Three-dimensional image special effect apparatus

• US 5,714,982 A
• Filed: 05/31/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• 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: Isobe, Yutaka, Nakao, Ayumi, Imai, Atsushi, Nakata, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIN, VIVIAN C
• Application Number:
  US08/455,042
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 345/167, 345/123, 345/156
• 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-dimensional directions;

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

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.

2. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a data hold switch for selectively enabling said means responsive to said data holding means.

3. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a data hold switch for selectively enabling said data holding means.

4. 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-dimensional directions;

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

data holding means for holding data inputted by a rotating operation of said track ball; and

means responsive to said data holding means for moving the special image in a predetermined vector when said track ball is operated for a predetermined period of time and continuing the movement of the special image in the predetermined vector until after said track ball is operated at a next time.

5. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a data hold switch for selectively enabling said means responsive to said data holding means.

6. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a data hold switch for selectively enabling said data holding means.

7. 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-dimensional directions;

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

data holding means for holding data inputted by a rotating operation of said rotary ring, said data indicating a vector of movement of said special image dictated by operation of said track ball and/or rotary ring; and

means responsive to said data holding means for moving the special image in said vector when said rotary ring and/or track ball 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 and/or track ball is operated at a next time.

8. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a data hold switch for selectively enabling said means responsive to said data holding means.

9. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a data hold switch for selectively enabling said data holding means.