Image processing unit and method for executing image processing

Claim 2

An image processing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said each divided section of the display screen (13) is a divided rectangle section having the same size and the same shape.

Claim 3

An image processing unit as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said processes in the priority degree allocation means (15) introduce a plurality of isosceles triangles which have respective vertexes on the projection vector, have a base on a line on the display screen (13) perpendicular to the projection vector at the origin, and have different areas, a priority degree is determined for each divided area by triangles, and in accordance with the priority degree of the triangle area, the corresponding priority degree of the divided sections is determined.

Claim 4

An image processing unit as set forth in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the partial update portion (16) holds a second priority degree in each divided section of the display screen (13); when the update of each divided section is executed, the priority degree of the divided section is reduced by a certain value; when no movement of the view direction is distinguished by the view direction movement vector, the process of updating the image corresponding to the divided section in accordance with the priority degree is repeated during the state of no movement of the view direction.

Claim 5

An image processing method characterized in that the method comprises: a 1st process step (S1) for fetching a view vector; a 2nd process step (S2) for calculating a view direction movement vector between a view vector fetched at the 1st process step and a stored view vector fetched at an immediately preceding 1st process step; a 3rd process step (S3) for comparing the magnitude of the view direction movement vector calculated at the 2nd process step with a certain value, and for determining whether the view direction movement exists or not; a 4th process step (S4), to which the 3rd process step proceeds when the view direction movement exists, for generating a projection vector projecting the view direction movement vector on a display screen and for generating a priority degree of each partial image, in a priority degree allocation means; a 5th process step (S5) for setting a triangle area on the display screen in accordance with the projection vector generated in the 4th process step (S4); a 6th process step (S6) for calculating a priority degree in accordance with an overlap area between a triangle area and a divided section of the display screen, and the priority degree calculated at the 4th process step (S4); a 7th process step (S7) for resetting a second priority degree as initial values; an 8th, 9th, and 10th process steps (S8, S9, S10) for updating the divided partial images in accordance with the priority degree, for decreasing the priority degree of the updated partial image, and for repeating the above two processes of updating and decreasing until the process period attains a certain time; a 12th process step (S12) for updating the partial image having the highest priority degree until the process period attains a certain time in an 11th process step (S11), to which the process proceeds when the view direction movement does not exist in the 3rd process step (S3); a 13th process step (S13) for decreasing the second priority degree corresponding to the updated partial image after executing the 12th process step (S12); a 14th process step (S14) for returning to the 11th process step (S11) if one of the second priority degrees of the partial images is greater than zero as a result of the 13th process step (S13); a 15th process step (S15), to which the process proceeds when all the second priority degrees of the partial images are less than zero as a result of the 13th process step (S13), in the 14th process step (S14), for resetting the second priority degree and for returning to the 11th process step (S11); and an end process for ending the one process period when the process time attains the process period in the 8th process step (S8) or the 11th process step (S11).

Claim 6

An image processing method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the 5th process step (S5) for setting a triangle area comprises: processes introducing a plurality of isosceles triangles which have respective vertexes on the projection vector, have a base on a line on the display screen perpendicular to the projection vector at the origin, and have different areas; determining a priority degree for each area divided by the triangles; and determining the corresponding priority degree of the divided sections in accordance with the priority degree of the triangle area.