the pointing area according to the viewpoint position of the user, and the display control unit sets the spatial figure data on the pointing area or the plurality of spatial figure data stored as selectable objects. Display as selected state. When the user's viewpoint position is changed, the spatial figure data in the direction in which the user is looking is automatically selected.Therefore, in order to display the figure in an appropriate size and position on the display, the visual field information The two-stage operation of making a change and performing a selection operation is streamlined, and an intuitive selection operation can be performed.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configurations of the first and second inventions of the present invention.

The spatial graphic data processing unit 1 detects the spatial graphic data stored in the spatial graphic data storage unit 2 from the position of the user's viewpoint and the direction of the line of sight detected by the viewpoint position detection unit 3. Shape data is created by calculating the shape of the space figure to be displayed. Here, the spatial figure data stored in the spatial figure data storage unit will be described as holding three-dimensional figure data such as a triangular pyramid and a cylinder. It is not limited to.

FIG. 2 (a) shows a case where the spatial figure data to be selected is not properly displayed on the display. When it is desired to select the graphic data A21 in FIG. 2A, the graphic data A21 shown in FIG.
As described above, it is necessary to change the field-of-view information so that it is displayed at the center of the screen in a size that is easy to operate. FIG.
To change the visual field information from (a) to FIG. 2 (b), it is necessary to shift the visual point to the right so that the visual field angle is widened to approach the target graphic data A. The viewpoint position detection unit 3 is moved in the same manner as when moving the viewpoint to actually see the object, and the viewpoint position is directly input via the viewpoint position detection unit. Further, existing sensors such as magnetism and ultrasonic waves may be used to detect the viewpoint position. As a conventional technique related to the detection of the position of such a viewpoint, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-28094 discloses a "spatial figure display device". Direct indication of the direction of the line of sight has been realized.

The designated area setting unit 4 calculates designated area coordinates corresponding to the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection unit. The user usually changes the viewpoint so that the figure to be selected is displayed at the center of the two-dimensional display, as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the center coordinates (Xv, Yv, Zv) at a predetermined distance from the coordinates (Xv, Yv, Zv) on the plane 33 perpendicular to the visual axis 32 (X
t, Yt), and using this as the pointing area 34, the center of the two-dimensional display in front of the user's direction is set as the pointing area.

The display control unit 5 creates display data, which is data for displaying on the two-dimensional display, with respect to the shape data of the space graphic output from the graphic data processing unit 1.

Here, the operation of the display control unit 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Spatial figure data processing unit 1
Read the shape data of the space figure output from (40
1) It is judged whether or not there is a read spatial figure in the designated area set by the designated area setting unit 4 (402). If it is in the designated area, the corresponding spatial figure is selected as a selection candidate. It is stored in the storage unit 6 (403). next,
Of the shape data of the spatial figure output from the spatial figure data processing unit 1, it is judged whether or not there is an unprocessed spatial figure for which the above-mentioned processing has been performed (404). Return to processing.

If there is no unprocessed space figure in the judgment of 404, it is judged whether or not there are two or more selection candidates stored in the selection candidate storage unit 6 (40).
5). When there are two or more selection candidates, the z-coordinate values from the viewpoint are compared with respect to the shape data of the selection candidate spatial figures, and the spatial figure data with the smallest z value is adopted as the selection data ( 406). In the comparison of the z-coordinates in the process of 406, if the z value of the shape data of the space figure on the designated area is exactly the same, no space figure data is adopted as the selection data, and the process proceeds to step 407. In this case, all the shape data of the same space figure of the z coordinate on the designated area is not selected.

Next, in order to display the spatial figure on the display 7, display data is generated from the shape data of the spatial figure output from the spatial figure data processing unit (407), and the spatial figure which is the selection data is The display data in which the display attribute is changed is generated (408). The change of the display attribute indicates the selected state of the spatial figure, and examples thereof include color change, blinking display, semitransparent display, and wireframe display.

Regarding the judgment of 402, if there is no spatial figure read in the designated area, the process proceeds to 407.

When the number of selection candidates is one in the judgment of 405, the selection candidates are adopted as selection data (410), and the processing of 407 is proceeded to.

Finally, it is judged whether or not there is an unprocessed spatial figure among the spatial figures output from the spatial figure data processing unit 1 (409). Return to processing. If there is no unprocessed space figure (that is, the shape data of the space figure for which display data need not be created), the processing ends. The data output from the display control unit is displayed on the display unit 7.

Next, FIG. 5 (a), FIG. 5 (b), and FIG.
How (c) spatial graphic data is selected and displayed will be described with reference to (c). In FIG. 5 (a), the spatial figure that coincides with the designated area 50 at the front position of the viewpoint is the spatial figure data 1 with the number 51 and the number 52.
When the z-coordinates of the shape data of two spatial figures are compared, the spatial figure data 1 has a shorter distance from the viewpoint than the spatial figure data 2 and a smaller z value. The graphic data 1 is in the selected state, the display attribute is changed, and the space graphic data 2 with the number 52 and the space graphic data 3 with the number 53 are displayed separately from the normal display.

FIG. 5B shows a display when the viewpoint is changed so that the spatial graphic data 2 comes to the front of the display. At this time, since the space figure data 2 with the number 52 is in the designated area 50, the space figure data 2 is in the selected state, the display attributes are changed, and the space figure data 1 with the number 51 and the space figure data with the number 53 are changed. 3 is displayed separately from the normal display.

FIG. 5C shows a display when the viewpoint is changed so that the spatial graphic data 3 comes to the front. Number 5
Since the space figure data 3 of No. 3 is in the designated area 50, the space figure data 3 is in the selected state, the display attribute is changed, and the space figure data 1 of number 51 and the space figure data 2 of number 52 are normally displayed. Is displayed separately from. Further, in this example, the display size of the spatial figure data 3 of number 53 is not changed, but the viewpoint position detection unit, for example, when the user tries to see detailed information, the spatial figure data 3 of number 53 is displayed. It is possible to easily realize a selection device that suits the user's intuition by sensing that a user approaches the screen when selecting, and changing the shape data of the spatial figure in the spatial figure data processing unit 2.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a third invention and a fourth invention of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the invention of FIG. Second
Of the present invention is the selectable object storage unit 8 according to the first invention.
Is added. Selectable object storage unit 8
Stores a table in which one or a plurality of spatial graphic data are associated with selectable objects, as shown in FIG. 7 as an example. In the table of FIG. 7, the selectable object 1 is composed of a plurality of spatial graphic data such as spatial graphic data 1, spatial graphic data 3 and spatial graphic data 5, and the selectable object 2 is called spatial graphic data 2. It is composed of one spatial figure data. Since the spatial graphic data 4 is not a selectable object, it is not associated with the table. The selectable object is composed of a single or a plurality of spatial graphic data, and the unit of the spatial graphic data may be a line, a surface, or a graphic. By defining selectable objects, a plurality of spatial graphic data can be selected at a time, and spatial graphic data that does not need to be selected can be prevented from being selected on the screen.

Here, the operation of the display control section 5 of the third and fourth inventions will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The shape data of the spatial figure output from the figure data processing unit 1 is read (801) and the selectable object storage unit 8 is read.
It is determined whether the read space figure is a selectable object by referring to the table in which the selectable object numbers and the figure data numbers are associated with each other (802).

When the read graphic data is a selectable object in the determination of 802, the table stored in the selectable object storage unit 8 is referred to again and the corresponding selectable object is changed to another spatial graphic. It is judged whether the figure data number of is written (8
03). When the figure data numbers other than the read figure data are written, all the shape data of the written space figure data are read from the spatial figure data processing unit 1 (804). Among the shape data of all the read spatial figure data, it is judged whether or not there is a read spatial figure in the designated area set by the designated area setting unit 4 (80
5) If there is, the corresponding selectable object is stored in the selection candidate storage unit 6 as a selection candidate object (806).

Regarding the judgment of 803, when only the figure number of the shape data of the read space figure is written in the corresponding selectable object, the judgment of 805 is made.

Next, it is judged whether or not there is an unprocessed spatial figure in the shape data of the spatial figure output from the spatial figure data processing unit 1 (807). Returning to the processing of 801 above.

When there is no unprocessed space figure in the judgment of 807, it is judged whether or not there are two or more selection candidate objects stored in the selection candidate storage unit 6 (808). When there are two or more selection candidate objects, the z coordinate from the viewpoint is compared with respect to the spatial figure data that coincides with the designated area in the selection candidate object, and the shape data of the spatial figure having the smallest z value. The selectable object including the is adopted as the selected object (809). In the comparison of the z-coordinates in the process of 809, if the z value of the shape data of the space figure on the designated area is exactly the same, no selectable object is adopted as the selected object, and the process proceeds to step 810. In this case, all the shape data of the same space figure of the z coordinate on the designated area is not selected.

Data for displaying the spatial graphic data on the display 7 is generated (810), and with respect to the spatial graphic data included in the selected object, display data whose display attribute is changed is generated (811). The change of the display attribute indicates the selected state of the spatial figure, and examples thereof include color change, blinking display, semitransparent display, and wireframe display.

Regarding the judgment of 802, if the read spatial figure data is not a selectable object, 81
It proceeds to the process of 0.

Regarding the judgment of 805, if there is no spatial figure data read in the designated area, the process proceeds to 810.

When the number of selection candidate objects is one in the judgment of 808, the selection candidate object is adopted as the selection object (813), 810.
I will proceed to the processing of.

Finally, it is judged whether or not there is an unprocessed spatial figure in the shape data of the spatial figure output from the spatial figure data processing unit 1 (812). Returning to the processing of 801 above. If there is no unprocessed space figure, the process ends. The display data output from the display control unit is displayed on the display unit 7.

9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c),
Shows how spatial figures are selected and displayed.
The space figure data 1 with number 91, the space figure data 2 with number 92, the space figure data 3 with number 93, the space figure data 4 with number 94, and the space figure data 5 with number 95 shown in FIG. According to the correspondence table of selectable objects and spatial graphic data of FIG. 7, spatial graphic data 1, spatial graphic data 3 and spatial graphic data 5 are associated as selectable objects 1, and spatial graphic data 2 are selectable objects. It is associated as 2. In this case, the spatial graphic data 4 is not a selectable object.

Spatial figures that coincide with the designated area 50 in the front direction of the viewpoint are the spatial figure data 2 with number 92 and the spatial figure data 5 with number 95, and the z coordinates of the shape data of the two spatial figures. In comparison, since the spatial figure data 5 has a shorter distance from the viewpoint than the spatial figure data 2 and the z value is smaller, the object 1 corresponding to the spatial figure data 5 is the selected object. At this time,
Object 1, that is, spatial figure data 1 with number 91, spatial figure data 3 with number 93, and number 9
The space figure data 5 of 5 is selected, the display attribute is changed, and the space figure data 2 of number 92 and the space figure data 4 of number 94 are displayed separately from the normal display.

FIG. 9B shows a display when the viewpoint is changed so that the spatial graphic data 2 comes to the front of the display. At this time, since the space graphic data 2 with the number 92 is in the designated area 50, the selected object 2 or the space graphic data 2 is in the selected state, the display attribute is changed, and the space graphic data 1 with the number 91 and the number 93. The space graphic data 3 of No. 3, the space graphic data 4 of No. 94, and the space graphic data 5 of No. 95 are displayed separately from the normal display.

FIG. 9C shows a display when the viewpoint is changed so that the graphic data 4 comes to the front. Although the space figure data 4 with the number 94 is in the designated area 50, since the space figure data 4 is not a selectable object, it is not in the selected state, and all the space figure data are not selected and are normally displayed. To be done.

[0044]

Since the visual field information is changed by directly moving the viewpoint, an intuitive operation can be performed on a space figure. By changing the position of the viewpoint and selecting the figure, the selecting operation can be performed without using a special device or method for selecting a three-dimensional figure as in the conventional case. Also, the user can automatically select a figure by simply changing the position of the viewpoint in order to see the figure to be selected, in the same way as when looking at a normal object. Therefore, the operation efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of a three-dimensional object selection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display diagram of a screen before and after changing visual field information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a viewpoint position and a designated area.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a display control unit.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the configuration of the three-dimensional object selection device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a selectable object and graphic data according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another operation of the display control unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 spatial figure data processing section 2 spatial figure data storage section 3 viewpoint position detection section 4 designated area setting section 5 display control section 6 selection candidate storage section 7 display 8 selectable object storage section 21-23 spatial figure data 31 viewpoint 32 views Axis 33 Plane perpendicular to the visual axis 34 Directive area 50 Directive area 51-53, 91-95 Spatial figure data

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A viewpoint position detecting section for detecting a viewpoint position of a user, a spatial figure data storage section for storing data of a spatial figure to be presented to the user, and a viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detecting section. The spatial figure data processing unit that creates shape data of the spatial figure, the designated area setting unit that sets the designated area on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection unit, and the spatial graphic data With reference to the shape data of the spatial figure from the processing section, the display data to be presented to the user is created, and further, there is no selectable spatial figure in the designated area set by the designated area setting section. If there is a selectable space figure, a display control unit that creates display data in which the display attributes of the selectable space figure are changed, and a display device created by the display control unit are displayed. Three-dimensional object selection device characterized in that it is composed of a display for displaying the data. 2. A selection candidate storage unit for storing shape data of the spatial figure, wherein the display control section refers to the shape data of the spatial figure from the spatial figure data processing section and presents it to the user. Display data is created to determine whether or not there is a selectable spatial figure in the designated area set by the designated area setting section, and if there is a selectable spatial figure, the selection candidate storage section The shape data of the spatial figure is stored as a selection candidate in, and when there are a plurality of selection candidates,
Comparing z-coordinate values of the shape data stored in the selection storage unit, adopting a smaller value as a selectable space figure, and creating display data in which the display attribute of the selectable space figure is changed The three-dimensional object selection device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A viewpoint position detecting section for detecting a viewpoint position of a user, a spatial figure data storage section for storing data of a spatial figure to be presented to the user, and a viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detecting section. The spatial figure data processing unit that creates shape data of the spatial figure, an instruction area setting unit that sets an instruction area on the screen corresponding to the viewpoint position detected by the viewpoint position detection unit, and a single or multiple A selectable object storage unit that stores a table in which the spatial figures and selectable objects are associated with each other, and a display for presenting to the user by referring to the shape data of the spatial figures from the spatial figure data processing unit. There is an object stored in the selectable object storage unit that creates data and is selectable in the designated area set by the designated area setting unit. A display control unit that determines whether or not there is a selectable object and creates display data in which display attributes of one or more spatial figures in the selectable object are changed; And a display device for displaying the display data. 4. A selection candidate storage unit for storing the selectable object, wherein the display control unit refers to the shape data of the spatial figure from the spatial figure data processing unit and presents it to the user. Display data is created to determine whether or not there is a selectable object in the designated area set by the designated area setting unit, and when there is a selectable object, the selection candidate is stored in the selection candidate storage unit. The object is stored as, and when there are a plurality of selection candidate objects, the z-coordinate values of the shape data in the objects stored in the selection storage unit are compared, and the one with a smaller value can be selected. Characterized by being adopted as an object and creating display data in which the display attributes of one or more spatial figures in the selectable object are changed The three-dimensional object selection device according to claim 3.