Patent ID: 6831659
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: A63F,G06T

Abstract:
An image processing unit configured to facilitate display of objects deployed in a three-dimensional virtual space, said image processing unit comprising:a processing unit for deploying a first display element and a plurality of flat display elements having a set of apexes and to which prescribed texture data have been mapped, in a plurality, within a prescribed spatial area to configure one object comprising said first display element and said plurality of flat display elements deployed so as to be scattered about the first display element, and for controlling directions in which faces of said plurality of flat display elements are oriented to correspond with a point of view from which virtual space is observed, wherein said object is configured such that a plurality of weighting coefficients are set to apexes of said flat display elements, a density of texture mapped to said flat display elements can be linearly interpolated by said weighting coefficients between said apexes, one representative point vector is established for said object, corresponding to said point of view, said flat display elements can be directionally controlled so that the plurality of said display elements configuring said object are oriented in a direction of said representative point vector, and the flat elements can be directionally controlled so that each normal line in said plurality of display elements is oriented in the direction of said point of view, wherein by altering said weighting coefficients to correspond to a position of said object in virtual space, a density variation of texture in said flat display elements configuring said object can be controlled, wherein a lighting direction toward the flat display objects is determined based on an environmental light vector of an environmental lighting positioned in the virtual space, and wherein the weighting coefficients nearer toward the environmental lighting have a higher value and those farther from the environmental light source have a lower value.