Posture-Dependent Pseudo-Normal Vectors for Dynamic Shading

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Solution Overview

Problem

In three-dimensional imaging, existing techniques fail to effectively change the shade on an object's surface in response to changes in its posture, limiting the realism of the rendered image.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device that correlates posture conditions with pseudo-normal vector information for each pixel, allowing for the dynamic adjustment of pseudo-normal vectors based on the object's posture, enabling a shading process that reflects these changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fixed pseudo-normal vector is used for each pixel in bump mapping, then the shading process is simple and fast, but the shade on the object surface cannot change with posture changes, reducing realism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshading process speedVSAvoidshade adaptability to posture changes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed pseudo-normal vectors to dynamic posture-dependent pseudo-normal vectors. Multiple pseudo-normal vectors are pre-calculated for different posture conditions (standing, sitting, lying), and the system dynamically selects and blends these vectors based on the object's current posture, enabling the shade to adapt realistically while maintaining computational efficiency through pre-computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of pseudo-normal vectors based on posture conditions. By storing multiple sets of pseudo-normal vectors corresponding to different posture parameters (standing, sitting, lying) and selecting/applying the appropriate set based on the object's current posture state, the system enables shade adaptation without requiring real-time complex calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple pseudo-normal vectors are stored for different posture conditions, then the shade can change with posture for enhanced realism, but the data storage requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshade adaptability to posture changesVSAvoiddata storage volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pseudo-normal vector data into distinct sets corresponding to different posture conditions (standing, sitting, lying). Each posture condition has its own dedicated pseudo-normal vector set, allowing the system to store data in an organized, modular fashion. This segmentation enables efficient storage by only loading and processing the relevant posture-specific data when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by storing different pseudo-normal vector characteristics for different posture conditions. Each posture condition (standing, sitting, lying) has its own optimized pseudo-normal vector set tailored to that specific state, rather than using a single generic set. This allows for more accurate and realistic shading for each posture while storing data in a compact, organized manner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If posture-dependent pseudo-normal vectors are implemented, then the realism of the rendered image is enhanced, but the complexity of the shading process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering realismVSAvoidshading process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing multiple sets of pseudo-normal vectors for different posture conditions before the actual rendering process. This pre-computation eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations during shading, as the system only needs to select and apply the pre-prepared vectors corresponding to the current posture, thereby maintaining high rendering realism while simplifying the runtime process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2065854B1posture dependent normal vectors for texture mapping
Publication Date: 2012.12.12 KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO LTD
  • EP2065854B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2065854B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2065854B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide an image processing device capable of preferably producing a picture in which the shade expressed on a surface of an object will change according to change in the posture of the object. A pseudo-normal vector information storage unit (60a) stores a posture condition concerning a posture of the object and pseudo-normal vector information for obtaining a pseudo-normal vector for each pixel of a texture image to be mapped onto a surface of the object, so as to be correlated to each other. A pseudo-normal vector obtaining unit (64) obtains a pseudo-normal vector for each pixel of the above described texture image, based on the pseudo-normal vector information stored in the pseudo-normal vector information storage unit (60a) so as to be correlated to the posture condition satisfied by the posture of the object. A shading process execution unit (66) executes a shading process for the surface of the object, based on the pseudo-normal vector obtained by the pseudo-normal vector obtaining unit (64).