Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Shape generating
Patent
1996-02-15
1998-05-05
Nguyen, Phu K.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Shape generating
G06F 1500
Patent
active
057481989
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a polygon data conversion device that converts polygon data which is input thereto into polygon data of a predetermined format for output, and a three-dimensional (3D) simulator apparatus and polygon data conversion method that use the polygon data conversion device.
BACKGROUND OF ART
Various types of 3D simulator apparatus that are used in applications such as 3D games or piloting simulators for aircraft or other moving objects are known in the art. With such a 3D simulator apparatus, image information relating to a 3D object 300 shown in FIG. 23A is previously stored within the apparatus. In this case, the 3D object 300 depicts an element such as scenery that can be seen by a player 302 on a screen 306. The image information for the 3D object 300 that expresses this scenery element is displayed as a pseudo-3D image 308 on the screen 306, by perspective projection conversion on the screen 306. The player 302 specifies operations such as rotation or forward motion through a control panel 304, and the present apparatus performs predetermined 3D computation processing on the basis of the resultant operating signals. More specifically, computations are first performed to determine what changes take place in terms of the viewpoint, where the player 302's eyes are directed, and the position or orientation of a moving object in which the player 302 is sitting, as specified by these operating signals. Computations are then performed to determine how the image of the 3D object 300 can be seen on the screen 306, in accordance with the change in viewpoint or where the player's eyes are directed. The above computations are performed in real time, following the operations of the player 302. This makes it possible for the player 302 to see any change in the scenery due to changes in the player's own viewpoint or where the player's eyes are directed, or the position or orientation of the moving object in which the player is sitting, as a pseudo-3D image in real time, to simulate the experience of a virtual 3D space.
An example of a display screen formed by a 3D simulator apparatus as described above is shown in FIG. 23B.
In such a driving game or simulator, the realism of the game or simulation can be enhanced by forming a sub-screen depicting an element such as a rear-view mirror or a side mirror on a display screen (main screen) as shown in FIG. 23B.
To further enhance the sense of realism in the game or other simulation in this case, it is preferable that a pseudo-3D image with a degree of realism that is similar to that of the main screen is displayed on the sub-screen, such as the rear-view mirror. To that end, it is first necessary to obtain a rearward-facing field-of-view image as seen from the player's viewpoint. It is then necessary to obtain an image that is the rearward-facing field-of-view image inverted in a mirror, in other words, an image obtained by subjecting this field-of-view image to horizontal i.e., right-to-left inversion, and display that image on the main screen as an image as seen in a rear-view mirror.
With the 3D simulator apparatus described with reference to FIG. 23A, each 3D object is divided into polygons (1) to (6) (where polygons (4) to (6) are not shown in the figure) and the field-of-view image is synthesized therefrom. Unfortunately, a simulator apparatus of this type has a limitation in that the computations for synthesizing the images should be completed within one frame, which may take only 1/60 second. It is therefore usual to have hardware that forms only frontface polygons and not backface polygons, to reduce the amount of computation processing necessary for image synthesis. In this case, a frontface polygon is one that is the frontface of an image as seen from the viewpoint; a backface polygon is one that is the backface of an image as seen from the viewpoint. Whether a polygon is a frontface or backface polygon is determined from the order in which vertex numbers are allocated to the vertices of the polygon. For example, a
REFERENCES:
patent: 5341467 (1994-08-01), Klassen
Kato Komei
Takeda Masaki
Namco Ltd.
Nguyen Phu K.
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