3-D model window display device

• US 5,898,433 A
• Filed: 03/19/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hijikata, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US08/822,609
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/346
• US Class Current: 715/782
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

In a 3-D model window display device, depth (Z direction coordinate) quantities are given to all the windows to be displayed, so that they are regarded as arranged in a three-dimensional space. A virtual viewing point is also placed in the three-dimensional space. By projecting the windows onto a projection plane using the virtual viewing point on a real time basis, this device can display the windows which do not have depth quantities, whereby the user can perceive by intuition the overlapped state of the windows in the Z direction or the positional relationship in the virtual three-dimensional space.

Claims

1. A 3-D model window display device, comprising:

first means for receiving first position information of a virtual viewing point including a depth direction attribute;

second means for receiving second position information of at least one window including a depth direction attribute;

third means for computing third position information of at least one projection not including depth direction attribute or attributes, obtained by projecting said at least one window onto a projection plane with use of said virtual viewing point on the basis of said first and second position information; and

fourth means for displaying said at least one projection on a display screen on the basis of said third position information.

2. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first means moves said virtual viewing point; and

said third means changes said third position information of said at least one projection according to the depth direction attribute or attributes of said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection, when said virtual viewing point is moved by said first means.

3. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a lightness or lightnesses according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

4. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a degree of transparency according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

5. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first means moves said virtual viewing point in a plane parallel to said display screen; and

said third means changes the position or positions of said at least one projection on said display screen according to the depth direction attribute or attributes of said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection, when said virtual viewing point is moved by said first means.

6. The display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a lightness or lightnesses according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

7. The display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said fourth means displays said projection with a degree of transparency according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

8. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first means moves said virtual viewing point in a plane perpendicular to said display screen; and

said third means changes a display scaling factor or factors of the at least one projection on said display screen according to the depth direction attribute or attributes of said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection, when said virtual viewing point is moved by said first means.

9. The display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a lightness or lightnesses according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

10. The display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a degree of transparency according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

11. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a lightness or lightnesses according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.

12. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said fourth means displays said at least one projection with a degree of transparency according to a distance or distances from said virtual viewing point to said at least one window corresponding to said at least one projection.