Abstract: Processing at high speed is realized. Interpolation is carried out between vertexes of a series of vertexes and a series of vertexes taken as a longer series of vertexes of a strip. Interpolation is then carried out between each vertex of the interpolated series of vertexes and corresponding vertexes. Sub-strips are then generated using each of the interpolated vertexes. In this way, processing can be carried out at high speed after finely subdividing.

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: 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: 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: Processing at high speed is realized. Interpolation is carried out between vertexes of a series of vertexes and a series of vertexes taken as a longer series of vertexes of a strip. Interpolation is then carried out between each vertex of the interpolated series of vertexes and corresponding vertexes. Sub-strips are then generated using each of the interpolated vertexes. In this way, processing can be carried out at high speed after finely subdividing.

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: Processing at high speed is realized. Interpolation is carried out between vertexes of a series of vertexes and a series of vertexes taken as a longer series of vertexes of a strip. Interpolation is then carried out between each vertex of the interpolated series of vertexes and corresponding vertexes. Sub-strips are then generated using each of the interpolated vertexes. In this way, processing can be carried out at high speed after finely subdividing.

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: An image composing method and apparatus is provided which can compose a mixed image with no increased hardware scale and no reduced processing speed. A subtracting means (13) is used to calculate a difference in pixel value between a first image and a second image, each having three color information components and one additional information component. Each of the first and second image pixel values may have all the pixel values of zero. The result of subtraction is multiplied by a mixing factor in a multiplying means (15). For the mixing factor, any one of the additional information components or fixed values of the first and second image pixel values are selected. The components are of a same value. In a adding means 17, any of two image pixel values is added to the result of multiplication to produce a mixed image.

Abstract: A system performs refraction mapping for an image having an object, the object being viewed along at least one line of sight and at least partially through a boundary of first and second at least semi-transparent media. The boundary defines at least one normal vector at one or more intersections of the line of sight and the boundary. The system includes: a perspective transformation unit operable to project a three-dimensional version of the object on a two-dimensional texture plane using a perspective view transformation algorithm to obtain texture addresses of the object, the texture plane being perpendicular to the line of sight and the transformation being performed without regard to refraction; and a refraction determination unit operable to obtain at least one refraction vector for at least one of the texture addresses, a given refraction vector being a function of a component of the at least one normal vector that is parallel to the texture plane.

Abstract: A system performs refraction mapping for an image having an object, the object being viewed along at least one line of sight and at least partially through a boundary of first and second at least semi-transparent media. The boundary defines at least one normal vector at one or more intersections of the line of sight and the boundary. The system includes: a perspective transformation unit operable to project a three-dimensional version of the object on a two-dimensional texture plane using a perspective view transformation algorithm to obtain texture addresses of the object, the texture plane being perpendicular to the line of sight and the transformation being performed without regard to refraction; and a refraction determination unit operable to obtain at least one refraction vector for at least one of the texture addresses, a given refraction vector being a function of a component of the at least one normal vector that is parallel to the texture plane.

Abstract: An image creation device includes: a plurality of geometry processing means for creating at least one drawing element list by performing geometry processing to express images, respectively, in parallel, said plurality of geometry processing means having at least one first geometry processing means to perform tyical geometry processing and at least one second geometry processing in cooperation with another geometry processing means; drawing means to perform drawing processing based on said drawing element list; and control means to selectively adopt a first mode which parallelizes said at least one first geometry processing means and said at least one second geometry processing means and a second mode to lead a processing result of said at least one second geometry processing means to an input of said at least one first geometry processing means.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided on which semiconductor packages can be mounted efficiently. The electronic device includes a board that can receive a plurality of first semiconductor packages each carrying a processor device and a plurality of second semiconductor packages each carrying a memory device. Mount regions where the packages are to be mounted and non-mount regions are alternately arranged in rows and columns on the board. This ensures approximately equal wiring distances between the packages, allowing processor devices to access associated memory devices at the same time.

Abstract: Characters set corresponding to users are registered in a character server, so the users can download characters from the character server and feature the characters in various games. Also, characters of different players can notify characters of players within a range permitted beforehand regarding their own locations in different games or different virtual spaces, and can send messages one to another. Further, in addition to the appearance of the character, attributes of the character and items which the player have can be stored in the character server, and used throughout various games. Thus, the same characters can be featured in various types of game programs.

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.

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 a 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: A portable game machine 60 includes a detachable transparent film 62, a base film 63, and reels 64a, 64b, and a reflective liquid crystal panel 8 which is sandwiched in between, with the transparent film 62 in front of, and the base film 63 in back of the reflective liquid crystal panel, which is supported in a housing 4 to display images. In the portable game machine 60, menu options, icons, and other auxiliary information is depicted on the transparent film and the base film, etc. By manipulation of an operation unit, instructions are given by moving an arrow, etc. displayed on the reflective liquid crystal panel 6. Auxiliary information corresponding to multiple scenes is depicted on the transparent film 62 and the base film 63, and the auxiliary information that is displayed in a display unit 61 is changed by rotating the reels 64a, 64b to scroll the transparent film 61 and the base film 63.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for rendering an antialiased image, which are enabled to easily form an antialiased image at a high speed. First, a main CPU extracts a contour and a contour candidate, which are visually important parts of an image to be rendered, according to, for example, polygon data representing an image of one frame. Further, a GPU performs rendering on data stored in a graphic memory according to the polygon data representing an image of one frame. Moreover, the GPU performs antialiasing on the contour and contour candidate extracted by the main CPU. Then, the GPU overwrites data representing the antialiased contour and contour candidate onto the data representing the image, which is already rendered and stored in the graphic memory.

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 information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus is connected to a terminal which executes a program for a number of different games, through a network. The information processing apparatus includes a storage device for storing information on a character that can appear in the different games in the terminal. A transmitter is provided to transmit the information on the character to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal.