Patent ID: 7948486
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a hierarchical Z value storage that stores a hierarchical Z value which is a coordinate value, in a depth direction, of a pixel located at a farthest point from a viewpoint among pixels already drawn in a block, the block being a section formed as a part of a drawing area in which an image of three-dimensional computer graphics is drawn; a first Z value calculator that calculates a polygon Z value which is a coordinate value, in the depth direction, of a vertex located at a closest point to the viewpoint among vertexes of a polygon to be drawn; a second Z value calculator that calculates a block Z value which is a coordinate value, in the depth direction, of a pixel located at a closest point to the viewpoint in the block among pixels included in a plane formed by the polygon to be drawn; a Z value selector that selects a Z value from among the polygon Z value, calculated from vertexes of the polygon to be drawn, and the block Z value, calculated from corners of the block, based on which is farther from the viewpoint, as an estimate Z value which is an estimate of a coordinate value, in the depth direction, of a pixel located at a closest point to the viewpoint in the block; and a hidden-surface removal unit that eliminates drawing of a plurality of pixels comprised by the polygon in the block when a pixel corresponding to the estimate Z value is located at a farther point from the viewpoint than a pixel corresponding to the hierarchical Z value, the drawing of the polygon including generating pixel data for the block.