Patent ID: 9746989
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06T,H04N

Claim:
1. A three-dimensional image processing apparatus comprising: a storage configured to store volume data of a target; and a processor configured to receive an input operation for moving a pointer and to function as an image generating unit and a pointer controlling unit, wherein the image generating unit generates a plurality of superimposed images at a plurality of points of view such that in each superimposed image a rendering image and a pointer image are superimposed in consideration of information of depth, the rendering image being a parallax image and being one of a plurality of viewpoint rendering images generated by performing a rendering process at the plurality of points of view on the volume data, and the pointer image being one of a plurality of viewpoint pointer images generated by observing the pointer at the plurality of points of view, the pointer controlling unit receives coordinates of the pointer corresponding to a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis from the input operation and determines coordinates of the pointer corresponding to a third coordinate axis based on the information of depth such that the pointer moves and traces along three-dimensional coordinates of a surface of the target contained in the volume data when the pointer is on the rendering image, and when a plurality of images are superimposed in a depth direction corresponding to the third coordinate axis at current coordinates of the pointer corresponding to the first coordinate axis and the second coordinate axis, the pointer controlling unit controls a coordinate of the pointer corresponding to the third coordinate axis such that the pointer makes rounds of the plurality of images according to a predetermined order while the coordinates of the pointer corresponding to the first coordinate axis and the second coordinate axis remain the same.