JP2819985B2 - Display control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display control device applied to a display device having a window function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a workstation or the like, in order to display an input screen corresponding to a plurality of application software on a display device, a window including the input screen is superimposed on a screen being displayed. There is a case where a window function for displaying the information is provided. Such a window function may be provided in a display for factory automation used for notifying an operating state of an industrial machine or an abnormal location.

[0003] The display device has a video RAM (random RAM) for storing data for each pixel constituting the display screen.
Access memory). This video RA
A part of the storage area of M is used as a storage area for a display image, and the display image storage area is scanned at a constant period. Then, data of each pixel is sequentially read, and a drive signal corresponding to the read image data is applied to a display unit including a liquid crystal display element or the like, whereby an image is displayed. Therefore, by writing the data of the image to be displayed in the display image storage area,
An image corresponding to the data can be displayed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a storage mode of a video RAM. A display image storage area 1 is provided in the memory space of the video RAM. FIG. 5 shows an image corresponding to the image data stored in the display image storage area 1, and this image is displayed on the display unit. For example, assume that a window 2 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5B in order to execute application software corresponding to the numerical value input function from the state of FIG. 5A. In this case, the display image storage area 1
The image data corresponding to the contents of the window 2 is stored in the area corresponding to the display coordinate position of the window 2. At this time, the image data of the original image in the area hidden behind the window 2 is evacuated to the storage area 3 other than the display image storage area 1.

When a further window 4 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5C, image data corresponding to the display screen of this window 4 is written into the display image storage area 1. Then, the original image data in the area hidden by the window 4 is saved in the free area 5. When the operation using the display image of the window 4 is completed, the window 4 is closed. At this time, the image data saved in the storage area 5 is returned to the storage area in the display image storage area 1 corresponding to the display area of the window 4. Similarly, when the window 2 is closed, the image data saved in the storage area 3 is returned to the storage area in the display image storage area 1 corresponding to the display area of the window 2. As a result, the display image is restored to the original image.

However, in the above-described technique, data of an image hidden behind a window is saved in an appropriate free area in a memory space. Therefore, in order to return the saved image data to a correct area in the display image storage area 1, it is necessary to manage coordinate positions at which the saved image should be displayed again separately from the image data. Therefore, there is a problem that processing becomes complicated.

[0007] This problem is solved by another prior art described below with reference to FIG. That is, in this prior art, a display image storage area 1 is provided in a memory space.
A plurality of storage areas 1 having the same capacity as the display image storage area 1
, 1, 12, 13,... Are provided. The image hidden behind the window 2 is stored in an area 11a corresponding to the display position of the window 2 in the storage area 11 (see FIG. 6B). When the window 4 is further overwritten, the image hidden behind the window 4 is stored in the storage area 12 in an area 12 a corresponding to the display position of the window 4.

When the windows 2 and 4 are closed, the data stored in the storage areas 11a and 12a are written to the corresponding storage areas in the display image storage area 1. Thus, in this prior art, the storage areas 11a, 12a
It can be said that coordinate information for returning the stored data is managed by the stored coordinates. Therefore, it is not necessary to manage the redisplay coordinate position of the saved image separately from the image data.

However, in this prior art, each time one window is set, a storage area of the same capacity as the display image storage area 1 is required for saving the image. Can not be used for Therefore, there is a problem that a large amount of memory is required. Further, when a large number of windows are overwritten, all the empty areas are used up, and there is a possibility that windows cannot be set. The storage areas for saving image data can be made seemingly infinite by cyclically using the storage areas 11, 12, 13,..., But when a large number of windows are overwritten, a comparison is made. A stored image saved corresponding to the window set earlier may be destroyed by another image saved later in the same storage area. In this case, the original image before setting the window cannot be restored.

Further, for example, it is conceivable that the previously set window 2 is closed first, and then the window 4 is closed. In this case, however, in any of the above prior arts, the windows 2 and 2 are closed. The original image cannot be faithfully restored without going through complicated data processing for the overlapping portion of each image of No. 4. That is, the process for restoring the original image may be complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, to realize a window function by a simple process without requiring a large amount of storage capacity, and to surely restore an original image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display control device capable of performing the above.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control apparatus, comprising: a display image storage unit for storing image data corresponding to a display image; and a display image storage unit. Evacuation storage means for saving all image data corresponding to the display image stored in the display image, and the display image storage means for setting the window so as to overlap the display image. A window setting means for writing image data corresponding to the image of the above; when the window is first set by the window setting means, prior to the setting of the first window, the window stored in the display image storage means; Means for saving all image data corresponding to the display image in the saving storage means, and means for saving the The image data corresponding to the area of the window whose setting is to be released is read out of the image data stored in the storage means. Means for writing to a storage area, and the window
C Setting of all windows set by setting means
Are simultaneously saved in the evacuation storage means.
All the image data corresponding to the displayed image
Means for writing to the indication storage means .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control apparatus, wherein a display image storage means for storing image data corresponding to a display image, and all images corresponding to the display image stored in the display image storage means. Evacuation storage means capable of evacuation of data; and storage of the display image without evacuation of image data of an image hidden behind the window for setting a window so as to overlap the display image. Window setting means for writing image data corresponding to the image of the window into the means; and display image storage means only when the window is first set by the window setting means, prior to the setting of the first window. Means for evacuating all image data corresponding to the display image stored in the evacuation storage means to the evacuation storage means; Means for writing all image data corresponding to the display image saved in the save storage means to the display image storage means when canceling the setting of the window set by the means. I do.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a window is first set, all the images corresponding to the display images stored in the display image storage means are set prior to the setting of the first window. The data is saved in the save storage means. Thereafter, the image corresponding to the window is overwritten on the display image storage means. Even when a window is newly set, an image hidden behind the window is not saved every time.

When canceling the setting of the window, the image data corresponding to the area of the window whose setting is to be canceled is read out of the image data saved in the saving storage means. Then, the read image data is written into the storage area corresponding to the area of the window whose setting is to be canceled in the display image storage means. As a result, the setting can be canceled for each window. Also,
When the settings of all windows are released at the same time, all the image data corresponding to the display image saved in the save storage unit is written in the display image storage unit. As a result, the settings of all the windows are simultaneously released, and the original image stored in the evacuation storage unit is restored. According to the second aspect of the present invention, when each window is set, the image data corresponding to the image hidden behind the window is not saved every time, so that a large size is required for saving the image data. Does not require storage capacity. When the setting of the window is released at the same time, the original image can be restored by writing all the image data corresponding to the display image saved in the save storage means to the display storage means.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a display device to which a display control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied . This display device is connected to, for example, a programmable controller that controls the operation of an industrial machine, and is applied to applications such as notification of an operating state of the industrial machine or an abnormal location.

The display device comprises a display unit 31, a display controller 32 for controlling the display unit 31, a display unit 31
Video RA for storing image data for each display pixel
M33 and Kanji ROM storing bit image of Kanji
34. The display unit 31 has an EL (electroluminescence) display panel 35 and a device controller 36 that controls the EL display panel 35.

The display controller 32 is connected to a CPU (central processing unit) 40 via a bus 38. The CPU 40 has a serial interface (I / F) 4
2, a programmable controller (not shown) and the like are connected. The CPU 40 and the display controller 32 function as window setting means and the like.

A bus 38 has a system ROM (read only memory) 44 storing a program to be executed by the CPU 40, a data memory 45 for storing information corresponding to an image to be displayed on the display unit 31, and a CP 38.
Work RA used as work area of U40
M46 is connected. A touch panel 50 is further connected to the bus 38 via a touch switch interface (I / F) 48. The touch panel 50
It is provided on the surface of the EL panel 35 and is operated by the operator touching it with fingers, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation position.

The image to be displayed on the display unit 31 is coded and registered in the data memory 45 in advance. The CPU 40 reads out image information from the data memory 45 based on the information provided from the serial interface 42 and supplies the image information to the display controller 32 via the bus 38. The display controller 32 expands the given image information into image data corresponding to each pixel displayed on the display unit 31, and stores the expanded image data in the video RAM 33.
Write to. The image data written in the video RAM 33 is provided to a device controller 36, which controls the driving of the EL display panel 35, thereby achieving the display of an image corresponding to the image information read from the data memory 35. Is done.

In the data memory 45, in addition to images to be displayed based on information from a programmable controller or the like, for example, images of windows for ten keys, graph display, and the like are registered. By using the image of this window, a window function for forming an input screen or the like corresponding to various application software in the display screen of the display unit 31 is realized.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a window functions are shown a display example on the display unit 31.
For example, when a predetermined input operation is performed from the touch panel 50 or a predetermined interrupt process occurs while a screen as shown in FIG. 2A is displayed, for example, a numerical value input window W1 including a numeric keypad is opened. The image is superimposed on the original image, and the state shown in FIG. The operator can input numerical values by operating the touch panel 50 provided on the surface of the display panel 35. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, with the window W1 overwritten,
Still another window W2 is used for the original image and the window W1.
It can also be displayed on top of.

When the input operation using the images in the windows W1 and W2 is completed, the windows W1 and W2 are erased by performing a predetermined input operation or generating a predetermined interrupt. In this case, in the prior arts described above, individual windows are individually closed. In this embodiment , however, all windows are closed at the same time, and the original image of FIG. 2A is restored.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the storage state of the video RAM 33 when the above-described window function is used. In the storage area of the video RAM 33, a display image storage area M1 for storing image data corresponding to an image to be displayed on the display unit 31 and all of the image data stored in the display image storage area 1 are temporarily stored. And an evacuation storage area M2 for temporary evacuation. The evacuation storage area M2 is the display image storage area M
It has a storage capacity equal to or greater than 1. The display image storage area M1 is scanned at a high speed at regular intervals, and is stored in the device controller 36 as data for each pixel.
Given to. Therefore, if the data for each pixel of the image to be displayed is written in the display image storage area M1, the display on the display unit 31 is achieved.

In a normal state where the window function is not used, the storage state inside the video RAM 33 is as shown in FIG.
This is as shown in FIG. That is, the display image storage area M1 is used, and image data corresponding to an image to be displayed in the display image storage area M1 is written from the display controller 32. When any of the windows is set, for example, when the window W1 in FIG. 2 is set, the CPU 40 reads out the image information of the window W1 from the data memory 45 and displays the image information together with the information of the display coordinates of the window W1. This is given to the controller 32. When a window is first set, the CPU 40 issues a command to save all image data in the display image storage area M1 to the save storage area M2 before giving the window setting command to the display controller 32. Is given to the display controller 32. In response, the display controller 32 transfers the storage data of the storage area M1 to the save storage area M2. That is, the image data of the original image before setting the window W1 is saved in the save storage area M2. The state of the storage area of the video RAM 33 at this time is shown in FIG.

From this state, the image information corresponding to the window W1 is read out from the data memory 45 and supplied to the display controller 32 together with the display coordinate information.
The display controller 32 expands the image of the window W1 in a storage area corresponding to the display coordinates in the display image storage area M1. The state of the video RAM 33 at this time is shown in FIG. 3C, and at this time, the display screen of the display unit 31 is in the state of FIG. 2B.

Further, when the window W2 is set in an overlapping manner, as shown in FIG. 3D, the window W2 is placed in an area corresponding to the display coordinates of the window W2.
Image is written. Similarly, when a new window is set, the new window is overwritten on the immediately preceding display screen.

When the operation using the windows W1 and W2 is completed, the windows W1 and W2 are closed by the operator performing a predetermined operation from the touch panel 50 or generating a predetermined interruption. At this time, the display controller 32 transfers the image data stored in the save storage area M2 to the storage area M1. The state of the storage area of the video RAM 33 at this time is the same as that in FIG. In this way, all windows are closed at the same time, and the original image before the first window W1 is displayed is restored and displayed on the display unit 31.

As described above, according to this embodiment , all of the original image data before the window is first set is saved in the save storage area M2, and each time a window is set, the image of the window is saved. The data is written to the display image storage area M1. Then, the image data in the storage area M1 is not saved except that the original image data is saved first.

Therefore, in order to save the image data,
It is sufficient to prepare a storage area having the same capacity as the display image storage area M1. As a result, the window function can be realized using the video RAM 33 having an extremely small storage capacity. Further, it is not necessary to save the image data every time each window is set, and furthermore, since the process of saving the data of the image hidden behind the window is not performed, the process regarding the overlapping portion between the windows is unnecessary. Further, there is no need to manage the display coordinates of the window. Therefore, processing for realizing the window function becomes extremely simple.

As described above, according to this embodiment , the window function can be realized by using the video RAM 33 having a small storage capacity and by extremely simple processing. Moreover,
The basic process of restoring the original image can be performed reliably. As a result, a display device having a window function can be realized at extremely low cost. In the above embodiment , when closing windows, all windows are closed at the same time. That is, individual windows cannot be closed individually. However, this does not cause a great problem. Because if you want to refer back to a window hidden behind a certain window,
This is because the window may be newly set.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the display control device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and shows the storage mode of the video RAM 33. In the description of this embodiment, FIG. 1 described above will be referred to again. The most characteristic difference between this embodiment and the above-described first embodiment lies in the operation when the setting of the window is canceled. That is, in the first embodiment described above, all windows are closed at the same time, and individual windows cannot be closed individually.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, each window can be closed individually.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when a window W11 corresponding to the graph display is open,
Further, it is assumed that a window W12 corresponding to the numeric keypad is opened to perform a numerical value input operation. It is assumed that when the first window W11 is set, all of the original image data has been saved in the save storage area M2. Even if the second and subsequent windows are newly set, the image data is not newly saved.

When the operation using the window W12 is completed, the operator operates the touch panel 50 to perform an operation for closing the window W12. In response to this, the display controller 32 reads the image data of the area W22 corresponding to the area of the window W12 in the save storage area M2. Then, the read image data is written to the storage area corresponding to the window W12 in the display image storage area M1. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4B, the window W12 is erased and the window W12 is erased.
Only 11 will remain. The window W11 can be closed similarly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, individual windows can be individually closed by simple processing without saving the image for each window.
Thereby, usability can be improved. Also, if all windows are closed, the original image can be reliably restored.
Further, when canceling the setting of the window, the image data corresponding to the area of the window to be unset can be transferred from the evacuation storage area M2 to the display image storage area M1. Is smaller than the transfer data amount when the window is closed. Therefore, the processing for canceling the window setting can be performed at high speed. On the other hand, in this embodiment, each window is individually
Or close all windows at the same time
Is selected by an input operation from the touch panel 50.
Can be used. That is, the wind
When closing windows individually,
The corresponding image data is stored in the save storage area M2 for the display image.
Transferred to storage area M1 and closes all windows simultaneously
When all the image data in the evacuation storage area M2 is
The data is transferred to the display image storage area M1.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, one video RAM
The storage area 33 is used to store display image data and saved image data, but the display image data and saved image data are stored in separate memory elements. It may be.

Further, in the above embodiment, a display device using the EL display panel 35 is taken as an example. However, the present invention relates to a display device using a liquid crystal display element, a plasma display element, a CRT (cathode ray tube) or the like. Can also be applied.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display device used for displaying the operating state of the industrial machine or the abnormal part has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a display device such as a workstation. it can. In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a window is first set, a new window is set except that all image data corresponding to the display image is saved in the save storage means. In this case, the image hidden behind the window is not saved each time. For this reason, it is sufficient to provide an evacuation storage unit having the same capacity as the display image storage unit in order to save the image data. Thus, the window function can be realized with a small storage capacity.

[0040]

Further, since the original image is saved in the save storage means, if all windows are closed,
The original picture can be reliably restored. In addition, the window setting can be released for each window, so that it is easy to use, and the amount of data to be transferred from the evacuation storage unit to the display image storage unit when releasing the window setting is small. . Moreover, when all the windows are closed at the same time, all the image data corresponding to the display image saved in the saving storage means is written in the display image storage means, so that the original image is saved.
It can be restored quickly and reliably. According to the invention of claim 2 Symbol placement, since there is no the image data corresponding to the image hidden behind the window when the individual window is set is evacuated each time, for the image data saving Does not require large storage capacity. In addition, the original image can be restored using the image data saved in the saving storage means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a display device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

2 is a diagram showing a change of the display mode when using the window guiding functions.

3 is a diagram for explaining a change in storage mode in the video RAM when using window guiding functions.

FIG. 4 shows a display control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in a storage mode in a video RAM when a window function is used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a first prior art.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a second prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 display unit 32 display controller 33 video RAM 40 CPU

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G09G 5/14 G09G 5/00 G06F 3/14 350

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display image storage means for storing image data corresponding to a display image, and a saving means for saving all image data corresponding to the display image stored in the display image storage means. Storage means; window setting means for writing image data corresponding to the image of the window in the display image storage means for setting a window so as to overlap the display image; Is set, prior to the setting of the first window, means for saving all image data corresponding to the display image stored in the display image storage means to the save storage means, When the setting is canceled, the area of the window whose setting is canceled out of the image data stored in the evacuation storage means. Means for reading the image data corresponding to the window, writing the read image data to a storage area of the display image storage means corresponding to the area of the window to be unset, and all the windows set by the window setting means. And a means for writing all image data corresponding to the display image saved in the save storage means to the display storage means when simultaneously canceling the settings. 2. A display image storage means for storing image data corresponding to a display image, and a saving means for saving all image data corresponding to the display image stored in the display image storage means. Storing means for setting a window so as to be superimposed on the display image, the image data of the image hidden behind the window is not saved, and the display image storage means corresponds to the image of the window. Window setting means for writing image data; and only when a window is initially set by the window setting means, prior to setting of the first window, the display image stored in the display image memory is thrown into the display image. Means for saving all corresponding image data in the saving storage means, and a window set by the window setting means. Means for writing all image data corresponding to the display image saved in the save storage means to the display image storage means when canceling the window setting.