JP2000354200A - Image processor, image processing method, and computer- readable information recording medium recording image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a smooth fade-in or fade-out video image. SOLUTION: This image processor 2 divides pixels of 1st and 2nd pictures into a plurality of groups consisting of the pixels scattered to the entire pictures, repetitively and sequentially selects each group and sequentially reads a value of each pixel of the selected group from 1st and 2nd storage means 4, 6. An arithmetic means 12 multiplies a weight with the read pixel value and sums products to generate a new pixel value, and a write control means 14 stores the new pixel value to a corresponding storage address of a 3rd storage means 8. Then a weight control means 16 sets the relatively larger weight that the arithmetic means 12 multiplies with the pixel value read from the 1st storage means 4 every time the read control means 10 reads values of pixels of one entire group.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing technique for fading an image in or out on a screen of a display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art On a screen of a display device such as a personal computer, a certain image is first displayed weakly, and thereafter,
In the case of displaying an image that is gradually strengthened, that is, an image in which an image is faded in, each pixel constituting the image is multiplied by a weight (that is, a coefficient), and an image based on the obtained pixel values is sequentially displayed. A method is adopted in which the above-mentioned calculation and display are repeated by increasing the weight each time a sheet of image is displayed.

[0003] By the way, an image is, for example, 1024 horizontal.
If it is composed of pixels and pixels arranged in a matrix of 768 pixels vertically, the total number of pixels is 1024 × 7
Therefore, in order to generate one image in the middle of fade-in, it is necessary to perform the above-described weighting operation 786432 times. When a color image is displayed in three colors of red, green, and blue, the calculation must be performed for each color.
59296 times.

[0004]

However, at the current performance level of personal computers and the like, it is difficult to perform such a large number of weightings in a short time including the time for accessing the storage means. Therefore, it takes a long time to generate one image in the middle of the fade-in, and the video displayed on the screen does not fade in smoothly and changes gradually. When the image is faded out, the weight is gradually reduced. However, since the content of the arithmetic processing is basically the same, a similar problem occurs in the fade-out.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device which has a relatively low performance of hardware and software and a large color image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer-readable information recording medium on which an image processing program is recorded, in which an image can be smoothly faded in or faded out on a screen.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises storage means for holding the value of each pixel of an image composed of a large number of pixels, and stores the pixel value held by the storage means. An image processing apparatus for generating a new pixel value based on the image, dividing the pixels constituting the image into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image, and selecting each group in order and repeatedly. Reading control means for sequentially reading the values of the pixels constituting the selected group from the storage means, and calculating the weighting of the pixel values read from the storage means by the read control means to generate new pixel values Means, the read control means,
Weight control means for setting the weight by which the arithmetic means multiplies a pixel value to a larger value or a smaller value each time the value of a pixel in one entire group or the value of a pixel in a plurality of groups is read out. It is characterized by.

[0007] In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the reading control means divides the pixels constituting the image into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image, and selects each group sequentially and repeatedly. The values of the pixels constituting the selected group are sequentially read from the storage unit. The arithmetic unit multiplies the pixel value read from the storage unit by the read control unit with a weight to generate a new pixel value. Each time the readout control unit reads the pixel value of the entire group or the pixel values of the plurality of groups, the weight control unit increases the weight by which the arithmetic unit multiplies the pixel value from the storage unit by a larger value. Or set to a smaller value. Therefore, the pixel values generated by the arithmetic means are temporarily stored in, for example, another storage means, and the pixel values held by the other storage means are sequentially read out in accordance with the raster scan in the display device. Is generated and supplied to the display device, a video in which the image fades in or out is displayed on the screen of the display device.

Further, the present invention uses a storage means for storing the value of each pixel of an image composed of a large number of pixels, and generates a new pixel value based on the pixel value stored in the storage means. A method comprising: dividing the pixels that make up the image into a plurality of groups of pixels that are distributed throughout the image; selecting each group in turn and repeatedly to determine the value of each pixel that makes up the selected group. A reading control step of sequentially reading out from the storage means, an operation step of generating a new pixel value by multiplying the pixel value read from the storage means in the reading control step by a weight, and one read control step. Each time the value of the pixel of the whole group or the value of the pixel of the whole group is read, the weight multiplied by the pixel value in the calculation step is set to a larger value. Other is characterized in that it comprises a weight control step of setting to a smaller value.

Further, the present invention uses a storage means for storing the value of each pixel of an image composed of a large number of pixels, and generates a new pixel value based on the pixel value stored in the storage means. A computer-readable information recording medium on which a program is recorded, wherein the image processing program divides pixels constituting the image into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image, and sequentially divides each group. A read control step of sequentially selecting the values of the pixels constituting the selected group from the storage means, and repeatedly multiplying the pixel values read from the storage means in the read control step by a weight to obtain a new value. A calculating step of generating a pixel value, and the reading control step, wherein the pixel values of one group as a whole or a plurality of group A weight control step of setting the weight by which the pixel value is multiplied in the calculation step to a larger value or a smaller value every time a pixel value is read.

According to the image processing method of the present invention and the image processing program recorded on the computer-readable information recording medium of the present invention, in the read control step, the pixels constituting the image are composed of pixels dispersed over the entire image. Divide into multiple groups, each group in turn,
In addition, the values of the pixels constituting the selected group are sequentially read out from the storage unit by repeatedly selecting. In the calculation step, a new pixel value is generated by multiplying the pixel value read from the storage unit in the read control step by a weight. In the weight control step, 1 is used in the read control step.
Each time the value of the pixel of one group or the value of the pixel of a plurality of groups is read, the weight for multiplying the pixel value from the storage means in the calculation step is set to a larger value or a smaller value. Therefore, the pixel values generated in the operation step are temporarily stored in, for example, another storage means, and the pixel values held by the other storage means are sequentially read out in accordance with the raster scan in the display device, and the video signal is stored based on the pixel values. Is generated and supplied to the display device,
On the screen of the display device, a video in which an image fades in or out is displayed.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a computer constituting the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is. Hereinafter, an example of an image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to these drawings, and at the same time, an embodiment of a computer-readable information recording medium that stores an image processing method and an image processing program of the present invention will be described. I do.

The image processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes first to third storage means 4, 6, 8, read control means 10, arithmetic means 12, write control means 14, and weight control means 16. Specifically, for example, FIG.
Is realized by the computer 18 shown in FIG. The computer 18 includes a CPU 20 and a memory 2 as shown in FIG.
2, hard disk drive 24, floppy disk drive 25, CD-ROM drive 2
6, display control unit 28, display device 30, keyboard 32,
It is composed of a mouse 34 and the like.

The first and second storage means 4 and 6 are:
In the present embodiment, the memory 18 of the computer 18 is configured, and the third storage unit 8 is configured by a memory included in the display control unit 28. Then, the read control means 10, the arithmetic means 12, the write control means 1
4, and the weight control unit 16 loads the CD-ROM 38 as an example of the information recording medium of the present invention into the CD-ROM drive device 26, loads the image processing program recorded on the CD-ROM 38 into the memory 22, and , Above C
This is realized by operating the PU 20 based on the same program.

The first and second storage means 4 and 6 hold the value of each pixel of the first and second images composed of a large number of pixels for each image, and the third storage means 8
Holds the value of each pixel of the second image in the initial state. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an address configuration of the first to third storage units 4, 6, and 8, and schematically shows a part of each storage unit. The first and second images are configured by arranging a large number of pixels in a matrix, and the pixel value of each pixel is held in each of the first to third storage units 4, 6, and 8.

Each storage unit of the first to third storage means 4, 6, 8 is accessed by designating an X address and a Y address. Therefore, the first to third storage means 4, 6, 8 are It can be represented as in FIG. Each of the small rectangles 40 arranged in a matrix shown in FIG. 4 represents the storage unit of each storage means, and the X address corresponds to the column number 42 of the small rectangle 40, and the Y address is the row number 4 of the small rectangle 40.
4 is supported. The arrangement direction of the columns of the small rectangles 40 (horizontal direction in the drawing) corresponds to the horizontal direction of the image, and the arrangement direction of the rows of the small rectangles 40 (vertical direction in the drawing) corresponds to the vertical direction of the image. I have.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the X address takes a value from 0 to 1023, and the Y address takes a value from 0 to 767. Also, pixel values,
That is, the pixel value is a value representing the brightness of each pixel when an image is displayed on the display device 30, for example, 0 to 2
Taking values up to 55, the pixel is displayed darkest when the pixel value is 0, and brightest when the pixel value is 255.

The read control means 10 includes first and second
Is divided into a plurality of groups of pixels distributed over the entire image, and the groups are sequentially and repeatedly selected, and the values of the pixels constituting the selected group are sequentially determined by the first group. And read from the second storage means 4 and 6.

The arithmetic means 12 generates a new pixel value by multiplying the pixel values read from the first and second storage means 4 and 6 by weights and adding them, respectively.
The writing control means 14 calculates the first pixel value of the pixel value used by the calculating means 12
And stored in the storage location in the third storage means 8 corresponding to the storage location in the second storage means 4, 6.

The weight control means 16 multiplies the pixel value read from the first storage means 4 by the calculation means 12 each time the read control means 10 reads the pixel values of the entire group. Is set to a relatively large value, while the weight by which the calculating means 12 multiplies the pixel value read from the second storage means 6 is set to a relatively small value.

Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 2 configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image processing device 2 according to the present embodiment includes a display device 30
The first image is made to fade in with respect to the second image displayed on the screen, and the second image is made to fade out at the same time. Therefore, in the initial state, each storage unit of the third storage unit 8 holds the pixel value of the second image. The display control unit 28 sequentially reads out the pixel values stored in the third storage unit 8 according to the raster scan in the display device 30, generates a video signal based on the pixel values, and supplies the video signal to the display device 30. As a result, the display device 30
The second image is displayed on the screen in the initial state.

Here, when reading out a pixel value from the third storage means 8, the display control section 28 first gives 0 to the third storage means 8 as a Y address,
The pixel values are sequentially read from the row of the first storage unit while increasing the address from 0 by one. Then, a video signal is generated based on the read pixel value and supplied to the display device 30. The display device 30 modulates the brightness of the uppermost scanning line on the screen with this video signal.

Next, the display control unit 28 gives 1 to the third storage means 8 as the Y address, and in this state, while increasing the X address by one from 0, it increases the pixel value from the row of the second storage unit. Read sequentially. Then, a video signal is generated based on the read pixel value and supplied to the display device 30. The display device 30 modulates the luminance of the second scanning line from the top of the screen with this video signal. The display control unit 28 performs the above procedure until the Y address becomes 1023, then sets the Y address to 0 again, and repeats the same procedure. As a result, the second image is displayed on the screen of the display device 30.

The pixel values of each pixel of the first and second images are stored in advance in the hard disk drive 24, for example, and are stored in the hard disk drive 2
The CPU 20 operates the CPU 20 based on a predetermined program to read out the pixel values of each image stored in the hard disk drive 24, and writes the pixel values in the memory 22, that is, the first and second storage means 4, 6. Can be retained.

Similarly, the third storage means 8 is also controlled by the CPU 20 by the hard disk drive 2.
4, the pixel value of the second image can be read out and written to the third storage means 8 and held. In addition to this method, the pixel value of the second image previously stored in the second storage unit 6 is read out from the second storage unit 6,
It is also possible for the CPU 20 to store the data in the third storage means 8 by transferring it to the third storage means 8.

The read control means 10 includes first and second
The pixels constituting the image are divided into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image for each image, and each group is selected sequentially and repeatedly, and the value of each pixel constituting the selected group is determined. Data is sequentially read from the first and second storage means 4 and 6 (step S1).

More specifically, in this embodiment, the read control means 10 divides the pixels of each image into first to fourth groups. (A) to (D) of FIG. 5 are explanatory diagrams showing division of pixels forming an image. FIG. 5 (A)
(D) is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 4 and schematically illustrates the first and second storage means 4 and 6 (and the third storage means 8), respectively.

The pixels in the first group are, as shown by the small rectangles 46 in black in FIG.
In the second storage means 4 and 6, the pixel value is stored in a storage unit in which the X address is an even number and the Y address is an even number. The pixels of the second group have an odd X address and a Y address in the first and second storage means 4 and 6, as indicated by the small rectangle 48 painted black in FIG. 5B. Are also pixels whose pixel values are stored in odd storage units. The pixels of the third group are, as shown by the small rectangles 50 filled in black in FIG. 5C, in the first and second storage means 4, 6, the X address is an odd number and the Y address is an even number. Is a pixel whose pixel value is held in the storage unit of. As shown by the small rectangle 52 painted black in FIG. 5D, the pixels of the fourth group have even X addresses and Y addresses in the first and second storage units 4 and 6.
The pixel whose pixel value is held in a storage unit having an odd address. Since the pixels of each group are set in this way, the pixels of each group are dispersed throughout the image.

First, the reading control means 10
Are stored in the first and second storage means 4, 6
Read from At this time, as an example, the read control unit 10 first sets the Y address to 0, and reads pixel values of one row while increasing the X address by 2 from 0 in that state. Thereafter, the read control means 10 sequentially reads the pixel values of each row while increasing the Y address by two.

The arithmetic means 12 generates a new pixel value by multiplying the two pixel values sequentially read from the first and second storage means 4 and 6 by the weights and adding them. (Step S2). In the present embodiment, the weight is changed at a pitch of 0.05 as an example. Therefore, the calculating means 12 first calculates the weight by which the pixel value read from the first storage means 4 is multiplied by 0.05. On the other hand, 0.95 is used as a weight for multiplying the pixel value read from the second storage means 6. Then, the new pixel value generated in this way corresponds to the storage position in the first and second storage units 4 and 6 of the two pixel values used by the calculation unit 12 by the writing control unit 14. Is stored in the storage location in the third storage means 8 (step S3).

That is, FIG. 5 used in the above description also shows the third storage means 8, and the write control means 14
In the third storage unit 8, new pixel values are stored in the storage units of the small rectangles 46 shown in FIG.
Therefore, for example, the first and second storage means 4, 6
In the third storage means 8, the pixel value generated by weighted addition of the pixel values read from the storage unit having the X address of 0 and the Y address of 0 is 0 in the third storage means 8, The address is stored in the storage unit of 0. Similarly,
The pixel value generated from the pixel value read from the storage unit having the X address of 2 and the Y address of 0 in the first and second storage means 4 and 6 is the same as the X value in the third storage means 8. 2. The Y address is stored in a storage unit of 0.

The read control means 10 reads the pixel values of all the pixels in the first group from the first and second storage means 4 and 6 in order as described above, and the arithmetic means 12 controls the read control. Each time the means 10 reads out two pixel values, it performs weighted addition using the above weights to generate new pixel values, and the writing control means 14 sequentially stores the newly generated pixel values in the third memory. It is stored in the means 8 as described above.

As a result, in the third storage means 8, the pixel values held by one fourth of the storage units are updated. Then, the display control unit 28 operates as described above, and a new image is displayed on the screen of the display device 30 based on the updated storage content of the third storage unit 8,
The video is such that the first image slightly appears on the second image.

Next, the weight control means 16 causes the read control means 10 to read the pixel values of the entire one group,
At this stage, the pixel values held by the third storage unit 8 are updated by the pixel values generated by the calculation unit 12 based on the values of all the pixels in the first group. Setting the weight by which the calculating means 12 multiplies the output pixel value to a value relatively larger than the weight by which the pixel value read from the second storage means 6 is multiplied;
On the other hand, the weight by which the calculating means 12 multiplies the pixel value read from the second storage means 6 is set to a relatively smaller value. (Step S4). As described above, since the weight is changed at a pitch of 0.05 in the present embodiment, the weight control means 16 specifically sets the pixel value from the first storage means 4 to 0.1. A weight is set, and a weight of 0.9 is set for the pixel value from the second storage means 6.

Since this weight is less than 1 (step S
NO), the readout control unit 10 sets the values of the pixels of the second group to the first and second pixels in order to repeat the process.
Is read out from the storage means 4 and 6. At this time, as an example, the read control unit 10 first sets the Y address to 1, and then reads the pixel values for one row while increasing the X address by 1 from 2 in that state. Thereafter, the read control means 10 sequentially reads the pixel values of each row while increasing the Y address by two. The arithmetic unit 12 generates a new pixel value by multiplying the two pixel values sequentially read from the first and second storage units 4 and 6 by the new weight in this way and adding them.

The generated new pixel values correspond to the storage positions of the two pixel values used by the arithmetic unit 12 in the first and second storage units 4 and 6 by the writing control unit 14. , Are stored at storage locations in the third storage means 8. That is, the write control unit 14
Stores a new pixel value in the storage unit of the small rectangle 48 shown in FIG. 5B in the third storage unit 8.

The read control means 10 stores the pixel values of all the pixels of the second group in the first and second storage means 4,
6 and sequentially read out as described above.
Each time the read control means 10 reads out two pixel values, it performs weighted addition using the above weights to generate a new pixel value, and the write control means 14 sequentially writes the newly generated pixel value 3 in the storage means 8 as described above. As a result, in the third storage unit 8, the pixel value held by the storage unit of の of the whole is newly updated, and the image displayed on the screen of the display device 30 is the first image.
Is stronger than the previous one.

Next, the weight control means 16 causes the read control means 10 to read the pixel values of the entire one group,
At this stage, when the pixel values stored in the third storage unit 8 are updated with the pixel values generated by the calculation unit 12 based on the values of all the pixels in the second group, the calculation unit 12 The weight for multiplying the pixel value read from the storage means 4 is set to a value relatively larger than the weight for multiplying the pixel value read from the second storage means 6.
Here, the weight control means 16 specifically sets a weight of 0.15 for the pixel value from the first storage means 4,
A weight of 0.85 is set for the pixel value from the second storage unit 6.

Then, the pixel values of the pixels of the third group are read out by the readout control means 10 to the first and second pixels.
The arithmetic means 12 performs weighted addition on the pixel values read from each storage means using the above weights, and the write control means 14 outputs the arithmetic results to the third storage means. At 8, the data is stored in each storage unit corresponding to the pixels of the third group. As a result, in the third storage unit 8, the pixel values stored in the storage unit of 全体 of the whole are further updated, and the image displayed on the screen of the display device 30 is the first image in the second image. It appears more strongly above.

Subsequently, the weight control means 16 sets a weight of 0.2 for the pixel value from the first storage means 4 and 0 for the pixel value from the second storage means 6. Set a weight of .8. Then, weighting addition is similarly performed on the pixel values of the pixels of the fourth group by using new weights, and the result is stored in the third storage unit 8 as the pixels of the fourth group. It is held in each corresponding storage unit. As a result, the third storage unit 8 further stores 1
The pixel value held by the storage unit of / 4 is updated, and the storage contents of all storage units are eventually updated, and an image on which the first image appears more strongly is displayed on the screen of the display device 30. As a result of such processing being repeated, an image in which the first image is faded in with respect to the second image is displayed on the screen of the display device 30. When the weight for multiplying the pixel value read from the first storage means 4 is set to 1 and the weight for multiplying the pixel value from the second storage means 6 is set to 0, and the arithmetic processing is terminated, the first storage means Since the next weight for the pixel value from 4 exceeds 1, (YE in step S5)
S), the fade-in operation is completed, and the first image is displayed on the display device 30.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pixels of the first and second images are divided into four dispersed groups, and weighted addition is performed for each group to display the result. One image in the middle of the
/ 4 processing time. Therefore, even if the performance of the hardware or software is relatively low, and even if the color image is a large size, the image can be smoothly faded in.

As described above, when the fade-in is completed when the weight multiplied by the value of the pixel of a certain group becomes 1, the third storage means 8 corresponds to the pixels of the remaining three groups. The pixel value is obtained by multiplying the pixel value of the first image by a weight slightly smaller than 1. Although this error does not usually cause a problem, the remaining three groups of pixels of the first image are sequentially processed with a weight of 1, and all the pixel values held by the third storage unit 8 are changed. It is also easy to make the value of the pixel of the first image.

In the display image during the fade-in,
Only the pixels of one group have been updated to the latest pixel values, and the values of the pixels of the other groups have been updated previously. However, such a difference in pixel value between pixels is not a problem because the pixels of each group are dispersedly arranged in the entire image and cannot be normally discriminated by the naked eye.

In the present embodiment, the case where a monochrome image is faded in has been described as an example. However, when a color image is faded in, for example, the same processing is performed for each of red, green, and blue colors. That is, it is easy to extend the function of this embodiment to a color image.

In the present embodiment, the pixel values of each group are read from the storage means in the order of the first to fourth groups, and the calculation is performed. The order is the third group and the fourth group. , A second group, a first group, or a first group, a third group, a fourth group, a second group, and so on.

Further, in this embodiment, the weight is changed every time the generation of a new pixel value and the update of the storage content of the third storage means 8 are completed for all the pixels of one group. However, the values of all the pixels of the two groups are read out from the first and second storage means 4 and 6, and a new pixel value is generated based on those pixel values and stored in the third storage means 8. For example, the weight may be changed each time the content update is completed, or the weight may be changed when the generation of new pixel values and the update of the storage content of the third storage unit 8 are completed for all the pixels in all the groups. A configuration is also possible. Even when the weights are changed in this manner, one image in the middle of fade-in can be generated in 1/4 the processing time of the conventional art, so that the same effect can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the pixels constituting the image are divided into four groups. However, the number of divisions can be variously set to two, three, five or more. For example, when the performance of hardware or software that realizes the image processing apparatus 2 is high, or when the size of an image is small, the number of divisions may be set to two.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying an array of pixels in each group when pixels arranged in a matrix forming an image are divided into two groups while being dispersed. That is, in this division, each pixel constituting the image is divided into a group of pixels of a small rectangle 56 painted in black and forming a checkered pattern, and a group of pixels of a small rectangle 58 in a white outline. Therefore, the pixel of the small rectangle 56 is
For example, those that belong to the column of even-numbered pixels from the left end belong to the row of even-numbered pixels, not from the top, for example, while those that belong to the odd-numbered column from the left end always belong to the odd-numbered row from the top. belong to.

When the pixels are divided into two groups while being dispersed, for example, the pixels are divided into pixels belonging to an even-numbered pixel column from the left end and pixels belonging to an odd-numbered pixel column. It is also possible to divide into pixels belonging to the even-numbered pixel row from the upper end and pixels belonging to the odd-numbered pixel row.

Further, in addition to the regular arrangement of the pixels as described above, it is also possible to arrange the pixels in a random distribution. It is also effective to adopt a configuration in which the process of generating a new pixel value from the value of each pixel of the first and second images is performed in synchronization with the raster scan timing in the display device 30.

In the present embodiment, the third storage means 8 is constituted by the memory of the display control unit 28, but it is of course possible to constitute the third storage means 8 by the memory 22. In that case, the pixel value is read from the memory 22 as the third storage unit 8 in accordance with the raster scan of the display device 30, and a video signal is generated and supplied to the display device 30, or the third storage device is used. The storage contents of the memory 22 as the means 8 may be temporarily transferred to the memory of the display control unit 28, and the display control unit 28 may be configured to display an image based on the storage contents of the memory.

The types of the first and second images are arbitrary, and may be, for example, images of photographs, figures, characters, or images in which all the pixels have the same pixel value. For example, in the case of an image in which each pixel of the second image has the same pixel value, the display device displays an image in which the first image fades in on a screen of a certain brightness. Become. At this time, if the arithmetic means changes the weight by which the pixel value of the first image is multiplied from a large value to a gradually small value under the control of the weight control means, the first image fades out and the final image fades out. The brightness of the screen is displayed. When the image is a color image, the first image fades in on a screen of a certain color, or the screen of a color in which the first image fades out becomes a video to be displayed last.

Further, when all the pixels of the second image have the same pixel value, the second image does not need to be stored in the storage means.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the storage means 6 is deleted.
Then, the arithmetic means 12 may use a constant value (including zero) corresponding to the pixel value of the second image instead of the pixel value of the second image. Also, at this time, instead of multiplying the constant value corresponding to the pixel value of the second image by a weight, for example, the arithmetic means directly generates or obtains a value obtained by multiplying the constant value by the weight from the beginning. It is also possible. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the constant value or the like is not used in the calculating means 12 and a new pixel value is generated by simply multiplying the pixel value of the first image by a weight. In this case, if the weight is gradually increased, for example, the first image fades in on a dark screen, and the image appears. If the weight is gradually reduced, the first image fades out. .

[0053]

As described above, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the read control means sets the pixels constituting the image to
The image is divided into a plurality of groups of pixels distributed over the entire image, and the groups are sequentially and repeatedly selected, and the values of the pixels constituting the selected group are sequentially read from the storage unit. The arithmetic unit multiplies the pixel value read from the storage unit by the read control unit with a weight to generate a new pixel value. Each time the readout control unit reads the pixel value of the entire group or the pixel values of the plurality of groups, the weight control unit increases the weight by which the arithmetic unit multiplies the pixel value from the storage unit by a larger value. Or set to a smaller value. Therefore, the pixel values generated by the arithmetic means are temporarily stored in, for example, another storage means, and the pixel values held by the other storage means are sequentially read out in accordance with the raster scan in the display device. Is generated and supplied to the display device, a video in which the image fades in or out is displayed on the screen of the display device.

According to the image processing method of the present invention and the image processing program recorded on the computer-readable information recording medium of the present invention, in the read control step, the pixels constituting the image are dispersed in the entire image. , And the groups are sequentially and repeatedly selected, and the values of the pixels constituting the selected group are sequentially read out from the storage unit. In the calculation step, a new pixel value is generated by multiplying the pixel value read from the storage unit in the read control step by a weight. In the weight control step, every time the pixel value of the entire group or the pixel values of the plurality of groups is read in the read control step, the weight multiplied by the pixel value from the storage means in the calculation step is set to a larger value. Or set to a smaller value. Therefore, the pixel values generated in the operation step are temporarily stored in, for example, another storage means, and the pixel values held by the other storage means are sequentially read out in accordance with the raster scan in the display device, and the video signal is stored based on the pixel values. Is generated and supplied to the display device, a video in which the image fades in or out is displayed on the screen of the display device.

In the present invention, a pixel is divided into a plurality of dispersed groups, and a new pixel value is generated by multiplying a weight for each group. Can be generated by dividing the time required for the processing by the number of groups. Therefore, even if the performance of the hardware or software is relatively low, and even if the image is a large color image, the image can be smoothly faded in or out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a computer constituting the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an address configuration of first to third storage means;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are explanatory diagrams showing division of pixels forming an image.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying an array of pixels in each group when pixels arranged in a matrix forming an image are divided into two groups while being dispersed.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 image processing apparatus, 4 first storage means, 6 second storage means, 8 third storage means, 10 read control means, 12 arithmetic means, 14 write control means, 16 ...
Weight control means, 18 ... computer, 20 ... CPU, 2
2 ... memory, 24 ... hard disk drive device, 25
… Floppy disk drive device, 26… CD-RO
M drive device, 28 display control unit, 30 display device,
32 keyboard, 34 mouse, 38 CD-RO
M.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores a value of each pixel of an image formed by a large number of pixels, and generates a new pixel value based on the pixel value stored by the storage unit. The pixels that make up the image are divided into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image, and each group in turn
Reading control means for sequentially selecting the values of the pixels constituting the selected group from the storage means; and selecting a new pixel by multiplying the pixel value read from the storage means by the readout means by a weight. Arithmetic means for generating a value, and each time the readout control means reads out the pixel values of the entire group or the pixel values of the plurality of groups, the arithmetic means multiplies the pixel value by a larger value. Or a weight control means for setting the value to a smaller value. 2. An image processing method for generating a new pixel value based on a pixel value held by the storage unit using a storage unit that holds a value of each pixel of an image composed of a large number of pixels. The pixels that make up the image are divided into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image, and each group in turn
And a read control step of sequentially selecting the values of the pixels constituting the selected group from the storage means by repeatedly selecting, and multiplying the pixel value read from the storage means in the read control step by a weight to obtain a new pixel. A calculating step of generating a value, and in the reading control step, each time a value of a pixel of one entire group or a value of a pixel of a plurality of groups is read, the weight multiplied by the pixel value in the calculating step is set to a larger value. Or a weight control step of setting the weight to a smaller value. 3. An image processing program for generating a new pixel value based on a pixel value held by the storage unit using a storage unit that holds a value of each pixel of an image composed of a large number of pixels. A computer readable information recording medium, wherein the pixels constituting the image are divided into a plurality of groups of pixels dispersed throughout the image, and each group is sequentially
And a read control step of sequentially selecting the values of the pixels constituting the selected group from the storage means by repeatedly selecting, and multiplying the pixel value read from the storage means in the read control step by a weight to obtain a new pixel. A calculating step of generating a value, and in the reading control step, each time a value of a pixel of one entire group or a value of a pixel of a plurality of groups is read, the weight multiplied by the pixel value in the calculating step is set to a larger value. Or a weight control step of setting a smaller value. A computer-readable information recording medium recording an image processing program.