Abstract: A method of modeling complex surface models using a network of intersecting non-uniform rational B-spline curves. Topological information of the curve network and interpolating surfaces to the network of curves are automatically generated. Different levels of continuity between surface patches are enforced. Surface patches of three and four sides and positional, tangent or curvature continuity between the patches are provided. Using a constrained minimization process, arbitrary, non-uniform B-spline curves may be used to manipulate the shape of the surfaces interpolating the curve network without violating the continuity conditions enforced during the generation of the surface patches allowing for very complex three-dimensional shapes to be modeled using the method.

Abstract: At least one graphic element includes basic element data of an image, such as a menu, and attributes of the basic element. At least one animation element associated with the graphic element describes a condition and a procedure for dynamically changing an attribute of the graphic element when the condition is fulfilled. The graphic element and the animation element are stored as drawing data. When the condition is fulfilled, the procedure described in the animation element is executed so that an attribute of the graphic element is changed.

Abstract: A display is partitioned into a plurality of cells. Each of the plurality of cells includes a depth interval and a coverage for each of a plurality of surfaces having coverage within the cell. A depth interval and a coverage for a group of pixels having coverage within one or more of the cells is received. Visibility of the group of pixels, for each of the one or more cells, is determined based on comparisons of the depth interval of the group of pixels with the depth intervals of the plurality of surfaces.

Abstract: An image displaying apparatus stores plural image data and displays one of the image data, which image data represent a growing plant (animal) or represent a series of motions of an animal. The apparatus further stores plural element data for growing the plant (animal). When one of the element data is selected, another image data of the plant (animal) is displayed in place of the previously displayed imaged data to show how the plant (animal) grew up thank to the selected element data. The apparatus is provided with a sensor for detecting motion of a user. Detecting the motion of the user, the apparatus displays new image data representing a motion of the animal in place of the previously displayed image data to show how the animal reacts to the user's motion.

Abstract: A method and a device for displaying at least part of a person's body, for example the head (10), with a modified appearance by providing first image data representatitve of the unmodified appearance of the body part, second image data representatitve of a modification in the appearance of the body part (10) and position data representative of the position and spatial orientation of the body part (10). The first and second image data are linked to produce and to display third image data representative of the modified appearance of the body part, in dependence on the position data, such that the displayed, modified appearance follows changes in the position of the body part in a dynamic manner. For linking the first and second image data a virtual image data space (9) is created comprising an aspect or aspects (12) of the appearance of the body part (10) to be modified.

Abstract: A three-dimensional design and modeling environment allows users to draw the outlines, or perimeters, of objects in a two-dimensional manner, similar to pencil and paper, already familiar to them. The two-dimensional, planar faces created by a user can then be pushed and pulled by editing tools within the environment to easily and intuitively model three-dimensional volumes and geometries.

Abstract: A graphics system and method for reducing redundant transformation calculations and lighting calculations performed on vertices that are shared by more than one geometric primitive is disclosed. The reduction in redundant calculations is accomplished by delaying the formation of geometric primitives until after transformation and lighting has been performed on the vertices. Transformation and or lighting are performed independently on a vertex-by-vertex basis without reference to which geometric primitives the vertices belong to. After transformation and or lighting, geometric primitives may be formed utilizing previously generated connectivity information. The connectivity information may include mesh buffer references, vertex tags, or other types of information.

Abstract: A method of image processing where a location of a three-dimensional object to be displayed by a quadrilateral polygon is displayed as a natural concave/convex shape and thereby the mode of change of the form of the three-dimensional object is displayed without a strange feeling, includes drawing and recording a quadrilateral polygon designated for division. The method also includes provisionally dividing that quadrilateral polygon into two triangular planes by a separating line connecting two facing vertexes, and judging if the two triangular planes form a convex shape facing the outside of the three-dimensional object. The method also includes dividing the quadrilateral polygon by that provisional division pattern if forming a convex shape, and dividing the quadrilateral polygon by another division pattern using a separating line connecting the remaining two vertexes if forming a concave shape so that the two triangular planes form a convex shape facing the outside of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A method of control of playback of motion for playing back motion of a character more realistically, including determining a motion playback routine in accordance with a value of a parameter expressing the condition of the character, for example, a stress value reflecting the cumulative amount of a plurality of instances of damage and being restored along with the elapse of time after damage is sustained, when a factor affecting movement of the character or an incident in the game arises due to another game element during the playback of the motion of the character, for example, when being attacked by another character; playing back new motion in accordance with the determined routine; and playing back motions B and C based on motion data stored in advance when the stress value is “large” or “intermediate” and combining the motion data defining the motion being played back and other motion data stored in advance when the stress value is “small”.

Abstract: A method for shading polygon surfaces in a real time rendering system. Providing at least one polygon surface to be shaded. The polygon surface having a plurality of pixels and including at least one surface angle. Providing at least one point light source. Calculating using computer hardware, for substantially each drawn pixel of said polygon surface, a substantially normalized 3D surface direction vector and a 3D point light vector.

Abstract: A process whereby a sequence of geometric transformations is applied to a three-dimensional data set so that the resulting stereogram has one image plane made congruent with one plane in the viewer's space. The image plane is usually, but not necessarily, the X-Z or ground plane of the image made congruent with some X-Z plane in the viewer's spatial environment, typically a desk top, table top or floor. When viewed from an angle of view and angle of regard which duplicates that used to create the stereogram, the resulting stereoscopic image appears as a virtual, erect, orthoscopic stereo environment whose X-Y-Z coordinates are congruent with the X-Y-Z coordinates of the viewer's space.

Abstract: A space-time level of detail coder converts a time dependent geometry stream into a hierarchical structure, including levels of detail in the space and time dimensions, and expansion records. The expansion records specify how to reconstruct a mesh from deltas representing differences between levels of detail. For low bandwidth transmission, only selected expansion records need be sent depending on the appropriate level of detail of the object being represented for the current time sample.

Abstract: An image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following steps: the multi-viewpoint image input step for inputting images obtained from a plurality of viewpoint positions arranged on different straight lines, the detection step (2, 7, 17, 8) for detecting a viewpoint position and its view direction in which a user is seeing at the viewpoint position, and the image generation step (11, 12, 13, 8) for generating a virtual image viewed from the predetermined viewpoint by using the images input in the multi-viewpoint image input step on the basis of the detected predetermined viewpoint position and the view direction. In the image generation step, optimal corresponding points are obtained by detecting a straight line having a width on an epipolar plane image corresponding to the input images, thereby generating an image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for extracting a 3D region of interest from a stack of medical scan slices which is still a challenging task even in this new millennium. One difficulty is that there is no robust automatic algorithm that can handle all the different situations and applications. Human intervention is usually unavoidable for extracting desired area or organs. However, without convenient tools, it is a tedious job for human being to go through hundred or thousand of slices just to extract region of interest. A system combines and modifies several advanced techniques to help a user extract volume of interest very easily and quickly. The technique of livewire for initial-delineate and modify regions of interest from 2D slices is utilized. Then variational interpolation technique is employed to derive a 3D shape from these delineated 2D contours.

Abstract: Details are reduced in a three-dimensional (3D) model by performing a detail reduction process on the 3D model in plural positions and generating a master list of details to be removed from the 3D model based on results of the detail reduction process in each position. The master list contains weights associated with the details to be removed. The weights assign a relative importance to the details in the 3D model. The details are removed from the three-dimensional model in accordance with the weights.

Abstract: The present invention is to propose a method and device which evaluate the shape and the size of each part of a human body in a multidimensional manner, generate a distribution map thereof, and compute and realize a virtual shape located in the periphery of the distribution map, whereby the shape and the size of a product such as clothing can be modified and designed. The virtual shape forming unit computes a space distortion function which mutually distorts three-dimensional shape data of a plurality of people, generates a multidimensional distribution map thereof based on the size of the distorted space, and derives a virtual shape which exists on an arbitrary location of the multidimensional distribution map.

Abstract: Rendering a three-dimensional model comprised of three-dimensional data defining a bone and a polygon includes determining a location of a vertex of the polygon relative to the bone, transforming the vertex based on the location to produce a transformed vertex, and rendering the three-dimensional model using the transformed vertex. Determining the location of the vertex includes obtaining a plane that intersects the bone and determining a side of the plane on which the vertex is located.

Abstract: An apparatus for perspective transformation of an object in three-dimensional space on a virtual two-dimensional screen, the object being specified by a plurality of points, where the apparatus includes a graphics unit operable to determine whether the plurality of points are localized with respect to a point of view in the three-dimensional space, and to use coordinate values of a typical point of the plurality of points in approximating the perspective transformation of the other points.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing unit, an image processing system, and an image processing method capable of achieving a higher speed and a higher efficiency in a rendering and implementing a low cost of the system. The image processing unit according to the present invention comprises a main storing portion for storing information of three-dimensional objects, a plurality of calculating portions for processing images based on three-dimensional object information which are read from the main storing portion, and a hierarchical storing portion having a plurality of hierarchies and connected between the main storing portion and the plurality of calculating portions to store a part of information at a lower level into a higher level sequentially, wherein image processing by the plurality of calculating portions are performed in parallel.

Abstract: A 3D graphics controller configurable to simultaneously copy portions of a pixel region between a back buffer and a front buffer. The 3D graphics controller includes four memory controllers, each controlling a bank of frame buffer memory. A sequence of addresses defining a pixel region is generated. The addresses are distributed to the four memory controllers according to the memory banks (addresses) coupled thereto. Each memory controller is configured to read pixels according to the addresses and a first offset; and write the pixels according to the addresses and a second offset. The offsets are chosen so as not to shift pixels within the banks. Therefore, each memory controller simultaneously and independently copies a portion of the pixel region without accessing any other memory banks resulting in a copy of the entire pixel region.