Generating an image of a three-dimensional object

Apparatus for generating an image representing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:

• a store for storing a set of parameters representing a model of a three-dimensional object and at least two two-dimensional images of the object, each image representing the object from a fixed direction of view with respect to a virtual space, the parameters comprising parameters defining the positions of a plurality of vertex points in the virtual space and parameters defining relationships between vertex points and hence surface elements of the object;
• control means arranged in operation
• (a) to determine for a surface element a measure relative to each fixed direction of view, each said measure being representative of the deviation of the surface of the element from the normal to the fixed direction of view;
• (b) to identify the fixed direction of view which exhibits the least said deviation;
• and
• (c) to identify, within that one of the two-dimensional images which corresponds to the identified fixed direction of view a portion thereof corresponding to a projection of the surface element;
• and
• means operable to storing a three-dimensional representation of the object, the three-dimensional representation being available for display prior to actual display generation and having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the said identified portions of the two-dimensional images, said surface detail being fixed on the surface of the object irrespective of a viewing direction thereof.

Apparatus for generating an image representing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:

• a store for storing a set of parameters representing a model of a three-dimensional object and at least two two-dimensional images of the object, each image representing the object from a fixed direction of view with respect to a virtual space, the parameters comprising parameters defining the positions of a plurality of vertex points in the virtual space and parameters defining relationships between vertex points and hence surface elements of the object;
• and
• control means arranged in operation
• (a) to determine for a surface element a measure relative to each fixed direction of view, each said measure being representative of the deviation of the surface of the element from the normal to the fixed direction of view;
• (b) to identify the fixed direction of view which exhibits the least said deviation;
• and
• (c) to identify, within that one of the two-dimensional images which corresponds to the identified fixed direction of view a portion thereof corresponding to a projection thereon of an area defined by the vertices of the surface element and storing a three-dimensional representation of the object, the three-dimensional representation being available for display prior to actual display generation and having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the said identified portion of a two-dimensional image, whereby the image to be generated may be formed having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the two-dimensional images, said surface detail being fixed on the surface of the object irrespective of a viewing direction thereof.

Apparatus for generating an image representing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:

• a store for storing a set of parameters representing a model of a three-dimensional object and at least two two-dimensional images of the object, each image representing the object from a fixed direction of view with respect to a virtual space, the parameters comprising parameters defining the positions of a plurality of vertex points in the virtual space and parameters defining relationships between vertex points and hence surface elements of the object;
• and
• control means arranged in operation
• (a) to identify those vertices which, together with the said vertex, contribute to representing a surface element which includes the said vertex;
• (b) to determine for the said surface elements a measure relative to each fixed direction of view, each said measure being representative of the deviation of the surfaces of the elements from the normal to the fixed direction of view;
• (c) to identify the fixed direction of view which exhibits the least said deviation;
• and
• (d) to identify within that one of the two-dimensional images which corresponds to the identified fixed direction of view a portion thereof corresponding to a projection thereon of an area defined by the vertices of the surface element and storing a three-dimensional representation of the object, the three-dimensional representation being available for display prior to actual display generation and having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the said identified portion of a two-dimensional image, whereby the image to be generated may be formed having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the two-dimensional images, said surface detail being fixed on the surface of the object irrespective of a viewing direction thereof.

A method of generating an image representing a three-dimensional object, the three-dimensional object being modelled as (a) a stored set of parameters representing a model of a three-dimensional object and (b) at least two two-dimensional images of the object, each image representing the object from a fixed direction of view with respect to a virtual space, the parameters comprising parameters defining the positions of a plurality of vertex points in the virtual space and parameters defining relationships between vertex points and hence surface elements of the object, the method including:

• storing a three-dimensional representation of the object, the three-dimensional representation being available for display prior to actual display generation and having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined from one of the said two-dimensional images, said surface detail being fixed on the surface of the object irrespective of a viewing direction thereof;
• adjusting brightness and/or colour values of the surface detail to be applied, to reduce discontinuities between a surface element in respect of which one fixed direction of view has been identified and a surfacc element in respect of which another fixed direction of view has been identified;
• receiving control information specifying a viewing direction;
• and
• generating a two-dimensional image representing the three-dimensional object by projecting the stored three-dimensional representation in a direction corresponding to said specified viewing direction.

A method of generating an image representing a three-dimensional object, the three-dimensional object being modeled as (a) a stored set of parameters representing a model of a three-dimensional object and (b) at least two two-dimensional images of the object, each image representing the object from a fixed direction of view with respect to a virtual space, the parameters comprising parameters defining the positions of a plurality of vertex points in the virtual space and parameters defining relationships between vertex points and hence surface elements of the object, the method comprising, for a surface element:

• determining for the said surface element a measure relative to each fixed direction of view, each said measure being representative of the deviation of the surface of the element from the normal to the fixed direction of view;
• identifying the fixed direction of view which exhibits the least said deviation;
• identifying within that one of the two-dimensional images which corresponds to the defined fixed direction of view a portion thereof corresponding to a projection thereon of an area defined by the vertices of the surface element;
• and
• storing a three-dimensional representation of the object prior to display, the three-dimensional representation having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the said identified portions of the two-dimensional images, said surface detail being fixed on the surface of the object irrespective of a viewing direction thereof.

Apparatus for generating an image representing a three-dimensional object, said apparatus comprising:

• a store for storing a set of parameters representing a model of a three-dimensional object and at least two two-dimensional images of the object, each image representing the object from a fixed direction of view, the parameters comprising parameters defining the positions of a plurality of vertex points in a virtual space and parameters defining relationships between vertex points and hence surface elements of the object;
• control means arranged in operation
• (a) to determine for a surface element a measure relative to each fixed direction of view, each said measure being representative of the deviation of the surface of the element from the normal to the fixed direction of view;
• (b) to identify the fixed direction of view which exhibits the least said deviation;
• and
• (c) to identify, within that one of the two-dimensional images which corresponds to the identified fixed direction of view a portion thereof corresponding to a projection of the surface element;
• and
• single means operable to storing a three-dimensional representation of the object, the three-dimensional representation being available for display prior to actual display generation and having a shape determined by the stored parameters and having surface detail determined by the said identified portions of the two-dimensional images adjusted according to a specified viewing direction.