JP5359338B2 - Display device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly present the contents of a second image which is instructed so as to be newly displayed and different from a certain first image to a user, when the certain first image is already displayed and such an instruction that the second image is displayed is accepted. <P>SOLUTION: A display device 10 starts rewrite processing for displaying the image B of the next page, in such a state that the display of the image A of the present page is maintained, when a page is switched to display an image. In other words, a control part starts the rewrite processing for displaying the second image and then, starts the rewrite processing for erasing the first image, when the first image is displayed on a memorable display body 15 and the control part accepts an instruction such that the second image different from the first image is displayed. Thus, the rewrite processing erasing the first image is postponed, and the second image is quickly presented to the user by the corresponding amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying an image.

  Technology for displaying images consisting of multiple pages while switching pages according to the user's page-turning / page-returning operations on portable display devices such as electronic paper and portable display devices such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) It has been known. For example, in Patent Document 1, images of each page are displayed in order from the top row, and when an operation to switch pages is instructed during the display, the display of the page is stopped. A technique for displaying an image of the next page is disclosed.

JP-A-5-108722

Portable and portable display devices often have inferior processing performance compared to fixed information processing devices such as personal computers, which increases the time required to switch pages, which can be stressful for the user. there were.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is when an instruction to display a second image different from that is displayed when a certain first image is already displayed. In this case, the content of the second image instructed to be newly displayed is quickly presented to the user.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a display unit having a plurality of display elements rewritten to a color corresponding to a period during which a rewrite process is performed, and a reception unit that receives an instruction to display an image on the display unit When, in response to said the reception unit receives an instruction, and a rewriting means for rewriting the color of the display element subjected to the rewrite process to the display device, said rewriting means includes first image display means When the accepting unit accepts an instruction to display a second image different from the first image, the rewriting process for displaying the second image is started. after, to provide a display device comprising a Turkey to start the rewriting process for erasing the first image. As a result, when a certain first image is already displayed and the second image different from the first image is instructed, the content of the second image instructed to be newly displayed is displayed. It can be quickly presented to the user.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the rewriting means starts the rewriting process for erasing the first image after starting and completing the rewriting process for displaying the second image. As a result, even if the rewriting process for displaying the second image and the rewriting process for deleting the first image cannot be performed at the same time, the second instructed to newly display the second image. The contents of the image can be quickly presented to the user.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the rewriting unit receives an instruction to display the second image during a period of executing the rewriting process for displaying the first image. In the event that the rewriting process being executed is stopped, the rewriting process for displaying the second image is started, and then the rewriting process for erasing the first image is started. it can be.

Moreover, in another preferable aspect of the present invention, the rewriting unit is configured to delete the plurality of first images displayed on the display unit when the displayed order is deleted in order from the previous one. When the first image to be overlapped with the other first images, a specifying means for specifying a display element corresponding to the overlapped region is provided, and the first image corresponds to the first image to be erased. Of the display elements, display elements other than the display elements specified by the specifying means are subjected to the rewriting process to erase the first image. Thereby, when erasing a plurality of first images, the displayed order can be erased in order from the first image.
In another preferable aspect of the present invention, when the display position of the first image and the display position of the second image overlap, the rewriting unit specifies a display element corresponding to the overlapped area. Specific display means, and the rewriting process is performed on display elements other than the display elements specified by the specification means among the display elements corresponding to the first image, and the first image is displayed. to erase. This eliminates the need to rewrite the display element corresponding to the region where the display position of the first image and the display position of the second image overlap.
In another preferable aspect of the present invention, the rewriting unit includes an area where the display position of the first image and the display position of the second image overlap, and the entire second image is the display unit. The display position of the second image is changed and displayed so as to be smaller within a range that fits in the display area. Thereby, the contents of the first image and the contents of the second image can be presented so as to be easily recognized by the user.

  In another preferable aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes a plurality of buffers for storing image data, and the rewriting unit represents each of the images when the receiving unit receives an instruction to display a plurality of images. A plurality of image data representing all images instructed to be displayed by storing image data in different buffers, sequentially reading out the image data from each of the buffers, performing the rewriting process according to the image data If the image cannot be stored in the buffer, composite image data representing a composite image obtained by combining a plurality of images instructed to be displayed is generated and stored in the buffer. Thus, even when image data representing all images instructed to be displayed cannot be stored in the buffer, all images instructed to be displayed can be displayed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer that controls a display device having a display unit that displays an image of a color corresponding to a period during which a rewrite process is performed, a receiving unit that receives an instruction to display an image on the display unit, depending on the reception unit receives an instruction, and performing the rewriting process to the display element to function as a rewrite unit for rewriting the color of the display device, the rewrite means, first image is displayed on the display means When the receiving unit receives an instruction to display a second image different from the first image, the rewriting process for displaying the second image is started, There is provided a program characterized by starting the rewriting process for erasing a first image. As a result, when a certain first image is already displayed and the second image different from the first image is instructed, the content of the second image instructed to be newly displayed is displayed. It can be quickly presented to the user.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a display apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a display apparatus. It is the figure which showed the structure of the memory | storage property display body typically. It is a figure explaining the mode of the time-sequential transition of operation | movement of the operation example 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining the mode of the time-sequential transition of operation | movement of the operation example 2. FIG. It is a figure explaining the mode of the time-sequential transition of operation | movement of the operation example 3. FIG. It is a figure explaining the mode of the time-sequential transition of operation | movement of the modification 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining the mode of the time-sequential transition of operation | movement of the modification 2. FIG. It is a figure explaining the mode of the time-sequential transition of operation | movement of the modification 2. FIG. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement of the modification 3.

(A) Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a display device 10. The display device 10 is a portable display device called electronic paper or the like. As shown in the figure, an operation unit 16 and a display area F are provided on the front surface of the display device 10. The display area F is configured to be a rectangular area, and the display device 10 displays an image in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 16 by the user in the display area F.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the display device 10. As shown in the figure, the components included in the display device 10 are connected via a bus 18.
The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and the like, and the CPU executes a program stored in the memory to control each unit of the display device 10. The power supply unit 12 includes a rechargeable secondary battery such as a Ni—Cd battery or a lithium ion battery, and supplies power required for the operation of the display device 10 to each unit through a power line (not shown). Each of the buffers 13A, 13B, and 13C stores image data representing an image for one page (one screen). In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the buffers 13A to 13C, these are collectively referred to as “buffer 13”. Under the control of the control unit 11, the display controller 14 applies a driving voltage to the memory display 15 (performs “rewrite processing” described later), and displays an image corresponding to the image data stored in the buffer 13. Is displayed. The memory display 15 is a display unit that displays an image by an electrophoretic method under the control of the display controller 14.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation unit 16 includes a page return button 16 a that receives an operation for instructing switching to the previous page, and a page feed button 16 b that receives an operation for instructing switching to the next page. Then, an operation by the user is received and an operation signal is supplied to the control unit 11 according to the operation content. The control unit 11 is a reception unit that receives an instruction to display an image on the memory-type display body 15 in accordance with an operation of the operation unit 16 by the user. The storage unit 17 is a nonvolatile storage unit such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, and stores various types of data to be displayed such as image data.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the memory display 15. As shown in the figure, the memory display 15 includes a first substrate 151, a plurality of display elements 152, 152,... That are electrophoretic elements, and a second substrate 153. The first substrate 151 is a glass substrate, and pixel electrodes PE, PE,... Are arranged on the upper surface side in the drawing. The second substrate 153 facing the first substrate 151 is a transparent glass substrate, and a common electrode CE is provided on the back side on the lower side in the drawing. A plurality of display elements 152, 152,... Are arranged between the pixel electrodes PE, PE,. The display element 152 is microencapsulated, and a dispersion medium DM is enclosed as a liquid in which black pigment particles BG charged negatively (−) and white pigment particles WG charged positively (+) are dispersed. . The positions of the black pigment particles BG and the white pigment particles WG are defined by an electric field applied from the outside by applying a driving voltage according to the “rewriting process” performed by the display controller 14. When displaying black on the display element 152, the display controller 14 performs a rewriting process (hereinafter referred to as “black rewriting process”) so as to apply an electric field from the back side to the front side (display area F side). When trying to display white, the display controller 14 performs a rewrite process (hereinafter referred to as “white rewrite process”) so as to apply an electric field from the front side to the back side.

  When the color displayed on the display element 152 is rewritten by the rewriting process, the color gradually changes from the color before rewriting to the color after rewriting. Therefore, when the period during which the rewriting process is performed is sufficiently long, since the movement of the black pigment particles BG and the white pigment particles WG is completed, the display element displays black or white. On the other hand, when the period during which the rewriting process is performed is not sufficient, the black pigment particles BG and the white pigment particles WG move and are in the middle of switching between black and white, and the display element 152 has higher brightness than black. Display a color such as gray. Here, the display controller 14 performs the rewriting process of 100 ms a plurality of times (for example, three times), and when the rewriting process of the plurality of times is completed, the display of the image in the display area F is completed. The positions of the black pigment particles BG and the white pigment particles WG are maintained even when no voltage is applied. This is called display memory. That is, after displaying the image, the memory-type display body 15 holds the displayed image even when no voltage is applied. As described above, the memory-type display body 15 has a plurality of display elements 152, 152,.

When the control unit 11 receives an instruction to display an image on the memory display 15, the control unit 11 stores image data representing an image corresponding to the instruction in the buffer 13, updates the content thereof, and updates the content from the buffer 13. Data is read out and rewritten according to the image data, and an image is displayed on the memory display 15. When receiving an instruction to display a plurality of images, the control unit 11 stores image data representing each image in different buffers 13. The image displayed by the display device 10 is displayed in a color different from that of the background image so that a human can recognize the content. Here, the background image is displayed in “white” and represents the content of each page ( That is, “Picture” (E)) is displayed in “Black”. The display device 10 performs black rewrite processing when displaying an image on the memory display 15 and performs white rewrite processing when erasing the image displayed on the memory display 15.
Further, the display device 10 having a device configuration (hardware configuration) equivalent to that of general electronic paper has a relationship between the potential difference between the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE generated during the rewriting process and the withstand voltage of the pixel electrode PE. This is because the white rewriting process cannot be performed on other display elements during the period when the black rewriting process is performed on a certain display element. That is, the display controller 14 cannot execute the black rewriting process and the white rewriting process simultaneously (in parallel). In the following description, it is assumed that such a premise exists in the display device 10 unless otherwise specified.

(B) Operation Next, an operation executed when the display device 10 displays an image while switching each page based on image data including a plurality of pages will be described with reference to the drawings. 4 to 6 used in the description to be described later are diagrams for explaining the time-series transition of the operation relating to the page switching, and the time t transitions in the arrow direction from the left side to the right side in the drawing. Moreover, in the figure explaining the display content of the memorized display 15 shown in the upper part of each figure, the outer rectangle represents the range of the display area F, and each image (graphic image) drawn in the inside is displayed on each page. Represents an image. In addition, the hatched portion of the line drawing is an image that is displayed after the rewriting process is completed, and the undrawn portion is an image that is displayed in the middle of the rewriting process. Also, the diagrams showing the image data stored in the buffers 13A to 13C shown in the middle and lower stages of FIGS. 4 to 6 correspond to the image displayed based on the image data and the display position in the display area F. Yes.

(B-1) Operation example 1
First, the display device 10 displays “image A” (first image) as the first page image, and after completing the display, displays “image B” (second image) as the second page image. The operation to be executed when the display is instructed by the user will be described with reference to FIG.
The user at time t = t ₁ page turning operation of the page forward button 16b is performed, the control unit 11 accepts an instruction for display of the image A, reads the image data Da for displaying the image A from the storage section 17 . The control unit 11 stores the read image data Da in the buffer 13A. Next, the control unit 11 controls the display controller 14 so that the image A corresponding to the image data Da stored in the buffer 13 </ b> A is displayed on the memory display 15. At this time, the display controller 14 performs black rewriting processing on the display element 152 corresponding to the image A based on the image data Da stored in the buffer 13A. This black rewriting process is completed at a time prior to the time t = t ₂ shown in FIG. 4, and the display of the image A is completed.

The display of the image A memory display 15 is completed, the page feed operation for page feed button 16b by the user is performed at time t = t _2, when receiving an instruction control unit 11 displays the image B, the control The unit 11 reads the image data Db for displaying the image B from the storage unit 17. The control unit 11 stores the read image data Db in the buffer 13B. Note that the control unit 11 keeps the image data Da stored in the buffer 13A and maintains the display of the image A on the storage-type display body 15. Then, the control unit 11 controls the display controller 14 so that the image B corresponding to the image data Db stored in the buffer 13B is displayed on the memory display 15. At this time, the display controller 14 performs black rewriting processing on the display element 152 corresponding to the image B. By this rewriting process, the display of the images A and B for two pages is completed so that the images A and B partially overlap at time t = t ₃ .

When the rewriting process for displaying the image B at the time t = t ₃ is completed, the control unit 11 erases the image A while maintaining the display of the image B displayed on the memory display 15. Start control for. First, the control unit 11 specifies an area where the display position of the image A and the display position of the image B overlap (hereinafter referred to as “overlapping area”) Rab. Then, the control unit 11 stores the image data D (ab) in the buffer 13A so as to perform white rewriting processing on display elements other than the display elements corresponding to the overlapping region Rab among the display elements corresponding to the image A. Remember me. And the control part 11 performs a white rewriting process by the display controller 14 based on the image data D (ab) memorize | stored in the buffer 13A. Accordingly, the time t = t ₃ or later, while the display of the image B is maintained, the display element corresponding to the image A is rewritten from black to white. Then, white rewrite process is completed at time t = t _4, the erase of the image A is completed. When the erasure of the image A is completed, the control unit 11 erases the image data D (ab) from the buffer 13A and prepares for the display of the next image. As described above, when displaying the image by switching the page, the control unit 11 first starts the rewriting process for displaying the image of the next page (second image), and after this is completed, A rewriting process for erasing the image (first image) is started. As a result, the content of the image on the next page is quickly presented to the user as much as the rewriting process for deleting the image on the previous page is postponed.

(B-2) Operation example 2
Next, the operation performed when the display device 10 is instructed to display the image B of the second page during the period when the rewriting process for displaying the image A of the first page is being performed. This will be described with reference to FIG.
Control unit 11, by the user at time t = t ₁₁ page turning operation of the page forward button 16b is performed, when receiving the instruction to display the image A, reads the image data Da is stored in the buffer 13A from the storage unit 17 . Then, the control unit 11 controls the display controller 14 to perform black rewriting processing for displaying the image A on the memory display 15. Here, at time t = t ₁₂ is the period running rewriting processing for displaying the image A, page feed operation of the page forward button 16b is performed by the user, the control unit 11 displays the image B Assume that an instruction is accepted. In this case, the control unit 11 controls the display controller 14 so as to stop the black rewriting process for displaying the image A being executed. As described above, since the display controller 14 performs the rewrite process a plurality of times and displays the image, the control unit 11 controls the display controller 14 not to perform the subsequent rewrite process for displaying the image A. . Then, the control unit 11 reads out the image data Db representing the image B from the storage unit 17 and stores the image data Db in the buffer 13B, and the display controller 14 performs a black rewriting process for displaying the image B on the memory display 15 .

Upon completion of the black rewrite processing for displaying the image B at time t = t _13, the control unit 11, in the same manner as the first operation example, overlap regions where the display position overlaps the display position and image B of the image A The Rab is specified, and the buffer 13A and the display controller 14 are controlled so that the white rewriting process is performed on the display elements other than the display elements corresponding to the overlapping region Rab among the display elements corresponding to the image A. When white rewrite processing for erasing an image A at a time t _{= t 14} is completed, the controller 11 erases the image data D (a-b) from the buffer 13A.
In this way, the display device 10 is executing a rewrite process for displaying the image (first image) of the current page, and is a period during which the image A for which the rewrite process has not been completed is displayed. In addition, when the user performs an operation to switch to the next page, the rewriting process being executed is stopped, and the rewriting process for displaying the image of the next page (second image) is started. Thereby, the display device 10 can quickly present the content of the image of the next page to the user as compared with the case where the rewriting process being executed is performed to the end.

(B-3) Operation example 3
Next, an operation performed when the display device 10 displays an image for three pages on the memory display 15 will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, display of “image A” on the first page is instructed at time t = t ₂₁ , and display of “image B” on the second page is instructed at time t = t ₂₂ after the display is completed, When the display of “image C” on the third page is instructed at time t = t ₂₃ during which the control unit 11 is executing the rewriting process for displaying the image B, the control unit 11 displays The display controller 14 is controlled while updating the contents of the buffers 13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> C according to the procedure shown in FIG. The details of the control executed when the control unit 11 displays the images A to C are the same as those in the first and second operation examples described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. When the black rewriting process for displaying the image C at the time t = t ₂₄ is completed, the control unit 11 maintains the display of the image C on the current page and the image A on the previous page and the image B on the previous page. Control for erasing is started.

  First, the control unit 11 stores image data in the buffer 13A so as to perform white rewriting processing on display elements other than the display elements corresponding to the overlapping area Rac with the image C among the display elements corresponding to the image A. Let The reason why the overlapping area Rac is excluded here is to maintain the display of the image C when the control unit 11 performs the white rewriting process for erasing the image A. Here, since the image A and the image C do not overlap each other, the control unit 11 stores the image data Da in the buffer 13A. Next, the control unit 11 performs white rewriting processing on display elements other than the display elements corresponding to the overlapping area Rab with the image A and the overlapping area Rbc with the image C among the display elements corresponding to the image B. The image data D (bac) is stored in the buffer 13B so as to be applied. Again, in order to maintain the display of the image C, the control unit 11 excludes the overlapping region Rbc. Further, since the white rewriting process is performed on the display element corresponding to the overlapping area Rab based on the image data Da stored in the buffer 13A, the control unit 11 excludes the overlapping area Rab.

Next, the control unit 11 performs white rewriting processing based on the image data Da stored in the buffer 13A and D (bac) stored in the buffer 13B. Thus, the time t = t ₂₄ later, while the image C remained, image A, and the display element corresponding to the image B is rewritten from black to white. The white rewriting process is started on the display element corresponding to the image A in a state where the display is completed, and the white rewriting process is started on the display element corresponding to the image B in the middle of the black rewriting process for the display. Therefore, at time t = t ₂₅ , the erasure of the image B is first completed. When the erasure of the image B is completed, the control unit 11 erases the image data D (b-ac) from the buffer 13B, and continues the white rewriting process based on the image data Da in the buffer 13A. When the deletion of the image A is completed at time t = t ₂₆ , the control unit 11 deletes the image data Da from the buffer 13A.
As described above, when three pages of images are displayed on the storage-type display body 15, the control unit 11 performs the black rewriting process for displaying the image (second image) for which display has been last instructed. When the black rewriting process is completed, the white rewriting process for erasing a plurality of images (a plurality of first images) corresponding to the previous page displayed before that is started.

  As described above, when displaying an image by switching pages, the display device 10 starts a rewriting process for displaying the image of the next page while maintaining the display of the image of the current page. That is, when the first image is displayed on the memory display 15, the control unit 11 displays the second image when receiving an instruction to display a second image different from the first image. After the rewriting process for starting the image is started, the rewriting process for erasing the first image is started. Accordingly, the second image is quickly presented to the user as much as the rewriting process for deleting the first image is postponed. In particular, even in a display device that cannot simultaneously perform the rewriting process for displaying the second image and the rewriting process for erasing the first image, the first image is displayed while the first image is displayed. The second image is displayed and the contents are quickly presented to the user.

(C) Modifications The above embodiment may be modified as follows. Specifically, the following modifications are mentioned, for example. These modifications can be appropriately combined with each other.
(C-1) Modification 1
In the operation example 3 of the above-described embodiment, when the black rewriting process for displaying the image C is started and completed, the control unit 11 erases the image A on the previous page and the image B on the previous page. The white rewriting process was started at the same time. Instead of this configuration, the control unit 11 may delete the images (the plurality of first images) of each page in order from the first displayed on the memory display 15.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the time-series transition of the operation related to page switching in the first modification. Since the operation when the control unit 11 displays “image A”, “image B”, and “image C” is the same as that in the operation example 3, the description thereof is omitted. When the display of the image C is completed at the time t = t ₂₄ , the control unit 11 sets the image A and the image B as erasure targets and starts control for erasing them.

Of the display elements corresponding to the image A to be erased, the control unit 11 uses display elements other than the display elements corresponding to the overlapping area Rab with the image B and the display elements corresponding to the overlapping area Rac with the image C. On the other hand, the image data D (abc) is stored in the buffer 13A so that the white rewriting process is performed. Here, image A and image B overlap, but image A and image C do not overlap. Here, the reason why the display elements corresponding to the overlapping area Rac and the overlapping area Rab are excluded is to perform white rewriting processing only on the display elements corresponding to the image A. And the control part 11 starts the white rewriting process for deleting the image A based on the image data D (abc) memorize | stored in the buffer 13A. When the white rewriting process for erasing the image A is completed at time t = t ₂₅ , the control unit 11 erases the image data D (abc) from the buffer 13A.

Subsequently, the control unit 11 performs the white rewriting process on the display elements other than the display elements corresponding to the overlapping area Rbc with the image C among the display elements corresponding to the image B to be erased. D (bc) is stored in the buffer 13B. The reason why the overlapping region Rbc is excluded here is to perform white rewriting processing only on the display element that displays the image B. Then, the control unit 11 starts white rewriting processing for erasing the image B based on the image data D (bc) stored in the buffer 13B. Thus, after time t = t ₂₅ , the image B is gradually erased while the display of the image C is maintained, and the erasure of the image B is completed at time t = t ₂₆ . In this way, images are erased in order from the previous display order, and a visual appeal effect is also obtained.
Note that the control unit 11 may adopt a mode of processing other than the above as long as the images on each page can be erased in order from the previous one displayed on the memory display 15.

(C-2) Modification 2
In the embodiment described above, the control unit 11 stores the respective image data representing the images for three pages in different ones of the buffers 13A to 13C. In such a case, it may be necessary for the control unit 11 to display four or more pages of images on the memory display 15. That is, the number of buffers may exceed the number of pages for displaying images on the display device 10. In this case, the display device 10 may perform the control described below.

(C-2-1) A multi-page image is synthesized.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a state of time-series transition of operations related to page switching executed by the display device 10.
For example, the control unit 11 stores image data Da representing the image A in the buffer 13A, stores image data Db representing the image B in the buffer 13B, stores image data Dc representing the image C in the buffer 13C, and It is assumed that a page turning operation for displaying the image D is performed while each image data is stored in the buffer 13. In this case, the control unit 11 generates composite image data Dcd representing a composite image obtained by combining the image C having the image data finally stored in the buffer 13 and the image D having finally received a display instruction. Then, the control unit 11 stores the composite image data Dcd in the buffer 13C instead of the image data Dc representing the image C. Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs control related to page switching in the same procedure as the operation example 3 of the above-described embodiment. In this way, when the control unit 11 cannot store in the buffer 13 image data representing all images for which an instruction has been received, a composite image representing a composite image obtained by combining a plurality of pages of images. Data is generated and stored in the buffer 13. In this way, even if the number of pages on which images should be displayed simultaneously exceeds the number of buffers, the control unit 11 can display all the images for which an instruction to display is received.
In this configuration, the control unit 11 may synthesize the image D and the image A, may synthesize the image D and the image B, and any image that has received a display instruction first. And the synthesized image data may be generated by synthesizing the identified image and the image for which the display instruction has been received last. Further, when it is necessary to display an image of a larger number of pages, the control unit 11 may generate composite image data by combining images of three pages or more.

(C-2-2) A specific page is not displayed.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a state of time-series transition of operations related to page switching executed by the display device 10.
When the page advance / return operation is performed at high speed, the image of the page being operated can be regarded as a page that is not intended for the user to view. For example, after the control unit 11 stores the image data Da representing the image A in the buffer 13A and the image data Db representing the image B in the buffer 13B, a page turning operation for displaying the image C and the image D is performed. Suppose it was done continuously. In this case, it can be said that the user does not aim to view the image C. Therefore, when the control unit 11 stores image data representing the image C in the buffer 13C and then receives an instruction to display the image D, the buffer 13C deletes the image data Dc and represents the image D. Image data Dd is stored. In this way, even if the number of pages on which images should be displayed simultaneously exceeds the number of buffers, the control unit 11 can display all images intended for the user to view. In this configuration, the controller 11 may stop storing the image data Dc and store the image data Dc before storing the image data Dc in the buffer 13C.
The control unit 11 may store image data instead of the page on which the image is displayed first (here, the buffer 13A), and the control unit 11 stores image data instead of which page (buffer). You may let them.

(C-3) Modification 3
The control unit 11 may change the display position of the image so as to reduce the overlapping area when displaying images of a plurality of pages on the memory display 15. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation related to page switching performed by the display device 10 in the third modification.
For example, it is assumed that the control unit 11 displays an image of each page according to a layout as illustrated in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the image displayed by the display device 10 includes a character image representing a sentence such as an electronic book. In FIG. 10, “X” and “Y” represent areas where character images are arranged, and each image composed of a plurality of pages has the same layout.
When the operation unit 16 is operated by the user to receive an instruction to display the next page image, the control unit 11 specifies a blank area based on image data representing the current page image. In other words, the control unit 11 specifies a display element that displays a background image (white) in the display area F as a blank area when displaying the image of the current page. When specifying the blank area, if the image data is described in PDF (Portable Document Format) format or various page description languages, the control unit 11 analyzes the contents of the description to identify the blank area. In the case of image data in a bitmap format or the like, the image data may be analyzed to specify a blank area based on the gradation value of each pixel, and in short, an area for displaying a background image may be specified.

Here, the control unit 11 specifies a plurality of inter-line areas L shown in FIG. 10B between the character strings of the respective lines as blank areas. When specifying the blank area, the control unit 11 specifies the display position of the image of the next page based on the size and position of the specified blank area. For example, the control unit 11 specifies a display position where the size of the overlapping area where the image of the current page and the image of the next page overlap is the smallest within the range where the entire image of the next page fits in the display area F. To do. And the control part 11 changes the display position of the image of the next page to the specified display position, and starts the black rewriting process for displaying the image. Here, the control unit 11 changes the position of the image on the next page so that the character image included in the next page is arranged in the line space area L as shown in FIG. In this way, the position where the character image is arranged on each page does not change greatly, so that the user can easily see the display content. When the control unit 11 specifies the display position of the image on the next page, the display position that minimizes the amount of change in the position of the image on the next page is specified from among the display positions where the size of the overlapping area is equal to or less than the threshold value. Alternatively, the display position may be changed so that at least the overlapping area is reduced.
In this way, even when the overlapping area of the images becomes large as in the case where the layout configuration is the same for a plurality of pages, the control unit 11 makes it easy for the user to see the contents of the images on each page. Images of each page can be displayed. When the image layout is determined, the control unit 11 may sequentially change the display position according to the determined algorithm without analyzing the image data.

(C-4) Modification 4
In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the display device 10 cannot perform the black rewriting process and the white rewriting process at the same time. However, if the black rewriting process and the white rewriting process can be performed simultaneously, these rewriting processes are performed simultaneously. May be. In this way, the control unit 11 performs the black rewriting process for displaying the image (second image) of the next page, and deletes the image (first image) before the current page. White rewriting processing can also be executed. According to this configuration, it is possible to advance the time to complete the deletion of the image on the current page, and to obtain a visual appeal effect. In short, the display device starts the rewriting process for displaying the image (second image) of the next page, and then performs the rewriting process for deleting the image (first image) of the current page. If it does, there exists an effect equivalent to embodiment.
In the embodiment described above, when the page is switched, the control unit 11 periodically performs “black display” that makes the entire display surface D black, and “white display” that makes the entire display region F white. This is preferably performed as a reset process. This reset process is for completely erasing the contents of the image displayed before the previous page, thereby initializing the positions of the colored pigment particles BG and WG and suppressing the occurrence of afterimages and the like. it can.

(C-5) Modification 5
In the embodiment described above, the display device 10 has the three buffers 13A to 13C. However, the display device 10 may have a larger number of buffers, or at least two or more buffers. Just do it. Further, the plurality of buffers 13 may be separate from each other, or the storage area of the buffer 13 may be logically divided into a plurality of parts to realize functions equivalent to the embodiment.

(C-6) Modification 6
The display device of the present invention is not limited to an apparatus that displays an image composed of a plurality of pages, and may be any apparatus that displays an image by switching the image in response to the instruction to display the image. It should be noted that the page turning operation and the page returning operation of the embodiment are merely examples, and it is needless to say that the operation may be any page switching operation.
In the above-described embodiment, the memory display 15 displays the image by the black rewriting process and erases the image by the white rewriting process. However, these colors may be reversed, and the white and black colors may be reversed. You may display an image using colors other than. In the embodiment, a display body that displays an image by an electrophoretic method is used. However, a display body having a liquid crystal layer of a storage liquid crystal may be used, and a display region may be displayed by a display element of another driving method. You may use the display body comprised. Further, the display device 10 may display a multicolor image.
In addition, the image (image) displayed by the display device 10 is a color different from the background image so that a human can recognize the content, such as characters, symbols, figures, lines, dots, photographic images, and paintings. The content may be anything as long as it is a drawn image.

(C-7) Modification 7
In the embodiment described above, the display device 10 is a thin and highly portable display device called electronic paper. However, the display device 10 only needs to be able to perform information processing as described in the embodiment, such as a PDA or a mobile phone. It may be a display device.

(C-8) Modification 8
In the embodiment described above, part of the control executed by the control unit 11 may be performed in cooperation with other hardware, or may be performed by one or a plurality of hardware other than the control unit 11. May be. Further, when the control unit 11 executes a program to execute each control, the program may be realized by a combination of a plurality of programs, and the program may be a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), It can be provided in a state where it is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical recording medium (such as an optical disk (CD, DVD)), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. It is also possible to download via a communication network such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Display apparatus, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Power supply part, 13, 13A, 13B, 13C ... Buffer, 14 ... Display controller, 15 ... Memory | storage display body, 16 ... Operation part, 17 ... Memory | storage part, 18 ... Bus .

Claims (8)

Display means having a plurality of display elements rewritten to a color corresponding to a period during which the rewriting process is performed;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction to display an image on the display means;
The reception unit in response to the instruction received is, and a rewriting means for rewriting the color of the display element subjected to the rewrite process to the display element,
The rewriting means is
When the receiving unit receives an instruction to display a second image different from the first image when the first image is displayed on the display unit, the second image is displayed. after starting the rewriting process to, you start the rewriting process for erasing the first image
Display device comprising a call. The rewriting means starts the rewriting process for erasing the first image after starting and completing the rewriting process for displaying the second image. The display device described in 1. The rewriting unit is executing when the receiving unit receives an instruction to display the second image during a period of executing the rewriting process for displaying the first image. The rewriting process for erasing the first image is started after the rewriting process is stopped and the rewriting process for displaying the second image is started. Or the display apparatus of 2. The rewriting means is
When erasing the plurality of first images displayed on the display means in order from the first one displayed, the first image to be erased is the other first image. When overlapping each other, comprising a specifying means for specifying a display element corresponding to the overlapping region,
Of the display elements corresponding to the first image to be erased, the rewriting process is performed on display elements other than the display element specified by the specifying unit to erase the first image. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: The rewriting means comprises a specifying means for specifying a display element corresponding to the overlapped area when the display position of the first image and the display position of the second image overlap.
Of the display elements corresponding to the first image, the rewriting process is performed on display elements other than the display element specified by the specifying unit, and the first image is erased. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The rewriting means is configured so that an area where the display position of the first image and the display position of the second image overlap is smaller within a range in which the entire second image is within the display area of the display means. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display position of the second image is changed and displayed. A plurality of buffers for storing image data;
When the accepting unit accepts an instruction to display a plurality of images, the rewriting unit stores image data representing each of the images in different buffers, and sequentially reads the image data from each of the buffers. The rewriting process according to the image data is performed,
If image data representing all images instructed to be displayed cannot be stored in a plurality of the buffers, composite image data representing a composite image obtained by compositing the plurality of images instructed to be displayed is generated. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is stored in the buffer. A computer that controls a display device having a display unit that displays an image of a color according to a period during which rewrite processing is performed.
Receiving means for receiving an instruction to display an image on the display means;
In accordance with the instruction received by the receiving means, the display element is subjected to the rewriting process to function as a rewriting means for rewriting the color of the display element,
The rewriting means is
When the receiving unit receives an instruction to display a second image different from the first image when the first image is displayed on the display unit, the second image is displayed. After starting the rewriting process for performing, the rewriting process for erasing the first image is started.
A program characterized by that .

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