Three-dimensional image special effect apparatus

• US 5,521,617 A
• Filed: 04/07/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Imai, Atsushi, Isobe, Yutaka, Nakata, Tetsuro, Nakao, Ayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIN, VIVIAN C
• Application Number:
  US08/224,674
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 345/167, 345/161, 345/160, 345/157, 345/123, 345/163
• US Class Current: 345/167
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/059 Unsaturated aliphatic polymer, e.g. vinyl
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects

Abstract

A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus wherein operation for setting a parameter can be performed simply and a special image can be moved smoothly to a distance only by a single manual operation of a track ball or a rotary ring is disclosed. A special image produced by an image special effect processing section is manually operated in first and second three-dimensional directions by a track ball and in a third three-dimensional direction by a rotary ring disposed along an outer periphery of the track ball. A condition in which a parameter for determining a condition of the special image can be set is established and a setting menu for setting a parameter which determines a condition of the special image is produced by a CPU. Under the control of the CPU, a cursor for designating a parameter on the setting menu is operated by way of the track ball, and a value of the parameter is set by way of the rotary ring.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus, comprising:

a track ball for operating a special image produced by an image special effect processing section in two of three dimensional directions;

a rotary ring disposed along an outer periphery of said track ball for operating the special image in a third of said three dimensional directions;

switch means for establishing a condition in which a parameter for determining a condition of the special image can be set;

setting menu production means for producing a setting menu for setting a parameter which determines a condition of the special image; and

means responsive to said switch means for causing a cursor for designating a parameter on the setting menu to be operated responsive to said track ball and for causing a value of the parameter to be set responsive to said rotary ring.

2. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising data holding means for holding data inputted by a rotating operation of said track ball when in a first condition, and means responsive to said data holding means being in said first condition for continuously moving the special image in a predetermined vector when said track ball is operated for a predetermined period of time until said track ball is operated again.

3. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said data holding means comprises a switch, said data holding means having a second condition, and wherein, when the holding means is in said second condition, said means for moving the special image moves the image directly responsive to the speed and amount of movement of said track ball.

4. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means responsive to said data holding means being in said first condition for continuously moving the special image in a second predetermined vector when said rotary ring is operated for a predetermined period of time until said rotary ring is operated again.

5. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising data holding means for holding data inputted by a rotating operation of said rotary ring, and means responsive to said data holding means for moving the special image in a predetermined vector when said rotary ring is operated for a predetermined period of time and continuing the movement of the special image in the predetermined vector until after said rotary ring is operated at a next time.

6. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first rotation detection means for detecting an amount of rotation of said track ball in a first direction, second rotation detection means for detecting an amount of rotation of said track ball in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, rotational amount comparison means for comparing outputs of said first and second rotation detection means with each other, and means for outputting one of the outputs of said first and second rotation detection means which is determined to have a higher output by said rotational amount comparison means as a detected amount of motion of said track ball.

7. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for modifying input data from said track ball and said rotary ring in accordance with distance data of the special image in a depthwise direction and outputting the modified data as three-dimensional input data.

8. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising data input switch means for inputting data, and means for limiting supply of data from said track ball or said rotary ring when the data from said track ball or said rotary ring are inputted simultaneously with data from said data input switch means.

9. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising vibration detection means for detecting vibrations of a panel on which said track ball and said rotary ring are provided, and means for limiting supply of data from said track ball and said rotary ring in response to an output of said vibration detection means.