JP3861463B2 - Image display control method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image display control method and apparatus for displaying sprites.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image display device such as a game machine, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when displaying an image of a car moving against a background of a wild mountain, as shown in FIG. A group of pictures with the movements are generated as sprites # 0 to # 31, respectively, and these are superimposed and displayed on a character pattern such as Noyama as a background. Note that the example shown in FIG. 7 includes a backdrop surface, an external video plane, and a rearmost plane in addition to the sprite and the character pattern.
[0003]
This type of image display apparatus has a sprite attribute table inside the image LSI, and attribute data for displaying each sprite is stored in this table. As shown in FIG. 8, the sprite attribute data includes coordinates for designating the display position, pattern name data for designating the address on the ROM where the picture is stored, and the display color. Pallet selection data, size selection data for selecting the size, and although not shown, a plurality of display attributes such as inversion instruction data and priority data are defined for each sprite (FIGS. 7 and 8). In the example shown, 32 sprites).
[0004]
According to this type of image display device, for example, rewriting attribute data indicating display attributes defined in the sprite attribute table or scrolling the character pattern can give the image a motion. That is, the CPU controls the image LSI to realize the above movement, or the control data stored in the external ROM is directly written to the image LSI by ROM transfer to realize the movement. When the sprite data is transferred to the ROM, the sprite attribute data for each scene is stored in advance in a ROM or the like as time-series data, and the ROM is transferred from the ROM to the sprite attribute table for each scene so that the display attribute of the sprite is set. By updating, the sprite is given movement.
[0005]
Usually, in the case of an image LSI, in order to prevent display noise, the sprite attribute table is rewritten by ROM transfer from a ROM in which attribute data is stored in a vertical border period (vertical non-display period). The rewrite frequency (update frequency) of the sprite attribute table differs depending on the type of display attribute. Generally, the sprite attribute data is updated in the order of size selection, palette selection data, pattern name data, and coordinate data.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
A conventional sprite attribute table in the image LSI has a structure as shown in FIG. 8, and sprite attribute data is stored in the ROM for the corresponding scene in the same format as in FIG. For each scene, each attribute data is transferred from the ROM to a sprite attribute table in the image LSI. For this reason, for example, even when only coordinate data with high update frequency is updated, other attribute data such as pattern names that do not need to be updated are also transferred together. As a result, there is a problem that the amount of data transfer increases and time is required for data transfer. In addition, since it is necessary to store all attribute data for each sprite in the ROM, there is also a problem that a large ROM area is required for the attribute data.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can improve the transfer efficiency of attribute data of sprites, reduce the amount of data, and efficiently update the attribute data of sprites. It is an object to provide a display control method and apparatus.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image display control device according to the present invention is an image display control device for updating a display attribute of a sprite to display a moving image on a screen. Attribute data indicating the display attribute of the sprite necessary for updating for each scene Attribute data storage means that is classified by attribute and stored as time-series data, and a sprite attribute table in which display attributes of each sprite are defined and classified by attribute, from the attribute data storage means to the sprite attribute table Image generation means for reading attribute data that needs to be updated for each attribute and rewriting the sprite attribute table, generating each sprite based on the sprite attribute table, and generating image information to be displayed by the generated sprite; It is characterized by having.
[0009]
The image display control method according to the present invention is an image display control method for updating a display attribute of a sprite to display a moving image on a screen, and indicates the display attribute of the sprite necessary for updating for each scene. classifies the attribute data on demographic, when the attribute data storing step of storing as series data, reads the attribute data required to update the sprite attribute table display attribute is defined are categorized by the attribute of each sprite demographic the sprite An image display control method comprising: a step of rewriting an attribute table; and a step of generating each sprite based on the sprite attribute table and generating image information to be displayed by the generated sprite.
[0010]
According to the present invention, since the display attributes of sprites are classified and defined in the sprite attribute table according to the attributes, the sprite attribute table can be rewritten for each attribute. Therefore, when the update frequency of the attribute data depends on the display attribute, it is possible to rewrite the sprite attribute table by transferring the attribute data indicating the specific display attribute necessary for the update, and the transfer efficiency can be improved.
[0011]
In addition, attribute data for each scene is classified by attribute and stored as time-series data, and attribute data is transferred to the sprite attribute table by ROM transfer. It becomes possible to transfer. In this case, the attribute data storage means only needs to store attribute data to be updated for each scene, and the storage capacity can be reduced.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image display apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This apparatus includes an image control unit 10 and a ROM 30 that constitute an image display control apparatus, and a display 20 as a display control means that controls display by this.
The image generation unit 10 (image generation means) includes a CPU 11, an image LSI 12, and a video encoder 13. The image LSI 12 has a sprite attribute table 110 in which display attributes of sprites on the screen are defined. Each sprite is generated based on the sprite attribute table 110 and display 20 is controlled.
[0013]
Here, the CPU 11 constituting the image generation unit 10 is responsible for data transfer from a ROM 30 to be described later to the image LSI 12, control for giving motion to the image, and the like. The image LSI 12 generates an image information signal and a scanning synchronization signal, which will be described later, based on the data transferred from the ROM 30 under the control of the CPU 11. The video encoder 13 generates a video signal for driving the display 20 based on the image information signal from the image LSI 12 and the scanning synchronization signal.
[0014]
A configuration example of the image LSI 12 is shown in FIG.
In the sprite attribute table 110, as shown in FIG. 3, the attribute data indicating the display attributes of each sprite on the screen is classified and arranged for each attribute, and the display attributes of each sprite are defined. In the example shown in FIG. 3, four types of display attributes are defined for 32 sprites # 0 to # 31: coordinates indicating the display position, pattern name, palette selection, and size selection.
[0015]
The character pattern generator 111 accesses the ROM 30 via the ROM interface 112 and generates a character pattern. The sprite generator 113 accesses the ROM 30 via the ROM interface 112 based on the sprite attribute table 110 to generate a sprite.
[0016]
A color palette DAC (DA Converter) 114 is provided for each dot of an image based on the character pattern display data and sprite display data generated by the character pattern generator 111 and the sprite generator 113 and palette selection data (character pattern and sprite data). An image information signal representing the R, G, and B values is generated. The CRT controller 115 outputs a horizontal synchronizing signal, a vertical synchronizing signal, and a composite synchronizing signal as scanning synchronizing signals for synchronizing when scanning the display 20. The timing generator 116 generates a clock signal for defining the operation timing of each part of the image LSI 12 and distributes it to each part.
The character pattern generator 111, the sprite generator 113, the color palette DAC 114, and the CRT controller 115 described above are connected to the CPU 11 via the CPU interface 117, and the CPU 11 writes and reads various control register values.
[0017]
The ROM 30 stores various data such as sprites, character designs, palettes, and other register values in addition to the above-described sprite attribute data. The sprite attribute data is stored in the ROM 30 as time series data in the format shown in FIG.
[0018]
The configuration of the attribute data stored in the ROM 30 will be specifically described by taking the case of displaying the image shown in FIG. 4 as an example. Scenes A to C shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are expressed by sprite # 0 having a circle as a picture, sprite # 1 having a rectangle as a picture, and sprite # 2 having a triangle as a picture. Each sprite has a display position (coordinates), a pattern (pattern name), a display color (pallet), and a size as display attributes.
[0019]
In this example, only the display positions of scenes B and C shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C are different from the scene A shown in FIG. Therefore, when the scenes shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are displayed in this order, it is sufficient to rewrite the display attributes indicating the display positions of the sprites for the scenes B and C. Paying attention to this, as shown in FIG. 5, the attribute data of the sprite that needs to be updated in each scene is stored in advance in the ROM 30 as time-series data.
[0020]
The attribute data of each sprite stored in the ROM 30 is roughly classified in the order of scenes A to C. The attribute data of each sprite in the scene A is classified into middle categories by attributes such as coordinates and pattern names, and small by sprite. It is classified. The attribute data of the sprite of the scene B consists only of coordinate data representing the display position of each sprite in the scene B, and is subdivided for each sprite. Similarly, the attribute data related to the sprite of the scene C also includes only coordinate data representing the display position of each sprite in the scene C.
[0021]
Hereinafter, the operation (method) of the image display apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with an example of sequentially displaying the images (scenes A to C) shown in FIG. The image generation unit 10 accesses the ROM 30 in which the attribute data of each sprite is stored for each scene, and sequentially displays each scene on the display 20.
That is, when displaying the first scene A, the attribute data of each sprite of the scene A shown in FIG. 5 is ROM-transferred from the ROM 30 to the image LSI 12 of the image generation unit 10 by attribute, and the sprite attribute table 110 inside the image LSI 12 is displayed. Is written to. In the first scene A, all the attribute data of coordinates, pattern name, palette selection and size selection are required for each sprite, and transfer of attribute data from the ROM 30 is performed four times for each attribute.
[0022]
The sprite generator 113 of the image LSI 12 generates a sprite based on the sprite attribute table 110 in which the attribute data of each sprite of the scene A is written. The generated sprite is converted into an image information signal representing R, G, B values by the color palette DAC 114. This image information signal is input to the video encoder 13 together with the scanning synchronization signal from the CRT controller 115 and converted into a video signal. The display 20 for inputting the video signal displays the scene A on the screen.
[0023]
Next, when displaying the scene B, the attribute data (Y coordinate / X coordinate) indicating the display position of each sprite of the scene B shown in FIG. 5 is ROM-transferred to the image LSI 12. The image LSI 12 rewrites the sprite attribute table 110 with the transferred attribute data, updates only the display position of each sprite, and displays the scene B. Similarly, when the scene C is displayed, the attribute data of each sprite of the scene C is transferred to the image LSI 12 and only the display position of each sprite is updated.
[0024]
In the above operation, in this embodiment, when scenes B and C are displayed, only the attribute data related to the display attribute that needs to be updated (in this example, the display position of the sprite) is transferred, and other attribute data is The scene A is used. Therefore, according to this embodiment, attribute data relating to display attributes that do not require updating need not be transferred, and transfer efficiency can be improved.
[0025]
Further, according to this embodiment, since the sprite attribute table 110 is rewritten for each attribute and only the attribute data necessary for updating is transferred from the ROM 30, the data transfer efficiency is improved, and the limited vertical border is limited. Data can be transferred efficiently over a period of time. That is, in general, when an image is formed by sprites, a plurality of sprites often move together or change size and color together. Therefore, only necessary data can be transferred by adopting a configuration in which data can be rewritten for each attribute.
[0026]
Further, according to this embodiment, the ROM 30 does not need to store attribute data related to display attributes that do not require updating, and the ROM area can be reduced. Furthermore, since attribute data can be transferred efficiently in a limited vertical border period, other processing such as character pattern scrolling can be performed in addition to attribute data transfer in the vertical border period. The period can be used effectively.
[0027]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where only the display attribute related to the display position of the sprite is updated has been described. However, a plurality of display attributes may be updated, and attribute data related to each display attribute that needs to be updated. It only has to be stored in ROM.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the sprite attribute data is transferred by attribute and the sprite attribute table is rewritten, the transfer efficiency of attribute data indicating the display attribute of the sprite is improved. The attribute data of the sprite can be updated. In addition, it is not necessary to store attribute data related to display attributes that do not need to be updated, and the storage capacity of the ROM for storing attribute data can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image LSI according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a sprite attribute table in the image LSI according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image display apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of sprite attribute data stored in the ROM according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image obtained by superimposing a character pattern and a sprite.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image made up of character patterns and sprites.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a sprite attribute table in a conventional image LSI.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image generation part, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Image LSI, 13 ... Video encoder, 20 ... Display, 30 ... ROM, 110 ... Sprite attribute table, 111 ... Character pattern generator, 112 ... ROM interface, 113 ... Sprite generator, 114: Color palette DAC, 115: CRT controller, 116: Timing generator, 117: CPU interface.

Claims (2)

In an image display control apparatus for updating a display attribute of a sprite and displaying a moving image on a screen,
Attribute data storage means in which attribute data indicating the display attribute of the sprite necessary for each scene update is classified and stored as time-series data;
The display attribute of each sprite has a sprite attribute table that is defined and classified by attribute, and the attribute data that needs to be updated from the attribute data storage means is read for each attribute to rewrite the sprite attribute table. Image generating means for generating each sprite based on the sprite attribute table and generating image information to be displayed by the generated sprite;
An image display control device comprising: In an image display control method for displaying a moving image on a screen by updating a display attribute of a sprite,
Attribute data storage step for classifying attribute data indicating the display attribute of the sprite necessary for each scene update by attribute and storing it as time-series data;
A step of rewriting the sprite attribute table reads the attribute data required to update the sprite attribute table display attribute is defined are categorized by the attribute of each sprite demographic,
Generating each sprite based on the sprite attribute table and generating image information to be displayed by the generated sprite;
An image display control method comprising:

Images