초록 ▼

An image texturing system utilizes theme cells to generate terrain image data area-by-area for a dynamic terrain display. The system is effective in flight simulation apparatus, as for training pilots. A memory stores theme maps representing areas of specific terrains, e.g. terrains lying below a fl

An image texturing system utilizes theme cells to generate terrain image data area-by-area for a dynamic terrain display. The system is effective in flight simulation apparatus, as for training pilots. A memory stores theme maps representing areas of specific terrains, e.g. terrains lying below a flight path. The theme maps are indexed on a square grid pattern and include a feature identification code (FIC) for each grid point to indicate terrain, e.g. forest, water, etc. A selection device controlled by an image generator selects a current theme map and dissects it cell-by-cell as defined by grid points to provide corner-referenced representations for each theme cell. A terrain storage device stores a library of terrain treatment pattern arrays that are derived, for example, from photo data of forest, ocean, or the like. A terrain treatment pager controlled by the image generator provides representations of select terrain treatments indicated for a current theme cell and selects the terrain treatment required for texturing the current theme cell. A theme element assembler receives the representations for the current theme cell and the select terrain treatments. The cell is specified according to rules for representing one or more terrain treatments. When the range closes to a distance where features would be discernable, representative three-dimensional data for specific objects, e.g. houses, is provided for displays on specific locations. At some point in a flight path, geo-specific data may replace the semi-specific data of simulated terrain.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An image texturing system for generating simulated terrains or external scenes as for applications such as flight training, said image texturing system including an image generator for generating visual real-time images for display on a display device, said texturing syst

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An image texturing system for generating simulated terrains or external scenes as for applications such as flight training, said image texturing system including an image generator for generating visual real-time images for display on a display device, said texturing system further comprising:means for storing a theme map having index identifiers defining a plurality of theme cells disposed in a grid pattern, wherein said theme cells have edges and corners, and wherein said index identifiers indicate geographic terrain characteristic themes and define said corners of said theme cells;means for storing terrain treatment arrays of said geographic terrain characteristic themes for application to said theme cells; andmeans for applying at least part of at least one of said terrain treatment arrays to texture said theme cells whereby a single terrain treatment array is applied when said index identifiers for a theme cell represent similar geographic terrain characteristic themes, and a plurality of terrain treatment arrays are applied when said index identifiers for said theme cell represent different geographic terrain characteristic themes, said plurality of terrain treatment arrays applied in accordance with a sinuous merging rule for natural terrains and an inorganic merging rule for unnatural terrains, such that boundaries terminate at an edge of said theme cell substantially on a midpoint between corners.