Image processing apparatus, mark drawing method and recording medium storing program thereof

• US 20070018974A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayashida, Yasuhiro, Fujiwara, Akihito, Wada, Akira, Akazawa, Tsutomu
• Application Number:
  US11/488,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018974A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/12 Relief maps relief models G09B25/06

Abstract

An image processing apparatus is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes a unit that determines whether a distance between a view point and a two-dimensional object belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance, a unit that sets an image drawing size of the object on the display to be a maximum value when the distance is in the first area, a unit that sets the image drawing size of the object on the display to be a value which continuously changes from the maximum value to a minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance is in the second area, a unit that sets the image drawing size of the object on the display to be a minimum value when the distance is in the third area, a unit that sets not to display the object on the display when the distance is in the fourth area, and a unit that two-dimensionally displays the object whose image drawing size is set on the display.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus which displays a 3D (three-dimensional) map including a road and a building on a display, comprising:

a determining unit that determines whether a distance between a view point which determines a visual field on a display and a 2D (two-dimensional) object to be displayed belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance;

a first setting unit that sets an image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a maximum value when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the first area;

a second setting unit that sets the image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a value which continuously changes from the maximum value to a minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the second area;

a third setting unit that sets the image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be the minimum value when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the third area;

a fourth setting unit that sets not to display the 2D object on the display when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the fourth area; and

an image drawing unit that two-dimensionally displays the 2D object whose image drawing size is set on the display.

2. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a leg indicator drawing unit that draws a leg indicator which has a length corrected from a maximum length determined in each of the kinds of 2D objects based on the depression angle from the view point to the 2D object and has an inverse triangular shape whose upper end contacts the 2D object and whose lower end indicates a point where the 2D object exists.

3. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the 2D object which is set not to display by the fourth setting unit is displayed at a position corresponding to the existence of the 2D object on the horizon with the minimum image drawing size on the display when the 2D object is a specific spot which is registered by a user.

4. An image processing apparatus which displays a 3D map including a road and a building on a display, comprising:

a determining unit that determines whether a distance between a view point which determines a visual field on a display and a 3D object to be displayed belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance;

a first setting unit that sets an image drawing scale of the 3D object on a 3D space to be a minimum value when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the first area;

a second setting unit that sets the image drawing scale of the 3D object on the 3D space to be a value which continuously changes from a maximum value to the minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the second area;

a third setting unit that sets the image drawing scale of the 3D object on the 3D space to be the maximum value when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the third area;

a fourth setting unit that sets not to display the 3D object on the 3D space when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the fourth area; and

an image drawing unit that three-dimensionally displays the 3D object whose image drawing scale is set on the display.

5. A mark drawing method in an image processing apparatus which displays a 3D map including a road and a building on a display, comprising:

a determining step that determines whether a distance between a view point which determines a visual field on a display and a 2D object to be displayed belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance;

a first setting step that sets an image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a maximum value when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the first area;

a second setting step that sets the image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a value which continuously changes from the maximum value to a minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the second area;

a third setting step that sets the image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a minimum value when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the third area;

a fourth setting step that sets not to display the 2D object on the display when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the fourth area; and

an image drawing step that two-dimensionally displays the 2D object whose image drawing size is set on the display.

6. A mark drawing method in an image processing apparatus which displays a 3D map including a road and a building on a display, comprising:

a determining step that determines whether a distance between a view point which determines a visual field on a display and a 3D object to be displayed belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance;

a first setting step that sets an image drawing scale of the 3D object on a 3D space to be a minimum value when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the first area;

a second setting step that sets the image drawing scale of the 3D object on the 3D space to be a value which continuously changes from a maximum value to the minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the second area;

a third setting step that sets the image drawing scale of the 3D object on the 3D space to be the maximum value when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the third area;

a fourth setting step that sets not to display the 3D object on the 3D space when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the fourth area; and

an image drawing step that three-dimensionally displays the 3D object whose image drawing scale is set on the display.

7. A recording medium storing a mark drawing program in an image processing apparatus which displays a 3D map including a road and a building on a display, wherein:

the mark drawing program includes a determining step that determines whether a distance between a view point which determines a visual field on a display and a 2D object to be displayed belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance;

a first setting step that sets an image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a maximum value when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the first area;

a second setting step that sets the image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a value which continuously changes from the maximum value to a minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the second area;

a third setting step that sets the image drawing size of the 2D object on the display to be a minimum value when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the third area;

a fourth setting step that sets not to display the 2D object on the display when the distance between the view point and the 2D object is in the fourth area; and

an image drawing step that two-dimensionally displays the 2D object whose image drawing size is set on the display.

8. A recording medium storing a mark drawing program in an image processing apparatus which displays a 3D map including a road and a building on a display, wherein:

the mark drawing program includes a determining step that determines whether a distance between a view point which determines a visual field on a display and a 3D object to be displayed belongs to any of first through fourth areas which are classified in the order from a shortest distance to a longest distance;

a first setting step that sets an image drawing scale of the 3D object on a 3D space to be a minimum value when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the first area;

a second setting step that sets the image drawing scale of the 3D object on the 3D space to be a value which continuously changes from a maximum value to the minimum value corresponding to the distance when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the second area;

a third setting step that sets the image drawing scale of the 3D object on the 3D space to be the maximum value when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the third area;

a fourth setting step that sets not to display the 3D object on the 3D space when the distance between the view point and the 3D object is in the fourth area; and

an image drawing step that three-dimensionally displays the 3D object whose image drawing scale is set on the display.