Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-08
2001-03-20
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
C463S031000, C463S032000, C463S033000, C463S034000, C345S111000, C345S111000, C345S111000, C345S111000, C345S427000, C345S473000, C345S474000, C345S475000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203425
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an image generating device which processes moving images of games, etc., and more particularly relates to the technology of generating images actualizing further realistic movements by generating the intermediate posture images between the varying movements (walking state, running state, etc.) of moving objects.
BACKGROUND ART
A normal video signal successively sends out every vertical synchronization period frame images in which gradual changes in the posture of the displayed objects are recorded and displays moving images wherein the object shall be viewed as moving. Here, a frame is a basic period to display one complete frame image, and for example, is equivalent to a vertical synchronization period. Further, a frame image is image data for displaying a single picture which is recorded the movement of the displayed object for each frame. Moreover, moving image data is an assembly of frame image data for displaying a series of movements of the object.
Even in the image generating devices typical of video game machines, moving character images (virtually generated moving objects or subjects) are displayed by successively sending out frame images in which gradual changes are recorded. In this video game machine, the CPU successively transmits frame images of characters, etc., to the video block. In the video block, frame images transmitted from the CPU are displayed. In other words, a video game machine reads in moving image data which are recorded the character's series of movement images (“walking” and “running”) from a large capacity storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and displays moving images based on the above.
If it is a simple motion of repeating the same movement, merely storing the moving image data of such a period and repeating that several times will suffice. To display “walking,” the period shall be of the time the character puts forward the left leg, puts forward the right leg, and puts forward the left leg again, and by repeating the period, the image of the character walking continuously may be displayed.
However, it is difficult to make a nonexisting, virtually created character perform complex movements. For example, when displaying a character as an athlete in a track and field event, the character starting the approach run from a walking state, gradually gaining speed, and finally spurting are the kinds of images which are required. Since the above movement changes gradually and will not use the same frame images again, moving image data which repeat the fixed movements may not be repeated several times. Therefore, it was necessary to arrange all of the frame images properly in order to display these movements. But since consuming an extensive amount of capacity of memory just to store one moving images, it is practically impossible to implement several events with one game machine.
If the two completely different movements of “walking” and “running” are switched and displayed, the walking state may suddenly shift to the running state, or the opposite movement may be performed, and the picture will be unnatural and lacking reality.
In addition, it takes much time for the manufacturer to produce original image data. Therefore, every time a new movement mode was added to the conventional video game machines, vast amounts of original data had to be inputted, and became a heavy load for the manufacturers supplying the software.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Thus, the first subject of the present invention is to provide an image generating device capable of displaying complex and natural movements of the character with less image data.
The second subject of the present invention is to provide a game device capable of displaying complex and natural movements of the character with less image data.
The third subject of the present invention is to provide an image generating method capable of displaying complex and natural movements of the character with less image data.
The fourth subject of the present invention is to provide a storage medium which stores the program enabling the provision of the image generating method.
An image generating device of the present invention for generating moving image data from a series of frame images for displaying moving objects, comprising:
a weighting interpolation circuit for referring to posture specifying information which specifies a posture of the moving object in each of the frame images included in each of the two types of moving image data, weighting and interpolating posture specifying information obtained from each of the two types of moving image data based on a predetermined weighting parameter in order to indicate the ratio of weighting between the two types of moving images, and generating posture specifying information for displaying a new posture.
An image generating device of the present invention, further comprising:
a time base interpolation circuit for assigning a rate parameter which indicates the rate of change in the posture of the moving object to the frame images, respectively, and if a designated playback speed parameter does not coincide with the rate parameter of either of the frame images, specifing the two frame images possessing a parameters just before and behind the timing of the playback speed parameters, and by interpolating posture specifying information in the two specified frame images, newly generating posture specifying information of frame images capable of displaying the posture equivalent to the playback speed parameter,
wherein the time base interpolation circuit generates posture specifying information equivalent to the playback speed parameter regarding each of the two types of moving image data based on the designated playback speed parameter, and
wherein the weighting interpolation circuit further weights and interpolates the two types of posture specifying information generated by the time base interpolation circuit, and generates posture specifying information which displays a new posture of the moving object.
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein the weighting interpolation circuit changes the weighting parameter with predetermined characteristics according to the lapse in time.
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein the weighting interpolation circuit linearly interpolates the two posture specifying information based on the weighting parameter.
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein the posture specifying information includes space position information which prescribes space positions of a plurality of parts set in advance in the moving object within the virtual space.
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein if the weighting interpolation sets each of the space positions obtained from the two types of moving image data to (xA, yA) and (xB, yB), respectively, and sets the weighting parameter to n (0≦n≦1), then space position (X, Y), which is the new posture specifying information, is calculated by the formula of:
(X, Y)=((1
−n
)·xA+
n
·xB, (1
−n
)·yA+
n
·yB).
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein the posture specifying information includes angle information which prescribes a rotating angle around a rotating axis in a plurality of rotating portions set in advance in the moving object.
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein if the weighting interpolation sets each of the angle information obtained from the two types of moving image data to (&thgr;xA, &thgr;yA) and (&thgr;xB, &thgr;yB), respectively, and sets the weighting parameter to n (0≦n≦1), then space position (&thgr;x, &thgr;Y), which is the new posture specifying information, is calculated by the formula of:
(&thgr;x, &thgr;Y)=((1
−n
)·&thgr;xA+
n
·&thgr;xB, (1
−n
)·&thgr;yA+
n
·yB).
An image generating device of the present invention, wherein the two types of moving image data display moving images of the moving objects which resemble one another, and further, each of p
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
Martin-Wallace Valencia
Nguyen Binh-An D.
LandOfFree
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