DE3240141A1 - Method and circuit arrangement for the pictorial representation of texts, graphics and symbols on screens of monitors and/or by means of dot-controlled printers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and circuit arrangement for the pictorial representation of texts, graphics and symbols on screens of monitors or television reception devices and/or by means of dot-controlled printers such as thermal printers, needle printers or ink printers, and for outputting to peripheral devices. In a page memory which can be read out, the received text information is stored in pages and the address assigned to each point on the screen is determined by means of a character memory which can be read out. In order to print out the individual characters, the data which are read out from the page memory, are assigned to each individual character in the character memory and are related to the representation point are transmitted, addressed to a control device of the printer, via a data bus having been digitally encoded via a computer control device, as a result of which it is possible to print out the text in a dot-oriented fashion.

Description

Method and circuit arrangement for pictorial

Display of texts, graphics and symbols on screens of Monitors and / or by means of point-controlled printers The invention relates to a Method and a circuit arrangement for the visual representation of texts, graphics and symbols on screens of monitors and / or by means of point-controlled printers according to the preamble of patent claim le based on the one in the main patent (patent application P 32 23 489.9) described prior art, the invention is based on the object Screen texts as offered by the new communication services not only to be displayed on the screen but also by means of point-controlled Matrix printer on visible recording media such as paper, film and the like. This should also be independent of the display on a screen of a monitor to be possible.

The invention can be used in two variants.

On the one hand, it allows a printer to be connected to a video text decoder, which works according to the method specified in the main patent according to the invention. To the It is possible for others to use the inventive teaching exclusively in a printer to use. In the latter case, those necessary for the display on the screen can be used Point memories and control devices are not required.

The display speed on a screen is determined by the deflection speed of the scanning electron beam. This speed conventional matrix printers cannot follow suit. When a printer is directly connected to a screen text decoder that simultaneously displays the text on the screen allows, is therefore in a further embodiment of the invention according to claim 2 to insert a data memory in order to store the imported data independently of read out and print out the writing speed from the printer control device allow. The data memory used here acts as a character buffer in which the Characters are stored point-oriented line by line.

According to claim 3, the computer control device is provided of the decoder for generating the point-oriented data with the control device of the printer and to assign them to the printer.

This would mean that here a device is created that by Direct connection to a telephone network ensures that the text on screen can be printed out.

The user can thus enter into dialogue with a screen text center without the need for a monitor or screen to display the text necessary is.

When displaying the screen text on the screen with a Decoder with point-oriented character storage and with simultaneous printing of the Text is to be proceeded according to claim 4. To display the text on the screen on the screen regardless of the relatively long printing times do it, is it expedient to increase the page memory and optionally print out the selected pages after the selection has been made allow. In this training, both the transmission control for the Control device of the printer as well as the control of the printer from the computer control device of the decoder must be carried out with. If this is not possible, however, then after Claim 5 proceeding, according to which the incoming signals are stored in a data memory the printer control device are buffered. This makes it possible the corresponding pages regardless of the writing speed of the electron beam to read out and print out adapted to the writing speed of the printer.

Another advantageous embodiment is described in claim 6. During the readout time of the data from the point memory remains after the mediated Teaching the point memory locked.

The data are expediently read out via one of the Computer control device switched point shift register, but also from a Character rendering processor can be clocked.

The readout speed is the printing speed of the Adapted to the printer or at the writing speed of the electron beam, a character buffer being provided for temporarily storing the characters. The character buffer is read out by the printer control at printing speed.

The invention offers a further advantage, which is that a common interface for printer and screen text display is given is. This makes it possible to use the computer control device, the page and character memory either to be combined with a printer or to this the word processing To turn on circuits for display on a screen according to the main patent. In addition, other peripheral devices that process the incoming signals can can also be connected to the same interface, provided they are the point-oriented Process data.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to the block diagrams illustrated embodiments explained in more detail.

In Fig. 1, a screen text decoder is shown, which after the inventive method cooperates with a printer. In Fig. 2 is a video text decoder represented with point memory, which both the representation of the text on a screen as well as the connection of a printer.

The video text decoder according to FIG. 1 consists of a microprocessor 1, the received text signals, operating function signals and input and control variables is evaluated and programmed accordingly for the logic control. As program memory a read-only memory 2 (ROM) is used for the microprocessor. A Read / write memory 3 that can be expanded to a maximum of 64 kB is used, in which the received signals are stored page by page. Since the microprocessor 1 from.

For reasons of capacity, both the addresses via one and the same output and also outputs the character-related data is an address buffer 23 provided, in which the addresses related to each point of a character are temporarily stored are. At the output there are interfaces A and B to which either a signal processing circuit for the display of the received video text can be connected to a screen or, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, a printer controller 30. A known printer controller is, for example, in US Pat DE-OS 31 31 953 described for a thermal printer. Usually the received Characters cached in a character buffer and then a character decoder is supplied, which stores the received characters for display with the printer in the implements necessary code. The signals thus obtained are transmitted by a driver circuit to control the printer head. Such things are assumed to be known here Printer controls will not be discussed in more detail below. They are different point-controlled printers known, such as thermal printers, dot matrix printers, ink printers etc. All of them work either according to the matrix system or by single point control methods. The printer control controls the push button 31, which displays the symbols, Prints characters and graphics on the recording medium. The microprocessor 1 is via its input 1.1 with a clock frequency, e.g.

12 MHz, clocked. The underfrequencies necessary for the processor are generated by their own division.

The inputs 1.2 as well as the outputs 1.3 and 1.4 are connected to a modem connected, which is connected to the telephone line and coded via the Signals are received or output to the computer center in dialog traffic. The entrance 1.5 can be connected to a keyboard, which is not shown for the sake of simplicity is. Here the programs can be registered or the corresponding information can be entered individually for display on the screen. The entrance 1.6 is intended as an infrared remote control input.

This is used to input the control functions from the remote control, e.g. the playback command from transmitted in the vertical blanking gaps of the television signal Teletext signals, switching to teletext reception, etc.

The received by the microprocessor 1 initially stored in the RAM 3 Text signals from the pages are read out again for the purpose of display, and so is the character content compared with the character set contained in the program memory 2. The microprocessor determines which structure the character has and which attribute it has is to be assigned. The corresponding point-related data are point-oriented via output on the data bus. This information is assigned to the respective address.

In the event that no display circuits are connected to the interface A-B to display the characters connected to the screen, the operating speed can When reading out the page memory, it is directly adapted to the printing speed of the printer so that the addressed data of each character point are sent directly to the printer control are supplied. The printer is thus controlled by the addressed data and the respective.

Text shown. The device can be independent of the representation on a screen of a monitor connected to a telephone network will. The subscriber can also use the one connected to the microprocessor 1 Input keyboard in the dialog traffic with the screen text center or one via this connected computer. He immediately receives a printed text from the screen text center. For the selection of the appropriate pages to be printed out, it is advisable to the interfaces A-B a circuit arrangement for displaying the text on a Arrange screen. However, the printer should then provide a character buffer in which the individual information for the adjustment to the printer speed be cached. The character buffer has its own clock frequency read out.

In Fig. 2, a video text decoder is shown, the priority serves to display the screen text on the screen. In addition, the Interface circuit for a printer 31 is provided. The structure of the on-screen text decoder is as follows: The video text decoder consists of a microprocessor 1, the the received text signals, operating function signals and input and control variables is evaluated and programmed accordingly for the logic control. As program memory a read-only memory 2 (ROM) is used for the microprocessor. A to a maximum of 64 kB expandable read / write memory 3 is used in which this received text pages are stored. Since the microprocessor 1 for capacity reasons the addresses as well as the character-related ones via one and the same outputs Outputs data, an address character memory 23 is provided in which the addresses are cached so that they can be read out. There is also a chip selector in front of the interface A-B 4 is provided, which activates the memory to be occupied for address breakdown. The microprocessor 1 is connected to a clock frequency via its input 1.1, e.g. 12 MHz, clocked. The for the Processor necessary underfrequencies are generated by their own division. The inputs 1.2 and the outputs 1.3 and 1.4 are connected to a modem that is attached to the telephone line and received via the coded signals or in dialog traffic to the data center is issued. The input 1.5 can be connected to a keyboard for simplicity is not shown for the sake of The programs can be enrolled or the corresponding information for display on the screen individually can be entered. Input 1.6 is intended as an infrared remote control input. The control functions of the remote control are entered here, e.g. the Playback command from transmitted in the vertical blanking gaps of the television signal Teletext signals, switching to teletext reception, television reception, etc.

The interface A-B is connected to the interface A'-B '. the from the microprocessor 1 initially stored in the RAM 3 pages are after receipt read out again for the purpose of display and the character content with that in the program memory 2 contained character set compared. The microprocessor 1 determines which structure the character has and which attribute is to be assigned to it. the corresponding data are attribute-wise block-wise and point-oriented stored line by line in the corresponding memories 6 and 8, which will be described later.

The storage of the data assigned to the characters and the addressing and readdressing are controlled by the ßP 1 in such a way that the addresses over an address multiplexer 5 to the address inputs of a static RAM memory, which is provided as attribute memory 9, are created. These are a multi-level static RAM memory (e.g. 1024 places). The address multiplexer 5 is only during the vertical blanking time switched so that the addresses address the memory locations to be occupied. During the writing time of the image, the address line is via the multiplexer 5 separated from the WP 1, however, the control outputs of the CRT controller 7 switched on.

To save the information assigned to the characters the data given by the microprocessor output via a data bus and bus switch 10 initially written into the addressing memory 9. The pending data in the addressing memory 9 forms the addresses for the attribute memory 6. The data are temporarily stored in a buffer memory 22 and controlled in a clocked manner the attribute memory 6 passed on. Attribute data are now transmitted through the data bus stored in the attribute memory 6. The attributes are character-related, e.g.

Background color, flashing symbols and the like. They are assigned via Bus switch read in controlled by AP 1.

At the same time, the addressing of the point-organized takes place dynamic read / write memory, which is 16 k dynamic RAM memory. Intermediate is an addressing logic that is not shown for the sake of simplicity. These is necessary if the dynamic point memory 8 can only be addressed serially is.

The incoming parallel addresses can only be written in serially Addresses implemented because the memory can only process these. To everyone Attribute that is stored in the static RAM 6, assigned point-oriented Character information is output from the ßP 1 and via the individual memory assigned bus switch 10 inscribed. This gives 8 in the point memory digital data information assigned to each point of a character to be displayed. It can be seen that only by reading this dynamic RAM memory 8 already an entire page of text can be displayed because the character point information only need to be displayed line by line.

The point memory 8 serves as an image repetition memory. Will now as a result of a rolling enrollment new data lines in an existing text, e.g. when specifying timetables, a data line is blanked out and a new one is entered, the addressing memory 9 effects the corresponding readdressing. The new pages no longer need to be entered in full. After Readdressing in the addressing memory 9 is carried out automatically by the outgoing information reorganized the attribute and point stores.

The point-oriented stored character data in the dynamic point memory 8 are digitally coded via a point shift register 11 and a multiplex circuit 15 stored in a color memory 16. Addressing takes place via the CRT controller7, which brings about the conversion, in such a way that the point shift register 11 and the mode multiplexer 15 applied point-oriented data directly to Representation of the text on the screen can be used. The CRT controller causes, due to its own control, that the data is in the same scanning raster can be read in and passed on. The CRT controller is clocked by the Pulses from a generator 20 with a downstream frequency divider 21, which the corresponding clock frequencies are generated to control the systems.

Since the attributes for the characters are stored in the attribute memory 6 care must also be taken to ensure that this information is displayed in color will. For this purpose, the written data are stored in a buffer and the mode multiplexer 15 is stored in a color memory 17. Registration takes place also character-oriented via the CRT controller 7. The two output color memories 16 and 17 contain all dot- and character-addressed attributes that are required for the representation of the characters are required. Also fade in at flashing frequencies to can, a flashing memory 13 is provided in which the various flashing sequences are held.

These flashing sequences are attribute-controlled via the selector 14 read out and also stored as information in the color memory 17. the Linking takes place via logic gates, if this is necessary due to the system is.

As already mentioned, the point information is displayed line by line and the attributes are stored in blocks of characters as final output data in color memories. For the display it is necessary that one with the sampling frequency of the screen text working multiplex circuit the stored line data in a matrix circuit transmits the analog data required for the representation from the digital data Generates sizes for the primary colors red, green, blue. Control the outputs of the matrix 19 e.g. directly the cathodes of a color picture tube. To repeat the individual images it is only necessary that the CRT controller controls the point-oriented Data repeatedly into the color memory 16 after a single image has been written can be read in taking into account the attributes. It can be seen that by simple Measures are therefore taken in the display of each image after an image writing cycle has elapsed new changed text information reorganized in the dynamic point store 8 can be stored. This means that individual lines can be registered on a rolling basis possible in a simple manner without the computational effort being significantly increased must, whereby the computation times can be kept very short in the desired manner.

The memories used are: 1. A program memory with a capacity of 8 kByte, max. 64 kB 2. A data memory with a capacity of 2 - 16 KB, max.

cascaded 64 kB 3. An attribute memory with a capacity of 2 kByte 4. An addressing memory with a capacity of 1 kByte 5. A point memory with with a capacity of 48 kbytes 6. A color memory with a capacity of 24 bytes 7. One further color memory with a capacity of 24 bytes for a better understanding of the invention be still on the organizations of the addressing memory, the attribute memory and of the point memory as well as the link level between the ski lifts received with the assigned attribute, point and color memories.

The organization of the addressing memory is as follows: For quick The addressing memory 9 is used to rearrange large amounts of data on the screen used.

The addresses of individual characters are manipulated there quickly and easily, without the need for major, time-consuming shifts in the point-oriented repetition memory. Normally the address is not changed, ie the address 0 for the image repetition memory is stored under address 0, etc .: 0 1 2. . . . 39 40 41 42. . . . 79 880. . . . . . 919 920. . . . . . 959 Fixed line Scrolling area Fixed line If the area marked above is defined as a scrolling area in the course of a scrolling procedure and this area is filled with a new line from below, the following distribution results: 0 1 2. . . 39 80 81 82. . . . 119 120. . . . . . 159 880. . . . . . 919 40 41 42. . . . 79 920. . . . . . 959 Fixed line Scrolling area Fixed line The area 40 ... 79 of the refresh memory was replaced by a new line. The addresses of the scrolling area were changed at the same time.

The organization of the attribute store is as follows: The attribute store is organized in a character-oriented manner and with four static 4 kbit RAMS, which in turn 1 k x 4 are organized.

The organization of the attribute memory is as follows: The attribute memory is organized in a character-oriented manner and constructed with four static 4 kbit RAMS, which are in turn organized as 1 kx 4.

The memory organization of the point memory is as follows: The frame buffer is organized point-oriented and consists of six dynamic 64 kbit RAMS, which in turn are organized 16 kx 4. This results in a width of 24 bits that is favorable for the display, which is assigned as follows according to the mode: .II 1 - 1 C 1 Se t - D d; l7 oo 1 I. ex10J) x M 9e, 8B174ibe: 5E (te.3g; 2; PB; II - 1 - i I - - I - ' - 1 1 . (xzOv 0-0'010; C 0 I p'oOO¼wi.tp; po 0; 0 0'5X> + A --t. . ! ~ ~~., ~~. : -6 r / Io; (2 ~ 0. P.0 ~ 0 fD -O n O1'i.4ApA 6 XIILL- qSC 4t SC..2C CI OC-5gB3R. 2g x. 6 x @ «,, 5 C. 2C ¢ t- b 2B fF 2D. Ib. 2D ph db 2C-llA. 0A , 5 x 2 - o O i O 0 0 0 .58 4g e.2B! 4R roR; n .oo .o 3.a ~ s: lcP nA A oA x -o DO Q 0 o5æR * g? e2zdR: oß O n O,? ,? Sz. W ZAu dance 41 ! gC: cir 7CIC: CSItSt. 28? 18 O: SDDi3D: IDtlC, 0415k (cA.3A 2e ADP. R! - 4> 0P - A -'--- 4A 4A DA -; - The linking level between the point-oriented memory and the attribute memory and the color memories is as follows: The linking level is between the shift registers with the assigned attribute latches and the color memories. The two multiplexers 15 select different 4-bit input information: AB selection 74153 0 O remote-loaded colors 0 1 remote-loaded colors 1 0 foreground base color 1 background base color DOT does not change the color address as 4-bit information DOT switches between VG and HG point information at the output of the shift register DOT Remote or basic colors (also CS for color memory) both information k = rss are suppressed and the display of the background color is forced by a blink interruption 74151 = H (with Steady ATC = H # Y74151 = L) b Display Conceal AT 9 = H (Normal) The blink selector 14 selects eight different blink sequences that are present on the blink memory 13 via three attribute inputs A, B, C.

The mode of operation and the control options as well as the output of the data via the CRT controller should not be described in more detail here. It reference is made to a known CRT controller from Motorola, MC 6845, which in the Motorola data book "Semiconductors, Microcomputer Components", 1979 edition, Page 193 ff., It is important to ensure that the CRT controller ' completed control functions are determined according to the process of the microcomputer. Of the The microcomputer and the CRT controller must therefore be using the appropriate software programmed.

When using such an on-screen text decoder, the Printer control 30, which has its own for adapting the writing speed Should have data memory as a character buffer, via a point shift register 11 connected to the point memory.

The point shift register 11 is controlled by the computer controller 1 or the CRT controller 7. The point-related data transmitted in this way are printed out controlled by the printer 31 via the controller 30.

The method according to the invention is not limited to the ones shown Embodiments limited. Instead of the point-oriented filing of the received characters in a dynamic RAM 8 and the associated circuits A character generator can also be used for the point representation, which has a direct Representation of the point-related received and implemented by means of the first stage Characters and caches them. In this case, it is advisable to according to Fig. 1 to connect the printer directly to the interface A-B.

Claims (7)

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. Process and circuit arrangement for the visual representation of texts, graphics and symbols on screens of Monitors or television receivers and / or point-controlled printers, such as thermal, needle and ink printers, and for output to peripheral devices with a Readable page memory in which the received text information is stored page by page are stored, and a readable character memory in which each address is a Location on the screen is allocated according to patent (patent application P 32 23 489.9), d a d u r c h e k e n n -z e i c h n e t that the read out from the page memory (3), assigned to each character in the character memory (2) on the display point related data via the computer control device digitally encoded via a data bus addressed to a control device of the printer. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the point-oriented Data of each character in a data memory of the control device for the Printer by means of a point-related output from the computer control device Address stored line by line via an address bus and via one of the computer control device controlled driver circuit for direct control the dot matrix of the printer can be read out. 3. Circuit arrangement for performing the method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the page memory, the character memory, the Computer control device and the control device of the printer one of the printer Form directly assigned operating unit, and that between the control device the printer and the page memory, the character memory and the computer controller an interface is provided to which a circuit arrangement for displaying the characters on the screen can be connected. 4. Method and circuit arrangement for the visual representation of Texts, graphics and symbols on the screens of monitors or television receivers and / or by means of point-controlled printers, such as thermal, needle or ink printers, and for output to peripheral devices with a video text decoder with an off readable page memory in which the received text information is stored page by page are stored, with a readable character memory in which each address is a Location on the screen and associated with one of the character memory from readable attribute memory and a computer control device via which the Character and attribute memories are writable, and with a video signal generation circuit, in which the information read out from the character and attribute memory is stored in the Screen reproducible video signals are converted, with only during the Vertical scanning time of the individual character information when displaying text on the screen are written in blocks of characters into a read / write / addressing memory and the im Addressing memory stored data, which is made in a readable buffer are stored, the address for a character attribute information, which is written in a read / write attribute memory, and the sub-address for each line in a dynamic point store in which the characters are point-organized are stored, are stored, form, and the read out from the page memory, attributes associated with each character in the character memory via the computer control device digitally coded in the respective addressed memory location of the attribute memory are stored, and in the dynamic read / write point memory, which is parallel is addressed to the attribute memory, controlled by the computer controller the information is stored point-oriented, and on a character point related, stored in the point memory, from a control device for the with the display of the screen text synchronized with the synchronization pulses of the screen device address-controlled and the character-oriented attribute information from the attribute memory controlled by the same control device and linked and decoded with one another in this way are output that the output quantities directly from the video signal processing circuits of the display device are processed and displayed on the screen after Patent (patent application P 32 23 489.9), characterized in that in the dynamic Read / write / point storage point-oriented information stored line by line read out and fed to the control device of a printer. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the read out line-by-line data of the point memory in a data memory of the control device of the printer and controlled synchronously with the writing speed of the printer can be read out and control the printer via a driver circuit. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the point memory while reading out the written data to be displayed with the printer is blocked for the acceptance of data, and that only by issuing a control command via the computer control device during the vertical blanking time the characters of the Text information on the next page addressed in the point-oriented data memory be filed. 7. Circuit arrangement for performing the method according to a of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the point-oriented memory is connected to a multiplex circuit via which the stored in the point memory Data line by line with the writing frequency of the electron beam of the picture tube in written in a data memory of the printer control device and by a driver circuit are sent to the printheads at the writing frequency of the printer.