Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-05
2002-02-05
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
C463S031000, C345S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343987
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an image processing device and an image processing method, and more particularly, to an image processing device and an image processing method, and a recording medium whereon programs for same are recorded, whereby it is possible to represent smoothly the movement of objects in a “video game”.
BACKGROUND ART
With progress in computer technology, video game devices (image processing devices) using computer graphics technology have come to be widely used. Video games featuring objects of a variety of game characters, for example, people or animals, are very popular, and many different video game devices of this kind have been proposed.
In video game devices of this kind, a more realistic representation of objects is sought, whereby the joints of objects move in a natural manner.
There also exists so-called “motion capture” technology, which records realistic human movement. The process of using motion data generated by this motion capture technology to influence the movement of a virtual object is known as “inverse kinematics”. When applying “inverse kinematics” to a game device, or the like, it is necessary for this data of different specifications to be converted efficiently.
Moreover, if a real entity, for example, a singer, or the user him or herself is to be represented as a virtual object using this motion capture technology, then it is advantageous if a number of representations of this object are taken, using camerawork, special effects, and the like, in order to provide rich and interesting video images.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A first purpose of the present invention is to provide image processing technology whereby a object, which moves in a natural manner and approximates the movement of a real entity more closely than a conventional object, can be represented.
A second purpose of the present invention is to convert efficiently data of different specifications, when using motion data recording the movements of a real entity to influence the movements of a virtual object.
A third purpose of the present invention is to provide image processing technology whereby images, in which a variety of presentations conducted by a real entity are appended to a object, can be recorded and reproduced.
In an image processing device composed such that it displays a prescribed object whilst changing the shape thereof, this invention comprises: a first memory for recording information for first polygons which form a portion of the object; a second memory for recording information for second polygons, which form a further portion of the object and are linked to the first polygons; and processing means for changing the shapes of the second polygons in accordance with movement of the first polygons, when the shape of the object is changed, on the basis of the first polygon information recorded in the first memory and the second polygon information recorded in the second memory, such that no gaps are produced between the first polygons and the second polygons.
In the specification of the present invention, the following definitions are used. Polygons are polygonal shapes which are combined to represent an object. For example if an object is a virtual human body, the object is formed by a combination of parts objects representing various region such as the head, upper arms, lower arms, shoulders, thigh region, lower leg region, etc. of a body that moves as a single entity. (Hereinafter, called “part”).
The present invention is characterized by its approach which involves applying different types of polygons to different areas of a object. For example, parts formed by second polygons are applied to the joint regions of a object, and parts formed by first polygons, which do not expand or contract, are applied to other regions thereof. Since the second polygons which are caused to perform complex movement are applied only to regions which expand and contract in an actual entity, it is possible to complete calculational processing for a object within the frame period forming the image transmission cycle, provided that the device used has a prescribed processing capacity.
In this invention, the object comprises a plurality of the first polygons, and the second polygons are positioned such that no gaps are formed between the second polygons and the first polygons.
In this invention, the first polygons and the second polygons share vertices in a portion thereof, and information for the first polygons and information for the second polygons is represented such that the vertices of either a first polygon or a second polygon refer to the vertices of the other polygon, and the processing means uses information for the vertices of one polygon in drawing the other polygon.
In this invention, when information for the first polygons and information for the second polygons is represented by index values in a buffer which stores information for respective polygon vertices, the sharing of vertices is represented by setting the index values to negative values.
In this invention, the object is applied to a person, animal, or the like, appearing in a game, and the second polygons are applied to regions of the object which bend.
In this invention, the second polygons are applied to the head of an object.
In this invention, the second polygons are applied to a region from the chest to below the armpits of an object.
In this invention, the second polygons are applied to the elbows and wrists of an object.
In this invention, the second polygons are applied to a region from the feet to the toes of an object.
In this invention, selectable texture data is mapped onto at least one of the first polygons and the second polygons.
In this invention, the texture data is a photograph of a human face taken using a three-dimensional scanner.
In this invention, the texture data simulates clothing.
In an image processing method for displaying a prescribed object whilst changing the shape thereof, the present invention comprises a processing step whereby, when the shape of the object changes, the shapes of second polygons linked to first polygons comprising the image are changed in accordance with the movement of the first polygons such that no gaps are produced between the first polygons and the second polygons.
In this invention, the first polygons and the second polygons share vertices in a portion thereof, the vertices of a first polygon or a second polygon are represented by referring to the vertices of the other polygon, and the processing step uses information for the vertices of one polygon in drawing the other polygon.
This invention is a recording medium whereon programs for causing the aforementioned processing steps to be implemented in a computer are stored.
Here, a “recording medium” may be, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, DVD, ROM cartridge, RAM memory cartridge with battery back-up, flash memory cartridge, fixed RAM cartridge, or the like.
Furthermore, a wired communications medium, such as a telephone circuit, or a radio communications medium, such as a microwave circuit, may also be used. The Internet is included in this definition of communications media.
Specifically, a recording medium is a entity whereby information (mainly digital data and programs,) can be recorded by a physical means of some kind, and it is able to cause a processing device, such as a computer, special processor, or the like, to implement prescribed functions. In brief, it should enable programs to be downloaded into a computer by some means or other, thereby causing the computer to execute prescribed functions.
In an image processing device composed such that it can display a prescribed object whilst moving the object, this invention comprises: a memory which records information relating to a first element, a second element and a third element, which are mutually linked and form the object; and a processing section which changes the shape of the first element and the second element about prescribed axes, on the basis of the information recorded in the m
Hayama Yoshifusa
Hayashi Shinobu
Kawamura Tadahiro
Kida Makio
Mine Yuichiro
Clayton Sheila
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
O'Neill Michael
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