JP2007219096A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a display device which secures sufficient memory capacity by limiting a separation range of a memory to the requisite minimum even in the case of a fault. <P>SOLUTION: The display device is provided with: an abnormality occurrence detecting unit 13 which compares image data subjected to writing processing by an image drawing unit 12 with image data actually written to a drawing area, and detects the occurrence of abnormality when the image data do not match each other; and an abnormal area authorization unit 14 which authorizes the area where the image data are written as an abnormal area when the abnormality occurrence detecting unit 13 detects the occurrence of abnormality, and re-allocates a drawing area for the area excluding the abnormal area from the whole memory area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device that performs a drawing area assignment process that permits image data writing processing and performs image data writing processing in the drawing area.

A central processing unit constituting a conventional display device is connected to a storage unit composed of a plurality of memory units, and the central processing unit employs an automatic separation system for defective memory.
The central processing unit manages the allocation start address of each memory unit constituting the storage device as follows.
For example, when accessing the N-th stage memory unit, the central processing unit inputs the allocation start address of the N−1-th stage memory unit from the N−1-th stage memory unit and inputs the N−1-th stage memory unit. The memory capacity of the memory unit at the (N-1) th stage is added to the allocation start address of the memory unit.
Then, the central processing unit recognizes the addition result as the allocation start address of the Nth memory unit and accesses the Nth memory unit.

When a certain memory unit fails, the central processing unit separates the memory unit and reconfigures the memory unit constituting the storage device.
For example, if the N-th stage memory unit fails, the N-th stage memory unit is disconnected, and the allocation start address is such that the next-stage memory unit of the N−1-th stage memory unit is the N + 1-th stage memory unit. By managing the above, the memory unit constituting the storage device is reconfigured (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-62-206647 (pages 7 to 11, FIG. 2)

  Since the conventional display device is configured as described above, if a memory unit fails, the memory unit can be automatically disconnected and processing can be continued. However, since the unit of separation of the failure part is a memory unit, even if the failure range is a part of the memory unit, the memory unit must be disconnected, and sufficient memory capacity cannot be secured. There were some issues.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can provide a sufficient memory capacity by limiting the memory separation range to a necessary minimum even when a failure occurs. The purpose is to obtain.

  The display device according to the present invention compares the image data that has been subjected to the writing process by the image drawing means and the image data that is actually written in the drawing area. An abnormality occurrence detecting means for detecting, and when an abnormality occurrence is detected by the abnormality occurrence detecting means, an abnormality area identifying means for recognizing an area where the image data is written as an abnormal area is provided, and the area reassigning means A drawing area reassignment process for permitting the image data writing process is performed on the entire area of the memory excluding the abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition means.

  According to the present invention, the image data subjected to the writing process by the image drawing means and the image data actually written in the drawing area are compared, and if the two image data do not match, the occurrence of abnormality is detected. When an abnormality occurrence is detected by the abnormality occurrence detection means and the abnormality occurrence detection means, an abnormality area recognition means for certifying the area in which the image data is written as an abnormal area is provided. Even if a failure occurs, even if a failure occurs, it is configured to perform the reallocation process of the drawing area that permits the image data writing process to the area excluding the abnormal area that has been recognized by the abnormal area recognition means. There is an effect that a sufficient memory capacity can be secured by limiting the separation range to the minimum necessary.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, for example, a computing device 1 is a drawing area allocation process, an image data drawing process, a drawing area monitoring process, or an abnormal area specification. It is a circuit such as a CPU, DSP, or GPU that performs processing, drawing area reallocation processing, and the like.
The image holding device 2 is a memory such as a frame buffer that passively stores image data related to the drawing processing of the arithmetic device 1.
In the first embodiment, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the arithmetic device 1 performs a display area 21 in which image data that is actually displayed on the monitor 4 is written in the memory area of the image holding apparatus 2 and various image processing, for example. Assume that the image data is assigned to a temporary drawing area 22 in which image data is temporarily written for implementation.

The display output device 3 is a data converter that reads out image data written in the display area 21 of the image holding device 2, converts the image data into a signal corresponding to the monitor 4, and displays the image on the monitor 4. is there.
The monitor 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT.

The area allocating unit 11 of the arithmetic device 1 performs a drawing area allocating process for permitting image data writing processing to the memory area in the image holding apparatus 2, that is, an allocating process for the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22. Note that the area allocation unit 11 constitutes an area allocation unit.
The image drawing unit 12 of the arithmetic device 1 performs a process of writing image data in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22 assigned by the area assigning unit 11. The image drawing unit 12 constitutes an image drawing unit.

The abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 of the arithmetic device 1 compares the image data on which the writing process has been performed by the image drawing unit 12 with the image data actually written in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22, and both image data are obtained. If they do not match, a process for detecting the occurrence of an abnormality is performed. The abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 constitutes an abnormality occurrence detection unit.
When the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the abnormal region recognition unit 14 of the arithmetic device 1 is a region in which image data is written by the image drawing unit 12 (a part of the display region 21 or the temporary drawing region 22). Execute the process to certify as an abnormal area. In addition, the abnormal area | region recognition part 14 comprises the abnormal area | region recognition means.

The area reassignment unit 15 of the arithmetic device 1 reassigns the drawing area that permits the image data writing process to the area excluding the abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition part 14 from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2. Perform the process. The area reallocation unit 15 constitutes an area reallocation unit.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the memory area in the image holding apparatus 2.

Next, the operation will be described.
When the image data rendering process is performed, the arithmetic device 1 initializes the memory area of the image holding device 2 and performs the allocation process of the display area 21 and the temporary rendering area 22.
That is, the area allocation unit 11 of the arithmetic device 1 performs a process of allocating the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 to the memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 when, for example, the display apparatus is turned on or the display apparatus is reset. Implement (see state 1-1 and state 2-1 in FIG. 2).

Note that the area allocation unit 11 allocates the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 continuously from either the upper area or the lower area of the memory area in the image holding device 2 when allocating the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22. Alternatively, if the allocated area amount of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is larger than a predetermined threshold, the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 are continuously set from the upper area of the memory area in the image holding device 2. If the allocation area amount of the allocation and display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 may be continuously allocated from the lower area of the memory area in the image holding device 2. Good.
As described above, by continuously assigning the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22, it is possible to prevent the memory area from being divided.

  Further, when the arithmetic unit 1 is not performing drawing processing or the like, the area allocation unit 11 inspects the memory area of the image holding apparatus 2 in advance to determine whether there is an abnormality in the memory area, and an abnormality occurs. The display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 may not be assigned to the area.

When the area allocation unit 11 allocates the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22, the image drawing unit 12 of the computing device 1 performs drawing processing such as line segment drawing, rectangular drawing, and rectangular transfer, for example.
That is, the image drawing unit 12 performs image data writing processing in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22 allocated by the area allocation unit 11.
The image drawing unit 12 outputs image data to be written in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22 to the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 so that the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 can detect the occurrence of the abnormality.

The abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 of the arithmetic device 1 reads the image data written in the display region 21 or the temporary drawing region 22 when the image drawing unit 12 performs the image data writing process on the display region 21 or the temporary drawing region 22. The image data is compared with the image data output from the image drawing unit 12.
If both the image data match, the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 determines that the image data writing process in the image drawing unit 12 has ended normally.
However, if the two pieces of image data do not match, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred without the image data writing process in the image drawing unit 12 completing normally.

  It should be noted that the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 calculates the image data when the image drawing unit 12 performs the image data writing process when the image data is written in the temporary drawing region 22 in order to reduce the load on the calculation device 1. The image data may be read by reading out the image data written in the temporary drawing area 22 at a timing at which the apparatus 1 does not perform the drawing process or at an arbitrary interval.

When the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the abnormal region recognition unit 14 of the arithmetic device 1 determines the region (the display region 21 or a part of the temporary drawing region 22) where the image data is written by the image drawing unit 12. Authorize in abnormal areas.
2 shows an example in which the image data written in the display area 21 is different from the image data output from the image drawing unit 12, and in the state 2-2 in FIG. In the example, the image data written in the temporary drawing area 22 is different from the image data output from the image drawing unit 12.
The abnormal area recognition unit 14 recognizes the entire area where the different image data is written (part of the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22) as an abnormal area. However, only the area where the different part is written may be recognized as an abnormal area.

When the abnormal area recognition unit 14 recognizes the abnormal area, the area reallocation unit 15 of the arithmetic device 1 applies to the area excluding the abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition unit 14 from the entire memory area in the image holding device 2. Then, the reallocation process of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is performed.
In state 1-3 in FIG. 2, since an abnormality has occurred in the display area 21 (state 1-2), the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 are re-established relative to the memory area excluding the abnormal area in the display area 21. An example of assignment is shown.
Further, in the state 2-3 of FIG. 2, since an abnormality has occurred in the temporary drawing area 22 (state 2-2), the display area 21 and the temporary drawing with respect to the memory area excluding the abnormal area in the temporary drawing area 22. An example in which the area 22 is reallocated is shown.

  As apparent from the above, according to the first embodiment, the image data subjected to the writing process by the image drawing unit 12 is compared with the image data actually written in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22, If the two pieces of image data do not match, the abnormality detection unit 13 that detects the occurrence of the abnormality, and when the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of the abnormality, the region in which the image data is written is abnormal. An abnormal area recognition unit 14 for recognizing the area is provided, and the area reassignment unit 15 has a display area 21 for the area excluding the abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition unit 14 from the entire memory area in the image holding device 2. Since the reallocation process of the temporary drawing area 22 is implemented, even if a failure occurs, the memory separation range is limited to the minimum necessary to secure a large memory capacity. Rukoto an effect that can.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a display device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
When an abnormality occurrence is detected by the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13, the drawing stop unit 31 outputs a stop command for stopping the image data writing process or the system maintenance process in the image drawing unit 12 to the arithmetic device 1. . The drawing stopping unit 31 constitutes drawing stopping means.
The abnormality notifying unit 32 performs a process of notifying the occurrence of an abnormality when the abnormality occurrence detecting unit 13 detects the occurrence of the abnormality. The abnormality notification unit 32 constitutes abnormality notification means.

In the first embodiment, when the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the area reallocation unit 15 performs the reallocation processing of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22. When the unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the image data writing process or the like may be further stopped to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality.
Specifically, it is as follows.

That is, when the abnormality detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the drawing stop unit 31 outputs a stop command to the arithmetic device 1 to stop the image data writing process in the image drawing unit 12 or the process for maintaining the system. To do.
When the image drawing unit 12 of the arithmetic device 1 receives a write process stop command from the drawing stop unit 31, the image drawing unit 12 stops the image data write process.
Thereby, the useless writing process of the image data to the abnormal area is stopped, and the useless operation of the arithmetic device 1 can be stopped.

The abnormality notifying unit 32 performs a process of notifying the occurrence of an abnormality when the abnormality occurrence detecting unit 13 detects the occurrence of the abnormality.
For example, the abnormality notification unit 32 writes a comment (image data) indicating that an abnormality has occurred and the computing device 1 is stopped in the display area 21 where no abnormality has occurred, and the comment is displayed on the monitor 4. By displaying it, the user is notified of the occurrence of an abnormality.
Alternatively, the abnormality notification unit 32 outputs a sound indicating the occurrence of an abnormality, drives a vibrator that generates vibration, or emits an LED to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality.
According to the second embodiment, since the user can know the occurrence of an abnormality, the user can take an appropriate measure when the system is stopped.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
The abnormality reserved area 23 is a spare area used when an abnormality occurs in the image data writing process for the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22.
The area allocation unit 16 of the arithmetic device 1 performs a drawing area allocation process on the area excluding the abnormal reserved area 23 from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2. Note that the area allocation unit 16 constitutes an area allocation unit.
The area reassignment unit 17 of the arithmetic device 1 performs the drawing area reassignment process on the area including the area excluding the abnormal area and the abnormality reserved area 23 from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2. The area reallocation unit 17 constitutes an area reallocation means.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the memory area in the image holding apparatus 2.

Next, the operation will be described.
When the image data drawing process is performed, the arithmetic device 1 initializes the memory area of the image holding device 2 and performs the allocation process of the display area 21, the temporary drawing area 22, and the abnormality reserved area 23.
That is, the area allocation unit 16 of the arithmetic device 1 applies to the area excluding the abnormal reserved area 23 from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 when, for example, the display device is turned on or the display device is reset. Then, a process of assigning the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is performed (see state 3-1 in FIG. 5).

When the area allocation unit 11 allocates the display area 21, the temporary drawing area 22, and the abnormality reserved area 23, the image drawing unit 12 of the arithmetic device 1 performs drawing processing such as line segment drawing, rectangular drawing, and rectangular transfer, for example. To do.
That is, the image drawing unit 12 performs image data writing processing in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22 allocated by the area allocation unit 11.
The image drawing unit 12 outputs image data to be written in the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22 to the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 so that the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 can detect the occurrence of the abnormality.

When the image drawing unit 12 performs the image data writing process on the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22, the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 of the arithmetic device 1 displays the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area as in the first embodiment. The image data written in the data 22 is read out, and the image data is compared with the image data output from the image drawing unit 12.
If both the image data match, the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 determines that the image data writing process in the image drawing unit 12 has ended normally.
However, if the two pieces of image data do not match, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred without the image data writing process in the image drawing unit 12 completing normally.

When the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the abnormality region recognition unit 14 of the arithmetic device 1 is a region (display region 21 or area) in which image data is written by the image drawing unit 12 as in the first embodiment. A part of the temporary drawing area 22) is recognized as an abnormal area.
A state 3-2 in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the image data written in the display area 21 is different from the image data output from the image drawing unit 12.
The abnormal area recognition unit 14 recognizes the entire area (part of the display area 21) in which different image data is written as an abnormal area, but only a part of the image data is different. If it is, only the area where the different part is written may be recognized as an abnormal area.

When the abnormal area recognition unit 14 recognizes an abnormal area, the area reallocation unit 17 of the computing device 1 sets the area excluding the abnormal area from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 and the abnormality reserved area 23 together. On the other hand, the reallocation process of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is performed.
In state 3-3 in FIG. 5, an abnormality has occurred in the display area 21 (state 3-2), and the reallocation processing of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is performed on the area excluding the abnormal area. Then, since the occupied area of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is reduced from before the occurrence of the abnormality, and the drawing performance may be deteriorated, the abnormality reserved area 23 is opened by the same capacity as the abnormal area and displayed. An area 21 and a temporary drawing area 22 are allocated.

  As is apparent from the above, according to the third embodiment, when the abnormal reserved area 23 used when an abnormality occurs is allocated to the memory area in the image holding device 2, the area allocating unit 16 The drawing area is allocated to the area excluding the abnormal reserved area 23 from the entire area, and the area reallocation unit 17 applies the area excluding the abnormal area and the abnormal reserved area 23 to the entire memory area. Therefore, even if the reallocation process of the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 is performed, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the drawing performance.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
The abnormal area storage unit 33 is a memory that stores the abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition unit 14. The abnormal area storage unit 33 constitutes an abnormal area storage unit.
The area allocation unit 18 of the arithmetic device 1 is stored in the abnormal area storage unit 33 from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 (or from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 excluding the reserved area for abnormality 23). A process of assigning the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 to the area excluding the abnormal area is performed. The area allocating unit 18 constitutes an area allocating unit.

Next, the operation will be described.
When the abnormality occurrence detection unit 13 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the abnormality region recognition unit 14 of the arithmetic device 1 is a region (display region) in which image data is written by the image drawing unit 12 as in the first to third embodiments. 21 or a part of the temporary drawing area 22) is recognized as an abnormal area.
When the abnormal area recognition unit 14 recognizes the abnormal area, the abnormal area storage unit 33 stores the abnormal area.

The area allocation unit 18 of the computing device 1 checks the abnormal area stored in the abnormal area storage unit 33 when the computing device 1 is restarted after the drawing stop unit 31 stops the operation of the computing device 1. .
Then, the area allocation unit 18 is stored in the abnormal area storage unit 33 from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 (or from the entire memory area in the image holding apparatus 2 excluding the reserved area for abnormality 23). A process of assigning the display area 21 and the temporary drawing area 22 to the area excluding the abnormal area is performed.
Since the subsequent processing contents are the same as those in the first to third embodiments, description thereof will be omitted.

  As is apparent from the above, according to the fourth embodiment, the abnormal area storage unit 33 that stores the abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition unit 14 is provided, and the area allocation unit 18 uses the memory area in the image holding device 2. (Or the area excluding the abnormal reserved area 23 from the entire memory area in the image holding device 2) to the area excluding the abnormal area stored in the abnormal area storage unit 33, the display area 21 and the temporary area Since the drawing area 22 is allocated, when the computing device 1 is restarted, the display area 21 or the temporary drawing area 22 is prevented from being reassigned to the area where the image data write error has occurred, and repeated. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of abnormalities.

It is a block diagram which shows the display apparatus by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the memory area in an image holding device. It is a block diagram which shows the display apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the display apparatus by Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the memory area in an image holding device. It is a block diagram which shows the display apparatus by Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Arithmetic unit, 2 Image holding device (memory), 3 Display output device, 4 Monitor, 11 Area allocation part (area allocation means), 12 Image drawing part (image drawing means), 13 Abnormality generation detection part (Abnormality detection) Means), 14 abnormal region recognition unit (abnormal region recognition unit), 15 region reallocation unit (region reallocation unit), 16 region allocation unit (region allocation unit), 17 region reallocation unit (region reallocation unit), 18 Area allocation section (area allocation means), 21 display area, 22 temporary drawing area, 23 reserved area for abnormality, 31 drawing stop section (drawing stop means), 32 abnormality notification section (abnormality notification means), 33 abnormal area storage section ( Abnormal region storage means).

Claims (5)

  Area allocation means for performing a drawing area allocation process that permits image data writing processing to the memory, image drawing means for performing image data writing processing to the drawing area allocated by the area allocation means, and An abnormality occurrence detection means for comparing the image data subjected to the writing process by the image drawing means and the image data actually written in the drawing area, and detecting the occurrence of an abnormality if the two image data do not match; When the occurrence of an abnormality is detected by the abnormality occurrence detection means, the abnormality area recognition means for recognizing the area in which the image data is written as an abnormal area and the abnormality area recognition means from the entire memory A table having area reassignment means for performing a reallocation process of a drawing area that permits a writing process of image data to an area excluding an abnormal area Apparatus.   2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a drawing stopping unit that stops the writing process of the image data in the image drawing unit when an abnormality occurrence is detected by the abnormality occurrence detecting unit.   3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality notifying unit for notifying the occurrence of an abnormality when an abnormality occurrence is detected by the abnormality occurrence detecting unit.   If the reserved area for abnormality to be used when an abnormality occurs is allocated to the memory, the area allocation means performs the drawing area allocation processing for the area excluding the above-mentioned abnormal reserved area from the entire memory, and reallocates the area. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the means executes a reallocation process of the drawing area on an area obtained by combining the area excluding the abnormal area from the entire memory and the abnormal reserved area. A display device according to claim 1.   An abnormal area storage means for storing an abnormal area recognized by the abnormal area recognition means is provided, and the area allocation means carries out a drawing area assignment process for an area excluding the abnormal area from the entire memory. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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