IP Library Granted Patent US 6,847,361
Granted Patent B1
US 6,847,361 · App. 09/830,351 · Granted Jan 25, 2005

Image generation system and program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,847,361
App. No.
09/830,351
Granted
Jan 25, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

The present invention provides an image generation system and program that apply shading for producing a cel animation type of image, with a reduced processing load. Brightness information is set for each pixel of a two-dimensional image that is obtained by perspective transformation of a three-dimensional object, based on brightness information set for that three-dimensional object, the two-dimensional image is divided into a plurality of areas based on the thus-set brightness information, and stepped shading is applied in units of the thus-divided plurality of areas. This brightness information could be set beforehand or it could be calculated in real-time, based on a given condition. The system could also comprise means for determining the pixels to be rendered by comparing the brightness information of each pixel with a given threshold value, then performing adjustment processing on the color information of the pixels to be rendered, based on color information that acts as a reference. This threshold value can be varied in accordance with the number of steps of shading, and adjustment processing can be performed a plurality of times on color information of pixels to be rendered.

Claims (41)

1. An image generation system which generates an image, comprising:

means which divides a three-dimensional object into a plurality of areas based on brightness information of the three-dimensional object;

means which obtains a two-dimensional image by perspective transformation of the three-dimensional object, wherein the brightness information is set for each pixel of a two-dimensional image based on the brightness information of the three-dimensional object, and wherein the two-dimensional image is divided into a plurality of areas, based on the thus-set brightness information;

means which applies stepped shading in units of the thus-divided areas of the two-dimensional image; and

means for determining a pixel to be rendered by comparing the brightness information set for each pixel with a given threshold value, wherein the threshold value is varied in accordance with the number of steps of shading, and then adjusting color information a plurality of times of the pixel to be rendered.

2. The image generation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the brightness information is set beforehand.

3. The image generation system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the brightness information is calculated in real-time, based on a given condition.

4. The image generation system a defined in claim 1 ,

wherein stepped shading is performed by adjustment of color information in units of the thus-divided areas.

5. A computer-usable program embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wave, for implementing:

means which divides a three-dimensional object into a plurality of areas based on brightness information of the three-dimensional object;

means which obtains a two-dimensional image by perspective transformation of the three-dimensional object, wherein the brightness information is set for each pixel of the two-dimensional image based on the brightness information of the three-dimensional object, and wherein the two-dimensional image is divided into a plurality of areas, based on the thus-set brightness information;

means which applies stepped shading in units of the thus-divided areas;

means for determining a pixel to be rendered by comparing the brightness information set for each pixel with a given threshold value, wherein the threshold value is varied in accordance with the number of steps of shading, and adjusting color information a plurality of times of the pixel to be rendered.

6. The program embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 5 ,

wherein the brightness information is set beforehand.

7. The program embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 5 ,

wherein the brightness information is calculated in real-time, based on a given condition.

8. The program embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 5 ,

wherein stepped shading is performed by adjustment of color information in units of the thus-divided areas.

9. A method for generating an image, comprising:

dividing a three-dimensional object into a plurality of areas based on brightness information of the three-dimensional object;

obtaining a two-dimensional image by perspective transformation of the three-dimensional object;

setting the brightness information for each pixel of the two-dimensional image, based on the brightness information of the three-dimensional object;

dividing the two-dimensional image into a plurality of areas, based on the thus-set brightness information;

applying stepped shading in units of the thus-divided areas of the two-dimensional image;

determining a pixel to be rendered by comparing the brightness information set for each pixel with a given threshold value, wherein the threshold value is varied in accordance with the number of steps of shading; and

adjusting the color information of the pixel to be rendered a plurality of times.

10. The method for generating an image as defined in claim 9 ,

wherein the brightness information is set beforehand.

11. The method for generating an image as defined in claim 9 ,

wherein the brightness information is calculated in real-time, based on a given condition.

12. The method for generating an image as defined in claim 9 ,

wherein stepped shading is performed by adjustment of color information in units of the thus-divided areas.

13. An image generation system which generates an image, comprising:

means which divides a three-dimensional object into a plurality of areas based on brightness information of the three-dimensional object; and

means which applies stepped shading in units of the thus-divided areas, by comparing the brightness information with a threshold value which is varied in accordance with the number of steps of shading.

14. The image generation system as defined in claim 13 , wherein the brightness information is set beforehand.

15. The image generation system as defined in claim 13 , wherein the brightness information is calculated in real-time, based on a given condition.

16. The image generation system a defined in claim 13 ,

wherein stepped shading is performed by adjustment of color information in units of the thus-divided areas.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 038037/0864 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 29, 2014
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 033061/0930 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 15, 2007
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 020206/0292 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 10, 2007
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC
Reel/Frame 019834/0562 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 15, 2006
From: NAMCO LIMITED/NAMCO LTD.
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 017996/0786 →