Image processing method, image processing apparatus, semiconductor device,computer program and recording medium

• US 20020113804A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oka, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,760,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/647
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/20 3D [Three Dimensional] animation

Abstract

A technique for expressing an elastic body using computer graphics. The elastic body is expressed by transforming coordinates of shape specific points which specify the shape of an object, using a transformation matrix. Each element of the transformation matrix is expressed by a function having a time as a variable which converges to a corresponding element of a matrix that represents the motion of the object when the object is assumed to be a rigid body. By substituting a predetermined time into this function, a value of each element of the transformation matrix is determined. The shape of the object is determined based on the coordinate values of the shape specific points after coordinate transformation.

Claims

1. An image processing method executed in an apparatus for transforming coordinates of shape specific points that specify a shape of a graphic representing an object so as to generate graphics data representing a behavior of said object, said method comprising the steps of:

setting a transformation matrix having elements each of which is expressed by a function having a time as a variable, said function converging to a corresponding element of a matrix that represents a behavior of said object when said object is assumed to be a rigid body; and

transforming the coordinates of said shape specific points using said transformation matrix and generating said graphics data based on the coordinates obtained.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said function is set based on constants representing physical characteristics of said object.

3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said function is a solution to the following equation:

4. An image processing apparatus for transforming coordinates of shape specific points that specify a shape of a graphic representing an object so as to generate graphics data representing a behavior of said object, said apparatus comprising;

means for generating a transformation matrix having elements each of which is expressed by a function having a time as a variable, said function converging to a corresponding element of a matrix that represents a behavior of said object when said object is assumed to be a rigid body; and

means for transforming the coordinates of said shape specific points using said transformation matrix and generating said graphics data based on the coordinates obtained.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising recording means for recording constants that represent physical characteristics of said object, wherein said means for generating the transformation matrix is configured to set an equation for each element of said transformation matrix based on said constants and derive said function from said equation.

6. A semiconductor device for transforming coordinates of shape specific points that specify a shape of a graphic representing an object so as to generate graphics data representing a behavior of said object, said semiconductor device comprising:

means for generating a transformation matrix having elements each of which is expressed by a function having a time as a variable, said function converging to a corresponding element of a matrix that represents a behavior of said object when said object is assumed to be a rigid body; and

means for transforming the coordinates of said shape specific points using said transformation matrix and generating said graphics data based on the coordinates obtained.

7. A computer program for causing a computer to operate as an image processing apparatus for transforming coordinates of shape specific points that specify shape of a graphic representing an object so as to generate graphics data representing a behavior of said object, said computer program causing said computer to execute the steps of:

generating a transformation matrix having elements each of which is expressed by a function having a time as a variable, said function converging to a corresponding element of a matrix that represents a behavior of said object when said object is assumed to be a rigid body; and

transforming the coordinates of said shape specific points using said transformation matrix and generating said graphics data based on the coordinates obtained.

8. A computer-readable recording medium recording the computer program according to claim 7.