Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Image superposition by optical means
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-30
2001-08-21
Wu, Xiao (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Image superposition by optical means
C345S008000, C345S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278418
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional imaging system, and in particular, it relates to improvements in three-dimensional image display technology for presenting so-called three-dimensional images to a plurality of people.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image display devices, which display images over a plurality of image display screens, have been developed. For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 60-89209, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 60-154287, and the like, image display devices capable of displaying common images simultaneously on a plurality of image display screens (multi-screen), are disclosed. In these image display devices, a large memory space is divided up by the number of screens, and the image in each divided memory area is displayed on the corresponding screen.
Furthermore, with the progress in recent years of display technology based on virtual reality (VR), three-dimensional display devices for presenting observers with a sensation of virtual reality over a plurality of image display screens, have appeared. A representative example of this is the CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) developed in 1992 at the Electronic Vizualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois, in Chicago, U.S.A. Using a projector, the CAVE produces three-dimensional images inside a space by displaying two-dimensional images on display screens located respectively in front of the observers, on the left- and right-hand walls, and on the floor, to a size of approximately 3 m square. An observer entering the CAVE theatre is provided with goggles operated by liquid crystal shutters. To create a three-dimensional image, an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye are displayed alternately at each vertical synchronization cycle. If the timing of the opening and closing of the liquid crystal shutters in the goggles worn by the observer is synchronized with the switching timing of this three-dimensional image, then the right eye will be supplied only with the image for the right eye, and the left eye will be supplied only with the image for the left eye, and therefore, the observer will be able to gain a three-dimensional sensation when viewing the image.
In order to generate a three-dimensional image, a particular observer viewpoint must be specified. In the CAVE, one of the observers is provided with goggles carrying a sensor for detecting the location of the observer's viewpoint. Based on viewpoint coordinates obtained via this sensor, a computer applies a matrix calculation to original image data, and generates a three-dimensional image which is displayed on each of the wall surfaces, and the like.
The CAVE theatre was disclosed at the 1992 ACM SIGGRAPH conference, and a summary has also been presented on the Internet. Furthermore, detailed technological summaries of the CAVE have been printed in a paper in “COMPUTER GRAPHICS Proceedings, Annual Conference Series, 1993”, entitled “Surround-Screen Projection-Based Virtual Reality: The Design and Implementation of the CAVE” (Carolina Cruz-Neira and two others).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
If a three-dimensional imaging system is used in a game device, or the like, a case may be imagined where the observer (player) attacks characters displayed as three-dimensional images. In this case, if a virtual image of a weapon, or the like, which does not exist in real space, can be displayed in the observer's hands, and furthermore, if virtual images of bullets, light rays, or the like, can be fired at the characters, then it is possible to stimulate the observer's interest to a high degree.
Further, by displaying the virtual image of the weapon in the observer's hand, the weapon which fits the atmosphere of the game can be displayed in a moment: in the game featuring travel through history, the weapon which fits any era can be displayed whichever era the game shows.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional imaging system, game device, method for same, and a recording medium, whereby virtual images can be displayed three-dimensionally at a part of the body, such as a hand, or the like, of an observer.
In a three-dimensional imaging system which causes an observer to perceive virtual images three-dimensionally, a three-dimensional imaging system comprises:
position detecting means for detecting the position in real space of a prescribed part of the observer viewing said virtual images, and outputting the spatial coordinates thereof; and
display position determining means for determining the positions at which the observer is caused to perceive said virtual images, on the basis of spatial coordinates output by said position detecting means.
In a three-dimensional imaging system which respectively supplies virtual images to the eyes of an observer, accounting for parallax therein, thereby causing the observer to perceive these virtual images three-dimensionally, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that it comprises:
position detecting means for detecting the position in real space of a prescribed part of the observer of said virtual images, and outputting the spatial coordinates thereof; and
image display means for displaying said virtual images on the basis of the spatial coordinates output by said position detecting means, such that images are formed at positions corresponding to said spatial coordinates.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claim
1
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that said virtual images include images of objects which are perceived by the observer to be fired from the position detected by said position detecting means.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claim
2
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that said virtual images include images of objects which are perceived by the observer to be fired from the position detected by said position detecting means.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claims
1
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that it comprises impact determining means for determining, on the basis of spatial coordinates for a first virtual image and spatial coordinates for a second virtual image, whether or not an impact occurs between said first virtual image and said second virtual image.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claims
2
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that it comprises impact determining means for determining, on the basis of spatial coordinates for a first virtual image and spatial coordinates for a second virtual image, whether or not an impact occurs between said first virtual image and said second virtual image.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claims
3
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that it comprises impact determining means for determining, on the basis of spatial coordinates for a first virtual image and spatial coordinates for a second virtual image, whether or not an impact occurs between said first virtual image and said second virtual image.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claims
4
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that it comprises impact determining means for determining, on the basis of spatial coordinates for a first virtual image and spatial coordinates for a second virtual image, whether or not an impact occurs between said first virtual image and said second virtual image.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to claim
5
, a three-dimensional imaging system characterized in that said impact determining means determines whether or not said impact occurs by calculating whether or not there is any overlapping between one or more spatial regions having a prescribed radius set by said first virtual image, and one or more spatial regions having a prescribed radius set by said second virtual image, on the basis of said radii.
In a three-dimensional imaging system according to c
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Wu Xiao
LandOfFree
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