Apparatus for and method of processing three-dimensional images

• US 6,515,663 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Hung, Hung-Chong, Huang, Yu-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo., Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/419, 345/420, 345/424, 345/426, 345/427, 345/428
• US Class Current: 345/427
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

The invention provides the apparatus for and method of processing three-dimensional images, efficiently and effectively rendering 3D images three-dimensional. The present invention'"'"'s method of processing three-dimensional images avoids repetition of matrix calculation, and effectively sets the picture frame'"'"'s Memory address. Hence, it is suitable for three-dimensional images with real-time image. Furthermore, the invention could further include a variation memory arrangement method and device, which could interlace in the Memory the scanning line of the first and second 3D images. It is then possible to display the first and second 3D image groups on the display screen in an interlaced manner according to the traditional scanning circuit and address-translating circuit. As a result, the left eye and the right eye can view the first and second 3D image groups separately.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional image generating apparatus, the apparatus being responsive to a 3D image for creating three-dimensional effect based on said 3D image, said 3D image including multiple objects, said generating apparatus comprising:

a first means, responsive to a plurality of apex coordinates respectively corresponding to the multiple objects, for generating a first point-coordinate group with respect to a display device, said first point-coordinate group including a plurality of displaying points;

a second means, for computing amount of horizontal movement required for each displaying point of said first point-coordinate group, and generating a second point-coordinate group with respect to the display device;

a third means, responsive to said first point-coordinate group and said second point-coordinate group, for generating a first 3D image group and a second 3D image group and;

a fourth means, for interlacely displaying said first and said second 3D image groups on the display device.

2. The apparatus as. recited in claim 1, further including a fifth means, for memorizing said first point-coordinate group, said second point-coordinate group, said first 3D image group, and said second 3D image group.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further including a sixth means, for interlacing scan lines of said first 3D image group and said second 3D image group in said fifth means.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said sixth means comprises:

a starting address generating means, for selectively exporting a predetermined address of different origins;

an address computing means, responsive to a pixel coordinate in said first 3D image group or said second 3D image group and the output value of the starting address generating means, for generating a real memory address of said pixel coordinate;

an address selecting means, for selectively exporting a corresponding address needed by a 3D rendering engine or a scanning circuit.

5. A method for generating three-dimensional image, the method being responsive to a 3D image, for generating three-dimensional effect based on said 3D image, said 3D image including multiple objects said generating method comprising steps of:

1) a projecting procedure, the projecting procedure generating a first point-coordinate group by projecting onto a display device a plurality of apex coordinates respectively corresponding to the multiple object;

2) a shift computing procedure, the procedure computing amount of horizontal movement required for each display point of said first point-coordinate group, and generating a second point-coordinate group with respect to the display device;

3) an image generating procedure, the procedure generating a first 3D image group and a second 3D image group via data of said first,point coordinate group and said second point coordinate group;

4) a display procedure, the display procedure displaying said first 3D image group and said second 3D image group on said display device in an interlaced manner.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising a variation memory arrangement procedure for placing scan lines of said first and said second 3D image groups in an interlaced manner in a memory device.