IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM

• US 20100277474A1
• Filed: 12/26/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishihara, Akihiro
• Application Number:
  US12/812,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/60 Shadow generation

Abstract

A memory unit (201) stores a shape, a position and a direction of an object in a virtual space and those of a planar body close to the object, and covering polygons arranged so as to cover the object. Each covering polygon has transparency information which expresses a shadow of the object to be covered. The transparency information becomes opaque at a center thereof, and gradually becomes transparent toward the exterior. A selecting unit (202) selects, among the covering polygons corresponding to the object, a covering polygon satisfying a precondition, such as contacting with the planar body, as a projecting polygon. A generating unit (203) projects the virtual space onto a two-dimensional planar surface in the order of the planar body, the projecting polygon and the object to display a shadow of the object on the planar body.

Claims

1. An image processing device (200) which generates an image representing an object and a planar body arranged in a virtual space, and a figure of the object projected onto the planar body, the image processing device (200) comprising:

a memory unit (201) which stores a position of a viewpoint arranged in the virtual space and a direction of a visual line, a shape, a position and a direction of the object and the planar body arranged in the virtual space, and respective shapes, positions and directions of multiple covering polygons arranged so as to cover the object;

a selecting unit (202) which selects a covering polygon satisfying a precondition for display as a projecting polygon among the multiple covering polygons; and

a generating unit (203) which generates an image of the virtual space as viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line based on the shape, the position and the direction of the object and the shape, the position, and the direction of the body, the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the visual line, and a shape, a position and a direction of the projecting polygon,

wherein when a covering polygon and the planar body are arranged so as to contact each other, the covering polygon satisfies the precondition for display.

2. The image processing device (200) according to claim 1, wherein the generating unit (203) displays the planar body as viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line based on the shape, the position, and the direction of the object and the shape, the position, and the direction of the planar body, the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the visual line, and the shape, the position and the direction of the projecting polygon, displays the projecting polygon as viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line, and displays the object as viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line, thereby generating an image of the virtual space as viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line.

3. The image processing device (200) according to claim 1, wherein when a covering polygon and the planar body are arranged so that such a covering polygon is included in the planar body, such a covering polygon satisfies the precondition for display.

4. The image processing device (200) according to claim 3, wherein only a covering polygon having the smallest inclination relative to a surface of the planer body satisfies the precondition for display among multiple covering polygons, each of which is arranged in contact with the planar body, or is arranged so as to be included in the planar body.

5. The image processing device (200) according to claim 1, wherein

the memory unit (201) further stores a position of a light source, and

the generating unit (203) moves the projecting polygon by only a predetermined distance so that the projecting polygon moves away from the light source, and displays the object under a condition that the object and the planar body are illuminated by the light source.

6. The image processing device (200) according to claim 5, wherein when there is a line of intersection that a planar surface including the projecting polygon intersects with a planar surface including a surface of the planar body, the generating unit (203) rotates the projecting polygon around the line of intersection, and when there is no line of intersection, the generating unit moves the projecting polygon along respective normal lines of both planar surfaces and arranges the projecting polygon on the surface of the planar body, thereby displaying the projecting polygon.

7. The image processing device (200) according to claim 1, wherein when a projecting polygon is closer to the viewpoint than the object, the covering polygon does not satisfy the precondition for display regardless of an arrangement relative to the planar body.

8. An image processing method of generating an image representing an object and a planar body arranged in a virtual space, and a figure of the object projected onto the planar body, the image processing method being executed by an image processing device (200) comprising a memory unit (201), a selecting unit (202), and a generating unit (203), and wherein

the memory unit (201) stores a position of a viewpoint arranged in the virtual space and a direction of a visual line, a shape, a position and a direction of the object and the planar body arranged in the virtual space, and respective shapes, positions and directions of multiple covering polygons arranged so as to cover the object, and the image processing method comprises:

a selecting step in which the selecting unit (202) selects a covering polygon satisfying a precondition for display as a projecting polygon among the multiple covering polygons; and

a generating step in which the generating unit (203) generates an image of the virtual space as viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line based on the shape, the position and the direction of the object and the shape, the position, and the direction of the planar body, the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the visual line, and a shape, a position and a direction of the projecting polygon, and

when a covering polygon and the planar body are arranged so as to contact each other, the covering polygon satisfies the precondition for display.

9. An information recording medium recording a program which allows a computer to function as an image processing device (200) which generates an image representing an object and a planar body arranged in a virtual space, and a figure of the object projected onto the planar body, wherein the program allows the computer to function as:

a memory unit (201) which stores a position of a viewpoint arranged in the virtual space and a direction of a visual line, a shape, a position and a direction of the object and the planar body arranged in the virtual space, and respective shapes, positions, and directions of multiple covering polygons arranged so as to cover the object;

a selecting unit (202) which selects a covering polygon satisfying a precondition for display as a projecting polygon among the multiple covering polygons; and

a generating unit (203) which generates an image of the virtual space viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line based on the shape, the position and the direction of the object and the shape, the position, and the direction of the planar body, the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the visual line, and a shape, a position and a direction of the projecting polygon, and

when a covering polygon and the planar body are arranged so as to contact each other, the covering polygon satisfies the precondition for display.

10. A program allowing a computer to function as an image processing device (200) which generates an image representing an object and a planar body arranged in a virtual space, and a figure of the object projected onto the planar body, wherein the program allows the computer to function as:

a memory unit (201) which stores a position of a viewpoint arranged in the virtual space and a direction of a visual line, a shape, a position and a direction of the object and the planar body arranged in the virtual space, and respective shapes, positions, and directions of multiple covering polygons arranged so as to cover the object;

a selecting unit (202) which selects a covering polygon satisfying a precondition for display as a projecting polygon among the multiple covering polygons; and

a generating unit (203) which generates an image of the virtual space viewed from the viewpoint in the direction of the visual line based on the shape, the position and the direction of the object and the shape, the position and the direction of the planar body, the position of the viewpoint and the direction of the visual line, and a shape, a position and a direction of the projecting polygon, and

when a covering polygon and the planar body are arranged so as to contact each other, the covering polygon satisfies the precondition for display.