Image processing apparatus and image processing method

• US 7,199,801 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• 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: Hatsumi, Naoya, Nagai, Toru, Tsunashima, Tadaaki, Araki, Kazuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hau H.
• Application Number:
  US10/846,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 345/552, 345/582, 345/419, 345/473, 345/474, 345/953, 345/949, 382/285
• US Class Current: 345/552
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/60 of natural phenomena, e.g. rain, snow, water or plants
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/04 Texture mapping

Abstract

To provide an image processing apparatus that enables display of a situation where all or a part of a display image changes using simple image processing. A first texture image, a second texture image, display priority of each pixel constituting the first texture image and a threshold value of the display priority are stored in advance. The second texture image is drawn on a predetermined polygon (S205), and the first texture image is further drawn thereon in accordance with the result of comparison between the display priority and the threshold value (S206).

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for displaying an image of a character, characterized in that the apparatus includes

hair texture image storage means for storing a hair texture image representing hair of the character,

skin texture image storage means for storing a skin texture image representing skin of the character,

display priority storage means for storing display priority given to each pixel constituting the hair texture image,

threshold value storage means for storing a threshold value of the display priority,

skin texture image drawing means for drawing the skin texture image stored in the skin texture image storage means on a polygon representing the character, and

hair texture image drawing means for drawing the hair texture image stored in the hair texture image storage means on the polygon on which the skin texture image has been drawn by the skin texture image drawing means, in response to a result of comparison between the display priority stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.

2. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hair texture image drawing means performs drawing of each pixel in relation to the polygon on which the skin texture image has been drawn by the skin texture image drawing means, in response to the result of comparison between the display priority given to the pixel stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.

3. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the display priority storage means stores the display priority given to each pixel as an alpha value of the hair texture image.

4. An image processing method for displaying an image of a character, characterized in that the method includes

a hair texture image storage step of storing a hair texture image representing hair of the character to hair texture image storage means,

a skin texture image storage step of storing a skin texture image representing skin of the character to skin texture image storage means,

a display priority storage step of storing display priority given to each pixel constituting the hair texture image to display priority storage means,

a threshold value storage step of storing a threshold value of the display priority to threshold value storage means,

a skin texture image drawing step of drawing the skin texture image stored in the skin texture image storage means on a polygon representing the character, and

a hair texture image drawing step of drawing the hair texture image stored in the hair texture image storage means on the polygon on which the skin texture image has been drawn by the skin texture image drawing means, in response to a result of comparison between the display priority stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.

5. A computer-readable information storage medium having a program stored therein, the program being adapted for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus for displaying an image of a character,

the program including commands to cause the computer to function as

hair texture image storage means for storing a hair texture image representing hair of the character,

skin texture image storage means for storing a skin texture image representing skin of the character,

display priority storage means for storing display priority given to each pixel constituting the hair texture image,

threshold value storage means for storing a threshold value of the display priority,

skin texture image drawing means for drawing the skin texture image stored in the skin texture image storage means on a polygon representing the character, and

hair texture image drawing means for drawing the hair texture image stored in the hair texture image storage means on the polygon on which the skin texture image has been drawn by the skin texture image drawing means, in response to a result of comparison between the display priority stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.

6. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the apparatus includes

first texture image storage means for storing a first texture image,

second texture image storage means for storing a second texture image,

display priority storage means for storing display priority given to each pixel constituting the first texture image,

threshold value storage means for storing a threshold value of the display priority,

second texture image drawing means for drawing the second texture image stored in the second texture image storage means on a polygon associated with the first and second texture images, and

first texture image drawing means for drawing the first texture image stored in the first texture image storage means on the polygon on which the second texture image has been drawn by the second texture image drawing means, in response to a result of comparison between the display priority stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.

7. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that

the first texture image is an image representing an object associated with the polygon after a predetermined change occurred in the object,

the second texture image is an image representing the object associated with the polygon before the predetermined change occurs in the object, and

the display priority storage means stores the display priority to follow the direction of the predetermined change.

8. An image processing method characterized in that the method includes

a first texture image storage step of storing a first texture image to first texture image storage means,

a second texture image storage step of storing a second texture image to second texture image storage means,

a display priority storage step of storing display priority given to each pixel constituting the first texture image to display priority storage means,

a threshold value storage step of storing a threshold value of the display priority to threshold value storage means,

a second texture image drawing step of drawing the second texture image stored in the second texture image storage means on a polygon associated with the first and second texture images, and

a first texture image drawing step of drawing the first texture image stored in the first texture image storage means on the polygon on which the second texture image has been drawn by the second texture image drawing means, in response to a result of comparison between the display priority stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.

9. A computer-readable information storage medium having a program stored therein, the program being adapted for causing a computer to function as

first texture image storage means for storing a first texture image,

second texture image storage means for storing a second texture image,

display priority storage means for storing display priority given to each pixel constituting the first texture image,

threshold value storage means for storing a threshold value of the display priority,

second texture image drawing means for drawing the second texture image stored in the second texture image storage means on a polygon associated with the first and second texture images, and

first texture image drawing means for drawing the first texture image stored in the first texture image storage means on the polygon on which the second texture image has been drawn by the second texture image drawing means, in response to a result of comparison between the display priority stored in the display priority storage means and the threshold value stored in the threshold value storage means.