JP2001265305A - Picture and video display unit, and device and method for displaying picture and video using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide image and video display units and which are capable of processing correction of an image hidden in a gap between the display units even if the gap exists between the display units, making the picture natural to see, minimizing an influence of a defect when it occurs, and being connectable one after another between units and to provide a picture and video display device. SOLUTION: One display device is configured by connecting plural pieces of the display units 1 as shown in figure. Plural pieces of the display units 1 are mutually connected one after another via digital image input-output interfaces 12, 13, and coordinates of a rectangular area for displaying an input picture corresponding to the identification number of each display unit and display position coordinates onto a display unit 11 in the unit are set into holding means 16, 17 for each display unit from a control information interface 14. Moreover, a means for detouring a unit with a defect when the defect occurs is arranged between a connection interface and a control means 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device which realizes a large display screen by combining a plurality of display units, and more particularly to a display unit which is connected (daisy-chained) by digital signals. The present invention relates to a suitable image / video display unit, an image / video display device using the same, and an image / video display method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art relating to an image / video display device using a plurality of image / video display units, for example,
A technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-187109 is known. This prior art relates to a display device in which a plurality of display units individually receive image signals and perform display output in accordance with the received display program, and the plurality of display units include an image input unit and a conversion into a digital image signal. A / D, a plurality of image memories, a storage selection unit, a switching operation unit for switching the stored digital image signals to perform a synthesis operation and output, a D / A, a display unit, and a unit ID. It comprises a setting section, a control signal receiving section, a decoding section, a reception control memory, a monitor system memory, and a control section. And
An image transmission unit for a plurality of display units includes an image signal generation unit, an image transmission unit, a frame number generation unit, a program code generation unit, a unit ID registration unit, a synchronization adjustment unit, and a unit control program memory. , A control signal synthesizer, a control signal transmitter, a system memory, and a controller.

[0003]

A display device which can be formed into a plurality of thin display units such as a liquid crystal display panel and a plasma display panel and which can be formed into various sizes suitable for applications and installation locations is provided in an extension unit. It is necessary to be able to freely combine image / video display units.
For this reason, it is desirable for this type of display device to be able to connect each of a plurality of image / video display units in any manner, thereby making it possible to make the entire display device thin and convenient for maintenance. Become.

[0004] The display device as described above is often used for viewing from a certain distance, such as an advertising tower, and it is desirable that an image or video to be displayed can be enlarged and displayed. On the other hand, in a display such as a liquid crystal display panel or a plasma display panel, an electronic circuit for driving the display is mounted around a display area. A gap is generated between the unit and the display unit. For this reason, the display device according to the related art configured using a plurality of display units as described above has a problem in that a display target, a person, and the like are displayed distorted without correcting the display of the gap. Have a point.

In the prior art described above, when a plurality of display units are connected in any manner, when a failure occurs, all of the display units located after the failure are affected by the failure. There is a problem that it will.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Even if there is a gap between the display units, an image of a portion hidden by the gap between the display units can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image / video display unit capable of performing a correction process to make a natural appearance, an image / video display device and an image / video display method using the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image / video display unit capable of preventing the occurrence of a fault from being propagated to any subsequent stage when the display units are connected in any manner, and an image / video display unit using the same. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device and an image / image display method.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image / video display unit for displaying input image information, comprising: a digital image input interface;
A digital image output interface, a display, an input / output interface of control information, and an identification number of a unit included in the control information input from the input / output interface of the control information is identical to the identification number of the own unit. Specifying the image information to be input based on the coordinates of the rectangular area of the image input to be displayed on the self-display unit included in the control information and the coordinates specifying which part of the rectangular area of the display is to be displayed. Control means for displaying the specified area on a designated portion of the display.

Further, the object is to provide an image / video display unit for displaying input image information, comprising: a digital image input interface, a digital image output interface, a display, a control information input / output interface; Display area holding means for holding the coordinates of the rectangular area to be displayed on the display unit in the image input; and a rectangular area specified by the display area holding means for displaying a rectangular area of the display unit. Display position holding means for holding designated coordinates, own unit identification number holding means, and unit identification number held by the identification number holding means included in the control information input from the control information input / output interface The coordinates of the rectangular area to be displayed, which corresponds to the First control means and the coordinates of the rectangular area to be displayed is held in the display area storage means for storing coordinates specifying whether to display on the display position holding means,
And a second control means for displaying the data of the digital image input on the display using coordinates specifying which rectangular area held in the display position holding means to display. Is done.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a connection for connecting an output side of the digital image input interface and an input side of the digital image output interface directly or via at least one stage buffer amplifier or clock synchronization means. This is achieved by further providing an interface.

Further, the object is to provide an output side of the digital image input interface and an output side of the digital image output interface between the output side of the digital image input interface and the input side of the digital image output interface and the connection interface. Signal detour means for directly connecting the input side of the interface and disconnecting the connection from the connection interface to the digital image output interface; power supply voltage abnormality detection means for detecting power supply voltage abnormality; Further comprising at least one of abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal operation of the power supply voltage, and a control means for controlling the signal detour means, wherein the control means detects a power supply voltage abnormality, or Less error detection means to detect abnormal operation of own unit When one of them detects an abnormality, the signal detour means connects the output side of the digital image input interface and the input side of the digital image output interface directly, and connects the connection interface to the digital image output interface. And an abnormality notifying unit that notifies an upper-level device of an abnormality state using an input / output interface of the control information when the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality. Is achieved by

Further, the object is to install a plurality of the image / video display units and connect the image / video display units to each other via the digital image input interface and the digital image output interface. By configuring the display device, the image / video display unit is provided with two sets of input / output interfaces for the control information, and the image / video display units are mutually connected via the two sets of control information input / output interfaces. This can be achieved by configuring the image / video display device by connecting each other.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of an image / video display unit and an image / video display device using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration and mounting state of an image / video display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an image formed using four image / video display units shown in FIG. A block diagram showing the structure of the video display device, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of the connection interface, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example for enabling the degraded operation, and FIG. , FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining still another configuration example that enables degraded operation, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example that enables reporting of a failure state, and FIG. 8 is a digital image. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams for explaining a display image on an image / video display device, and FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a display image in an image / video generation unit. It is a diagram for explaining Narurei.
1 to 11, 1, 1-1 to 1-4 are image / video display units, 2 is image / video generation means, 3 is system control means, 4 is power supply means, 5 is power supply voltage detection means, 10 is a control unit, 11 is a display, 12 is a digital image input interface, 13 is a digital image output interface, 14 is a control information input / output interface, 15 is a connection interface A, 16 is a display area holding means, and 17 is a display position. Holding means, 18 is an identification number holding means, 19 is a first control means, 20 is a second control means,
21 is a power input means, 24 is a signal detour means, 25, 26
Are first and second switches, 27 is third control means, 28 is fourth control means, 29 is reception means, 30 is frame memory, 31 is storage means, and 32 is network communication means.

Display unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1 (a) and the mounting diagram of FIG. 1 (b), a thin display device 11 such as a liquid crystal display panel or a plasma display panel and a control unit 10 are provided. , Are mounted on the back of the display 11. 1B, the digital image input interface 12, the digital image output interface 13, the control information input / output interface 14, and the power input means 21 provided in the control unit 10 are mounted in the form of connectors. It is shown as being.

The control unit 10 includes at least one digital image input interface 12, a digital image output interface 13 corresponding to the digital image input interface 12 in a one-to-one correspondence, and input / output of at least one set of control information. An interface 14, a connection interface A15 for connecting the digital image input interface 12, the digital image output interface 13, and a second control means 20, which will be described later, with respect to a predetermined first coordinate system of the digital image input; Display area holding means 1 for holding the coordinates of a rectangular area to be displayed on the display 11 and having the same number and one-to-one correspondence with the display 11
6. The display unit 11 which holds coordinates for designating which rectangular area of the second coordinate system of the display unit 11 displays the rectangular area specified by the display area holding unit 16. According to the control information input from the input / output interface 14 of the control information, the display position holding means 16 corresponding to the same number as the one-to-one correspondence, the identification number holding means 18 corresponding to the same number as the display 11 and the one-to-one correspondence. The coordinates of the rectangular area to be displayed corresponding to the display identification number held in the identification number holding means 18 are stored in the display area holding means 16.
The first control means 19 causes the display position holding means 17 to hold coordinates specifying which rectangular area corresponding to the display identification number is to be displayed, the first control means 19 corresponding to the display identification number. The coordinates of the rectangular area to be displayed held by the display area holding means 16 and the coordinates specifying the rectangular area to be displayed held by the display position holding means 17 corresponding to the display device identification number are displayed. A second control means 2 for displaying the digital image input data on the display 11 corresponding to the display identification number by using
0 and power supply input means 21 for distributing the supplied power to each element in the unit.

Next, the relationship between the display area of the input digital image and the display position on the display will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG.
It is assumed that an identification number corresponding to the display 11 in a one-to-one correspondence is held in the identification number holding means 18 of FIG. As the identification number, any code may be used as long as it can be uniquely distinguished. Hereinafter, for example, the description will be made assuming that the identification number n is given.

A digital image 50 is input to the digital image input interface 12. As the digital image input interface 12, serial, parallel,
Alternatively, other combinations thereof may be used. The input digital image data is output from the digital image output interface 13 to another display unit via the connection interface A15. The digital image input interface 12 and the digital image output interface 13 can connect a plurality of image / video display units 1 by matching their signal specifications. The input digital image data is applied to the second control means 20 via the connection interface A15.

The control information input / output interface 14 receives roughly two types of control information. One is control information specifying the above-mentioned identification number (hereinafter referred to as individual control information), and the other is not specifying an identification number, that is, control information broadcast to all image / video display units 1 (hereinafter, referred to as individual control information). , Common control information). The individual control information is used to control the operation of a specific image / video display unit 1. Each image / video display unit 1
The first control means 19 examines the control information input from the input / output interface 14 and, if the control information is individual control information, identifies its own identification number stored in the identification number holding means 18 in advance and the individual control information. The control information is compared with the identification number added to the information. If they match, the control information is read and the control is executed as required. If they do not match, the control information is skipped. If the input control information is the common control information, the first control unit 19 reads the control information and executes necessary control. The individual control information is stored in the display area holding unit 1.
6 and coordinate information to be set in the display position holding means 17.

Assume that the digital image input 50 is placed in a predetermined two-dimensional coordinate system 1 as shown in FIG. As an example of the individual control information for setting the display area holding means 16, Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = n, (xi1, yi1)-(x
i2, yi2); can be considered.
This control information is transmitted to the image / video display unit 1 having the identification number n by using (xi) of the coordinate system 1 in the input image.
This is control information that can be interpreted as setting coordinates so as to cut out a rectangular area defined by (1, yi1)-(xi2, yi2). The first control unit 19 confirms that the identification number of the individual control information is n and thus is control information for the self-display unit, and reads the values of (xi1, yi1) and (xi2, yi2), This coordinate value is held in the display area holding means 16.

It is also assumed that an area that can be displayed on the display 11 is placed in a predetermined two-dimensional coordinate system 2. An example of the individual control information for setting the display position holding unit 17 is Set_
Control information such as Destination_Coordinate, ID = n, (xd1, yd1)-(xd2, yd2); can be considered. This control information defines the image held in the display area holding means 16 for the image / video display unit 1 having the identification number n by (xd1, yd1)-(xd2, yd2) of the coordinate system 2. This is control information that can be interpreted as setting coordinates to be displayed in a rectangular area. The first control means 19 confirms that the identification number of the individual control information is n, reads the values of (xd1, yd1) and (xd2, yd2), and holds the coordinates in the display position holding means 17. .

Then, the second control means 20 calculates the coordinate values (xi1, yi1)-(xi2, yi) in the input digital image 50.
The rectangular area defined by 2) is defined by the coordinates (xd1, y
It operates to display at the position 52 defined by d1)-(xd2, yd2).

Various methods can be considered as to when the coordinates held in the display area holding means 16 and the display position holding means 17 are validated, but a plurality of image / video display units 1 in the apparatus can be used. After individually setting the coordinates in the display area holding means 16 and the display position holding means 17,
It is desirable to simultaneously activate all the image / video display units 1 by a command defined as common control information. As such common control information, for example, Activate_Coord
Control information such as inate, ID = ALL; can be considered.

Also, the coordinates held in the display area holding means 16 and the display position holding means 17 are validated by designating a part of the plurality of image / video display units 1. It is possible. In this case, instead of the common control information, individual control information specifying a plurality of identification numbers may be defined. For example, Activate_Coordinate, ID = (4, i, j, k,
l); control information such as; The example of the control information indicates that there are four identification numbers of the target display unit 1 and i, j, k, and l are the identification numbers.

The above-described control information is one example, and may be a character string as described above, or may be encoded according to a predefined conversion rule. In the case of character strings, control information is easy for humans to understand,
It is advantageous during maintenance. In addition, since the encoded data can be converted into a smaller number of bit strings than the case of a character string, transmission of control information can be speeded up.

The method of designating the display area 51 and the display position 52 shown in FIG. 8 may be other than the coordinate representation shown in the figure. In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the coordinate expression is used as an example of the designation method, but may be represented by another method. For example, a designation method may be used in which the input image data of the area cut out by the display area holding means 16 is enlarged or reduced α times vertically and horizontally from the position of (xd1, yd1) and displayed. The coordinates (xi1, yi1)-(xi2, yi2) are
When mapping to (xd1, yd1)-(xd2, yd2), it may be possible to instruct left-right or upside-down inversion. By making it possible to add such an instruction argument, it is possible to display the input image vertically or horizontally.

The above-described conversions such as enlargement, reduction, and inversion are performed in the second control means 20. There are various methods as a specific algorithm for executing the conversion, and these are used. be able to. Also, there are various realization methods for smoothing accompanying enlargement or reduction, and these can be realized using these methods. In short,
It is important that it is possible to designate for each display 11 the identification number of which display 11 cuts out which part of the input image and displays it at which position on the display 11.

Next, the configuration of the connection interface A15 will be described with reference to FIG.

The example shown in FIG. 3A is an example in which the connection interface A15 is constituted by simple parallel wiring. In the case of this example, the digital image input interface 12,
The digital image output interface 13 and the second control means 20 are connected by a conductor or a wiring equivalent thereto (an optical fiber in the case of an optical interface). Such a mode is effective in a device in which the total wiring length of the wiring connecting the plurality of display units does not adversely affect signal transmission.

FIG. 3B shows an example in which a first buffer amplifier or a clock synchronizing means 22 is inserted between the digital image input interface 12, the digital image output interface 13, and the second control means 20. In the example shown in FIG. 3C, the digital image input interface 12 and the second control means 20 are directly connected, and a second buffer amplifier or clock synchronization is provided between the digital image input interface 12 and the digital image output interface 13. The means 23 is inserted. In the example shown in FIG. 3D, a first buffer amplifier or a clock synchronizing means 22 is inserted between the digital image input interface 12 and the second control means 20, and the second control means 20 A second buffer amplifier or clock synchronizing means 23 is inserted between the image output interface 13.

Although the buffer amplifier corrects the deterioration of the amplitude of the digital signal, it sometimes causes time-axis jitter. On the other hand, the clock synchronization means can prevent jitter by generating a synchronization clock from a clock included in the digital image input interface 12 or a signal included in the digital image input interface 12 and synchronizing the signals. Clock synchronization means generally introduces a signal delay, but in the case of the present invention,
Since the image information from the digital image input interface 12 is simply cut out and displayed, the signal delay does not affect the operation of the apparatus. For this reason, FIG.
The example shown in FIG. 3D has a large number of image / video display units 1 used in an image / video display device, and as a result, is suitable for use in a system having a long total wiring length.

Next, an image / video display device using a plurality of the above-described image / video display units 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The example shown in FIG. 2 is an example in which an image / video display device is configured using four image / video display units 1 shown in FIG.

The image / video display device shown in FIG. 2 has four image / video display units 1-1 to 1-4 having the configuration described with reference to FIG. 1 having identification numbers = n, p, s, and r. , An image or a video, and an image / video display unit 1-
Fifth control comprising: an image / video generating unit 2 for supplying a generated image or video, and a unit for transmitting / receiving control information to / from the control information input / output interface 14 described above. The system includes a system control unit 3 and a power supply unit 4. Although the image / video generating means 2 will be described later, the image / video generating means 2
For example, a TV tuner, a network, or
External storage device (DVD, CD-ROM, magnetic storage device,
It may be a display mechanism of a personal computer (PC) for displaying a presentation screen, graphics, or video from a magneto-optical storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or the like, or a mechanism capable of generating other image / video signals. There may be. The image / video generating means 2 outputs the above-mentioned image or video according to an instruction from the system control means 3 which is the fifth control means.

An image according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
In the video display device, the image / video output from the image / video generation means 2 is input to the digital image input interface 12 of the image / video display unit 1-1, and the digital image output of the image / video display unit 1-1 is output. Output from the interface 13. Similarly, the image / video output from the image / video display unit 1-1 is input to the digital image input interface 12 of the image / video display unit 1-2, and is output to the image / video display unit 1-2.
The digital image output interface 13 of the image / video display unit 1-4 outputs the digital image output interface 13 of the image / video display unit 1-4.
Are input to the digital image input interface 12 of the image / video display unit 1-3, and so on. The connection of the irritation connection can be in any order. That is, 1-
Combinations are possible as many as the number of permutations 1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4.

System control means 3 which is the fifth control means
Gives an instruction of the area to be displayed and the position to be displayed to all the image / video display units 1 through the input / output interface 14 of the control information.
Gives an instruction on what kind of image or video is to be generated.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the input and output interfaces for control information are connected in parallel. This connection is based on the assumption that an interface such as EIA standard RS-485 is used. In addition, a digital image input / output interface, that is, two sets of control information input / output interfaces are provided in the image / video display unit 1, and the image / video display units are mutually connected via the control information input / output interface. The connection between the two may be made.

The power supply means 4 converts electric power from a commercial power supply into a form necessary for operating the apparatus and supplies it to each image / video display unit 1, and has a primary battery therein. It is also possible to incorporate a secondary battery and a generator so that emergency operation is possible.

[0038] Laying for the following wiring may be performed for each interface and power supply path, or a single composite cable may be used for harnesses. If you lay using a single composite cable,
The cost of the user for installation and maintenance can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a display unit is formed using a thin display such as a liquid crystal display panel or a plasma display panel, and the units are connected to each other via a connector. So you can configure
An image / video display device which is thin, easy to maintain, and low in cost can be realized.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a display image in the image / video display device having the configuration described with reference to FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 10 shows the division of the two-dimensional image digital image 50 shown in FIG. 9 in more detail by its coordinates.

Now, as shown in FIG. 9, the digital image input, that is, the two-dimensional image digital image 50 of the image generated by the image / video generating means 2 is converted to the image / video display unit 1-1 with the identification number = n. Display 11-1, display 11 of image / video display unit 1-2 with identification number = p
-2, display on the display 11-3 of the image / video display unit 1-3 with the identification number = s, and display on the display 11-4 of the image / video display unit 1-4 with the identification number = r. . Dx is provided between the display 11-1 and the display 11-2 or between the display 11-3 and the display 11-4.
There is a gap indicated by. This gap is because there is a mounting area for an electronic circuit for driving a liquid crystal panel or a plasma panel as a display. Similarly, a gap indicated by Dy is left between the display 11-1 and the display 11-3 or between the display 11-2 and the display 11-4.

Assuming that the digital image input 50 is projected on these four displays and displayed by an image 50 ', the display image 50' is back calculated and the display 11-1 displays the original image. Coordinates that are part of the input image 50
(xi11, yi11)-(xi21, yi21) may be cut out and displayed at the coordinates (xd11, yd11)-(xd21, yd21) on the display 11-1. Specifically, the gaps Dx and Y in the X-axis direction
The number of pixels corresponding to the gap Dy in the axial direction in the coordinate system 2 of the display unit is calculated from the pixel pitch of the display unit 11-1, and the number of pixels is calculated in the coordinate system 1 of the input digital image. The number of pixels can be determined from the display magnification of the digital image input 50 on the display 11-1.

When the digital image input 50 is displayed, in order to correct the gap Dx in the X-axis direction and the gap Dy in the Y-axis direction between the displays, the horizontal direction in the digital image input 50 that is not displayed is corrected. FIG. 10 shows the number of non-display pixels Hx, the number of non-display pixels Hy in the vertical direction, and the coordinates of an image to be displayed on each display. Then, the pixel pitch in the horizontal direction of the display 11-1 as a non-display area for performing the display correction processing of the gap portion by the number of pixels of Dx and Dy in the vertical and horizontal directions obtained above is Px, The pixel pitch is Py,
Assuming that an arbitrary display magnification of the digital image input 50 on the display 11-1 is α, the number of non-display pixels in the horizontal direction viewed from the coordinate system 1 is Hx, and the number of non-display pixels in the vertical direction is Hy, for example, Hx = Dx / (Px * α) Hy = Dy / (Py * α) xi21 = xi11 + (xi22−xi11) / 2−Hx / 2 xi12 = xi11 + (xi22−xi11) / 2 + Hx / 2 yi21 = yi11 + (yi23− yi11) / 2-Hy / 2 yi13 = yi11 + (yi23-yi11) / 2 + Hy / 2 xd21 = xd11 + ｛(xi22-xi11) * α-Dx / Px｝ / 2 xd22 = xd21 + ｛(xi22-xi11) * α- Dx / Px｝ / 2 yd21 = yd11 + ｛(yi23-yi11) * α-Dy / Py｝ / 2 yd23 = yd13 + ｛(yi23-yi11) * α-Dy / Py｝ / 2 It is possible to calculate the display coordinates of each of the 50 display devices and the coordinates on the display device for displaying the display coordinates.

The example shown in FIG.
To the 2 × 2 four-sided display 11-1, 11-2, 11-
This is an example in which the information is displayed on 3, 11-4.
The relationship between the coordinate system 1 and the coordinate system 2 can be obtained by performing the same calculation for the display of the xm plane. The same can be obtained when the conditions of the pixel pitch, the number of pixels, and the gaps Dx and Dy of the display 11-1 are arbitrarily changed. On the other hand, it is possible to maintain the relationship between the coordinate systems 1 and 2, which does not depend on the number of constituent display units, the resolution of the constituent display units, and the gap between the display units.

The system control means which is the fifth control means includes: Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = n, (xi11, yi11)-(xi21, yi21); Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = n, (xd11, yd11)-(xd21, yd21) ; Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = p, (xi12, yi12)-(xi22, yi22); Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = p, (xd12, yd12)-(xd22, yd22); Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = s, (xi13, yi13)-( xi23, yi23); Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = s, (xd13, yd13)-(xd23, yd23); Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = r, (xi14, yi14)-(xi24, yi24); Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = r, (xd14, yd14)-(xd24, yd24); to stipulate the operation of each image / video display unit 1, and issue control information Activate_Coordinate, ID = ALL; You can get started.

Each image / video display unit 1 can respond to individual control information matching its own identification number, thereby improving the reliability of the display device. For example, in the case of an image / video display unit with an identification number of n, a response such as Acknowledge, ID = n; in a normal case, Nacknowledge, ID = n; In addition, in the case of the common control information, each image / video display unit 1 does not make a response, and if it is determined to individually check later,
It is possible to avoid interference of the control information input / output interface 14 with a plurality of sources.

Assuming that the individual control information for individual confirmation is, for example, Report_Status, ID = n ;, the above-mentioned transmission and reception of information up to the display is performed by Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = n, (xi11, yi11)-( xi21, yi21); Acknowledge, ID = n; Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = n, (xd11, yd11)-(xd21, yd21); Acknowledge, ID = n; Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = p, (xi12, yi12)-(xi22, yi22); Acknowledge, ID = p; Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = p, (xd12, yd12)-(xd22, yd22); Acknowledge, ID = p; Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = s, (xi13, yi13)-(xi23, yi23) ; Acknowledge, ID = s; Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = s, (xd13, yd13)-(xd23, yd23); Acknowledge, ID = s; Set_Input_Coordinate, ID = r, (xi14, yi14)-(xi24, yi24); Acknowledge , ID = r; Set_Destination_Coordinate, ID = r, (xd14, yd14)-(xd24, yd24); Acknowledge, ID = r; Activate_Coordinate, ID = ALL; Report_Status, ID = n; Acknowledge, ID = n; Report_Status, ID = p; Acknowledge, ID = p; Report_Status, ID = s; Acknowledge, ID = s; Report_Status, ID = r; Acknowledge, ID = r;

In the above description, if an abnormal response is returned or no response is received on the way, it indicates that some trouble has occurred, and the system control means 3, which is the fifth control means, has a function of each display unit. The control corresponding to the situation can be performed.

When an abnormality occurs in the image / video display device according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, since the image information is transmitted by any wiring, the display units after the failure location are also affected. There is a possibility that all the display units after the failure point will malfunction. In the image / video display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a failure occurs, the failed display unit can be separated from the device, and the degraded operation can be performed using the remaining normal display units. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, a configuration example that enables the degenerate operation according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The example shown in FIG. 4 is an example capable of coping with the abnormality of the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply input means 21 to the image / video display unit 1. FIG.
(B) shows the state at the time of abnormality. In the example of the figure,
2 shows a part of the display unit 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the display unit 1 shown here has the input interface 12, the output interface 13, and the connection interface 15 in the configuration of the display unit 1 described with reference to FIG. And a power supply voltage detecting means 5 for monitoring the output voltage from the power supply input means 21, and a signal detouring means 2 based on the voltage detection signal from the power supply voltage detecting means 5.
4 is provided with a third control means 27 for controlling the control unit 4.
Then, the signal detour means 24 outputs the output interface 13
A first switch 25 that connects between the input interface 12 and the connection interface 15, and a second switch 26 that can directly connect between the input interface 12 and the output interface 13. . These switches 25,
26, since the signal needs to be switched, the switch itself is configured with the required number of contacts, and even if it has mechanical contacts such as relays, other switches such as semiconductor switches It may have an opening and closing mechanism. Also,
Desirably, the switch itself is in the state of FIG. 4B as a standard.

Display unit 1 configured as described above
In FIG. 4, when the output voltage from the power input means 21 is normal, the first switch 25 is closed and the second switch 26 is open as shown in FIG. 3 is controlled by the control means 27. Power supply voltage detecting means 5
Monitors the input power supply voltage from the power supply input means 21 and detects whether the input power supply voltage is low, high, or either low or high with respect to a predetermined specified power supply voltage range, The detection result is notified to the third control means 27. When the third control unit 27 receives the abnormal voltage detection signal from the power supply voltage detection unit 5, the third control unit 27
And the second switch 26 in the state of FIG.
The first switch 25 is controlled to be in an open state, and the second switch 26 is controlled to be in a closed state, so that influences from circuits subsequent to the connection interface A15 do not affect digital image signals. Other than the above, that is, in a normal state, the first switch 25 and the second switch 26 are controlled to the state shown in FIG. 4A so that the connection interface A15 can transmit and receive digital image signals.

When the output voltage from the power supply input means 21 becomes abnormal, the third control means 27 cannot perform the control operation, but as described above, the switches 25 and 26 By providing a structure as shown in FIG. 4B as a standard, that is, when the control is stopped, the switches 25 and 26 are automatically brought into the state of FIG. Will be.

Display unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
As described above, when an abnormality occurs in the power supply, the self-image / video display unit 1 can be disconnected from any wiring, and inoperable portions in the entire apparatus can be minimized.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, another configuration example that enables the degenerate operation according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which a component in the image / video display unit 1 can be handled abnormally. FIG. 5A shows a normal state, and FIG. 5B shows an abnormal state. I have. In the illustrated display unit 1, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the signal detour means 24 having the same configuration as that described with reference to FIG. A fourth control means 28 for controlling the means 24 is provided.

The signal detour means 24 is constructed in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 4, and when normal, when the components constituting the display unit 1 are normal, as shown in FIG. 25 is controlled to be closed, and the second switch 26 is controlled to be open. As in the case of FIG. 4, the switch itself is set to be in the state of FIG. 5B as a standard, that is, the first switch when no power is supplied to the image / video display unit 1. 25 is open, the second switch 2
It is desirable that the signal path 6 be closed to form a signal detour state.

The information of the check point in the image / video display unit 1 is input to the fourth control means 28.
Checkpoint information is stored in connection interface A15.
It is important that the information be checkpoint information suitable for detecting an abnormality in the passage of the digital image signal such as the second control means 20 or the like. When the fourth control unit 28 detects an abnormality in the checkpoint information, the fourth control unit 28 and the second switch 25
5B is controlled to the state shown in FIG. 5B so that the influence of the circuit after the connection interface A15 does not affect the digital image signal. Other than the above, that is, in a normal state, the first switch 25 and the second switch 26
The state is controlled to the state shown in FIG.
5 to transmit and receive digital image signals.

As described above, the image / video display unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can disconnect the self-image / video display unit 1 from any wiring when an abnormality occurs in a component device inside the unit. The inoperable part in the inside can be minimized.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a description will be given of still another configuration example which enables the degenerate operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 6 is an example in which both abnormalities of the power supply voltage supplied from the power input means 21 to the image / video display unit 1 and abnormalities of the components in the image / video display unit 1 can be handled. FIG. 6A shows a normal state, and FIG.
(B) shows the state at the time of abnormality. The illustrated display unit 1 is configured as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
The signal detour means 24 having the same configuration as that described with reference to FIGS.
Control means 27 and fourth control means 28 for controlling
It is comprised including.

The difference between the configuration example shown in FIG. 6 and the examples described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 is that the signal bypass means 24 is controlled by both the third control means 27 and the fourth control means 28 described above. It is a point that receives. As a result, the first and second switches 25 and 26 without the signal bypass unit 24 are connected to the third control unit 27.
When an abnormality is detected in either one of the first switch 25 and the fourth control unit 28, as shown in FIG.
Is opened, and the second switch 26 is controlled to be closed, so that the influence of the circuit after the connection interface A15 does not affect the digital image signal. Third control means 2
When both the seventh and fourth control means 28 do not detect an abnormality, the first switch 25 and the second switch 26
The connection interface A15 is controlled so as to be in the state of FIG.

Display unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention
As described above, if an abnormality occurs in the power supply, or
If an error occurs in a component inside the unit,
The video display unit 1 can be separated from any wiring, and inoperable parts in the entire apparatus can be minimized. According to the example described with reference to FIG. 6, as a result of the above, a defect of the image / video display unit 1 can be detected from both the abnormal power supply voltage and the abnormal operation. Further, the reliability of the device at the time of abnormality can be improved.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a description will be given of an example of a configuration that enables reporting of a failure state according to the embodiment of the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 7 is to detect a fault that caused an error and to report a fault status at the time of the above-mentioned abnormal operation. The example described with reference to FIG. 6 has a fault status reporting function. It is a thing. FIG. 7 shows a part of the display unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 as in the case of FIGS.

The difference between the example shown in FIG. 7 and the example shown in FIG.
That is, the information from the third control means 27 and the fourth control means 28 for detecting the abnormality and controlling the signal detour means 24 is input to the first control means 19. The first control means 19 includes the third control means 27 or the fourth control means 2
8 notifies the system control means 3 as the fifth control means of the image / video display device through the control information input / output interface 14 of detailed failure information. The system control unit 3, which is the fifth control unit, can report the received detailed failure information to a higher-level general control device or start a degraded operation based on a degraded operation plan. . A higher-level general control device (not shown) may be a management terminal for maintenance or the like. In this case, the higher-level general control device and the maintenance management terminal can report to the maintenance staff which image / video display unit 1 is abnormal and how.
Prompt recovery measures can be taken, and the propagation of a fault in a connected connection to the subsequent stage can be prevented.

Next, an example of the above-described method of transmitting fault information will be described. When the control information input / output interface 14 has an interrupt function for the system control means 3 which is the fifth control means, the first control means 1
No. 9 generates an interrupt upon receiving the abnormality information,
Of the fault information is requested to the system control means 3 which is the control means of the above. The fifth control means 3 polls all the image / video display units 1 one by one and collects fault information. The control information input / output interface 14 is a system control means 3 which is a fifth control means;
If the system does not have an interrupt function, the system control means 3, which is the fifth control means, polls all the image / video display units 1 one by one at predetermined time intervals, and collects fault information. Just do it.

According to the procedure for transmitting the fault information described above,
When a failure occurs, a plurality of image / video display units 1 report failure information at the same time, thereby preventing a signal collision on the control information input / output interface 14. Of course, this is not the case when the input / output interface 14 is designed on the assumption of signal collision. The transmission of the fault information described with reference to FIG.
6 can be used in combination with the degenerate operation described with reference to FIG.

Next, a configuration example of the image / video generating means 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The example shown in FIG. 11A is an example in which an image or a video is input from outside the image / video display device. In this example, the image / video generating unit 2 includes a receiving unit 29 including at least one converter from an analog signal to a digital signal (hereinafter, ADC), and a frame memory 30 for temporarily storing image and video data. Be composed. The input signal to the receiving means 29 may be an analog video signal of the NTSC system or the PAL system, a television signal obtained by modulating a carrier using the analog video signal, or an analog RGB signal of a computer or the like. Due to the difference between these input signals,
The receiving unit 29 can have various configurations.

For example, when the input signal is an analog video signal, first, if the color difference signal is superimposed on the luminance signal of the input analog video signal,
A technique known as YC separation separates a luminance signal and a chrominance signal, and a technique known as a video decoder reproduces a sampling clock from an input synchronizing signal. Into a digital signal, and further, by a technique known as color space conversion, for example, YUV
Data is converted from the (luminance / color difference) color space to the RGB color space, and the converted data is stored in the frame memory 30 at the next stage.

When the input signal is a television signal, the receiving means 29 selects a target carrier frequency by a technique known as a tuner and demodulates the received modulated wave, thereby obtaining the analog video signal. After that, the same processing as described above may be performed.

Further, when the input signal is an analog RGB signal, the receiving means reproduces a sampling clock from the synchronizing signal, converts the sampling clock into digital RGB data by the ACD using the sampling clock, and converts the converted data to the next frame. It is configured to be stored in the memory 30.

The configuration example of the receiving means 29 described above is only an example, and the order of conversion may be partially changed. The image / video display device having such a configuration is
Image and video distribution using existing equipment (broadcast equipment, VTR, personal computer, etc.) can be displayed.

The method using the image / video generating means 2 as shown in FIG. 11A is suitable for constructing a medium to large-scale image / video display system using a large number of image / video display devices. Are suitable.

FIG. 11B shows an example in which an image or video is input from the storage means. The image / video generating means 2 in the example shown in FIG.
Memory 3 for temporarily storing image and video data
0. The storage means 31 includes a magnetic disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, a magnetic tape, and a CD-ROM.
Any storage device such as a ROM, a DVD, and a semiconductor memory can be used. Regarding the format of the image or video to be stored, any format such as uncompressed or compressed format such as JPEG or MPEG can be used. The data read from the storage means 31 is converted into a suitable data format (for example, digital RGB) by means (not shown) between the storage means 31 and the frame memory 30, and the frame memory 3
0 is stored.

The image / video display device using the image / video generating means 2 having such a configuration is installed independently, and an advertisement or the like which only needs to display fixed contents until the contents of the storage means 31 are replaced. Suitable for applications.

The example shown in FIG. 11 (c) is a second example in which an image or video is input from outside the image / video display device.
This is an example. The image / video generating means 2 in this example includes:
It comprises a network communication means 32, a storage means 31, and a frame memory 30 for temporarily storing image and video data. As the network communication means 32, E
thethernet (registered trademark), IEEE1394, FD
Any interface that can constitute a LAN, WAN, etc., such as DI, telephone line, and SCSI, can be used. The data received from the network communication means 32 may be converted into an appropriate data format and immediately stored in the frame memory 30, or may be temporarily stored in the storage means 31 and then stored in the frame memory 30 as described with reference to FIG. It may be stored in the memory 30.

The image / video display device using the image / video generating means 2 having such a configuration can update the content to be displayed via the network. Further, when the image / video display device using the image / video display unit 1 described with reference to FIG. 7 includes the configuration described with reference to FIG. The trouble information required for maintenance can be transmitted to the center side, and at the same time, it is possible to receive an instruction on what kind of operation until repair. In addition, in the case of such a system, the image / video display device can be remotely operated, so that the installation place of the image / video display device is dangerous (railside, high place, etc.) or dustproof or dustproof. The configuration is also suitable when there is a need to seal from the viewpoint of drops.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if there is a gap between the display units, the correction processing for the image of the portion hidden by the gap between the display units is performed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image / video display unit which can make the appearance natural and an image / video display device using the same.

Further, according to the present invention, when the display units are connected to each other in any manner, an image / video display unit capable of preventing the occurrence of a fault from being propagated to any subsequent stage, and an image / video display unit using the same. Since a video display device can be provided, a highly reliable image / video display system in which the entire device does not go down even when a failure occurs can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration and a mounted state of an image / video display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of an image / video display device configured by using four image / video display units shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a connection interface.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example that enables degenerate operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example that enables degraded operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating still another configuration example that enables degraded operation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example that enables reporting of a failure state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a display area in digital image input and a display position on a display.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display image on the image / video display device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display image in the image / video display device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image / video generation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1-1 to 1-4 Image / video display unit 2 Image / video generation means 3 System control means 4 Power supply means 5 Power supply voltage detection means 10 Control unit 11 Display 12 Digital image input interface 13 Digital image output interface 14 Control information input / output interface 15 Connection interface A 16 Display area holding means 17 Display position holding means 18 Identification number holding means 19 First control means 20 Second control means 21 Power input means 24 Signal bypass means 25, 26 First , Second switch 27 third control means 28 fourth control means 29 receiving means 30 frame memory 31 storage means 32 network communication means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Hideki Kamimaki 1099 Ozenji Temple, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside System Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. F-term in PC Division of Hitachi, Ltd. (reference)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image / video display unit for displaying input image information, comprising: a digital image input interface, a digital image output interface, a display, a control information input / output interface, and the control information input / output. If the identification number of the unit included in the control information input from the interface matches the identification number of the own unit, the coordinates of the rectangular area of the image input to be displayed on the own display unit included in the control information and the display unit Control means for displaying a specified area of image information input based on information of coordinates specifying which part of a rectangular area to display in a specified part of a display device.・ Video display unit. 2. An image / video display unit for displaying input image information, comprising: a digital image input interface, a digital image output interface, a display, a control information input / output interface; Display area holding means for holding the coordinates of a rectangular area to be displayed on the display, and coordinates specifying which part of the display to display the rectangular area specified by the display area holding means; The display position holding means for holding, the identification number holding means of the own unit, and the unit corresponding to the identification number of the unit held in the identification number holding means included in the control information input from the input / output interface of the control information. The coordinates of the rectangular area to be displayed are held in the display area holding means, and the user can specify which rectangular area of the display to display. First control means for holding the coordinates to be set in the display position holding means, coordinates of a rectangular area to be displayed held in the display area holding means, and any rectangular area held in the display position holding means. An image / video display unit, comprising: second control means for displaying the data of the digital image input on the display using coordinates for specifying whether to display the image. 3. A connection interface for connecting an output side of the digital image input interface and an input side of the digital image output interface directly or via at least one stage buffer amplifier or clock synchronization means. 3. The image / video display unit according to claim 2, wherein: 4. An output side of the digital image input interface and an input side of the digital image output interface between the output side of the digital image input interface, the input side of the digital image output interface, and the connection interface. And directly connect
A signal detouring means for disconnecting the connection from the connection interface to the digital image output interface; a power supply voltage abnormality detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage abnormality; and an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal operation of the own unit. At least one, further comprising control means for controlling the signal detour means, the control means, power supply voltage abnormality detection means for detecting the power supply voltage abnormality, or,
When at least one of the abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal operation of its own unit has detected an abnormality, the signal bypass means,
4. The digital image input interface according to claim 3, wherein an output side of the digital image input interface is directly connected to an input side of the digital image output interface, and the connection from the connection interface to the digital image output interface is disconnected. Image and video display unit. 5. An abnormality notification means for notifying an upper-level device of an abnormality state using an input / output interface of the control information when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality. An image / video display unit in the range of 5. 6. An image / video display device for displaying input image information, wherein a plurality of the image / video display units according to claim 1 are installed, wherein said digital image input interface and said digital image output are provided. An image / video display device comprising an image / video display unit connected to each other via an interface. 7. The image / video display unit includes two sets of input / output interfaces for the control information, and the image / video display units are connected to each other via the two sets of control information input / output interfaces. The image / video display device according to claim 6, wherein the image / video display device is configured. 8. An image / video display method for displaying input image information, wherein when the identification number of the display unit included in the input control information matches the identification number of the own unit, the control information included in the control information is used. Based on the coordinates of the rectangular area of the image input to be displayed on the display unit and the coordinates of the rectangular area of the display that specifies the area to be displayed, the specified area of the input image information is displayed on the display unit. An image / video display method characterized in that the image / video is displayed in a designated portion of the image.