JP4105510B2 - Display control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display control device, and more particularly to a display control device that controls an operation display unit provided in a copying machine or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a copying machine or the like, the function of an operation display unit such as a touch panel LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) system provided in a device has been improved with an increase in copying speed. As described above, the function of the operation display unit must be improved along with the increase in the copy speed. For example, since the copying machine installed in the copy center or the like is operated at high speed by the operator, the response of the operation display unit is required. This is because the responsiveness of the operation display unit is directly linked to the operability as a device.
[0003]
By the way, a touch panel LCD widely used for an operation display unit of a device such as a copying machine is connected to the copying machine body via a serial communication line. In such a touch panel LCD, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) on the operation display unit side is displayed on the LCD screen via the LCD controller, which is a display control device, based on a display content command issued from the copier body. It is designed to draw an image. That is, when the communication speed between the copying machine main body and the operation display section is low, it takes time to exchange commands with the main body, and the responsiveness of the operation display section deteriorates.
[0004]
However, the speed of serial communication speed has improved due to recent improvements in communication technology, and the factors that affect the responsiveness of the operation display unit are the drawing speed and processing speed of the CPU on the operation display unit side. It has become.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In general, a plurality of windows are simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit of the copying machine. In order to display a plurality of windows at the same time as described above, it is necessary to control to make the lower window of the overlapping windows invisible. As such control, for example, there is one in which the lower window is made invisible by overlapping the windows for each display of each horizontal line.
[0006]
By the way, it is one method to perform all such control by software, but if the software spends time on window control, the responsiveness of the operation display section deteriorates and eventually the operability of the entire copier is deteriorated. It will be.
[0007]
Therefore, it has been studied to perform such window control by a controller. However, when the number of windows increases, there is a problem that the time occupied by the CPU bus by DMA (Direct Memory Access) becomes long and the operation speed decreases. In addition, since it is necessary to have all the window information as a register in the controller for simultaneous operation, the gate scale becomes large and the cost increases when the controller is realized by ASIC (Application Specified IC) or the like. There is also.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to increase the display processing speed for a display device, and when used for controlling a display operation unit such as a copying machine, greatly improves the operability and responsiveness of the display operation unit. It is to provide a display control device capable of performing the above.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The display control device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of windows displayed on the display device.A first storage means for holding image data; a second storage means for holding display information of the plurality of windows in priority order; and the image data is read out in the order of priority to overlap the windows; Superimposing means for creating an image; Deletion window designating means for designating a specific window to be deleted among the images superimposed by the superimposing means; and the deletion window designating means for the superimposed images. Selecting means for selecting a range based on the display information of the window specified in step (a), wherein the superimposing means reads the display information of the window in the order of priority when deleting the specified window. Determining whether the display information of the read window is the display information of the specified window; If the window is not the designated window, the range selected by the selection means of the image data corresponding to the display information of the window is read out, the overlay process is performed by the overlay means, and the specified window Skip the overlay process.
[0010]
  Therefore, CSince it is possible to support simultaneous display of a large number of windows without imposing a burden on the PU, it is possible to increase the display processing speed for the display device, and to control the display operation unit such as a copying machine. When used, the operability and responsiveness of the display operation unit can be greatly improved.
  Further, since the specific window can be deleted on the external image information storage means (for example, frame memory), it is possible to speed up the editing of the superimposed image.
[0013]
  Claim2The described invention is claimed.1In the display control device ofThe first storage means and the second storage means are:Consists of the same memory.
[0014]
Therefore, the display information of the line buffer and the window is stored in the same memory, so that the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0018]
Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the copier 1 is configured as a color copier capable of copying color originals, and includes a scanner 2 that reads an original that is a copy, and image data that is read and created by the scanner 2. And a printer 3 that prints an image on a recording medium. Further, the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with an operation display unit 3 for an operator to input a copy instruction or the like.
[0019]
Such a copying machine 1 is provided with a copying machine controller 4 as shown in FIG. The copying machine controller 4 is added to a microcomputer that generally controls the copying machine 1, and is connected to an operation display unit 3 through which an operator instructs the copying machine 1 to operate.
[0020]
In addition to the operation display unit 3, the copier controller 4 processes a mechanical control unit 5 that controls the operation of each unit of the scanner 2 and the printer 3, and image data based on an image read by the scanner 2. An image processing unit 6 that outputs to the printer 3 is connected.
[0021]
Next, the operation display unit 3 will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the operation display unit 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation display unit 3 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 7 which is a display device, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 8 which controls each unit, an LCD controller 9 which is a display control device, and window image information. And the like, and a CPU 8 receives a drawing command from the copier controller 4 and receives image information of one or more windows on the VRAM 10 through the LCD controller 9. After drawing, an image is drawn on the screen of the LCD 7 via the LCD controller 9. Note that an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) is used as the VRAM 10 and stores image information (win 1 to win n) of each window and a frame memory 10a (see FIG. 3). Further, the CPU 8 is provided with a CASH memory 8a and a write buffer 8b (see FIG. 3) to increase the operation speed.
[0022]
Next, characteristic functions provided in the LCD controller 9 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. Note that the LCD controller 9 shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which the CPU 8, the CASH memory 8a, and the write buffer 8b are provided as one chip.
[0023]
The LCD controller 9 of the present embodiment has a function of performing a process of overlapping a plurality of windows at a high speed. In general, the LCD controller 9 is provided with an overlay control block 9a and a built-in RAM (SRAM) 9b. The overlay control block 9a functions as an overlay control means. The display information of the window to be overlaid is acquired from the built-in RAM (SRAM) 9b, and based on that, data is read from the VRAM 10 and overlaid. The image data superimposed in this way is stored in the frame memory 10a on the VRAM 10. Such an operation is performed in units of pixel columns (16 dots) accessed at a time.
[0024]
The built-in RAM (SRAM) 9b is used as a window information storage unit 9c that is a first storage unit that stores the display information of one or more windows described above. Here, a window information storage means is realized. In addition, the built-in RAM (SRAM) 9b is used as a display line buffer 9d which is a second storage unit that functions as a display line buffer described later. As a result, the configuration can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[0025]
Here, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing display information of the window. For example, one window includes seven registers as shown in FIG. Each window holds a display origin as X and Y start addresses on the display, a display end point as X and Y end addresses on the display, a horizontal virtual screen width, and a storage address on the VRAM 10 in registers. . FIG. 5 shows the correspondence between the display information of the window, the VRAM 10 and the display area.
[0026]
Here, the overlapping control of windows in the overlapping control block 9a will be described in detail. FIG. 6 shows a case where three windows, window 0, window 1, and window 2, are displayed in an overlapping manner. As shown in FIG. 6, three windows, window 0, window 1, and window 2, exist in a pixel column unit (16 dots) accessed at a time, that is, in a range of 16 bits.
[0027]
The superposition control in the superposition control block 9a of the present embodiment performs superposition of the windows 1 to n in units of pixel columns. In the present embodiment, the image information of a plurality of windows is superposed in a data access unit (16 bits). Note that the overlapping is performed from window data having a high priority. The display priority of the three windows is
Window 0 → Window 1 → Window 2
In the order. This is shown in FIG.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the first state (a), since all bits can be written, the data of window 0 is written to the buffer as it is. After writing the data of window 0 in this way, only the write range of window 0 is masked (cleared) from the writable range register.
[0029]
If the data in window 1 is overwritten in this state, only the portion corresponding to window 0 is masked, the conventional data remains, and the data in window 1 is written in the remaining portion. Thereafter, the effective range of window 1 is masked (cleared) in the same manner (FIG. 7B).
[0030]
Finally, when the data of window 2 is written in the remaining part, the data of window 2 is correctly written without changing the data of parts of windows 0 and 1 (FIG. 7C).
[0031]
In this way, it is possible to synthesize the data of each window in units of 16 bits with a simple configuration.
[0032]
Next, the LCD controller 9 that exhibits the functions described above will be described in detail. Here, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of each part of the LCD controller 9. As shown in FIG. 8, the LCD controller 9 has an SRAM 9b which is a dual port RAM. The basic configuration of the LCD controller 9 is a configuration in which a plurality of masters selectively control two slaves (SDRAM controller 12 and SRAM controller 13), and arbitrators 14 and 15 perform arbitration.
[0033]
More specifically, at the first timing (1), the Window Data Read controller 16 reads the window display information of the target window from the SRAM 9b, and transfers the read window display information to the Window controller 17. .
[0034]
The window controller 17 that has received the display information of the window operates the SDRAM controller 12 to read the image information of each window from the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 by DMA (Direct Memory Access), executes the overlay control, and then executes the SDRAM (VRAM). ) The data is re-stored in ten frame memories 10a (see FIG. 3) by DMA. Here, the function of the superimposed image information storage means is executed. This operation is performed only when a window superimposing instruction is issued ((2)).
[0035]
The data superimposed on the frame memory 10a of the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 is read from the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 according to an instruction from the Disp controller 18 and transferred to the SRAM 9b which is a line buffer ((3)). Here, the function of the buffer means is executed.
[0036]
The actual transfer to the LCD 7 is executed after data is read from the SRAM 9b according to the instruction of the Display Read controller 19 (4) and gradation control is performed by the LCD i / f 20. Here, the function of the image information transfer means is executed. As a result, a plurality of windows are displayed on the LCD 7.
[0037]
The flow of processing in the LCD controller 9 as described above is shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, first, the address is initialized (step S1).
[0038]
Next, the display information of the window with priority N is read from the SRAM 9b (step S2), and it is determined whether or not the display information of the read window is a window to be displayed (step S3).
[0039]
When the display information of the read window is a window to be displayed (Y in step S3), an address on the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 is calculated and read from the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 (step S4).
[0040]
In the subsequent step S5, the windows are overlapped according to the read address.
[0041]
When the window superposition is completed, the superposed image is stored in the frame memory 10a on the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 (step S6).
[0042]
On the other hand, if the display information of the read window is not a window to be displayed (N in step S3), the priority N is incremented by 1 (step S7), and the process returns to step S2 again to display the window with the priority N. Information is read from the SRAM 9b.
[0043]
The processes in steps S2 to S7 are repeated until all the windows are finished (Y in step S8).
[0044]
In step S9, it is determined whether all addresses have been completed. If all the addresses have not been completed (N in step S9), the process proceeds to step S10, the next address is set, the priority order is initialized, and the process proceeds to step S2 again.
[0045]
The above processing is repeated until the processing at all addresses is completed (Y in step S9).
[0046]
Here, the image information of a plurality of windows in the data access unit is sequentially overlapped, and the image information of the overlapped windows is sequentially stored in the external image information storage means (for example, frame memory) by the DMA. As a result, it is possible to cope with simultaneous display of a large number of windows without imposing a burden on the CPU, so that the display processing speed for the display device can be increased, and a display operation unit such as a copying machine or the like. When used for the control, the operability and responsiveness of the display operation unit can be greatly improved.
[0047]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same part as 1st Embodiment mentioned above is shown with the same code | symbol, and description is also abbreviate | omitted.
[0048]
In the first embodiment, the superimposed image is stored in the frame memory 10 a on the SDRAM (VRAM) 10. However, when drawing on the SDRAM 10 in this way, it takes time to access and there is a possibility that the operation speed of the entire system is lowered. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of frame memories that can be accessed at high speed are provided inside the LCD controller 9.
[0049]
The characteristic functions provided in the LCD controller 9 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the LCD controller 9 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of frame memories 31 and 32 as image information storage means. Usually, since access to the memory in the same chip can be performed at high speed, the frame memories 31 and 32 stored therein can be accessed at high speed. Even a high-speed RISC core CPU can be accessed in one clock. An image is drawn in one frame memory 31 by utilizing this high-speed access. Here, the function of the superimposed image information storage auxiliary means is executed. Meanwhile, the information in the other frame memory 32 that has already been drawn is transferred to the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 by DMA. When the drawing to the frame memory 31 is finished, the operation is toggled and the CPU 8 performs the drawing to the frame memory 32. Here, the function of the superimposed image information storage auxiliary means is executed. The contents of the frame memory 31 that has already been drawn are DMA-transferred to the SDRAM (VRAM) 10.
[0050]
The overlay control is performed by DMA transfer between the frame memories 31 and 32 and the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, data may be directly read from one frame memory 31 and transferred to the LCD 7. When there is a margin in the number of frame memories, it is convenient to use them separately for drawing, transferring, overlaying, and LCD transfer buffer.
[0051]
Here, the image information of a plurality of windows in the data access unit is sequentially overlapped, and the image information of the overlapped windows is sequentially stored in the external image information storage means (for example, frame memory) by the DMA. In addition, superimposition control of the image information of a plurality of windows in units of data access and transfer of the image information of the superimposed windows to an external image information storage means (for example, a frame memory) are executed in parallel. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to handle simultaneous display of a large number of windows without imposing a burden on the CPU, and drawing processing and transfer processing can be performed in parallel by using a plurality of image information storage means. As a result, it becomes possible to increase the display processing speed for the display device, and when used to control the display operation unit such as a copying machine, the operability and responsiveness of the display operation unit are greatly improved. It becomes possible to make it.
[0052]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same part as 1st Embodiment mentioned above is shown with the same code | symbol, and description is also abbreviate | omitted.
[0053]
In the first embodiment, the superimposed image is stored in the frame memory 10 a on the SDRAM (VRAM) 10. In the present embodiment, the specific window can be deleted from the superimposed image on the frame memory 10a.
[0054]
The characteristic functions provided in the LCD controller 9 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, when deleting the specific window from the superimposed image on the frame memory 10a, the LCD controller 9 of the present embodiment reads the information of the deletion target window stored in the SRAM 9b, It is stored in the register 41 as deletion window information. At the time of deletion work, the overlapping range designation is not made on the full screen, but the deletion target range is selected by the selector 42. It should be noted that in actual overlay control, the deletion target window may be skipped.
[0055]
That is, according to the LCD controller 9 of the present embodiment, when a specific window is deleted from the superimposed image on the frame memory 10a, overlapping of windows other than the deletion target window is performed only within the range of the deletion target window. By performing the alignment again, it is possible to create a deleted image in a relatively short time.
[0056]
Here, the overlapping control of windows will be specifically described. FIG. 13 shows a state in which only window 3 is deleted from an image in which four windows, window 0, window 1, window 2, and window 3, are combined. In such a case, it is only necessary to perform the overlapping operation of windows other than windows, that is, windows 0, 1, and 2, within the range indicated by the dotted line in FIG.
[0057]
The flow of processing in the LCD controller 9 as described above is shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, first, the address range is set to the deletion window range (step S21).
[0058]
Next, the display information of the window of priority N is read from the SRAM 9b (step S22), it is determined whether the display information of the read window is a window to be deleted (step S23), and the display information of the read window is displayed. It is determined whether it is a window (step S24).
[0059]
If the display information of the read window is not a window to be deleted (N in step S23) and the display information of the read window is a window to be displayed (Y in step S24), the information on the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 is displayed. The address is calculated and read from the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 (step S25).
[0060]
In the subsequent step S26, the windows are overlapped according to the read address.
[0061]
When the window superposition is completed, the superposed image is stored in the frame memory 10a on the SDRAM (VRAM) 10 (step S27).
[0062]
On the other hand, if the display information of the read window is a window to be deleted (Y in step S23), or if the display information of the read window is not a window to be displayed (N in step S24), the priority N is set to 1. The display information of the window with the priority order N is read from the SRAM 9b.
[0063]
The processes in steps S22 to S28 are repeated until all the windows are finished (Y in step S29).
[0064]
In step S30, it is determined whether all addresses have been completed. If all the addresses have not been completed (N in step S30), the process proceeds to step S31, the next address is set, the priority order is initialized, and the process proceeds to step S22 again.
[0065]
The above processing is repeated until the processing at all addresses is completed (Y in step S30).
[0066]
Here, the specific window can be deleted on the external image information storage means (for example, frame memory), so that the editing of the superimposed image can be speeded up.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
  The display control device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of windows displayed on the display device.A first storage means for holding image data; a second storage means for holding display information of the plurality of windows in priority order; and the image data is read out in the order of priority to overlap the windows; Superimposing means for creating an image; Deletion window designating means for designating a specific window to be deleted among the images superimposed by the superimposing means; and the deletion window designating means for the superimposed images. Selecting means for selecting a range based on the display information of the window specified in step (a), wherein the superimposing means reads the display information of the window in the order of priority when deleting the specified window. Determining whether the display information of the read window is the display information of the specified window; If the window is not the designated window, the range selected by the selection means of the image data corresponding to the display information of the window is read out, the overlay process is performed by the overlay means, and the specified window Skip the overlay processTherefore, it is possible to cope with simultaneous display of a large number of windows without imposing a burden on the CPU, so that the display processing speed for the display device can be increased, and it is used for controlling a display operation unit such as a copying machine. In this case, the operability and responsiveness of the display operation unit can be greatly improved.
  Further, since the specific window can be deleted on the external image information storage means (for example, a frame memory), it is possible to speed up the editing of the superimposed image.
[0069]
  Claim2According to the described invention, the claims1In the display control apparatus described,The first storage means and the second storage means are:By using the same memory, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an operation display unit.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an LCD controller.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing display information of a window.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence between display information of a window, a VRAM, and a display area.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where three windows are displayed overlapping each other.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of overlay control.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of each part of the LCD controller.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the LCD controller.
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing an LCD controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where data is directly read from one frame memory and transferred to the LCD.
FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing an LCD controller according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which only one window is deleted from an image in which four windows are combined.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the LCD controller.
[Explanation of symbols]
7 Display device
9 Display control device
9a Overlay control means
9c First storage means
9d Second storage means
10 External image information storage means
31, 32 Image information storage means

Claims (2)

First storage means for holding image data of a plurality of windows displayed on the display device ;
Second storage means for holding display information of the plurality of windows in priority order;
Overlaying means for reading out the image data in the order of priority and overlaying windows to create an image;
A deletion window designating unit for designating a specific window to be deleted among the images superimposed by the superimposing unit;
Selecting means for selecting a range based on display information of the window specified by the deletion window specifying means in the superimposed images;
When deleting the specified window, the superimposing means reads the display information of the window in the order of priority, and determines whether the read window display information is the display information of the specified window. If it is not the designated window, the range selected by the selection means of the image data corresponding to the display information of the window is read out, and the superposition processing by the superposition means is performed, and the designated A display control device that skips the superimposition processing when the window is a window . Wherein the first storage means and second storage means, the display control device according to claim 1, wherein comprised of the same memory.

Images