Abstract: To provide a drawing device with which drawing speed can be increased without escalation of price of it. A drawing device is established as a GPU on an entertainment device to perform the drawing to a frame buffer in terms of one of different interleaved patterns. Each interleaved pattern is specified by a combination of pixel segments in the frame buffer. The GPU identifies the shape of a figure to be drawn and selects the interleaved pattern that fits for the selected shape of the figure. The pixel segments specified in the frame buffer are not overlapped with other pixel segments in the same interleaved pattern regardless of which interleaved pattern is selected.

Abstract: A rendering process for rendering an image frame and a postprocess for adapting the image frame to a display are separated. A rendering processing unit 42 generates an image frame sequence by performing rendering at a predetermined frame rate regardless of a condition that the image frame should meet for output to the display. A postprocessing unit 50 subjects the image frame sequence generated by the rendering processing unit to a merge process so as to generate and output an updated image frame sequence that meets the condition. Since the rendering process and the postprocess are separated, the image frame sequence can be generated regardless of the specification of the display such as resolution and frame rate of the display.

Abstract: At a site on a moving object image, one or more units, i.e., image components combinable with or separable from the image, are placed. The motion of each unit is determined by a geometry processor along with the motion of object images. The geometry processor sequentially writes, in a unit management table, coordinates of central points and vertices of each unit, the velocity of the central points, textures and color. A unit controller reads the location and velocity of each unit from the unit management table, calculates the distance and relative velocity between the units, and combines the units with or separates the units from each other according to the distance and relative velocity. The unit controller then writes the coordinates of the units in the unit management table. A rendering processor draws an object image including the units according to the information written in the unit management table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the architecture and use of a computer processor optimized for instruction and data processing. The computer processor includes a main processor element in operative communication with a main memory for storing data, and sub-processor elements in operative communication with the main processor element for processing the data. Each of the sub-processor elements including a dedicated local memory for storing instructions and data. The main processor desirably comprises a primary processor core, and the sub-processor elements desirably include a set of coprocessors. One of the coprocessors may be an embedded coprocessor that performs error checking in the primary processor core. Another one of the coprocessors may be a vector processing unit. A program can directly control the vector processing unit or may indirectly control it via the primary processor core.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for perspective transforming a plurality of objects in a three-dimensional space into a two-dimensional space, each object having a plurality of vertexes, the methods and apparatus determining whether the plurality of vertexes for each of the objects are localized within the three-dimensional space; performing a first perspective transformation process on the respective plurality of vertexes of the objects when the plurality of vertexes for each of the objects are not localized within the three-dimensional space; and performing a second perspective transformation process on the respective plurality of vertexes of the objects when the plurality of vertexes for each of the objects are localized within the three-dimensional space, wherein the second perspective transformation process requires less calculating power than the first perspective transformation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the architecture and use of a computer system optimized for the efficient modeling of graphics. The computer system has a primary processor and a graphics processor. The primary processor has two vector processor units within it, one which is closely connected to central processor unit. Simultaneously performing complex modeling calculations on the first vector processor and CPU, and geometry transformation calculations on the second vector processor, allows for efficient modeling of graphics. Furthermore, the graphics processor is optimized to rapidly switch between data flows from the two vector processors. In addition, the graphics processor is able to render many pixels simultaneously, and has a local memory on the graphics processor chip that acts as a frame buffer, texture buffer, and z buffer. This allows a high fill rate to the frame buffer.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus and image generating method determine the distribution state of dot-sequences on a two-dimensional screen using two-dimensional Gaussian distribution in the event that the plurality of dot-sequences randomly exist in a sphere within the three-dimensional space, an generate an image of dot-sequences on the two-dimensional screen based on the distribution state on the two-dimensional screen. The two-dimensional Gaussian distribution can be factored to the product of one-dimensional Gaussian distributions, and the one-dimensional Gaussian distributions can be generated by uniform random numbers. Thus, it is easy to create an image by projecting a plurality of dot-sequences randomly existing in a three-dimensional space onto a two-dimensional screen.

Abstract: A method executed in an apparatus for generating graphics data indicating shape features of three-dimensional graphics based on X, Y and Z coordinate values, which includes the steps of generating a random number using the X and Y coordinate values of a plurality of shape specific points to determine a two-dimensional shape of the target three-dimensional graphics as seeds of random numbers, calculating a Z coordinate value of the shape specific point based on the generated random number and generating the graphics data based on the calculated Z coordinate value and the X and Y coordinate values of the specific points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scoring system for the prediction of cancer recurrence. More particularly, the present invention concerns with the selection of genes and/or proteins, and generation of formulae with the selected genes and/or proteins for the prediction of cancer recurrence by measuring the expression of genes and/or proteins of human tumor tissues, and comparing their patterns with those of the gene and/or protein expression of human primary tumors from patients who have cancer recurrence and those who do not have cancer recurrence.

Abstract: There are provided a technique for generating a three-dimensional image of the real world. The image generating system comprises a data management apparatus which stores three-dimensional shape data of at least a part of an object area; a camera which shoots at least a part of the object area; an image generating apparatus which generates an image of the object area using the three-dimensional shape data acquired from the data management apparatus and the picture shot by the camera.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the architecture and use of a computer system optimized for the efficient modeling of graphics. The computer system has a primary processor and a graphics processor. The primary processor has two vector processor units within it, one which is closely connected to central processor unit. Simultaneously performing complex modeling calculations on the first vector processor and CPU, and geometry transformation calculations on the second vector processor, allows for efficient modeling of graphics. Furthermore, the graphics processor is optimized to rapidly switch between data flow from the two vector processors. In addition, the graphics processor is able to render many pixels simultaneously, and has a local memory on the graphics processor chip that acts as a frame buffer, texture buffer, and z buffer. This allows a high fill rate to the frame buffer.

Abstract: The objective is to facilitate leasing of excess computing resources of a processor when computing resources of other processors are deficient, thereby making distributed computing more efficient.

Abstract: A first storage unit is a storage area for storing original images. Inputted to an input unit is an operation instruction from a user. An obtaining identifying unit identifies an optimal original image pair. An obtaining processing unit accesses the first storage unit to obtain the optimal original image pair. A converting unit converts scales of respective images included in the optimal original image pair into a designated scale to generate intermediate images. A corresponding point matching unit makes the corresponding areas of the intermediate images coincide. A combining unit combines the intermediate images using a predetermined ratio to generate a target image. The resultant target image is outputted from an output unit to a monitor.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphic having a specific positional relationship with a predetermined point in an image made up of a three-dimensional graphic is detected. The image controller adds index information for identification to a plurality of three-dimensional graphics. The drawing device forms two-dimensional projected images by projecting the plurality of three-dimensional graphics onto predetermined planes. The two-dimensional projected images are assigned the index information corresponding to the index information assigned to the relevant three-dimensional graphics. When the projecting point(s) of a predetermined point in the image exist in the two-dimensional projected images, the graphics detector detects index information assigned to the two-dimensional projected images and detects the three-dimensional graphics assigned the index information corresponding to the detected index information.

Abstract: An entertainment device includes a general-purpose signal processor 103 made up of an assembly of component-processors 103A to 103D each of which can operate in parallel under operating environments independent of others component-processors. A management processor 101 controls a cross bar 104 so as to change the operating environments of the respective component-processors 103A to 103D in accordance with a demand for signal processing which is given from a CPU 11, and to change over any one of the component-processors which receives a signal to be processed which is inputted through the cross bar 104 or outputs a processed signal in accordance with the demand for signal processing.

Abstract: A multiplication circuit (33a) of a modulation circuit (33) is provided to multiply color components from a texture mapping circuit (31) using a texture information and triangle vertex coordinates by color components from an interpolation circuit (32) using triangle vertex color information obtained using a perfect scattered reflection model and the triangle vertex coordinates. On the other hand, brightness components of three vertex color information from the interpolation circuit (32) is added to an output of the multiplication circuit (33) in a first adder circuit (33b) to generate color components of an output image. Thereby, an image having a three-dimensional vision can be generated without any increased scale of hardware and decreased speed of processing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an auxiliary storage device 19 stored first data of a given object image higher in LOD level, a main memory 11 stored second data of the given object image lower in the LOD level than the first data, a CPU 10, and a GPU 18. The CPU 10 calculates an apparent speed of the object image on a screen, and determines data to be used in the geometry processing of the object image to one of the first data and the second data in accordance with the apparent speed. The GPU 18 takes in the first data (or the second data) from the auxiliary storage device 19 (or the main memory 11) to conduct the rendering process in the case where the geometry processing is conducted by using the first data (or the second data).

Abstract: A reception unit receives data streams. A moving image data for normal reproduction selector acquires moving image data for use with normal reproduction and identification information. A position specifying unit specifies the position at which moving image data for use with special reproduction is present, and so forth. A reproduction unit reproduces moving image data for normal reproduction, at a standard frame rate. An instruction receiving unit receives instructions from a user to the effect that moving image data for special reproduction be reproduced in slow motion. A reproduction determining unit specifies moving image data for special reproduction which are necessary for a slow-motion reproduction. A data acquiring unit acquires, based on the specified position thereof, the moving image data for special reproduction based and reproduces the acquired moving image data in slow motion.

Abstract: A technique for expressing an elastic body using computer graphics. The elastic body is expressed by transforming coordinates of shape specific points which specify the shape of an object using a transformation matrix. Each element of the transformation matrix is expressed by a function having time as a variable which converges to a corresponding element of a matrix that represents the motion of the object when the object is assumed to be a rigid body. By substituting a predetermined time into this function, a value of each element of the transformation matrix is determined. The shape of the object is determined based on the coordinate values of the shape specific points after coordinate transformation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a normal vector mapping section for dividing a surface of an object into a plurality of divided surfaces and generating a first normal vector pointing to the vertical direction of each of the divided surfaces, a luminance value mapping section for replacing the first normal vector of each divided surface with a luminance value associated with one of a predetermined number of second normal vectors, each associated with a different luminance value, which is most analogous in characteristic to the first normal vector, and a graphic processor for shading each divided surface according to the replaced luminance value.