JPH1097643A - Definition of three-dimensional shapes such as relief shapes - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To quickly and easily define and change a complicated three-dimensional shape composed of a large number of free-form surfaces such as reliefs. SOLUTION: A step (301) of defining a reference surface as a reference for embossing based on an equation, and a value for shifting the position of each point of the reference surface in a predetermined direction (for example, a normal direction) at the point. Defining a raster image (that is, having a value of irregularities on the reference curved surface) (30)
2), a step (303) of defining a correspondence relationship between each point of the reference surface and the raster image, and a step (304) of defining a reference value of the value of the star image. A three-dimensional shape such as a relief shape is defined by combining the positional relationship with the image, the reference value of the value of the star image, and the amount of movement of the raster image in a predetermined direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to shape generation in a computer-aided graphic processing system, and more particularly to CAD.
The present invention relates to a method for defining a three-dimensional shape such as relief in a (computer-aided drafting and design) / CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) / CG (computer graphics) system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a three-dimensional shape is strictly defined by a CAD / CAM / CG system or the like, the shape of a three-dimensional surface is represented by an equation. There are various types of this equation, but the shape of the surface is Bezier, B-spline, NURB
The point represented by the equation such as S has a feature. This is described in detail in "Modeling of Curved Surface in CAD / CAM" by Mamoru Hosaka, Tokyo Denki University Press.

Conventionally, an operator has been required to define a complicated three-dimensional shape composed of a large number of free-form surfaces such as reliefs, for example, a three-dimensional shape as shown in FIG.
The entire dimensional shape is divided into a plurality of surfaces, and the shape is defined by an equation for each of the surfaces. Also, when changing the shape, the operator has changed or redefined the equation for each of the many free-form surfaces constituting the relief engraving.

[0004]

A complex shape composed of a large number of free-form surfaces, such as a sculpture or a relief, is used for CAD / CAD.
If you try to express accurately with CAM / CG system,
In the prior art, in a CAD / CAM / CG system, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the operator first divides the relief shape into a number of areas represented by one equation (201), In each of these regions, the shape has to be defined by an equation in consideration of the continuation of the tangent to the adjacent surface and the continuity of curvature in some cases (202, 203). Further, when the shape created in such a manner is corrected (204), it is necessary to correct the shape of each of a large number of regions, and when the shape of the surface serving as the base of the relief changes, If the relief pattern itself changed, it had to be redefined from the first segmentation (205, 201,
202, 203). Therefore, in order to define and change the shape of a complicated surface such as a relief using conventional CAD / CAM / CG, even a person with high skill in defining a shape by an equation requires a great deal of labor and time. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and quickly and easily defines and changes a complicated three-dimensional shape composed of a large number of free-form surfaces such as reliefs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of defining a three-dimensional shape such as a relief that can be performed.

[0006]

According to the method of defining a three-dimensional shape such as a relief shape according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a step of defining a reference curved surface serving as a reference of the relief based on an equation. (301) and a step of defining a raster image having a value for shifting the position of each point on the reference curved surface in a predetermined direction (for example, the normal direction) at that point (that is, having a value of unevenness on the reference curved surface). (302), a step (303) of defining a correspondence relationship between each point of the reference surface and the raster image, and a step (304) of defining a reference value of the value of the raster image. A three-dimensional shape such as an embossed shape is defined by combining a positional relationship with the raster image, a reference value of the value of the raster image, and a moving amount of the raster image in a predetermined direction. At this time, the maximum value (positive / negative) of the moving amount of the star image in the predetermined direction is defined (303).

Further, when confirming the defined shape,
For example, the reference curved surface is divided into polygons, the positions of the vertices of the polygons are moved by the amount defined by the raster image, and the changed polygon shape is confirmed by being displayed on a display device (see FIG. 8). When the shape defined above is changed (306), the corresponding definition in each of the above-described processes (301 to 305) defining the shape is changed and redefined, so that the new shape after the change is obtained. A shape is obtained (307).

In the present invention, when a plurality of raster images are defined, the correspondence between each point of the reference surface and each point of the raster image is defined. When a plurality of raster images are combined so as to be overlapped and set a plurality of times, the position of each point on the reference curved surface is displaced by the sum of the movement values of the plurality of settings. (See FIG. 9). Note that the direction of movement of the position of each point on the reference curved surface is not limited to the normal direction at each point on the reference curved surface, but may be any one direction.

Here, the terms used in the present invention are defined. The reference curved surface is, as shown in FIG. 6, a curved surface shape serving as a reference for the relief shape. A raster image is a two-dimensional array of values having upper and lower limits. The definition of the positional relationship between the reference surface and the raster image is defined as one point of the reference surface and one point of the raster image.
It is a correspondence with a point. The reference value of the raster image is a value that defines which value of the raster image matches the reference surface. The maximum moving distance is a value that defines how much the shape is in the normal direction of the reference curved surface according to the upper and lower limits of the raster image.

In the present invention, the operator can define and change the three-dimensional shape by defining a reference surface definition, a raster image definition, a definition of the correspondence between each point of the reference surface and the raster image, and a reference value of the raster image. And the definition of the maximum moving distance can be performed more quickly and easily.
When the shape is defined by the sum of the moving distances of a plurality of raster images a plurality of times, one of the raster images and its associated parameters (the definition of the reference surface, the definition of the raster image, the reference surface, By simply changing the definition of the correspondence between each point with the raster image, the definition of the reference value of the raster image, and the definition of the maximum moving distance, it is possible to easily change the shape of the part and the whole. In addition, by storing and using a raster image, it becomes possible to create and use a library of relief shapes and the like applicable to an arbitrary surface. For example, by using the data of this library, it is possible to perform NC cutting of a complicated three-dimensional shape such as a relief shape in three axes or multiple axes.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a system to which a method of defining a three-dimensional shape such as a relief shape according to the present invention is applied. As shown, this system comprises a central computer 401, a main storage device 402, an input / output control device 403, a mouse 404, a keyboard 405, an external storage device 406, and a display device 407, each of which has a system bus 408 or It comprises a computer system 400 connected through a similar mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention realized by the computer system 400. On the computer system 400, the command analysis / processing unit 5 shown in FIG.
01 and the graphic information storage area 502 are constructed, and the command analysis / processing unit 501 and the graphic information storage area 502
Denotes a display device 407 and a mouse 4 via an input / output mechanism 503.
04 and the keyboard 405.

In FIG. 5, the operator inputs a command from the mouse 404 and / or the keyboard 405 to create and select a reference surface, create and select a raster image, and set the positional relationship between the reference surface and the raster image. , The definition of the reference value of the raster image, and the definition of the maximum moving distance. The shape of the reference surface, the raster image, the positional relationship between the reference surface and the raster image, the reference value of the raster image, and the maximum moving distance by the raster image are as follows:
It is stored in the graphic information storage area 502, and at the same time, the defined relief shape is displayed on the display device 407 via the input / output mechanism 503. Since the raster image is a value of a two-dimensional array and is discrete, when calculating the value of the raster image corresponding to each point on the reference surface, the values between them are obtained by interpolation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing steps for defining the relief shape shown in FIG. 1. A method for defining the relief shape on a three-dimensional reference surface will be described based on this flowchart. . a) Procedure 601: A three-dimensional shape (reference curved surface) serving as a reference for embossing is defined by a conventional definition method using equations. b) Step 602: Create a raster image that defines a value for shifting the position in the normal direction from the reference curved surface for embossing. A pattern is created in which the height of the embossment and the height of the embossment are represented by differences in values. c) Step 603: The correspondence between each point of the reference curved surface shape and the raster image is set. It is defined which position and direction and size of the relief in the original three-dimensional shape. This definition allows the raster image to be scaled up or down.

D) Step 604: A reference value is set for which value of the raster image is such that the moving distance from the reference curved surface becomes zero. The value of the raster image is determined from the reference value as to whether it is raised or engraved from the reference shape. e) Procedure 605: Define the maximum moving distance by the upper and lower limits of the raster image. This value defines the height of the relief of the relief shape in the case of relief relief. f) Step 606: The final shape defined up to the step 605 is divided into polygons (polygon plane) and three-dimensionally displayed for confirmation. A large number of polygons are created along the final shape with the relief engraved on the reference shape and displayed on the screen.
The shape can be confirmed by looking at the shape from various directions. g) Procedure 607: If necessary, independently change the definitions of the above procedures 601, 602, 603, 604, and 605, and change the final shape. The changed shape is confirmed in step 606.

By the above processing, each element of the reference shape, the pattern of the relief, the position of the relief, the reference value of the relief and the height of the relief are independently changed.
The final shape can be easily changed. Since the changed final shape can be immediately confirmed in step 606,
You can make the final shape by trial and error. The details of the process of defining the raster image in step 602 are shown in the flowchart of FIG.
8 shows the details of the final three-dimensional shape confirmation process.
Is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the details of the process of defining a raster image. a) Procedure 701: Create or change a raster image. Raster images can be easily created and changed by using software for painting two-dimensional images.
For example, the unevenness (value) of a raster image is expressed as the degree of shading of a drawn picture. b) Step 702: If necessary, check the distribution of the values of the raster image. Two points (A,
A ′) is designated, and the line segment (AA ′) connecting the two points is checked for a change in the value above. This corresponds to a sectional view. c) Procedure 703: Return to procedure 701 as necessary to change the raster image.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the details of the process of confirming the three-dimensional shape of the relief engraving. Here, the confirmation of the three-dimensional shape of the relief engraving will be described. a) Procedure 801: The entire shape is divided into polygons so that the reference shape of the shape with the embossed portion is finely divided so that the embossed shape can be expressed in the range where the embossed shape exists. b) Step 802: The vertices constituting each polygon are determined in Step 6
02, move in the normal direction according to the definitions set in steps 603, 604 and 605. c) Step 803: The polygon shape changed in step 802 can be confirmed by viewing the polygon shape from various directions using the polygon display function of the three-dimensional graphic workstation.

(Embodiment 2) Here, an example will be described in which the movement of a point from a reference shape for embossing is defined in multiple layers using a plurality of raster images. In the second embodiment, the flowchart of FIG. 6 of the first embodiment is replaced with the flowchart of FIG. 9, and the exceptions are the same (FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 8).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a process of defining a relief shape according to the second embodiment. a) Procedure 901: A three-dimensional shape serving as a reference for embossing is defined by a conventional equation definition method. Create the original 3D shape when there is no relief shape. b) Procedure 902: A variable I is prepared for the raster image number, and its value is set to 1 as an initial value. c) Step 903: Create an I-th raster image that defines a value for shifting the position in the normal direction from the reference curved surface for embossing. A pattern is created that expresses a place where the embossment becomes high or a place where it becomes low with a difference in value.

D) Step 904: The correspondence between each point of the reference curved surface shape and the I-th raster image is set. I
The second raster image defines which position of the original three-dimensional shape is to be embossed in the direction and scale. e) Step 905: Set a reference value indicating which value of the I-th raster image has a movement distance from the reference curved surface of 0. As a result, whether the relief shape by the I-th raster image rises from the reference shape,
The direction of the embossing is determined, whether it is engraved or has both. f) Step 906: Define a moving distance based on the upper and lower limits of the I-th raster image. This value defines the height of the relief in the relief shape.

G) Step 907: The final shape defined up to step 906 is divided into polygons (polygon plane), and 3
Check the dimensions. A large number of polygons are created along the final shape obtained by adding relief to the reference shape, and are displayed on the display device 407. Check the shape by looking at the shape from various directions. h) Procedure 908: If necessary, add 1 to the value of I and return to procedure 902. As a result, a plurality of raster images and their associated procedures 903, 904, and 905
Then, the parameters of step 906 are added, and the final shape is obtained by moving each point of the reference shape of step 901 by a value obtained by summing a plurality of raster images and a plurality of values according to the parameters associated therewith. i) Procedure 909: If necessary, the above procedure 901 and procedures 903 and 9 for each raster image
04, the definitions of the procedures 905 and 906 are independently changed, and the final shape is changed.

By the above processing, each element of the standard shape, the pattern of the relief, the position of the relief, the direction of the relief, and the height of the relief can be independently changed, and the final shape can be easily changed. it can. Step 907
Since the final shape changed in step (1) can be immediately confirmed in step 906, the final shape can be created through trial and error.

Note that the procedure 90 is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
7 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, and the details of the procedure 907 are shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the relief is performed by combining the positional relationship between the reference curved surface and the raster image, the reference value of the value of the star image, and the moving amount of the raster image in a predetermined direction. Since the three-dimensional shape such as the shape is defined, the following excellent effects are obtained. a) Anyone can quickly and easily define and confirm a complicated three-dimensional shape such as a relief shape, which is almost impossible with the conventional method. b) Changes of complicated three-dimensional shapes such as relief shapes, which were almost impossible with conventional methods, change of reference surface, change of raster image, change of positional relationship between reference surface and raster image, reference of raster image By changing the value, changing the maximum height, anyone can do so quickly and easily. c) a plurality of raster images and related parameters (reference value, maximum height, positional relationship with the reference surface);
Since they can be specified at the same time, one raster image defines a large shape pattern, another raster image defines a detailed shape pattern, and so on. Can be added to define the shape. Since the correction may be performed for each individual raster image, the shape can be corrected more easily. d) By storing the raster image created in the relief shape definition as a shape library, it is possible to create and use a relief shape library applicable to an arbitrary surface at an arbitrary position and at a moving distance. e) By using the shape definition method of the present invention, a complicated three-dimensional shape such as a relief can be defined by CAD, which is almost impossible by the conventional method. Therefore, the CAM using CAD data is used. NC cutting by three-axis processing or multi-axis processing such as a relief engraving shape can be performed, and at the same time, a shape can be created by a photo-curing resin by an optical molding system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a complicated three-dimensional shape having a relief.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of defining and changing a shape according to a conventional method.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a shape definition method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of defining a relief shape in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of a process of defining a raster image in the flowchart of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of a process of confirming the three-dimensional shape of the relief shape in the flowchart of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of defining a relief shape according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akihiko Endo 580 Horikawacho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside (72) Inventor Yasushi Miura Yasushi 580 Horikawacho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture KA EXA (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Sunaga 580 Horikawa-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture NK-Exa Corporation (72) Naoto Sato Inventor 580 Horikawa-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa KK KA EXA (72) Inventor Minoru Nakanishi 580 Horikawa-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa NCA KK (72) Inventor Yu Hirano 1-1-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside the corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] A step of defining a reference surface as a reference for embossing based on an equation; and a step of defining a raster image having a value for shifting the position of each point of the reference surface in a predetermined direction at the point. Defining a correspondence relationship between each point of the reference surface and the raster image; and defining a reference value of a value of the raster image; a positional relationship between the reference surface and the raster image; A method for defining a three-dimensional shape such as an embossed shape, wherein a three-dimensional shape is defined by combining a reference value of the value of (1) and a moving amount of a raster image in a predetermined direction. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum value of the amount of movement of the raster image in a predetermined direction is defined. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is a normal direction at each point of the reference curved surface.
A method for defining a three-dimensional shape, such as the described relief shape. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of raster images are defined, and a correspondence relationship between each point of the reference curved surface and each raster image is defined. Dimensional shape definition method. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference surface is divided into polygons, the positions of the vertices of the polygons are moved by a distance defined by the raster image, and the changed polygon shape is displayed on a display device. A method for defining a three-dimensional shape such as a relief shape described in 2, 3 or 4.