Image Processing Apparatus Guide Rail for Intuitive 3D Cross-Section Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies for three-dimensional spaces often lead to user frustration due to mismatched intuitive and actual moving directions of cross-sectional planes, especially when using pointing devices, as the perceived movement on a projection plane does not align with the actual movement in the three-dimensional space.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that includes a reference guide rail decision unit to determine a guide rail orthogonal to the cross-sectional plane, a moving direction determination unit to calculate a motion vector based on user input, and a projection unit to redraw the cross-sectional plane, ensuring intuitive user interface by aligning the movement direction with user input on a two-dimensional screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user moves a cross-sectional plane via a user interface using a pointing means such as a mouse, then the user can interact with the three-dimensional space, but the moving direction intuited by the user may not match the actual moving direction of the cross-sectional plane due to different viewpoints between the display area and the projection plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide rail as an intermediary visual element that mediates between the user's intuitive directional input and the actual three-dimensional movement of the cross-sectional plane. The guide rail is displayed on the projection plane to indicate the correspondence between two-dimensional input direction and three-dimensional movement direction, serving as a visual mediator that resolves the directional mismatch problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the guide rail that shows the relationship between the user's input direction on the projection plane and the actual movement direction in three-dimensional space. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand and correct the directional mapping, improving intuitive operation.
2Ease of operation
If a user moves the cross-sectional plane by changing a displayed parameter numerical value using arrow buttons, then the parameter can be adjusted, but the moving direction of the arrow may not match the moving direction of the cross-sectional plane
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail acts as a visual intermediary that connects the arrow button input with the cross-sectional plane movement. By displaying the guide rail in correspondence with the arrow direction, the system provides visual information about the actual movement direction, allowing users to understand the relationship between two-dimensional input and three-dimensional result.
3Ease of manufacture
If the three-dimensional space is projected onto a predetermined projection plane for display, then the three-dimensional space can be visualized on a two-dimensional display device, but the viewpoint difference causes mismatch between intuitive and actual moving directions
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail serves as a visual intermediary that bridges the two-dimensional projection plane and the three-dimensional space. It is displayed on the projection plane to indicate the correspondence between input directions and actual three-dimensional movement directions, resolving the directional mismatch caused by perspective projection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual dimension (the guide rail display) to the existing two-dimensional interface to convey three-dimensional directional information. By displaying the guide rail that represents three-dimensional movement direction on the two-dimensional projection plane, the system provides additional dimensional information to resolve the projection-induced directional confusion.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a three-dimensional space information storage unit, a projection unit, an operation acquisition unit, a reference guide rail decision unit, and a motion vector calculation unit. The projection unit projects and draws a cross-sectional plane onto a projection plane on the basis of information on a position of the cross-sectional plane stored by the three-dimensional space information storage unit. The reference guide rail decision unit decides a reference guide rail on the basis of information on a position of a slide operation acquired by the operation acquisition unit. The motion vector calculation unit calculates a two-dimensional motion vector parallel to the reference guide rail on the basis of a direction of the slide operation and an amount of movement, calculates a three-dimensional motion vector corresponding to the two-dimensional motion vector, and changes the position of the cross-sectional plane in accordance with the calculated three-dimensional motion vector.