Image processing unit, image processing system using the same, and image processing method

An image processing system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of image processing units, each comprising:
• (i) a main storing portion for storing information of three-dimensional objects;
• (ii) a plurality of calculating portions for processing images based on three-dimensional object information which are read from the main storing portion and
• (iii) a hierarchical storing portion having a plurality of hierarchies, and connected between the main storing portion and the plurality of calculating portions to store a part of information at a lower level into a higher level sequentially;
• and
• (b) communication media for connecting the plurality of image processing units mutually,
• wherein image processing by the plurality of calculating portions are performed in parallel,
• wherein a storing portion constituting an uppermost level of the hierarchical storing portion is a plurality of dependent storing portions which are dependent on corresponding calculating portions and can be quickly accessed, and
• wherein the main storing portion is shared with the plurality of calculating portions.

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing image process of a three-dimensional object;
• (b) distributing a plurality of divided processes to a plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (c) executing distributed processes in parallel by the plurality of calculating portions;
• wherein information of the three-dimensional object is stored in a main storing portion in a situation that a space containing the three-dimensional object is divided into a plurality of small spaces which are composed of a plurality of hierarchies, and
• wherein the dividing step includes the step of dividing a plurality of continuous images of the three-dimensional object.

An image processing method of generating a continuous image of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing one frame of a screen on which the continuous image is displayed;
• (b) allocating a plurality of divided areas to a plurality of calculating portions;
• (c) processing allocated areas in parallel by the plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (d) dividing one succeeding frame in response to a result of the process such that respective processing times of the plurality of calculating portions are made equal,
• wherein the step of dividing one succeeding frame includes the step of allocating divided areas to the plurality of calculating portions in response to either a processing time or an amount of calculation in the process of the preceding one frame.

An image processing method of generating a continuous image of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing one frame of a screen on which the continuous image is displayed;
• (b) allocating a plurality of divided areas to a plurality of calculating portions;
• (c) processing allocated areas in parallel by the plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (d) dividing one succeeding frame in response to a result of the process such that respective processing times of the plurality of calculating portions are made equal,
• wherein the step of dividing one succeeding frame includes the step of allocating divided areas to the plurality of calculating portions in response to one of a consumed processing time, a number of execution cycle, and a miss ratio of a local memory about the plurality of calculating portions in the process of the preceding one frame.

An image processing method of generating a continuous image of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing one frame of a screen on which the continuous image is displayed;
• (b) allocating a plurality of divided areas to a plurality of calculating portions;
• (c) processing allocated areas in parallel by the plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (d) dividing one succeeding frame in response to a result of the process such that respective processing times of the plurality of calculating portions are made equal,
• wherein the step of dividing one succeeding frame includes the step of allocating divided areas to the plurality of calculating portions in inverse proportion to either a processing time or an amount of calculation about the plurality of calculating portions in the process of the preceding one frame.

An image processing method a continuous image of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing one frame of a screen on which the continuous image is displayed;
• (b) allocating a plurality of divided areas to a plurality of calculating portions;
• (c) processing allocated areas in parallel by the plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (d) dividing one succeeding frame in response to a result of the process such that respective processing times of the plurality of calculating portions are made equal,
• wherein the step of dividing one succeeding frame includes the step of allocating divided areas to the plurality of calculating portions in inverse proportion to one of a consumed processing time, a number of execution cycles, and a miss ratio of a local memory about the plurality of calculating portions in the process of the preceding one frame.

An image processing method an image of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing a screen on which the image is displayed;
• (b) allocating a plurality of divided areas to a plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (c) parallel-processing allocated areas by the plurality of calculating portions;
• wherein in the parallel-processing step, the calculating portion which has completed the process in an allocated area processes an unfinished area which is adjacent to the allocated area and is allocated to another calculating portion.

An image processing method of generating an image of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing a screen on which the image is displayed;
• (b) allocating a plurality of divided areas to a plurality of calculating portions;
• and
• (c) parallel-processing allocated areas by the plurality of calculating portions;
• wherein, in the parallel-processing step, the calculating portions advance the process toward a point which is close to a center of the screen from any point in the allocated area respectively.