JPH05207368A - Overlap display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a specific color without requiring the special remodeling of each drawing circuit itself by providing a means, which transmits information of an overlap area out of picture information, between first and second plane drawing circuits. CONSTITUTION:When video information of a natural picture displayed in a window by overlap, an input part 114 accepts coordinate information of this window and directs it to a picture plane A drawing circuit 103. This circuit 103 reads out picture information of a picture plane A 101 and paints the area of this coordinate information in a specific color and draws a window graphic in the other area. A picture plane B drawing circuit 104 reads out information of a picture plane B 102 and draws picture information in the area of this information and draws the other area in the specific color. If the comparison in a comparing circuit 110 results in coincidence, a selecting circuit 111 selects picture element color data read out from the picture plane B; but otherwise, it selects color data of the plane A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an overlay display device for overlaying and displaying image planes capable of reading and writing image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for displaying two sets of images in an overlapping manner, there is "chroma key" which is often used in television broadcasting. This is because when the other image is overlaid on the background color of one image, the background color of one image is set to blue, the hue difference is discriminated to obtain a key signal, and the other image is displayed in the background color portion. It is a method of overlapping.

For superimposing on a graphic screen of a computer or the like, there is a "raster scanning display device" described in JP-A-60-220387. This comprises a transparent color setting means and a plurality of image memories for storing display data, compares the output from the image memory with transparent colors in a comparison circuit, and based on the comparison result, a plurality of image memories. The output from is selected and given to the display device for superimposition.

For example, when the first image memory and the second image memory that hold image data are displayed in an overlapping manner, the read data from the first image memory is set in advance in a transparent manner. The comparison circuit compares the colors with each other. If they match, the read data from the second image memory is sent to the display device, and if they do not match, the read data from the first image memory is sent to the display device. In this way, the first
The read data from the second image memory is displayed at the position of the transparent color read from the second image memory.

Further, as another conventional example, there is a system using a mask used for superposing each pixel. In this system, a mask mechanism is provided to mask a portion where the first plane and the second plane overlap each other, and the pixels are overlapped in the mask.

[0006]

In the above prior art, since the read data from the second image memory is always displayed at the position of the transparent color on the first image memory, the following problems occur. Occurs. For example, using a multi-task OS that can open a plurality of windows and execute a plurality of applications at the same time, a bar graph window as shown in FIG. 2 (1) A (window 2 shown at the upper right of FIG. 2 (1) A) is displayed. It is assumed that a window for a natural image (window 1 shown in the lower left of FIG. 2A) is opened. It is assumed that these window figures are held in the above-mentioned first image memory, and the second image memory holds the natural image data as shown in FIG. 2 (1) B. The window of the natural image shown in the lower left of FIG. 2 (1) A on the first image memory is filled with the above-mentioned transparent color, so that the comparison circuit determines that the window is the same, and the window of the natural image is The data of the second image memory, that is, the natural image shown in FIG. 2 (1) B is displayed. In this case, if the transparent color described above is used in the bar graph (the shaded portion of the bar graph shown in FIG. 2 (1) A is the transparent color), the bar graph is held in the second image memory. The natural image shown in FIG. 2 (1) B is displayed, and the graphic shown in FIG. 2 (1) D appears on the display device. In other words, the application that displays the bar graph window is not created in consideration of the fact that the transparent color parts are displayed in an overlapping manner, so the overlapping display method using the transparent color setting means is adopted. , The images are not displayed in the transparent color, and the images are displayed in a superimposed manner.

Further, in the method using a mask, a mask mechanism must be provided in order to superimpose the first plane and the second plane, which requires a great modification.

It is an object of the present invention to display a specific color, which is a predetermined key such as a transparent color, as it is in a superimposed display device using a chroma key, while displaying the specific color as it is, and other specific colors. Part is to provide an overlay display device for overlaying.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, first and second image planes for recording image information and the first image plane are provided in correspondence with each other. A first drawing means and a second drawing means for drawing image information on an image plane to be displayed, an input section for receiving an area for overlapping the image information and outputting the overlapping area information, and a pixel from the first image plane. A comparison circuit that compares the image information read for each and a specific color determined in advance, and outputs whether they match or do not match,
Image information is read from the first and second image planes in synchronization with each pixel, and when the output of the comparison circuit is coincidence output, the image information read from the second image plane is selected, In the case of non-coincidence output, the first drawing means includes a selection circuit for selecting the image information read from the first image plane and a display device for displaying and outputting the image information selected by the selection circuit. Accepts the overlapping area information, draws the specific color in the overlapping area, draws image information in an area other than the overlapping area, and the second drawing means sets the overlapping area information. Is received, image information is drawn in the area, and a predetermined specific color is drawn in an area other than the area.

The first drawing means can receive the overlapping area information from the input unit and transfer the overlapping area information to the second drawing means.

The overlay area information may be window coordinate information.

[0012]

The input section receives the area where the image information is superimposed and outputs the overlapping area information. The first drawing means receives the overlapping area information and draws the specific color in the overlapping area. Then, the image information is drawn in the area other than the overlapping area and written in the first image plane. The second drawing means receives the overlapping area information, draws the image information in the area, draws a predetermined specific color in an area other than the area, and writes the predetermined color in the second image plane. The comparison circuit compares the image information read for each pixel from the first image plane with a predetermined specific color, and outputs whether they match or do not match. In the selection circuit, the image information is read from the first and second image planes in synchronization with each pixel, and when the output of the comparison circuit is a coincident output, the image information read from the second image plane. Is selected, and in the case of mismatch output, the image information read from the first image plane is selected. The display device displays and outputs the image information selected by the selection circuit.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an overlay display device which is an embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B show display examples by the superimposed display. FIG. 2A shows a conventional display example, and FIG. 2B shows a display example by the superimposed display according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 is a first image plane A for recording image information, and 102 is a second image plane B for recording image information. Reference numeral 114 denotes an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, which accepts and instructs coordinate information of an area in which image information drawn on the second image plane is superimposed. Reference numeral 103 denotes an image plane A drawing circuit of the first drawing means, which is the first image plane A10.
1 is designated by the input unit 114 for an area where the image information to be drawn on the second image plane is to be superimposed, and a specific color that serves as a predetermined key is drawn on the area, and the area other than this area is drawn. Image information is drawn in the area of and written in the first image plane. Further, the image plane A drawing circuit 103 is instructed by the input unit 114 of the coordinate information of the area where the image information recorded in the image plane B 102 is to be superimposed, and instructs the image plane B drawing circuit 104 to coordinate information of the area. Instruct. The image plane B drawing circuit is a second drawing unit, is provided corresponding to the second image plane B102, receives an instruction of an area in which image information drawn on the second image plane is to be superimposed, and Image information is drawn in an area, a predetermined specific color is drawn in an area other than the area, and the area is written in the second image plane. The image plane A drawing circuit 103 and the image plane B drawing circuit 104 can input image information such as video information from a video or graphic information on a computer application, and the image information is input to the image plane A 101 and the image plane B 102, respectively. It can be written and recorded, and the recorded image information is read from the image plane A101 and the image plane B102, and a predetermined specific color is drawn in order to superimpose a designated area. Can be processed. Reference numeral 107 denotes a signal line, which transmits coordinate information designated by the image plane A drawing circuit 103 to the image plane B drawing circuit 104. 105
Is a data signal line, and the image plane A drawing circuit 10
3 and the image plane A 101 transmit read / write data, and 106 is a data signal line, and the image plane B drawing circuit 104 and the image plane B read / write.
Transmit write data. Reference numeral 108 denotes a data signal line, which transmits color data for each pixel read from the image plane A101. 109 is a data signal line,
The color data for each pixel read from the image plane B102 is transmitted. Reference numeral 110 denotes a comparison circuit, which compares the pixel color data read from the image plane A 101 with a predetermined specific color, and outputs to the selection circuit 111 whether they match or not match. 111 is a selection circuit,
According to the output which is the comparison result of the comparison circuit 110, the pixel color data of the image information read from the image plane B is selected in the case of coincidence output, and the pixel color data of the image information read from the image plane A is selected in the case of disagreement output. Select pixel color data. Reference numeral 112 is the superimposed image data output from the selection circuit 111, and 113 is the display device,
For example, a display that displays the superimposed image data.

Next, the superposition operation of the superposition display device of this embodiment will be described.

The input unit 114 receives coordinate information of an area on the image plane A where the image information drawn on the image plane B 104 is to be superimposed. For example, FIG. 2 (2) A
As shown in Fig. 2, by using a multitasking OS capable of opening a plurality of windows and executing a plurality of applications at the same time, a bar graph window as shown in Fig. 2 (2) A (the window shown in the upper right of Fig. 2 (2) A) is displayed. 2) and the window for natural images (Window 1 shown in the lower left of Fig. 2 (2) A)
Suppose you opened and. It is assumed that these window figures are held on the image plane A101, and the image plane B102 holds the data of the natural image as shown in FIG. 2 (2) C. When the image information of the natural image is displayed in a superimposed manner on the window 1, the input unit 114 receives the coordinate information of the window 1 and outputs the image plane A drawing circuit 1
03 to indicate the coordinate information. The image plane A drawing circuit 103 reads the image information of the image plane A 101, draws a predetermined specific color in the area of the coordinate information, and draws the window figure as the image information as it is in the area other than the area. , To the image plane A 101 via the data signal line 105. Or image plane A
The drawing circuit 103 may overwrite the color data of the area of the coordinate information on the image plane A101 with a predetermined specific color through the data signal line 105 on the image plane A101. An example of the image information recorded on the image plane A101 is shown in FIG. In addition, for example, a transparent color or the like may be predetermined as the specific color serving as the predetermined key, or the color may be changed to a color close to the complementary color of the image information by the image information.

At the same time, the image plane A drawing circuit 1
Reference numeral 03 designates the coordinate information of the area to the image plane B drawing circuit 104 via the signal line 107. Alternatively, the input unit 114 may directly instruct the image plane B drawing circuit 104 about the coordinate information of the area.

The image plane B drawing circuit 104 reads the image information of the image plane B, draws the image information as it is in the area based on the coordinate information of the area, and predetermines it in an area other than the area. The specified color is drawn and written in the image plane B 102 via the data signal line 106.
Alternatively, the image plane B drawing circuit 104 may overwrite the image plane B 102 with color data in the area of the coordinate information in a predetermined color which is determined in advance through the data signal line 106. By such processing, as shown in FIG. 2 (2) C, a graphic is drawn in the area on the image plane B102, and the area outside the area is painted in a specific color.

The image plane A 101 and the image plane B 102 are divided into regions for each frame of each image information, and the image plane A drawing circuit 103 and the image plane B drawing circuit 104 are provided with respect to their corresponding image planes. Read and write for each frame of each image information.

The image information written in the image plane A101 is read out to the comparison circuit 110 and the selection circuit 111 via the data signal line 108. The comparison circuit 110 is
The color data of each pixel of the image information read from the image plane A101 is compared with a predetermined specific color, and whether the color data matches or does not match is output to the selection circuit 111.
Further, the image information written in the image plane B 102 is read out to the selection circuit 111 via the data signal line 109. The read color data for each pixel is transmitted.

In the selection circuit 111, the image plane A10
The color data for each pixel of the image information read from 1 and the color data for each pixel of the image information read from the image plane B102 are read in synchronization, and the color data for each pixel from the corresponding comparison circuit 110 is read. The comparison result of matching or mismatching is input. The selection circuit 111 may be provided with a temporary storage means such as a buffer in order to synchronize with the comparison result from the comparison circuit 110. The selection circuit 111 selects the pixel color data of the image information read from the image plane B when the comparison result is a coincident output, which is a specific color and is an area for superimposing, and selects a non-coincidence output. In this case, the pixel color data of the image information read from the image plane A is selected.

The image information selected for each pixel is output from the display device 113. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (2) E, image plane A101 and image plane B102.
An image in which and are superposed and displayed is output from the display device 113, and the specific color in the bar graph is normally displayed. That is, even when the specific color is accidentally used on the image plane A101, the specific color is normally displayed.

That is, according to the present embodiment, when a graphic using a specific color as shown in FIG. 2 (2) A is drawn on the image plane A101, the image plane B102 is shown in FIG. 2 (2) C. The figure as shown in Figure 2 is drawn, and all the areas except the overlapping area are of a specific color. Therefore, a natural image is displayed in the bar graph as shown in Fig. 2 (2) E in which the two are overlaid. Instead, a specific color is displayed and the application can be used correctly. The hardware configuration of the above embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of this embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 301 and 302 denote read / write VRAMs.
(Video Randam Access Memory), which corresponds to the above-mentioned image plane A101 and image plane B102,
Digital pixel data, which is image information, is stored. Thirty
3 and 304 are drawing processors, which are the image plane A drawing circuit 103 and the image plane B drawing circuit 10.
4 corresponding to VRAM 301 and VRAM 3 respectively
It is provided corresponding to No. 02 and reads / writes data. 305 is a master CRT controller,
Display reading is performed on the VRAM 301 and a synchronizing signal is generated. Reference numeral 306 denotes a slave CRT controller, which performs display reading on the VRAM 302 and generates a sync signal in synchronization with the sync signal generated by the master CRT controller 305. 307 and 308 are selectors, and select either the drawing processor or the CRT controller to access the VRAM. Reference numerals 309 and 310 denote D / A converters, which convert digital pixel data read from the VRAM 301 and VRAM 302, respectively, into analog RGB signals. Reference numeral 312 denotes an analog switch switching circuit, which corresponds to the above-mentioned comparison circuit 110 and which is the VRAM 30.
The digital pixel data read from 1 is compared with preset specific color data, and the analog switch 31
A switching signal for switching 1 is output. 311
Is an analog switch, which corresponds to the selection circuit 111 described above, and switches the analog RGB signals from the D / A converters 309 and 310 and outputs them to the CRT 313. Communication ports 314 and 315 exchange natural image area coordinate information. 316 and 317
Is a CPU and controls each display system. Figure 3
Has two completely independent display systems including the CPU.

The CPU 316 writes the specific color area in the VRAM 301 by using the drawing processor 303, and at the same time, transmits the coordinate information of the natural image window to the CPU 317 via the communication port 314 and the communication port 315. The CPU 317 uses the drawing processor 304 based on the above coordinate information to the VRAM 302,
Image information such as a figure is written and the outside of the figure area is filled with a specific color.

The master CRT controller 305 can operate independently of the above-mentioned drawing operation, reads the display from the VRAM 301, and generates a synchronizing signal. The slave CRT controller 306 reads the display of the VRAM 302 in synchronization with the sync signal and outputs the sync signal to the CRT 313.

Two CRT controllers 305 and 3
The digital pixel data read from the VRAMs 301 and 302 by 06 are converted into analog RGB signals by the D / A converters 309 and 310, respectively, and then input to the analog switch 311. Also, the pixel color data read from the VRAM 301 is
It is also input to the analog switch switching circuit 312, compared with a preset specific color, and a switching signal is output. That is, when the color matches the preset specific color, the image information read from the VRAM 302 is selected, and in the case of mismatch output, a switching signal for selecting the image information read from the VRAM 301 is output. By this switching signal, the analog switch 3
11 selects one of the image information read from the VRAMs 301 and 302 and converted into analog RGB signals. Further, when a television broadcasting system such as a PAL (Phase Alternation by Line) system is used, since the color difference signals are used, the comparison method is simple.

In this embodiment, two display systems which are completely independent including the CPU are taken up, but two display boards may be mounted on one CPU. In this case, one CPU controls two display boards.

In the present embodiment, in the display system in which the display data is switched and the display data is overlapped depending on whether the data on the image plane is the specific color or not, the specific color area existing on the first plane is the second color. The image information is drawn on the second plane in consideration of whether it is intended to be superimposed with the image information on the plane. That is, the drawing circuit of the first plane and the second drawing
By providing a means for transmitting the information of the overlapping area of the image information between the drawing circuit of the plane of each of the drawing circuits, a specific color can be used without requiring special modification to each drawing circuit itself, and the cost can be reduced. You can keep it low.

[0028]

According to the present invention, in an overlay display device using a chroma key, a portion for which a specific color that is a key such as a transparent color is desired to be displayed as it is, the specific color is displayed as it is, and a portion of another specific color is displayed. Can be superposed

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the effect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Image plane A, 102 ... Image plane B, 1
03 ... Image plane A drawing circuit, 104 ... Image plane B drawing circuit, 105 ... Image plane A drawing data, 10
6 ... Image plane B drawing data, 107 ... Specific color area coordinate information, 108 ... Pixel color data read from image plane A, 109 ... Pixel color data read from image plane B, 110 ... Specific color comparison circuit, 111 ... selection circuit,
112 ... Output data, 113 ... Display device, 301 and 302 ... VRAM, 303 and 304 ... Drawing processor, 305 ... Master CRT controller, 306 ... Slave CRT controller, 307 and 308 ... Selector, 309 and 310 ... D / A converter, 311 ...
Analog switches 312 ... Analog switch switching circuits, 314 and 315 ... Communication ports, 316 and 317 ... CPU.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G09G 5/36 9177-5G (72) Inventor Tomohisa Obiyama 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Ceremony Company Hitachi, Ltd., Microelectronics Equipment Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Sakai, 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Ltd. Microelectronics Equipment Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor, Masataka Musha Kanagawa 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Ltd. Inside the Hitachi, Ltd. microelectronics equipment development laboratory (72) Inventor Masami Yamagishi 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics equipment development In the laboratory (72) Inventor Yuji Kimura Kanagawa 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Japan Incorporated company Hitachi, Ltd. Microelectronics Equipment Development Laboratory

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. First and second image planes for recording image information, and first drawing means and first drawing means provided corresponding to the first image plane for drawing the image information on the corresponding image plane. 2 drawing means, an input unit that receives an area in which image information is overlapped and outputs overlapping area information, image information read out for each pixel from the first image plane, and a predetermined specific color. Compare
When the comparison circuit that outputs whether the information matches or does not match and the image information is read from the first and second image planes in synchronization with each pixel, and if the output of the comparison circuit is the coincidence output, The image information read from the second image plane is selected, and in the case of non-coincidence output, a selection circuit for selecting the image information read from the first image plane and the image information selected by the selection circuit are displayed and output. The first drawing means receives the overlapping area information, draws the specific color in the overlapping area, and draws image information in an area other than the overlapping area. The second drawing means receives the overlapping area information, draws image information in the area, and draws a predetermined specific color in an area other than the area. Location. 2. The first drawing means according to claim 1, receiving the overlapping area information from the input section,
An overlay display device, wherein the overlay area information is transferred to the drawing means. 3. The overlay display device according to claim 1, wherein the overlay area information is window coordinate information.