Image processing device and method for generating changes in the light and shade pattern of an image

• US 6,995,869 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation, Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Onodera, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baker, Charlotte M.
• Application Number:
  US09/969,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/1.6, 345344-346, 345/589, 345592-593, 345/692, 345/634, 345/637, 345/629, 395/133, 395/135
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/80 Shading

Abstract

In order to represent, as a video, changes in the light-and-shade patterns of an image with a reduced demand for storage capacity and a relatively small amount of preparation, light-and-shade pattern data representing the light-and-shade pattern to be added to an original image and constructed by assigning a palette number to each image region obtained by dividing the original image is prepared. A plurality of palette data constructed by assigning color information having brightness difference to each palette number are generated, the plurality of palette data being different from each other. A plurality of light-and-shade images each based on the light-and-shade pattern data and one of the palette data generated at the palette data generating step are translucently blended, in sequence, into the original image.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

original image data obtaining means for obtaining original image data representing an onginal image;

light-and-shade pattern data obtaining means for obtaining light-and-shade pattern data representing the light-and-shade pattern to be added to said original image and constructed by assigning a palette number to each image region obtained by dividing said original image;

palette data generating means for generating a plurality of palette data each constructed by assigning color information to each palette number, said color information having different brightness from each other, said plurality of palette data being different from each other;

translucent blending means for translucently blending, in sequence, a plurality of light-and-shade images each based on said light-and-shade pattern data and one of the palette data generated by said palette data generating means, into said original image based on said original image data; and

image displaying means for sequentially displaying images obtained by the translucent synthesis.

2. The image processing device of claim 1, wherein said original image is divided into successive bands and said image displaying means generates an image representing movement across at least a part of the original image.

3. The image processing device of claim 1 where said translucent blending means is operative to sequentially circulate said palette numbers successively among said regions.

4. An image processing method, comprising:

an original image data obtaining step for obtaining original image data representing an original image;

a light-and-shade pattern data obtaining step for obtaining light-and-shade pattern data representing the light-and-shade pattern to be added to said original image and constructed by assigning palette number to each image region obtained by dividing said original image;

a palette data generating step for generating a plurality of palette data each constructed by assigning color information to each palette number, said color information having different brightness from each other, said plurality of palette data being different from each other;

a translucent blending step for translucently blending, in sequence, a plurality of light-and-shade images each based on said light-and-shade pattern data and one of the palette data generated at said palette data generating step, into said original image based on said original image data; and

an image displaying step for sequentially displaying the images obtained by the translucent synthesis.

5. The image processing method of claim 4, where said translucent blending step comprises sequentially circulating said palette numbers successively among said regions.

6. The image processing method of claim 4, wherein said original image is divided into successive bands and said image displaying step further comprises generating an image representing movement across at least a part of the original image.

7. An information recording medium for storing a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform:

an original image data obtaining step for obtaining original image data representing an original image;

a light-and-shade pattern data obtaining step for obtaining light-and-shade pattern data representing the light-and-shade pattern to be added to said original image and constructed, by assigning a palette number to each image region obtained by dividing said original image;

a palette data generating step for generating a plurality of palette data each constructed by assigning color information to each palette number, said color information having different brightness from each other, said plurality of palette data being different from each other; and

a translucent blending step for translucently blending, in sequence, a plurality of light-and-shade images each based on said light-and-shade pattern data and one of the palette data generated at said palette data generating step, into said original image based on said original image data.

8. The information processing medium of claim 7, wherein said original image is divided into successive bands and said image displaying step further comprises generating an image representing movement across at least a part of the original image.

9. The information recording medium of claim 7 where said translucent blending step comprises sequentially circulating said palette numbers successively among said regions.

10. An image processing device comprising:

a first unit operative to obtain original image data representing an original image;

a second unit operative to obtain light-and-shade pattern data representing the light-and-shade pattern to be added to said original image and constructed by assigning palette number to each image region obtained by dividing said original image;

a third unit operative to generate a plurality of palette data each constructed by assigning color information to each palette number, said color information having different brightness from each other, said plurality of palette data being different from each other; and

a fourth unit operative to translucently blend, in sequence, a plurality of light-and-shade images each based on said light-and-shade pattern data and one of the palette data generated at said palette data generating step, into said original image based on said original image data.

11. The image processing device of claim 10, wherein said original image is divided into successive bands and said image displaying means generates an image representing movement across at least a part of the original image.

12. The image processing device of claim 10, where said fourth unit is operative to sequentially circulate said palette numbers successively among said regions.