JP2006106358A - Multi-window display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-window display device wherein a general-purpose window display device is available and the variance of delay to output of the final combined image is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: In the multi-window display device in one embodiment of this invention, a plurality of window display device including a first and a second window display devices having m inputs and one output are cascaded. The first window display device receives video sources from the outside by m video input parts and outputs a combined video resulting from displaying respective video sources in arbitrary windows. The second window display device receives combined video from the first window display devices or lower-stage window display devices, as input video by m video input parts and outputs a combined video which results from combining the input video and reflects display positions and display priorities of windows included in the input video. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-window display device.

The multi-window display device is a device that outputs a composite video obtained by displaying a plurality of video sources in individual windows at arbitrary display positions and arbitrary display priorities. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-228561 discloses a conventional multi-window display device. The multi-window display device disclosed in this document is a dedicated machine designed according to the number of input video sources, and includes a plurality of frame memories for storing a plurality of input video sources, a display position and a display of each window. A memory for storing the priority is provided. The document also discloses a multi-window display device that synthesizes N input video sources by an N-stage two-input switch based on the display position and display priority of the window for displaying each of the input video sources. .
JP-A-5-346773

  However, among the conventional multi-window display devices described above, the former multi-window display device needs to design a memory configuration or the like when the number of input video sources is increased, resulting in an expensive device. Further, the latter multi-window display device has a large number of stages until the final synthesized video is obtained, and has a large variation in delay until the synthesized video is output.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-window display device in which a general-purpose window display device can be used and variation in delay until the final composite video is output is reduced.

  The multi-window display device of the present invention includes a plurality of window display devices that are cascade-connected, each having m video input units and one video output unit that are smaller than the total number N of input signals. The plurality of window display devices include a first window display device and a second window display device. The first window display device receives an external video source in each of the m video input units of the device, and outputs a composite video obtained by displaying each video source in a separate window. The second window display device receives a composite video from the first window display device or the lower window display device as an input video at each of the m video input units of the device, and combines the input video. Output video. The first window display device has first selection means and first switching means. The first selection means selects each of the composite video to be output to the video output unit based on the display position and display priority of the m windows that display the m video sources input to the m video input units. A selection signal for selecting a position signal from m video sources input to m video input units is generated. The first switching unit switches the connection between the video input unit and the video output unit based on the selection signal generated by the first selection unit. The second window display device has second selection means and second switching means. The second selection means is configured to display each of the composite videos output to the video output unit based on the display position and display priority of each window included in the m input videos input to the m video input units. A selection signal for selecting a position signal from m input videos input to m video input units is generated. The second switching unit switches the connection between the video input unit and the video output unit based on the selection signal generated by the second selection unit.

  According to the multi-window display device having such a configuration, a general-purpose window display device can be used as the first window display device. Therefore, even when the number of input video sources is increased, a multi-window display device can be manufactured at a low cost. In addition, all window display devices have m inputs and 1 output, and composite video is generated using the output video from the two lower window display devices as input video sources. Compared with a device that sequentially synthesizes with a two-input switch, it is possible to reduce variation in delay until the final synthesized video is output.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a general-purpose window display device can be used, and a multi-window display device in which variation in delay until the final composite video is output is reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multi-window display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is an example of a multi-window display device including a plurality of window display devices each having two inputs and one output. The multi-window display device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a 4-window 1-output multi-window display device.

  In the multi-window display device 10, two window display devices (first window display devices) 12 and a window display device (second window display device) 14 are cascade-connected.

  Each of the two window display devices 12 is a two-input one-output window display device, and has the same configuration. The window display device 12 includes video input units 12a and 12b for inputting two external video sources, an H / V counter 12c, enable signal output units 12d and 12e, a selector 12f, a switching unit 12g, and a video output unit. 12h.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the enable signal output unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the H / V counter 12c has an H counter 20a and a V counter 20b. The H counter 20a outputs a horizontal synchronization count based on an external reference synchronization signal REF-H / V input to the supply to all the window display devices included in the multi-window display device 10. The V counter 20b outputs a vertical synchronization count based on the V-Reset signal based on the reference synchronization signal REF-H / V and the horizontal synchronization signal HS from the H counter 20a.

  The enable signal output unit 12d outputs an enable signal to the selector 12f based on the display position and display priority of the window that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12a. Specifically, the enable signal output unit 12d includes registers 16a, 16b, 16d, 16e, and 16h, SR latches 16c and 16f, and an AND calculator 16g.

  The enable signal output unit 12e outputs an enable signal to the selector 12f based on the display position and display priority of the window that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12b. Specifically, the enable signal output unit 12e includes registers 18a, 18b, 18d, 18e, and 18h, SR latches 18c and 18f, and an AND calculator 18g.

  Note that the display position and display priority of each window are arbitrarily set using a user interface provided in the multi-window display device 10. The user interface is provided to the multi-window display device 10 as an input screen by dedicated software or as a key input device.

  Here, the enable signal output units 12d and 12e will be described with reference to an example of a composite image in the case of four inputs and one output shown in FIG. In the following description, a video source to be displayed in the window Win1 and the window Win2 is input to one of the window display devices 12, and a video source to be displayed in the window Win3 and the window Win4 is input to the other of the window display devices 12. Shall. Further, the multi-window display device 10 defines the upper left coordinate and the lower right coordinate of each window in the composite video by the horizontal X coordinate value and the vertical Y coordinate value, and displays each window by the upper left coordinate and the lower right coordinate. The position shall be specified. Furthermore, in the following description, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that display priorities are set to decrease in the order of window Win1, window Win4, window Win2, and window Win3.

  The register 16a stores the X coordinate value of the upper left coordinate of the window displaying the video source input to the video input unit 12a, and the register 16b stores the X coordinate value of the lower right coordinate of the window. The registers 16a and 16b output a pulse when the stored X coordinate value matches the horizontal synchronization count output from the H counter 20a. Therefore, the SR latch 16c receiving the outputs from the registers 16a and 16b is active while the horizontal synchronization count is a value between the X coordinate value stored in the register 16a and the X coordinate value stored in the register 16b. Output a signal.

  The register 16d stores the Y coordinate value of the upper left coordinate of the window displaying the video source input to the video input unit 12a, and the register 16e stores the Y coordinate of the lower right coordinate of the window. The registers 16d and 16e output a pulse when the stored Y coordinate value matches the vertical synchronization count output from the V counter 20b. Therefore, the SR latch 16f receiving the outputs from the registers 16d and 16e is active while the vertical synchronization count is a value between the Y coordinate value stored in the register 16d and the Y coordinate value stored in the register 16e. Output a signal.

  The AND calculator 16g performs an AND operation on the signals from the SR latches 16c and 16f, and outputs the calculation result. Therefore, the AND calculator 16g outputs an enable signal when the outputs of the SR latches 16c and 16f are both active signals.

  The register 16h stores the display priority of the window that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12a, and outputs an enable signal from the AND calculator 16g to the selector 12f.

  In the enable signal output unit 12e, the register 18a stores the X coordinate value of the upper left coordinate of the window displaying the video source input to the video input unit 12b, and the register 18b stores the X coordinate value of the lower right coordinate of the window. Remember. The registers 18a and 18b output a pulse when the stored X coordinate value matches the horizontal synchronization count output from the H counter 20a. Therefore, the SR latch 18c receiving the outputs from the registers 18a and 18b is active while the horizontal synchronization count is a value between the X coordinate value stored in the register 18a and the X coordinate value stored in the register 18b. Output signal

  In the enable signal output unit 12e, the register 18d stores the Y coordinate value of the upper left coordinate of the window displaying the video source input to the video input unit 12b, and the register 18e stores the Y coordinate value of the lower right coordinate of the window. The coordinate value is stored. The registers 18d and 18e output a pulse when the stored Y coordinate value matches the vertical synchronization count output from the V counter 20b. Therefore, the SR latch 18f receiving the outputs from the registers 18d and 18e is active while the vertical synchronization count is a value between the Y coordinate value stored in the register 18d and the Y coordinate value stored in the register 18e. Output a signal.

  The AND calculator 18g performs an AND operation on the signals from the SR latches 18c and 18f and outputs the calculation result. Therefore, the AND calculator 18g outputs an enable signal while the outputs of the SR latches 18c and 18f are both active signals.

  The register 18h stores the priority of the window for displaying the video source input to the video input unit 12b, and outputs an enable signal from the AND calculator 18g to the selector 12f.

  When the enable signal is output from only the enable signal output unit 12d, the selector 12f outputs a selection signal for selecting the video source input to the video input unit 12a, while only the enable signal output unit 12e. When the enable signal is output from, a selection signal for selecting the video source input to the video input unit 12b is output.

  Further, the selector 12f refers to the display priority stored in the register 16h and the register 18h when the enable signal is output from both the enable signal output units 12d and 12e. When the display priority stored in the register 16h is higher than the display priority stored in the register 18h, the selector 12f outputs a selection signal for selecting the video source input to the video input unit 12a. On the other hand, when the display priority stored in the register 18h is higher than the display priority stored in the register 16h, the selector 12f selects a video source input to the video input unit 12b. Is output.

  When the switching unit 12g receives the selection signal from the selector 12f and specifies that the video input unit to be selected from the selection signal is the video input unit 12a, the switching unit 12g switches between the video input unit 12a and the video output unit 12h. On the other hand, when it is specified that the video input unit to be selected from the selection signal is the video input unit 12b, the video input unit 12b and the video output unit 12h are connected.

  According to the two window display devices 12 having such a configuration, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the one window display device 12 allows the video input section to be provided to the individual windows Win1 and Win2 having an arbitrary display position and display priority. A composite video in which a corresponding video source is displayed among the video source input to 12a and the video source input to the video input unit 12b is generated and output to the video output unit 12h. In addition, the other window display device 12 allows the video source input to the video input unit 12a and the video source input to the video input unit 12b to the individual windows Win3 and Win4 of any display position and display priority. Among them, a composite video in which a corresponding video source is displayed is generated and output to the video output unit 12h.

  The window display device 14 includes video input units 14a and 14b, an H / V counter 14c, enable signal output units 14d, 14e, 14f, and 14g, a selector 14h, a switching unit 14i, and a video output unit 14j. The composite video from one window display device 12 is input to the video input unit 14a as an input video, and the composite video from the other window display device 12 is input to the video input unit 14b.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the enable signal output unit. Similarly to the H / V counter 12c of the window display device 12, the H / V counter 14c has an H counter 22a and a V counter 22b. The functions of the H counter 22a and the V counter 22b are the same as the corresponding functions of the H counter 20a and the V counter 20b of the H / V counter 12c.

  The enable signal output unit 14d outputs an enable signal based on the display position and display priority of the window that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12a of the one window display device 12. The enable signal output unit 14e outputs an enable signal based on the display position and display priority of the window that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12b of the one window display device 12. The enable signal output unit 14f outputs an enable signal based on the display position and display priority of the window that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12a of the other window display device 12. The enable signal output unit 14g outputs an enable signal based on the display position and display priority of the window displaying the video source input to the video input unit 12b of the other window display device 12.

  Specifically, in the enable signal output unit 14d, the X coordinate value xs1 of the upper left coordinate of the window Win1 that displays the video source input to the video input unit 12a of the one window display device 12 is stored in the register 24a, and the window Win1 Is stored in the register 24b. The register 24d stores the Y coordinate value ys1 of the upper left coordinate of the window Win1, and the register 24e stores the Y coordinate value ye1 of the lower right coordinate of the window Win1.

  The register 24a and the register 24b output a pulse signal when the horizontal synchronization count from the H counter 22a matches the stored X coordinate value. Therefore, the SR latch 24c receiving the outputs from the registers 24a and 24b is active while the horizontal synchronization count is a value from the X coordinate value stored in the register 24a to the X coordinate value stored in the register 24b. Output a signal.

  The register 24d and the register 24e output a pulse signal when the vertical synchronization count from the V counter 22b matches the Y coordinate value stored in each. Therefore, the SR latch 24f that receives the outputs from the registers 24d and 24e receives the active signal while the vertical synchronization count is a value from the Y coordinate value stored in the register 24d to the Y coordinate value stored in the register 24e. Is output.

  The AND calculator 24g performs an AND operation on the signals from the SR latches 24c and 24f and outputs the calculation result. Therefore, the AND calculator 24g outputs an enable signal when the outputs of the SR latches 24c and 24f are both active signals.

  The register 24h stores the priority of the window Win1 and outputs an enable signal from the AND calculator 24g to the selector 24f.

  The enable signal output unit 14e has a register 24a, a register 24b, a register 24d, a register 24e, a register 24h, and SR for the window Win2 on which the video source input to the video input unit 12b of the one window display device 12 is displayed. A register 26a, a register 26b, a register 26d, a register 26e, a register 26h, an SR latch 26c, an SR latch 26f, an AND operator 26g, which provide functions similar to the latch 24c, the SR latch 24f, the AND operator 24g, and the register 24h, respectively. A register 26h is included.

  In addition, the enable signal output unit 14f has a register 24a, a register 24b, a register 24d, a register 24e, and a register 24h for the window Win3 on which the video source input to the video input unit 12a of the other window display device 12 is displayed. , SR latch 24c, SR latch 24f, AND operator 24g, and register 24h providing the same functions as the register 24h, register 28a, register 28b, register 28d, register 28e, register 28h, SR latch 28c, SR latch 28f, AND operator 28g and a register 28h.

  Further, the enable signal output unit 14g has a register 24a, a register 24b, a register 24d, a register 24e, and a register 24h for the window Win4 on which the video source input to the video input unit 12b of the other window display device 12 is displayed. , SR latch 24c, SR latch 24f, AND arithmetic unit 24g, and register 24h providing the same functions as those of the register 30a, register 30b, register 30d, register 30e, register 30h, SR latch 30c, SR latch 30f, AND operator 30 g and a register 30 h.

  When the enable signal is output from only one or both of the register 24h and the register 26h, the selector 14h outputs a selection signal for selecting the input video input to the video input unit 14a, and the register 28h and When an enable signal is output from only one or both of the registers 30h, a selection signal for selecting an input video input to the video input unit 14b is output. On the other hand, when an enable signal is simultaneously output from one or both of the register 24h and the register 26h and one or both of the register 28h and the register 30h, the selector 14h controls the register 24h, the register 26h, the register 28h, and the register 30h. A selection signal for selecting an input image including a window having the highest display priority is output with reference to the display priority stored in the register that has output the enable signal. Therefore, when the display priority stored in the register 24h or the register 26h is the highest, a selection signal for selecting an input video input to the video input unit 14a is output by the selector 14h. On the other hand, when the display priority stored in the register 28h or the register 30h is the highest, a selection signal for selecting an input video input to the video input unit 14b is output by the selector 14h.

  The switching unit 14i receives the selection signal from the selector 14h, and connects the video input unit 14a and the video output unit 14j when the video input unit to be selected from the selection signal is specified as the video input unit 14a. On the other hand, when the video input unit to be selected from the selection signal is specified as the video input unit 14b, the video input unit 14b and the video output unit 14j are connected.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the window display device 14 having such a configuration further combines the composite video in which the window Win1 and the window Win2 are superimposed and the composite video in which the window Win3 and the window Win4 are superimposed. A final composite video is generated, and the display position and display priority of each window are reflected in the final composite video.

  The multi-window display device 10 having such a configuration can use a general-purpose window display device as the window display device 12. Therefore, the multi-window display device 10 is a low-cost device.

  Further, in this multi-window display device 10, all the window display devices have two inputs and one output, and a composition video is further generated using the composite video output from the two lower window display devices as input video sources. Therefore, as compared with a conventional apparatus that sequentially synthesizes N input video sources using an N-stage 2-input switch, variation in delay until the final synthesized video is output is reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, although the above embodiment is a multi-window display device with 4 inputs and 1 output, it is easy for those skilled in the art to provide a multi-window display device with multiple inputs and 1 output such as 8 inputs and 1 output according to the present invention. Can be understood. As described above, according to the present invention, due to the expandability and variability of the system, it is easy to increase the number of video inputs of the multi-window display device or to change the failed device when replacing it.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multi-window display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the enable signal output unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the enable signal output unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite video in the case of four inputs and one output.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multi-window display apparatus, 12 ... Window display apparatus (1st window display apparatus), 14 ... Window display apparatus (2nd window display apparatus), 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b ... Image | video input part, 12d, 12e , 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g ... enable signal output unit, 12f, 14h ... selector, 12g, 14i ... switching unit, 12h, 14j ... video output unit.

Claims (1)

Each having m video input units and one video output unit, less than the total number N of input signals, and having a plurality of cascaded window display devices,
The plurality of window display devices,
A first window display device for receiving a video source from the outside in each of the m video input units of the device, and outputting a composite video obtained by displaying each video source in a separate window;
The m video input units of the apparatus receive a composite video from the first window display device or the lower window display device as an input video, and output a composite video obtained by synthesizing the input video. A window display device,
Including
The first window display device includes:
Based on the display position and display priority of m windows that display m video sources input to m video input units of the device, each of the composite videos output to the video output unit of the device First selection means for generating a selection signal for selecting a position signal from the m video sources input to the m video input units;
First switching means for switching a connection between the video input unit and the video output unit based on a selection signal generated by the first selection unit;
Have
The second window display device
Based on the display position and display priority of each window included in the m input videos input to the m video input units of the device, each of the composite videos output to the video output unit of the device Second selection means for generating a selection signal for selecting a position signal from the m input images input to the m image input units;
Second switching means for switching connection between the video input unit and the video output unit based on a selection signal generated by the second selection unit;
Having
Multi-window display device.

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