Image composing system and a method thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides an image composing apparatus that can composite images at high speed and in which the apparatus configuration can be easily expanded as the number of images to be composed increases. Sub-images generated by node computers are synchronized each other by a synchronizing section. Then, each pair of synchronized sub-image data is composed into a single sub-image in a first-layer image composing section, comprising a plurality of image composing circuits each for composing two sub-images, and the resulting sub-images are composed iteratively through a second-layer image composing section, a third-layer image composing section, and so on, that have the same configuration as the first-layer image composing section.

1 . An image composing apparatus for merging a plurality of subspace images into a single image, comprising: 
 a subspace image input means for receiving said plurality of subspace images via a plurality of subspace image transmitting lines in parallel;    a synchronizing means for synchronizing said plurality of subspace images received at said subspace image input means; and    an image merging means for processing said plurality of subspace images synchronized by said synchronizing means in parallel to merge said plurality of subspace images into a single image.    
     
     
         2 . An image composing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said synchronizing means comprises: 
 a plurality of FIFO memories for storing said plurality of subspace images and outputting said stored subspace images in the order in which said subspace images were stored; and    a control means for generating an instruction that causes said plurality of FIFO memories to output said stored subspace images in the order in which said subspace images were stored when a head of a last one of said subspace images arrives at one of said FIFO memories.    
     
     
         3 . An image composing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said subspace image merging means merges said plurality of subspace images based on priorities indicating an occlusion relationship between said plurality of subspace images.  
     
     
         4 . An image composing apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said priorities are expressed in a form of a binary space-partitioning tree.  
     
     
         5 . An image composing apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said subspace images respectively include data indicating said priorities for every frame.  
     
     
         6 . An image composing method for merging a plurality of subspace images into a single image, comprising: 
 a subspace image input step for receiving said plurality of subspace images via a plurality of subspace image transmitting lines in parallel;    a synchronizing step for synchronizing said plurality of subspace images received at said subspace image input step; and    an image merging step for processing said plurality of subspace images synchronized at said synchronizing step in parallel to merge said plurality of subspace images into a single image.    
     
     
         7 . An image composing method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said synchronizing step comprises: 
 a FIFO storing step for storing said plurality of subspace images and outputting said stored subspace images in the order in which said subspace images were stored; and    a FIFO output step for generating an instruction that causes outputs of said plurality of subspace images stored at said FIFO storing step in the order in which said subspace images were stored when a head of a last one of said subspace images arrives.    
     
     
         8 . An image composing method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at said subspace image merging step, said plurality of subspace images are merged based on priorities indicating an occlusion relationship between said plurality of subspace images.  
     
     
         9 . An image composing method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said priorities are expressed in a form of a binary space-partitioning tree.  
     
     
         10 . An image composing method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said subspace images respectively include data indicating said priorities for every frame.