3-dimensional-model-processing apparatus, 3-dimensional-model processing method and program-providing medium

• US 20020008720A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Abe, Yuichi, Segawa, Hiroyuki, Hiraki, Norikazu, Shioya, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,992,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus capable of processing a 3-dimensional model appearing on a display unit including a sensor for generating information on the position and the posture, which can be controlled by the user arbitrarily, and control means for carrying out a grasp-state-setting process of taking a relation between the sensor-generated information on the position and the posture of the sensor and information on the position and the posture of the 3-dimensional model appearing on the display unit as a constraint relation on the basis of a relation between the 3-dimensional position of the 3-dimensional model appearing on the display unit and the 3-dimensional position of a tool appearing on the display unit for the sensor or on the basis of a relation between the 3-dimensional posture of the 3-dimensional model appearing on the display unit and the 3-dimensional posture of the tool appearing on the display unit for the sensor.

Claims

1. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus capable of processing a 3-dimensional model appearing on a display unit comprising:

a user controllable sensor capable of generating information on a position and a posture of an appearance on the display unit;

an

a controller having a grasp-state-setting process of taking a relation between said sensor-generated information on a position and a posture of said sensor and information on a position and a posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit as a constraint relation on the basis of one of (a) a relation between a 3-dimensional position of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit and the 3-dimensional position of a tool appearing for said sensor on said display unit and (b) a relation between a 3-dimensional posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit and a 3-dimensional posture of said tool appearing for said sensor on said display unit.

2. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor has a button used as an event input means; and

said controller has a configuration for determining that said tool appearing on said display unit is inside said 3-dimensional model and for carrying out said grasp-state-setting process in the event of an input received from said button.

3. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor has a button used as event input means; and

said controller has a configuration for determining that said tool appearing on said display unit is in contact with a surface of said 3-dimensional model and for carrying out said grasp-state-setting process in the event of an input received from said button.

4. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a configuration for selecting a 3-dimensional model crossed by a straight optical beam generated in a specific direction by said tool appearing on said display unit and for carrying out said grasp-state-setting process on said selected 3-dimensional model.

5. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said controller has a configuration for selecting a 3-dimensional model hit by a flying object emanating in a specific direction from said tool appearing on said display unit and for carrying out said grasp-state-setting process on said selected 3-dimensional model.

6. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said controller has a configuration which is used for executing control to display said flying object on said display unit as a flying object emanating from said tool appearing on said display unit along either a predetermined straight line or a predetermined curved line.

7. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said controller has a configuration which is used for executing control to display said flying object stuck on a surface of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit when said flying object hits said 3-dimensional model.

8. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said controller has a configuration which is used for:

executing control to display said flying object stuck on a surface of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit when said flying object hits said 3-dimensional model; and

carrying out processing to move said 3-dimensional model with said flying object stuck on said surface thereof to a position of said tool.

9. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said controller has a configuration which is used for:

executing control to display said flying object stuck on a surface of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit when said flying object hits said 3-dimensional model; and

carrying out processing to return said flying object from a stuck position on said surface of said 3-dimensional model to a position of said tool when a cancel input is received by said sensor provided in advance.

10. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a configuration for selecting a 3-dimensional model existing in an effect range set in a 3-dimensional space area with an origin coinciding with said tool appearing on said display unit and for carrying out said grasp-state-setting process on said selected 3-dimensional model.

11. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller has a configuration for moving a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit to a position of said tool if said 3-dimensional model exists in said effect range.

12. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a configuration for executing control to remove an appearance of said tool from said display unit after a start of said grasp-state-setting process.

13. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a configuration for executing control to update a position and a posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit in accordance with information on a position and a posture obtained from said sensor after a start of said grasp-state-setting process.

14. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a configuration for identifying the area of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit by recognizing a bounding-box area comprising said 3-dimensional model, an internal area of said 3-dimensional model or a bounding sphere displayed as a smallest sphere including said 3-dimensional model.

15. A 3-dimensional model-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a configuration for executing control to display a specific 3-dimensional model subjected to said grasp-state-setting process by distinguishing said specific 3-dimensional model from other 3-dimensional models appearing on said display unit.

16. A 3-dimensional model-processing method capable of processing a 3-dimensional model appearing on a display unit comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to arbitrarily control information on a position and a posture of an appearance on the display unit, which is generated by a sensor; and

carrying out a grasp-state-setting process of taking a relation between said sensor-generated information on a position and a posture of said sensor and information on a position and a posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit as a constraint relation on either the basis of a relation between a 3-dimensional position of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit and the 3-dimensional position of a tool appearing for said sensor on said display unit or on the basis of a relation between a 3-dimensional posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit and a 3-dimensional posture of said tool appearing for said sensor on said display unit.

17. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

determining that said tool appearing on said display unit is inside said 3-dimensional model; and

carrying out said grasp-state-setting process in the event of an input received from a button used as event input means of said sensor.

18. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

determining that said tool appearing on said display unit is in contact with a surface of said 3-dimensional model; and

carrying out said grasp-state-setting process in the event of an input received from a button used as event input means of said sensor.

19. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

selecting a 3-dimensional model crossed by a straight optical beam generated in a specific direction by said tool appearing on said display unit; and

carrying out said grasp-state-setting process on said selected 3-dimensional model.

20. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

selecting a 3-dimensional model hit by a flying object emanating in a specific direction from said tool appearing on said display unit; and

carrying out said grasp-state-setting process on said selected 3-dimensional model.

21. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 20, wherein at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process, control is executed to display said flying object on said display unit as a flying object emanating from said tool appearing on said display unit along either a predetermined straight line or a predetermined curved line appearing on said display unit.

22. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 20, wherein at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process control is executed to display said flying object stuck on a surface of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit when said flying object hits said 3-dimensional model.

23. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 20, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

executing control to display said flying object stuck on a surface of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit when said flying object hits said 3-dimensional model; and

carrying out processing to move said 3-dimensional model with said flying object stuck on said surface thereof to a position of said tool.

24. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 20, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

executing control to display said flying object stuck on a surface of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit when said flying object hits said 3-dimensional model; and

carrying out processing to return said flying object from a stuck position on said surface of said 3-dimensional model to a position of said tool when a cancel input is received by said sensor provided in advance.

25. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process comprises the steps of:

selecting a 3-dimensional model existing in an effect range set in a 3-dimensional space area with an origin coinciding with said tool appearing on said display unit; and

carrying out said grasp-state-setting process on said selected 3-dimensional model.

26. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 25, wherein at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit is moved to a position of said tool if said 3-dimensional model exists in said effect range.

27. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process control is executed to remove an appearance of said tool from said display unit after a start of said grasp-state-setting process.

28. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16 wherein, at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process, control is executed to update a position and a posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit in accordance with information on a position and a posture obtained from said sensor after a start of said grasp-state-setting process.

29. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process the area of a 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit is identified by recognizing a bounding-box area comprising one of said 3-dimensional model, an internal area of said 3-dimensional model and a bounding sphere displayed as a smallest sphere including said 3-dimensional model.

30. A 3-dimensional model-processing method according to claim 16, wherein at said step of carrying out said grasp-state-setting process control is executed to display a specific 3-dimensional model subjected to said grasp-state-setting process by distinguishing said specific 3-dimensional model from other 3-dimensional models appearing on said display unit.

31. A program-providing medium comprising:

a computer program to be executed on a computer system to carry out 3-dimensional model processing to process a 3-dimensional model appearing on a display unit, said computer program comprising the steps of;

allowing the user to arbitrarily control information on a position and a posture of an appearance on the display unit, which is generated by a sensor; and

carrying out a grasp-state-setting process of taking a relation between said sensor-generated information on a position and a posture of said sensor and information on a position and a posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit as a constraint relation on either the basis of a relation between a 3-dimensional position of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit and the 3-dimensional position of a tool appearing for said sensor on said display unit or on the basis of a relation between a 3-dimensional posture of said 3-dimensional model appearing on said display unit and a 3-dimensional posture of said tool appearing for said sensor on said display unit.