Three-dimensional computer graphics image generator

Claim 2

A three-dimensional (3-D) computer graphics (CG) image generator for providing a CG image of a 3-D object, comprising: image input means for inputting two-dimensional (2-D) images of the 3-D object into the CG image generator; display means for displaying the input images; characteristic point indication means for externally specifying characteristic parts on the displayed images, characteristic parts being end points and edges extending between the end points for defining the 3-D object; and 3-D object recognition means for providing 3-D data according to the characteristic parts specified on the displayed images, the 3-D data being used to prepare a CG image of the 3-D object.

Claim 3

The CG image generator according to claim 1, wherein the indication means is a pointing device.

Claim 4

The CG image generator according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic parts specified by the characteristic point indication means are superimposed on the displayed images and displayed on the display means.

Claim 5

The CG image generator according to claim 1, wherein the 3-D object is photographed at different angles to provide a plurality of input images that are displayed on the display means, and on each of the input images, corresponding characteristic parts are specified by the characteristic point indication means.

Claim 6

The CG image generator according to claim 4, wherein: the characteristic point indication means is a pointing device having a button, the pointing device pointing to coordinates on a coordinate system to specify characteristic parts, when the button of the pointing device is pushed down, a point on a coordinate system pointed at this moment by the pointing device is registered as a first characteristic point of the 3-D object, and when the button is released after being dragged, a point on the coordinate system pointed at this moment by the pointing device is registered as a second characteristic point of the 3-D object, and a segment links the first and second characteristic points and is registered as a characteristic line of the 3-D object.

Claim 7

The CG image generator according to claim 5, wherein the segment is continuously displayed on the display means as the pointing device is dragged until the button is released, to form an edge of the 3-D object.

Claim 8

The CG image generator according to claim 5, wherein: a point where the button of the pointing device is pushed down is registered as a start point of a characteristic line when the distance between the point and a previously registered characteristic point is greater then a predetermined value, a point where the button of the pointing device is released is registered as an end point of a characteristic line when the distance between the point and a previously registered characteristic point is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 9

The CG image generator according to claim 5, wherein: a registered characteristic point is registered as a start point of a characteristic line when a distance between the registered characteristic point and the point where the button of the pointing device is pushed down is smaller than a predetermined value, and a registered characteristic point is registered as an end point of a characteristic line when a distance between the registered characteristic point and the point where the button of the pointing device is released is smaller than a predetermined value.

Claim 10

The CG image generator according to claim 5, wherein a characteristic line is not registered and the start point and the end point of the characteristic line are not registered when the distance between the start point and the end point is smaller than a predetermined value.

Claim 11

The CG image generator according to claim 5, wherein a characteristic line is registered and the start point and the end point of the characteristic line are registered when the distance between the start point and the end point is greater than a predetermined value.

Claim 12

A three-dimensional (3-D) computer graphics (CG) image generator for providing a CG image of a 3-D object, comprising: image input means for inputting two-dimensional (2-D) images of the 3-D object into the CG image generator; wire-frame model means for preparing a 2-D wire-frame model from end points and edges specified on the input image; polygon divider means for dividing the wire-frame model into polygons; polygon recognition means for computing the 3-D coordinates of each of the polygons; and combining means for combining the 3-D coordinates of each of the polygons together, to provide 3-D data of a polyhedron that represents the 3-D object.

Claim 13

A three-dimensional (3-D) computer graphics (CG) image generator for providing a CG image of a 3-D object, comprising: image input means for inputting two-dimensional (2-D) images of the 3-D object into the CG image generator; wire-frame model means for preparing a 2-D wire-frame model from end points and edges specified on the input image; polygon divider means for dividing the wire-frame model into polygons; polygon recognition means for computing the 3-D coordinates of each of the polygons; and combining means for combining the 3-D coordinates of each of the polygons together, to provide 3-D data of a polyhedron that represents the 3-D object.

Claim 14

The CG image generator according to claim 11, wherein the wire-frame model means comprises: wire-frame indication means for specifying the end points and edges on the input images; and combining means for combining the specified end points and edges with the input images.

Claim 15

The CG image generator according to claim 11, wherein the wire-frame model means comprises: edge extraction means for extracting edges out of the input images; and end point extraction means for extracting end points out of the input images.

Claim 16

The CG image generator according to claim 11, wherein the polygon recognition means computes each of the polygons as a flat surface, to prepare a CG image of the polyhedron.

Claim 17

The CG image generator according to claim 14, wherein, when preparing a CG image of the polyhedron, a distance between a specific end point on the polyhedron and a view point is specified, and according to the specified distance and the computed polygons, the 3-D coordinates of other end points are determined.

Claim 18

A three-dimensional (3-D) computer graphics (CG) image generator for providing a CG image of a 3-D object, comprising: image input means for inputting two-dimensional (2-D) images of the 3-D object into the CG image generator; display means for displaying the input images; wire-frame model means for preparing a 2-D wire-frame model with characteristic parts of the 3-D object obtained from the input images, characteristic parts being end points and edges extending between the end points for defining the 3-D object; 3-D object recognition means for providing 3-D data according to the wire-frame model; and CG image generation means for preparing a CG image of the 3-D object according to the 3-D data and for transmitting the CG image to the display means, wherein the wire-frame model means includes external means for entering or correcting the characteristic parts in response to externally provided instructions, and internal means for generating or correcting the characteristic parts without externally provided instructions.

Claim 19

A three-dimensional (3-D) computer graphics (CG) image generator for providing a CG image of a 3-D object, comprising: image input means for inputting two-dimensional (2-D) images of the 3-D object into the CG image generator; display means for displaying the input images; wire-frame model means for preparing a 2-D wire-frame model with characteristic parts of the 3-D object obtained from the input images, characteristic parts being end points and edges extending between the end points for defining the 3-D object; 3-D object recognition means for providing 3-D data according to the wire-frame model; and CG image generation means for preparing a CG image of the 3-D object according to the 3-D data and for transmitting the CG image to the display means, wherein the wire-frame model means includes external means for entering or correcting the characteristic parts in response to externally provided instructions, and internal means for generating or correcting the characteristic parts without externally provided instructions.

Claim 20

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the external means corrects the characteristic parts generated by the internal means and prepares the wire-frame model.

Claim 21

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the internal means corrects the characteristic parts entered by the external means and prepares the wire-frame model.

Claim 22

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the external means corrects the characteristic parts entered by the external means and prepares the wire-frame model.

Claim 23

The CG image generator according to claim 18, wherein the characteristic parts generated by the internal means are superimposed on the input images and displayed on the display means, and the external means enters the characteristic parts while referring to the characteristic parts generated by the internal means.

Claim 24

The CG image generator according to claim 18, wherein, when the external means enters a first characteristic part, the internal means generates a second characteristic part in the vicinity of the first characteristic part and corrects the first characteristic part according to the second characteristic part.

Claim 25

The CG image generator according to claim 21, wherein the second characteristic part is a point characterized by a density distribution around the first characteristic part.

Claim 26

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the display means increases the magnification of the displayed input images when the characteristic parts are entered by the external means.

Claim 27

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the input images correspond to the 3-D object being photographed from different direction, and the 3-D object recognition means recognizes characteristic parts common to the input images, to provide 3-D data for each of the input images, and combines the 3-D data of the input images together, to provide 3-D data for the entire 3-D object.

Claim 28

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the CG image generation means includes a texture adding function for adding a texture to each surface of the image of the 3-D object provided by the 3-D object recognition means by selecting texture data of a corresponding surface of the input image whose photographed angle is closest to a display angle of the image of the 3-D object on the display means.

Claim 29

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the CG image generation means includes a texture adding function for adding a texture to each surface of the 3-D object provided by the 3-D object recognition means by selecting a texture of a corresponding surface of the input image that shows the respective surface most clearly.

Claim 30

The CG image generator according to claim 16, wherein the CG image generation means includes a texture adding function for adding a texture to each surface of the image of the 3-D object provided by the 3-D object recognition means by interpolating texture data of corresponding surfaces of the input images, wherein the input images correspond to photographs of the 3-D object in different directions around a display angle of the surface in question.

Claim 31

The CG image generator according to claim 19, wherein the characteristic parts generated by the internal means are superimposed on the input images and displayed on the display means, and the external means enters the characteristic parts while referring to the characteristic parts generated by the internal means.