Image Processing Method and Associated Apparatus for Rendering Three-dimensional Effect Using Two-dimensional Image

Abstract

An image processing method for rendering a three-dimensional by transforming a first quadrilateral image to a second quadrilateral image is provided, with at least one of the first and second quadrilateral images being a trapezoidal image. The image processing method includes providing the first quadrilateral image, generating coordinates of four vertices associated with the second quadrilateral image according to the first quadrilateral image and the three-dimensional effect; determining a relative height and a relative width according to a height and a width of the first quadrilateral image and the coordinates of the four vertices; and generating a plurality of pixel values of the second quadrilateral image with reference to a plurality of pixel values of the first quadrilateral image according to the relative height and the relative width.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61 / 218,077 filed on Jun. 18, 2009.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a mechanism for generating a three-dimensional (3D) effect, and more particularly, to an image processing method and an associated apparatus for rending a 3D effect using two-dimensional (2D) images.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In a current user interface system, e.g., a user interface of a portable device like a mobile phone, methods for rendering graphics or images include a 2D image rendering approach and a 3D image rendering approach. The 2D image rendering approach is easier and less expensive to implement, yet has a disadvantage of lacking depth information. The 3D image rendering approach, although having an advantage of being capable of rendering better visual enjoyment to viewers using its depth information, is burdened with shortcomings incl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide an image processing method and an associated apparatus for rendering a 3D effect using 2D images, so as to address complications involved in the 3D image rendering approach to reduce software and hardware costs as well as enhancing an overall system performance.

[0005]The present invention provides an image processing method for rendering a 3D effect by transfoiming a first quadrilateral image to a second quadrilateral image, with at least one of the first and second quadrilateral images being a trapezoidal image. The image processing method comprises: providing the first quadrilateral image; generating four coordinates of four vertices associated with the second quadrilateral image according to the first quadrilateral image and the 3D effect; determining a relative height and a relative width according to a height and a width of the first quadrilateral image and the coordinates of the four vertices; and generating a plurality of pixel values of the second quadrilateral image according to the coordinates of the four vertices, the relative height, and the relative width with reference to a plurality of pixel values of the first quadrilateral image.

[0006]The present invention further provides an image processing apparatus for rendering a 3D effect by transforming a first quadrilateral image to a second quadrilateral image, with at least one of the first and second quadrilateral images being a trapezoidal image. The image processing apparatus comprises a target image determining unit, a pixel determining unit and a calculation unit. The target image determining unit generates coordinates of four vertices associated with the second quadrilateral image according to the first quadrilateral image and the 3D effect. The pixel determining unit determines a relative height and a relative width according to a height and a width of the first quadrilateral image and the coordinates of the vertices, and determines a corresponding relationship between a plurality of pixels of the first quadrilateral image and a plurality of pixels of the second quadrilateral image. The calculation unit generates a plurality of pixel values of the second quadrilateral image according to the corresponding relationship with reference to a plurality of pixel values of the first quadrilateral image.

Problems solved by technology

The 2D image rendering approach is easier and less expensive to implement, yet has a disadvantage of lacking depth information.

More specifically, when the 3D image rendering approach is realized by hardware, corresponding hardware cost is much higher than that of the 2D image rendering approach; when the 3D image rendering approach is realized by software, a processor needs to designate more resources and time in rendering the 3D images such that processor performance may be significantly degraded due to the 3D image rendering approach.

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