Image generating device and image generating method

• US 6,667,741 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Takahashi, Syuji, Shibazaki, Hideya, Kataoka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/582,343
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 345/426, 345/473, 345/427, 345/419, 434/247, 463/32, 463/31, 463/23, 463/7, 463/1, 463/43, 348/208.14
• US Class Current: 345/426
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/50 Lighting effects

Abstract

The brightness of the image of a character displayed on a screen is consistently kept optimum even if the view point of a camera is changed, and the image of the character is appropriately shaded and three-dimensional since such shading is characteristic of a game program. The position of a virtual light source is changed with a change of the position of the view point of the camera. The image processing device includes a feature which changes the position of the view point of the camera, a feature which changes the position of the virtual light source with a change of the position of the view point of the camera, and a feature which subjects the image data of when an object is viewed from the view point of the camera to shading of when the virtual light from the light source is projected to the object.

Claims

1. An image generating apparatus for generating image data which capture objects moving in virtual three-dimensional space in conjunction with development of a game, comprising:

means for altering camera viewpoint in conjunction with development of said game; and

means for altering position of a virtual light source deployed in said virtual three-dimensional space relative to said altered camera viewpoint so that position of said virtual light source does not become back-lighting relative to said camera viewpoint.

2. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for altering position of said camera viewpoint;

means for altering a position of said virtual light source in response to alteration in the position of said camera viewpoint; and

means for imparting a shadow processing to image data when said object is viewed, when a virtual light beam from said light source is directed onto said object.

3. The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for altering a light source position are means for imparting a certain three-dimensional distance differential between positions of said camera viewpoint and of said virtual light source.

4. The image generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for altering said light source position are means for determining said three-dimensional distance differential in dependence on one formula.

5. The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for imparting shadow processing are means for imparting said shadow processing only to said object.

6. A computer-readable information recording medium whereon is recorded a program for causing a computer to function as the image generating apparatus cited in any one of claims 1 through 5.

7. An image generating apparatus that is an apparatus for generating image data for objects that move in a virtual three-dimensional space, wherein said objects are structures made up of multiple subordinate object bodies that manifest mutually independent movements, comprising:

means for producing and separately storing image data for said multiple subordinate object bodies beforehand, wherein said image data for said multiple subordinate object bodies are produced on a basis of a plurality of common reference positions and separately stored; and

means for separately reading out, positioning, and displaying said image data for said multiple subordinate object bodies according to a current situation.

8. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said image display means are means for positioning said multiple image data using said common reference positions.

9. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said multiple subordinate object bodies are comprised of one character that functions as a subordinate object body, and an ancillary body that functions as another subordinate object body attaching to said one character and used by said one character.

10. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said character is a character portraying a fighter and said ancillary body is a bicycle.

11. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of common reference positions are established at points of contact between a plurality of subordinate object body image data.

12. A computer-readable information recording medium whereon is recorded a program for causing a computer to function as the image generating apparatus cited in any one of claims 7 through 10 or claim 12.

13. An image generation method for generating image data for objects while altering a line of vision from a camera viewpoint for objects moving in a virtual three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of:

altering a position of said camera viewpoint; and

altering a position of a virtual light source deployed in said virtual three-dimensional space relative to said altered position of said camera viewpoint so that the position of said virtual light source does not become back-lighting relative to said camera viewpoint.