Three-dimensional image generating apparatus, storage medium storing a three-dimensional image generating program, and three-dimensional image generating method
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional image generating apparatus which generates a three-dimensional image according to an operator'"'"'s operation input, comprising:
- operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects the operator'"'"'s operation input;
object data storage which stores object data for rendering objects forming a three-dimensional image;
virtual three-dimensional space generating programmed logic circuitry which generates a virtual three-dimensional space based on the operation input detected by said operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry and the object data stored in said object data storage;
viewpoint controlling programmed logic circuitry which controls a viewpoint within the virtual three-dimensional space generated by said virtual three-dimensional space generating programmed logic circuitry;
display image generating programmed logic circuitry which generates an image of said virtual three-dimensional space seen from the viewpoint controlled by said viewpoint controlling programmed logic circuitry, which is projected within said three-dimensional space;
depth value storage which stores a depth value of each pixel of the image generated by said display image generating programmed logic circuitry;
object arrangement position storage which stores at least an arrangement position of a specific object in said virtual three-dimensional space;
determination point setting programmed logic circuitry which sets a predetermined number of determination points around a predetermined perimeter containing the arrangement position of said specific object in said image;
determining programmed logic circuitry which determines whether or not a first depth value of the predetermined number of determination points set by said determination point setting programmed logic circuitry is smaller than a second depth value of said specific object; and
a degree-of-hiding calculator which calculates a degree of hiding of said specific object according to the number of said determination points where it is determined by said determining programmed logic circuitry that said first depth value is smaller than said second depth value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video game apparatus used as a three-dimensional imaging apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU works together with a GPU to generate and display a game image. More specifically, some objects are arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space. The virtual three-dimensional space is converted into a viewpoint coordinate and then projected and converted. After the projection conversion, determination points are set corresponding to a specific object, and the degree to which the specific object is hidden is calculated on the basis of a Z value of the specific object and the Z values of the determination points. At least one aspect of the display may be changed according to the degree to which the specific object is hidden.
9 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional image generating apparatus which generates a three-dimensional image according to an operator'"'"'s operation input, comprising:
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operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects the operator'"'"'s operation input; object data storage which stores object data for rendering objects forming a three-dimensional image; virtual three-dimensional space generating programmed logic circuitry which generates a virtual three-dimensional space based on the operation input detected by said operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry and the object data stored in said object data storage; viewpoint controlling programmed logic circuitry which controls a viewpoint within the virtual three-dimensional space generated by said virtual three-dimensional space generating programmed logic circuitry; display image generating programmed logic circuitry which generates an image of said virtual three-dimensional space seen from the viewpoint controlled by said viewpoint controlling programmed logic circuitry, which is projected within said three-dimensional space; depth value storage which stores a depth value of each pixel of the image generated by said display image generating programmed logic circuitry; object arrangement position storage which stores at least an arrangement position of a specific object in said virtual three-dimensional space; determination point setting programmed logic circuitry which sets a predetermined number of determination points around a predetermined perimeter containing the arrangement position of said specific object in said image; determining programmed logic circuitry which determines whether or not a first depth value of the predetermined number of determination points set by said determination point setting programmed logic circuitry is smaller than a second depth value of said specific object; and a degree-of-hiding calculator which calculates a degree of hiding of said specific object according to the number of said determination points where it is determined by said determining programmed logic circuitry that said first depth value is smaller than said second depth value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A storage medium storing a three-dimensional image generating program for a three-dimensional image generating apparatus, comprising:
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operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects an operator'"'"'s operation input; object data storage which stores object data for rendering objects forming a three-dimensional image; display image generating programmed logic circuitry which generates an image of a virtual three-dimensional space seen from a viewpoint; and depth value storage which stores a depth value of each pixel of said image generated by said display image generating programmed logic circuitry, wherein said three-dimensional image generating program causes a processor of said three-dimensional image generating apparatus to execute; a virtual three-dimensional space generating step of generating said virtual three-dimensional space based on the operation input detected by said operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry and the object data stored in said object data storage; a viewpoint controlling step of controlling a viewpoint within the virtual three-dimensional space generated in said virtual three-dimensional space generating step; a display image generating step of generating said image of said virtual three-dimensional space seen from the viewpoint controlled in said viewpoint controlling step; an object arrangement position storing step of storing at least an arrangement position of a specific object in said virtual three-dimensional space; a determination point setting step of setting a predetermined number of determination points around a predetermined perimeter containing the arrangement position of said specific object of said image; a determining step of determining whether or not a first depth value of the predetermined number of determination points set in said determination point setting step is smaller than a second depth value of said specific object; and a degree-of-hiding calculating step of calculating a degree of hiding of said specific object according to the number of said determination points where it is determined by said determining step that said first depth value is smaller than said second depth value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A three-dimensional image generating method for a three-dimensional image generating apparatus comprising operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects an operator'"'"'s operation input;
- object data storage which stores object data for rendering objects forming a three-dimensional image; and
depth value storage which stores a depth value of each pixel of said image, including the steps of;(a) generating a virtual three-dimensional space based on the operation input detected by the operation input detecting programmed logic circuitry and the object data stored in the object data storage; (b) controlling a viewpoint within the virtual three-dimensional space generated in said step (a); (c) generating an image of said virtual three-dimensional space seen from the viewpoint controlled in said step (b); (d) storing at least an arrangement position of a specific object in said virtual three-dimensional space; (e) setting a predetermined number of determination points around a predetermined perimeter containing the arrangement position of said specific object in said image; (f) determining whether or not a first depth value of the predetermined number of determination points set in said step (e) is smaller than a second depth value of said specific object; and (g) calculating the degree of hiding of said specific object according to the number of said determination points where it is determined in said step (f) that said first depth value is smaller than said second depth value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- object data storage which stores object data for rendering objects forming a three-dimensional image; and
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19. A method of adjusting a game display comprising the steps of:
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generating a display of a game object in a virtual environment including at least one additional virtual object different from the game object; defining a plurality of determination points associated with the game object, arranged along the perimeter of a shape approximately centered on the game object and having sufficient area so as to substantially contain the game object therein; associating a depth value with the game object; associating a depth value with each visible pixel; associating a depth value, based on the depth value associated with the visible pixel which is present at the position of the determination point, with each of the determination points, determining whether a user view of each determination point is blocked by at least one interposing additional virtual object by comparing the depth value associated with each determination point to the depth value associated with the game object; and adjusting the display responsive at least in part to the number of determination points that are blocked. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification