Three-dimensional image special effect apparatus

• US 5,850,213 A
• Filed: 02/24/1997
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Imai, Atsushi, Isobe, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/803,775
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 345/122, 345/139, 345/167, 345/419, 345/421, 345/422, 345/474, 395/119, 395/121, 395/122, 395/174, 463/32, 463/33
• US Class Current: 428/1.55
• 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 the motion of an image across a display screen is controlled by a track ball and rotary ring. The amount of movement is controlled and scaled according to the theoretical depth of the special image on the screen such that the greater the depth of the special image, the less it is moved by a given rotational amount of the track ball or 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 on a display apparatus, said track ball having first and second output signals indicating an amount of rotation of said track ball in first and second orthogonal directions, respectively;

a rotary ring disposed along an outer periphery of said track ball for operating said special image in a third three-dimensional direction, said rotary ring having a third output signal indicating an amount of rotation of said rotary ring; and

means for modifying said first, second and third output signals from said track ball and said rotary ring in accordance with distance data of the special image in a depth wise direction such that said special image will move the same distance across said display apparatus regardless of depth and outputting the modified data as three-dimensional input data.

2. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first, second and third output signals are count values indicating an amount of rotation and wherein said means for modifying comprises means for multiplying each of said count values by a predetermined function of said distance data.

3. A method for moving a special image on a display apparatus in a three-dimensional image special effect apparatus by use of a track ball and rotary ring, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a value corresponding to an amount said track ball has been rotated;

generating a value corresponding to an amount said rotary ring has been rotated; and

modifying said values from said track ball and said rotary ring in accordance with distance data of said special image in a depth wise direction such that said special image will move the same distance across said display apparatus regardless of depth and outputting the modified data to said display screen.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein an amount of movement of said special image on said display screen is responsive to said modified data.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said modifying step comprises multiplying each of said values generated by said track ball and rotary ring by a specified function of said distance data of the special image in a depth wise direction.

6. 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 on a display apparatus, said track ball having first and second output signals indicating an amount of rotation of said track ball in first and second orthogonal directions, respectively;

a rotary ring disposed along an outer periphery of said track ball for operating said special image in a third three-dimensional direction, said rotary ring having a third output signal indicating an amount of rotation of said rotary ring;

means for modifying said first, second and third output signals in accordance with distance data of the special image in a depth wise direction prior to said processing in said image special effects processing means to generate modified first, second and third output signals; and

image special effects processing means for processing said first, second and third modified output signals to control said special image on said display apparatus and outputting three-dimensional input data.

7. A three-dimensional image special effect apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first, second and third output signals are count values indicating an amount of rotation and wherein said means for modifying comprises means for multiplying each of said count values by a predetermined function of said distance data.

8. A method for moving a special image on a display apparatus in a three-dimensional image special effect apparatus by use of a track ball and rotary ring, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a value corresponding to an amount said track ball has been rotated;

generating a value corresponding to an amount said rotary ring has been rotated;

modifying said values from said track ball and said rotary ring in accordance with distance data of said special image in a depth wise direction to produce modified values; and

processing said modified values to control said special image on said display apparatus and outputting three-dimensional input data for controlling said special image on said display apparatus.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein an amount of movement of said special image on said display screen is responsive to said input data.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said modifying step comprises multiplying each of said values generated by said track ball and rotary ring by a specified function of said distance data of the special image in a depth wise direction.