Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-09
2001-10-02
Saras, Steven (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
C345S182000, C345S419000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297814
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus for use in a game apparatus, such as a racing game apparatus or a shooting game apparatus, or a driving simulation apparatus which will be operated by the player or user while seeing a front three-dimensional graphic image from a driver's seat on a car, a spacecraft, or the like, a method of displaying an image with such an image display apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium which stores a control program for performing such a method.
Image display apparatus combined with racing game apparatus, for example, display an image on a display screen as viewed in front of a driver's seat by a car driver seated on the driver's seat behind a steering wheel. The game player operates the racing game apparatus to play the racing game while seeing the displayed image on the display screen. As the racing game played on the racing game apparatus proceeds, the displayed image changes depending on how the game player operates the racing game apparatus. For example, when the game player turns the steering wheel clockwise, the display screen displays the image of a right-hand area in front of the car to make the car look as if steered to the right. Conversely, when the game player turns the steering wheel counterclockwise, the display screen displays the image of a left-hand area in front of the car to make the car look as if steered to the left. When the game player presses the accelerator pedal, the display screen displays an image moving backwards at an increased speed to make the car look as if it is accelerated. When the game player presses the brake pedal, the display screen displays an image moving backwards at a reduced speed to make the car look as if it is decelerated.
One conventional image display apparatus for use with such a racing game apparatus is shown in
FIG. 1
of the accompanying drawings. As shown in
FIG. 1
, an image
62
of a road and buildings and trees along the road, as viewed from a driver's seat and changed as the game player operates the racing game apparatus, is projected from an image display apparatus
61
onto a flat projection screen at an enlarged scale for the game player to see with ease.
Since the image
62
is projected onto the flat projection screen, the image light from the image display apparatus
61
is applied obliquely to end regions of the flat projection screen while it is applied substantially perpendicularly to a central region of the flat projection screen. Therefore, the image
62
projected onto the flat projection screen is more elongated in the opposite end regions than in the central region of the flat projection screen, and hence looks distorted to the game player. Specifically, when an image
62
of nine circular spots is projected onto the flat projection screen, as shown in
FIG. 2
of the accompanying drawings, the central circular spot is displayed as a circular spot on the flat projection screen, but the other circular spots positioned around the central circular spot are displayed as being distorted into elliptical circular spots because the image light of these other circular spots is applied obliquely to the end regions of the flat projection screen. The image light emitted from the image display apparatus
61
through a projection lens thereof travels along a light path which is longer in the end regions than in the central region of the flat projection screen. Consequently, the image
62
projected onto the flat projection screen is more enlarged in the end regions than in the central region of the flat projection screen.
One way of obtaining a three-dimensional and realistic visual perception from images projected in front of the driver's seat is to employ a horizontally long flat projection screen for displaying panoramic images thereon. However, the horizontally long flat projection screen suffers a problem in that the displayed images are greatly elongated or expanded in horizontal end regions of the flat projection screen.
There is known a data conversion process for converting image data with a virtual spherical screen for three-dimensional spatial image rendering. If the known data conversion process is applied to the projected image
62
shown in
FIG. 3A
of the accompanying drawings, then the image data of the image
62
is converted to image data for displaying a projected image
63
. However, if the known data conversion process is applied to a projected image
62
b
shown in
FIG. 3B
of the accompanying drawings, then the image data of the projected image
62
b
is converted to image data for displaying a projected image
63
b
on a flat screen. The projected image
63
b
looks unnatural because its shape is distorted as if viewed through a wide-angle lens. The above data conversion process needs a complex hardware arrangement for its execution because the hardware arrangement should perform a data conversion function for an increased data processing rate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image display apparatus which is capable of projecting natural and realistic images onto a horizontally long projection screen without substantial image distortions such as image elongations or expansions at opposite end regions thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of displaying an image with such an image display apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable recording medium which stores a control program for performing such a method.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an image display apparatus has a concave projection screen extending about an axis and image projecting means for projecting images onto a rear convex surface of the concave projection screen. The image display apparatus also has control means for horizontally correcting image data for images to be projected onto respective opposite screen areas of the concave projection screen which are disposed one on each side of the axis.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of projecting images onto a rear convex surface of a concave projection screen extending about an axis. The method comprises the step of horizontally correcting image data for images to be projected onto respective opposite screen areas of the concave projection screen which are disposed one on each side of the axis.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing a control program for projecting images onto a rear convex surface of a concave projection screen extending about an axis. The control program comprises the step of horizontally correcting image data for images to be projected onto respective opposite screen areas of the concave projection screen which are disposed one on each side of the axis.
The image data may be horizontally corrected by multiplying the image data by the reciprocal of a horizontal distortion ratio along the concave projection screen.
Each of the opposite screen areas may have a first width, and the horizontal distortion ratio may comprise a horizontal elongation ratio of the first width to a width of each of the opposite screen areas as viewed from the image projecting means.
The concave projection screen may have a central screen area disposed between the opposite screen areas, the opposite screen areas being inclined to the central screen area such that the opposite screen areas are progressively away from the image projecting means in directions away from the central screen area.
The concave projection screen may be divided into a plurality of flat screen areas including the opposite screen areas and the central screen area, and extend around a front side of an observer position. The image data is generated as if by respective hypothetical cameras having respective directions of view extending perpendicularly to the flat screen areas, respectively.
The above and other objects, feat
Masuda Hidetomo
Tamura Yuji
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Co. Ltd.
Saras Steven
Spencer William C.
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