JP5207330B2 - Image output device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for outputting an image to an image display apparatus.

  Some image display devices such as a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter abbreviated as LCD) operate in a plurality of modes. For example, 65,000 colors can be displayed in the 16-bit mode, and 260,000 colors can be displayed in the 18-bit mode.

  Such an image display device that operates in a plurality of modes is used, for example, in a mobile phone. When making a call, the phone number is displayed, or the mail content is displayed in the 16-bit mode. The moving image is displayed in the 18-bit mode. It is used in applications.

  On the other hand, some mobile phones include two image display devices. For example, there is a type of foldable mobile phone in which a main image display device is provided on the inside and a smaller image display device is provided on the outside.

  When the mobile phone is folded, an image is displayed on the outer image display device, and when the mobile phone is opened, an image is displayed on the inner image display device. That is, there is one in which two image display devices alternatively display an image.

Problems to be solved by the invention

  As described above, in the image display device that operates in a plurality of modes, the number of display colors can be changed according to the application. However, the method for realizing these multiple modes may differ depending on the LCD vendor. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the specifications of the LCDs of two vendors. FIG. 8A shows the specifications of the vendor A LCD, and FIG. 8B shows the specifications of the vendor B LCD. Both vendor A and vendor B LCDs can operate in 16-bit and 18-bit modes.

  The vendor A and vendor B LCDs each have 18 input terminals X0 to X17 in order to support the 18-bit mode. When operating in the 18-bit mode, all LCDs input 18-bit images from 18 input terminals X0 to X17.

  On the other hand, when operating in the 16-bit mode, the vendor A LCD inputs 16-bit image data from the 16 input terminals X0 to X15, whereas the vendor B LCD X2 16-bit image data is inputted from 16 input terminals of .about.X17.

  For this reason, a circuit for outputting image data has to be designed according to the specifications of each vendor's LCD.

  On the other hand, even in the case where two image display devices are provided and an image is displayed on one image display device as an alternative, an image is displayed on one image display device, the power supply of the other image display device There was a problem that could not be turned off.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example of an apparatus that outputs image data to two image display apparatuses. The image / audio processing unit 100 is an LSI that includes an image / audio processing CPU 101 and performs image / audio processing exclusively. The image data generated by the image / sound processing CPU 101 is output via the LCD-I / F 102.

  Nine data buses are connected to the output terminals Y0 to Y8 of the LCD-I / F 102. Each of the nine data buses branches in the middle, and one of the nine data buses is connected to the input terminals Y0 to Y8 of the first LCD 110, and the other nine data buses are connected to the second LCD 120. The input terminals Y0 to Y8 are connected.

  Then, when displaying an image on the first LCD 110, the first LCD 110 performs an output process of the received image data by sending an image display instruction from the image sound processing CPU 101 to the first LCD 110. At this time, since the enable signal is sent from the image / sound processing CPU 101 to the second LCD 120, display processing is not performed. Conversely, when an image is displayed on the second LCD 120, an enable signal is sent to the first LCD 110.

  However, when an image is displayed on the first LCD 110, if the power of the second LCD 120 is turned off, a phenomenon that current is sucked into the second LCD 120 occurs. Therefore, even when an image is displayed on the first LCD 110, The power of the second LCD 120 could not be turned off. Similarly, even when an image is displayed on the second LCD 120, the power of the first LCD 110 cannot be turned off.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides an image output device that can be applied to image display devices having different specifications, and can alternatively turn off the power of the image display device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image output apparatus.

Means for solving the problem

[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is an apparatus for outputting image data to two image display apparatuses, and is connected to an output means for outputting N-bit image data in parallel and one of the image display apparatuses. A shifter to which P (> N) data buses and Q (> N) data buses connected to the other image display device are connected, respectively. When outputting N-bit image data to the apparatus, the N-bit image data output from the output means is output by one of a plurality of N data buses among the P data buses. When a certain first selected data bus group is selected and output in parallel, and N-bit image data is output to the other image display device, the N-bit image data output by the output means is Multiple types of N in the Q data buses Switching so that the data to select the second selection data bus group is one of a bus outputs in parallel, said as one of the image display device and the other image display device, one alternatively When only one of them displays an image and the image data is output to the one image display device, the first selection data includes means for controlling to turn off the power of the other image display device. The bus group and the second selected data bus group are different from each other without overlapping each other.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image output apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement, the image display device is characterized by including a liquid crystal display device.

{First embodiment}
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a mobile phone 1 according to the first embodiment. The cellular phone 1 includes a CPU 2 that performs overall control of the cellular phone 1, an image / audio processing unit 3, a RAM 4, and an LCD 5.

  The image / audio processing unit 3 is configured as an integrated circuit (LSI), and includes an image / audio processing CPU 31, an LCD-I / F 32, a shifter 33, and the like. The image / audio processing unit 3 has a function of playing back a moving image downloaded by the mobile phone 1 and a function of playing back a chord ringing melody.

  In addition, the mobile phone 1 includes function units (such as a microphone and a speaker) related to a voice call, an input operation unit, and the like, but these function units are not illustrated. In the present embodiment, the case where the LCD-I / F 32 and the shifter 33, which are the main parts of the present invention, are incorporated in the image / audio processing LSI is described as an example. It may be an aspect in which it is incorporated in an image-dedicated processing LSI. Further, it is not always necessary that the image / audio processing CPU 31 (or the image processing CPU) is arranged in the same LSI chip.

  The mobile phone 1 displays an image in a 16-bit mode when performing number display or mail display during a call. That is, it operates in a mode in which an image of 65,000 colors is displayed on the LCD 5. On the other hand, when displaying a moving image, it operates in the 18-bit mode. That is, it operates in a mode for displaying an image of 260,000 colors on the LCD 5.

<16-bit mode>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of image data when image display is performed in the 16-bit mode. When displaying an image in the 16-bit mode, in the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment, the CPU 2 performs image display control.

  The CPU 2 generates image data to be displayed on the LCD 5 and stores it in a RAAM or the like around the CPU 2. This image data is image data expressing one pixel in 16 bits, that is, image data capable of expressing 65,000 colors.

  The CPU 2 outputs the generated 16-bit image data from the output terminals A0 to A15 of the CPU 2. The 16-bit image data is transferred in parallel through 16 data buses connected to the 16 output terminals A0 to A15, and the input terminal of the LCD-I / F 32 connected to the 16 data buses. Input to B0 to B15. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the CPU 2 and the LCD-I / F 32 are connected by 16 data buses.

  The LCD-I / F 32 outputs 16-bit image data input from the input terminals B0 to B15 from the output terminals C0 to C15 corresponding to the input terminals B0 to B15, respectively. The 16-bit image data is transferred in parallel through 16 data buses connected to the 16 output terminals C0 to C15, and input to the input terminals D0 to D15 of the shifter 33 connected to the 16 data buses. Entered. In practice, there may be a configuration in which more than 16 data buses exist between the LCD-I / F 32 and the shifter 33. Here, it is sufficient that at least 16 data buses exist.

  The shifter 33 outputs 16-bit image data input from the input terminals D0 to D15 from output terminals E0 to E15 corresponding to the input terminals D0 to D15, respectively. Thus, in this 16-bit mode, the shifter 33 does not change the correspondence between the input terminal and the output terminal. That is, the data order of the image data input from the input terminal is output as it is from the corresponding output terminal without being changed. 16-bit image data is transferred in parallel through 16 data buses connected to 16 output terminals E0 to E15, and input to input terminals F0 to F15 of LCD 5 connected to the 16 data buses. Is done.

  The LCD 5 is an LCD that can operate in a 16-bit mode and an 18-bit mode. In the present embodiment, the LCD 5 includes 16 input terminals F0 to F15. Therefore, when operating in the 16-bit mode, it is possible to receive 16-bit image data at a time in parallel by using all the input terminals F0 to F15.

  The above is the data flow of 16-bit image data, and a 16-bit image is displayed on the LCD 5.

<18-bit mode>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of image data when displaying an image in the 18-bit mode. When performing image display in the 18-bit mode, in the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment, the image / sound processing CPU 31 performs image display control. Of course, the CPU 2 may perform image display control in the 18-bit mode. The reason why the audio / video processing CPU 31 performs image display control in the 18-bit mode is to reduce the load on the CPU 2. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the number of data buses connecting the CPU 2 and the LCD-I / F 32 is 16, 9-bit data transfer is performed twice in order to transfer 18-bit image data. There is a need. This is because when the CPU 2 performs such processing, the number of accesses to the CPU 2 is doubled and the processing load increases. In this way, the load on the CPU 2 that performs overall control of the mobile phone 1 is reduced.

  The image sound processing CPU 31 generates image data to be displayed on the LCD 5 and stores it in the RAM 4. This image data is image data expressing one pixel with 18 bits, that is, image data capable of expressing 260,000 colors.

  The image and sound processing CPU 31 outputs the generated 18-bit image data from the output terminals G0 to G17 of the image and sound processing CPU 31. The 18-bit image data is transferred in parallel through 18 data buses connected to 18 output terminals G0 to G17, and the input terminal of the LCD-I / F 32 connected to the 18 data buses. Input to B0 to B17. Note that there may be a configuration in which more than 18 data buses exist between the image / sound processing CPU 31 and the LCD-I / F 32. Here, it is sufficient that at least 18 data buses exist.

  Here, in the present embodiment, there are 16 data buses connecting the audio / video processing unit 3 and the LCD 5, that is, 16 data buses connecting the shifter 33 and the LCD 5, and 16 image data can be transferred in parallel. Up to a bit. Therefore, the LCD-I / F 32 divides the 18-bit image data input in parallel into two 9-bit image data, and outputs the 9-bit image data twice in parallel.

  The 9-bit image data output from the output terminals C0 to C8 of the LCD-I / F 32 is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to the nine output terminals C0 to C8. The data is input to input terminals D0 to D8 of the shifter 33 connected to the data bus.

  Here, the specification of the LCD 5 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. In the 16-bit mode, the LCD 5 is designed to input 16-bit image data transferred through 16 data buses from 16 input terminals F0 to F15 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when 18-bit image data is input, the 9-bit image data is designed to be received in two portions. At this time, the LCD 5 receives the input terminals F0 to F8 to 9 It is designed to input bit image data.

  Therefore, the shifter 33 outputs the 9-bit image data input from the input terminals D0 to D8 as it is from the output terminals E0 to E8 corresponding to the input terminals D0 to D8. Here, it is assumed that the output terminal En corresponds to the input terminal Dn (n is an integer). That is, the shifter 33 outputs the image data as it is without changing the correspondence between the input terminal and the output terminal.

  The 9-bit image data is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to the nine output terminals E0 to E8, and input to the input terminals F0 to F8 of the LCD 5 connected to the nine data buses. Is done.

  The LCD 5 buffers the 9-bit image input from the input terminals F0 to F8 once, generates 18-bit image data from the 9-bit image data of two times, and outputs the screen. In this way, the LCD 5 can operate in the 18-bit mode.

  On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a data flow when the LCD 5 has another specification.

  The specifications of the LCD 5 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. In the 16-bit mode, the LCD 5 is designed to input 16-bit image data transferred through 16 data buses from 16 input terminals F0 to F15 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when inputting 18-bit image data, it is designed to receive 9-bit image data in two portions. At that time, the LCD 5 is connected to the input terminals F7 to F15 to 9 It is designed to input bit image data.

  Therefore, the shifter 33 changes the correspondence between the input terminals and the output terminals, and outputs 9-bit image data input from the input terminals D0 to D8 from the output terminals E7 to E15, respectively.

  In other words, the shifter 33 has a function of arbitrarily selecting an output terminal for outputting the inputted 9-bit image data. The shifter 33 has a function of selecting any nine of the 16 data buses connected to the output terminals E0 to E15 of the shifter 33 and outputting 9-bit image data.

  Nine-bit image data is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to nine output terminals E7 to E15, and input to input terminals F7 to F15 of the LCD 5 connected to the nine data buses. Is done.

  The LCD 5 buffers the 9-bit image input from the input terminals F7 to F15 once, generates 18-bit image data from the 2-bit 9-bit image data, and outputs it to the screen.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, even when the specifications of the LCD 5 connected to the image / audio processing unit 3 (image / audio processing LSI) are different, only the correspondence between the input terminal and the output terminal in the shifter 33 is changed. Thus, it is possible to cope with image display in a plurality of modes.

{Second Embodiment}
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone 6 according to the second embodiment. The mobile phone 6 includes a CPU 7 that performs overall control of the mobile phone 6, an image / audio processing unit 8, a RAM 9, a first LCD 11, and a second LCD 12.

  The image / audio processing unit 8 is configured as an integrated circuit (LSI), and includes an image / audio processing CPU 81, an LCD-I / F 82, a shifter 83, and the like. The image / audio processing unit 8 has a function of playing back a moving image downloaded by the mobile phone 6 and a function of playing back a chord ringing melody.

  In addition, the mobile phone 6 includes function units (such as a microphone and a speaker) related to a voice call, an input operation unit, and the like, but these function units are not illustrated. In the present embodiment, the case where the LCD-I / F 82 and the shifter 83, which are the main parts of the present invention, are incorporated in an image / audio processing LSI is described as an example. It may be an aspect in which it is incorporated in an image-dedicated processing LSI. Further, it is not always necessary that the image / audio processing CPU 81 (or the image processing CPU) is arranged in the same LSI chip.

  The mobile phone 6 is controlled so as to alternatively use two LCDs (first LCD 11 and second LCD 12). That is, the second LCD 12 does not perform image display processing while an image is displayed on the first LCD 11. On the other hand, while the image is displayed on the second LCD 12, the first LCD 11 does not perform the image display process.

  As an example in which two LCDs are alternatively used, there is a case where the mobile phone 6 is a foldable phone. In this example, the outer first LCD 11 is used when the mobile phone 6 is folded, and the inner second LCD 12 is used when the mobile phone 6 is opened and in use.

  As in the first embodiment, the CPU 7 can execute image display processing in the 16-bit mode when performing number display or mail display at the time of a call. The description is omitted.

<When using the first LCD>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of image data when an image is displayed on the first LCD 11 in the 18-bit mode. When the image display is performed in the 18-bit mode, the audio / video processing CPU 81 controls the image display in the mobile phone 6 of the present embodiment. Of course, the CPU 7 may perform the image display control in the 18-bit mode. However, in order to reduce the processing load of the CPU 7 that performs the overall control of the mobile phone 6, the image sound processing CPU 81 performs the image display control here. I am doing so.

  The image sound processing CPU 81 generates image data to be displayed on the first LCD 11 and stores it in the RAM 9. This image data is image data expressing one pixel with 18 bits, that is, image data capable of expressing 260,000 colors.

  The image / audio processing CPU 81 outputs the generated 18-bit image data from the output terminals G0 to G17 of the image / audio processing CPU 81. The 18-bit image data is transferred in parallel through 18 data buses connected to 18 output terminals G0 to G17, and the input terminal of the LCD-I / F 82 connected to the 18 data buses. Input to B0 to B17. Note that there may be a configuration in which more than 18 data buses exist between the image / sound processing CPU 81 and the LCD-I / 82.

  In the present embodiment, there are nine data buses connecting the audio / video processing unit 3 and the first LCD 11, that is, data buses connecting the shifter 83 and the first LCD 11, and images that can be transferred in parallel are provided. The data is up to 9 bits. Therefore, the LCD-I / F 82 divides the 18-bit image data input in parallel into two 9-bit image data, and outputs the 9-bit image data twice in parallel.

  The 9-bit image data output from the output terminals C0 to C8 of the LCD-I / F 82 is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to the nine output terminals C0 to C8. The data is input to input terminals D0 to D8 of the shifter 83 connected to the data bus.

  Here, in the present embodiment, nine data buses for connecting the first LCD 11 are connected to nine output terminals E0 to E8 among the eighteen output terminals E0 to E17 of the shifter 83, and the like. Nine output terminals E9 to E17 are connected to nine data buses for connecting the second LCD 12.

  Therefore, in order to output an image to the first LCD 11, the shifter 83 outputs the 9-bit image data input from the input terminals D0 to D8 as it is from the output terminals E0 to E8 corresponding to the input terminals D0 to D8, respectively. That is, here, the shifter 83 outputs 9-bit image data as it is without changing the correspondence between the input terminal and the output terminal.

  The 9-bit image data is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to the nine output terminals E0 to E8, and input to the input terminals H0 to F8 of the first LCD 11 connected to the nine data buses. Entered.

  The first LCD 11 buffers the 9-bit image input from the input terminals H0 to H8 once, generates 18-bit image data from the 2-bit 9-bit image data, and outputs it to the screen.

  <When Using Second LCD> Next, a process for displaying an image on the second LCD 12 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of image data when an image is displayed on the second LCD 12 in the 18-bit mode. In the case of performing image display in the 18-bit mode, in the mobile phone 6 of the present embodiment, the image / sound processing CPU 81 performs image display control. Similarly in this case, the CPU 7 may perform image display control in the 18-bit mode.

  The image sound processing CPU 81 generates image data to be displayed on the second LCD 12 and stores it in the RAM 9. This image data is image data expressing one pixel with 18 bits, that is, image data capable of expressing 260,000 colors.

  The image / audio processing CPU 81 outputs the generated 18-bit image data from the output terminals G0 to G17 of the image / audio processing CPU 81. The 18-bit image data is transferred in parallel through 18 data buses connected to 18 output terminals G0 to G17, and the input terminal of the LCD-I / F 82 connected to the 18 data buses. Input to B0 to B17.

  In the present embodiment, there are nine data buses connecting the audio / video processing unit 3 and the second LCD 12, that is, nine data buses connecting the shifter 83 and the second LCD 12, and image data that can be transferred in parallel. Is up to 9 bits. Therefore, the LCD-1 / F 82 divides the 18-bit image data input in parallel into two 9-bit image data, and outputs the 9-bit image data twice in parallel.

  The 9-bit image data output from the output terminals C0 to C8 of the LCD-I / F 82 is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to the nine output terminals C0 to C8. The data is input to input terminals D0 to D8 of the shifter 83 connected to the data bus.

  As described above, of the 18 output terminals E0 to E17 of the shifter 83, the nine output terminals E9 to E17 are connected to the nine data buses connecting the second LCD 12, so that the shifter 83 Outputs 9-bit image data input from the input terminals D0 to D8 from the output terminals E9 to E17. That is, when outputting image data to the second LCD 12, the shifter 83 changes the correspondence between the input terminal and the output terminal and outputs the data. In other words, the shifter 83 can arbitrarily select a data bus for outputting input image data. The shifter 83 is capable of selecting 9 data buses from 18 data buses connected to the output terminals E0 to E17 and outputting 9-bit image data.

  The 9-bit image data is transferred in parallel through nine data buses connected to the nine output terminals E9 to E17, and input to the input terminals K0 to K8 of the second LCD 12 connected to the nine data buses. Entered.

  The second LCD 12 buffers the 9-bit image input from the input terminals K0 to K8 once, generates 18-bit image data from the two 9-bit image data, and outputs it to the screen.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to alternatively transfer image data to the two LCDs 11 and 12 connected to the image / audio processing unit 8 (image / audio processing LSI).

Since the first LCD 11 and the second LCD 12 are respectively connected to different output terminals of the shifter 83, the LCDs 11 and 12 are electrically separated.
Therefore, while the image data is being output to the first LCD 11, the power supply of the second LCD 12 can be turned off. Similarly, while the image data is being output to the second LCD 12, the power supply of the first LCD 11 can be turned off.

  Therefore, in the operation state in which an image is displayed on the first LCD 11, the CPU 7 (or the image / sound processing CPU 81) executes control to turn off the power of the second LCD 12. Conversely, in an operation state in which an image is displayed on the second LCD 12, it is possible to execute control for turning off the power of the first LCD 11.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the shifter 83 includes 18 output terminals E0 to E17, and the output terminals are divided into two to connect one to the first LCD 11 and the other to the second LCD 12. A mode in which a part of the output terminal of the shifter 83 is used may be used. For example, the shifter 83 has more than 18 (for example, 24) output terminals, and as a part thereof, 9 output terminals are used for the first LCD 11 and 9 output terminals are used for the second LCD 12. It may be a mode.

  Further, the number of data buses connecting the first LCD 11 or the second LCD 12 may be more than nine. That is, a mode in which the number of bits of data that actually flows is connected by a data bus may be used. In this case, switching control may be performed so that the shifter outputs image data from an appropriate output terminal in accordance with the specifications of the LCD.

  Further, it is possible to connect three or more LCDs by increasing the number of output terminals of the shifter 83.

Effect of the invention

【Effect of the invention】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, image data can be transferred to the two image display apparatuses using different data buses.

Further, in the first aspect of the invention, since the image is alternatively displayed on the two image display devices, the image data is not transferred to the image display device that does not perform the image display.

In addition, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the power of the image display device that does not perform image display is turned off, it is possible to save power.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the image display device because a liquid crystal display device is applicable to various devices.

  1 is a functional block diagram of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention.   It is a figure which shows the flow of the image data in 16 bit mode.   It is a figure which shows the flow of the image data at the time of displaying a 18 bit image on LCD of 1st specification.   It is a figure which shows the flow of the image data at the time of displaying a 18 bit image on LCD of 2nd specification.   It is a functional block diagram of the mobile telephone concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.   It is a figure which shows the flow of the image data at the time of displaying an 18-bit image with respect to 1st LCD.   It is a figure which shows the flow of the image data at the time of displaying an 18-bit image with respect to 2nd LCD.   It is a figure which shows the relationship between the input terminal in the LCD which operate | moves in a different mode, and the image data input.   It is a figure which shows the conventional type image output apparatus with which several LCD was connected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile phone 3 Image sound processing part (image sound processing LSI)
5 LCD
31 Image / audio processing CPU
32 LCD-I / F
33 Shifter

Claims (2)

A device that outputs image data to two image display devices,
Output means for outputting N-bit image data in parallel;
A shifter to which P (> N) data buses connected to one image display device and Q (> N) data buses connected to the other image display device are respectively connected;
With
When the shifter outputs N-bit image data to the one image display device, the shifter outputs the N-bit image data output from the output means to a plurality of types of N data in the P data buses. When the first selected data bus group, which is one of the data buses, is selected and output in parallel, and N-bit image data is output to the other image display device, the output means includes The output N-bit image data is output in parallel by selecting a second selected data bus group which is one of a plurality of N data buses among the Q data buses. switching,
Only one of the one image display device and the other image display device displays an image,
When outputting image data to the one image display device, the image display device includes means for controlling to turn off the other image display device,
The first selected data bus group and the second selected data bus group are different from each other without overlapping each other,
Image output device.
The image output apparatus according to claim 1,
The image display device includes:
Liquid crystal display,
Including,
Image output device.

Images