JPH01118886A - Image work station - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To display a color picture without adding a display memory, a display control circuit, etc., by providing CRT monitors for black-and-white picture and those for color picture in a ratio of 3:1 and providing a switching circuit which inputs video signals to respective CRT monitors. CONSTITUTION: Video signals for black-and-white picture or color picture which are outputted from display control circuits 2a to 2c are switched by a switching circuit 5. That is, they are inputted to CRT monitors 3a to 3c for black-and white picture respectively at the time of display of a black-and-white picture, and three video signals corresponding to CRT monitors 3a to 3c for black-and- white are inputted as signals of red R, green G, and blue B of a CRT monitor 4 for color picture at the time of display of a color picture. Thus, one CRT monitor 4 for color picture is only added to three CRT monitors 3a to 3c for black-and-white picture to display a color picture without especially adding a display memory, a display control circuit, etc., for color picture display.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image workstation that displays and interprets, for example, medical images using a plurality of CRT monitors, and in particular, an image workstation that uses a plurality of CRT monitors to display and interpret medical images. The present invention relates to an image workstation capable of displaying color images by simply adding one CRT monitor for color images to a plurality of CRT monitors for black and white images without having to do so.

[Conventional technology]

Medical images that are displayed and interpreted on a CRT monitor at an image workstation include, for example, X-ray film images and
There are CT images, nuclear magnetic resonance images, nuclear medicine images, ultrasound images, etc., all of which are displayed as black and white images. Therefore, C in the conventional image work stage 1
The RT monitor was originally a CRT monitor for black and white images.

For this reason, conventional image workstations cannot display color images.

However, in one exceptional case, nuclear medicine images are processed into functional diagrams (
Functional images) are sometimes displayed in color as a pseudo color by displaying positive factor parts in red and negative factor parts in blue with respect to the standard value. In addition, the images obtained using a microscope or a color TV camera are true color images.
These will be displayed in color as they are. Therefore.

In conventional image workstations, in order to display the above-mentioned images in color, there is a separate screen for displaying black and white images.
Display memories and display control circuits for red, green, and blue colors and a CRT monitor for color images had to be provided to display color images.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in such conventional image workstations, adding special display memory and display control circuits for color image display in order to display an exceptionally small number of color images would make the device complex and large. At the same time, it was expensive. Therefore.

Considering the cost and efficiency of the device, there was a lot of waste.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image workstation that can solve these problems.

[Means for solving problems]

Means of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a plurality of display memories into which image data to be displayed is written.

A plurality of display control circuits that perform necessary processing on the image data read from the display memory, perform D/A conversion, and send out video signals, and a plurality of black and white images that display the video signals from the display control circuits as images. In an image workstation having a CRT monitor for black and white images, one CRT Tanabata for color images is installed in parallel with the CRT monitors for black and white images, one for every three CRT monitors for black and white images, and , the above display control circuit and CRT for black and white images
This is done by an image workstation which is provided with a switching circuit between the monitor and the video signal for a monochrome image or a color image outputted from the display control circuit to input it to each CRT monitor.

[For production]

An image workstation configured in this manner uses a switching circuit to switch the video signal for black and white images or for color images output from the display control circuit, and when displaying a black and white image, outputs the video signal to the CRT monitor for black and white images. When inputting and displaying a color image, use three C for black and white images.
Three video signals corresponding to the RT monitor are input as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) signals of the CRT monitor for color images. As a result, black and white images can be displayed on a CRT monitor for black and white images, and color images can be displayed on a CRT monitor for color images without adding special display memory or display control circuits for displaying color images. be able to.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image workstation according to the present invention. This image workstation uses a plurality of CRT monitors to display and interpret, for example, medical images, and as shown in FIG. 1, has a plurality of display memories la, lb.

1c, and a plurality of display control circuits 2a, 2b, and 2c.

CRT monitors 3a, 3b, 3C for a plurality of black and white images;
It comprises a CRT monitor 4 for color images and a switching circuit 5.

The display memories 1a to 1c are used to write image data to be displayed transferred from a magnetic disk (not shown), and for example, three display memories are provided.

The display control circuits 2a to 2c are connected to the display memories 1a to 1c.
It performs the necessary processing on the image data read out from each, performs D/A conversion, and sends out video No. d. Inside each, there is a lookup that defines the relationship between the size of the image data and the intensity of display brightness. Table (hereinafter abbreviated as rLUTJ) 6a.

6b, 6c and D/A converters 7a, 7b, 7c for converting digital image data into analog quantities,
For example, three memory cells are provided corresponding to each of the display memories 1a to 1c. The CRT monitors 38 to 3c for black and white images display the video signals outputted from the display control circuits 2a to 2c as black and white images, and for example, three monitors are provided.

Here, in the present invention, the C
One C for color images for RT monitors 3a to 3C
An RT monitor 4 is provided.

This CRT monitor 4 for color images displays true color images such as microscopic photographs and endoscopic images, or pseudo-color images obtained by data processing and functional diagrams of, for example, nuclear medicine images, and displays red (R), It is designed to input three color video signals of green (G) and blue (B), and the CR for black and white images of the three above
It is provided in parallel to the T monitors 3a to 3C. In addition, 3
The reason why one CRT monitor 4 for color images is provided for each of the CRT monitors 38 to 3C for black and white images is that video signals are sent to each of the three CRT monitors 3a to 3c for black and white images. three display control circuits 2a that send out
Red from 2b and 2c.

This is to capture video signals of three colors, green and blue.

In addition, the display control circuits 2a to 2C and a CR for black and white images are also provided.
A switching circuit 5 is provided between the T monitors 3a to 3c. This switching circuit 5 is connected to each display control circuit 28 to 2c.
The video signal for black and white images or for color images outputted from each is switched and inputted to three CRT monitors 38 to 3C for black and white images or one CRT monitor 4 for color images. is each display control circuit 2
Changeover switch 8a connected correspondingly to a, 2b, 2c
, 8b, 8c. One contact a1 of the first changeover switch 8a connected to the first display control circuit 2a is connected to the first CRT monitor 3a for monochrome images, and the other contact a2 is connected to the CRT monitor for color images. It is connected to the R input terminal of 4. Further, one contact of the second changeover switch 8b connected to the second display control circuit 2b is connected to the second CRT monitor 3b for monochrome images, and the other contact is for color images. It is connected to the G input terminal of the CRT monitor 4. Furthermore, one contact c1 of the third changeover switch 8c connected to the third display control circuit 2c is connected to the third CRT monitor 3c for monochrome images, and the other contact C2 is connected to the CRT monitor for color images. 4
is connected to the B input terminal of the The first to third changeover switches 8a to 8c are configured to switch in conjunction with each other, and when connected to one of the contacts, all blt at, the first to third monochrome image CRT A black and white image is displayed on each of the monitors 38 to 3C, and when connected to the other contact point ant bit Q, a color image is displayed on the CRT monitor 4 for color images.

Next, the operation of displaying a monochrome image or a color image on the image workstation configured as described above will be explained. First, to display a black and white image, operate the changeover switches 8a to 8c of the changeover circuit 5 in FIG. Connect to cm. Then, the first to third display control circuits 2a to 2C are connected to the first to third CRT monitors 3a to 3C for monochrome images, respectively. In this state, black and white image data is read from each display memory la to IC, and each display control circuit 2a to 2
Input to c. Then, the image data input from the first display memory 1a is stored in the LUT in the first display control circuit 2a.
6a defines the relationship between the magnitude of the image data and the intensity of display brightness, and the D/A converter 7a converts it into an analog quantity to create a black and white video signal. Then, this video signal is transferred to the CR for the first monochrome image via the first changeover switch 8a of the changeover circuit 5 and its one contact a1.
Input to T monitor 3a. As a result, the black-and-white image data read from the first display memory 1a is displayed as a black-and-white image on the first black-and-white image CRT monitor 3a. Thereafter, in the same manner, the second and third display memories l
The black-and-white image data read from the monitors 3b and lc are displayed as black-and-white images on the second and third CRT monitors 3b and 3c for black-and-white images. At this time, a monochrome display table is written in the LUTs 8a to 6c in each of the display control circuits 2a to 2o under the control of a central processing unit (CPU) not shown.

Next, for example, in order to display a pseudo-color image obtained by data processing a nuclear medicine image and converting it into a functional diagram, the changeover switches 8a to 8C of the changeover circuit 5 in FIG. 1 are operated.

Each is connected to the other contact point 829 bat c.

Then, the first to third display control circuits 28 to 2C,
R and G of the CRT monitor 4 for color images.

are respectively connected to the input terminals of B. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 2(,) to (Q), image data regarding the same nuclear medicine image is written in each of the display memories 18 to 1c. Also.

In the LUTs 6a to 6C in each display control circuit 2a to 2C,
For example, a table for pseudo color display is written under the control of a CPU not shown.
is for red display, and as shown in Figure 3 (Q), when the image data value is 10 to 15, the red brightness intensity changes from 0 to 15, and the image data is 1115''.
It is said to be a curve that changes linearly so that the brightness is maximum when . The second LUT 6b is for displaying green color, and as shown in FIG. 3(b), when the value of one image data is 5 to 15, the brightness intensity of green color changes from 0 to 15. , is a curve whose slope changes midway so that the brightness is maximum when the image data is "10". Furthermore, the third LUT 6c is for displaying blue color, and as shown in FIG.
The curve is such that the intensity of blue brightness changes from 0 to 15 when the value is 0, and the slope changes midway so that the brightness is maximum when the image data is 5. With the definition of the first to third LUTs 6a to 6C, for example, when the image data is "10", the brightness of red is "O" and the brightness of green is "15" and the brightness of the blue color will be displayed as "O".

In this state, the same image data is read from each display memory 1a-IC and input to each display control circuit 2a-2c. Then, L U T 6 in the first display control circuit 2a
The relationship between the magnitude of the image data and the brightness of the display is defined by a, which is converted into an analog quantity by the D/A converter 7a to create a pseudo-color video signal. This video signal is input to the R input terminal of the CRT monitor 4 for color images via the first changeover switch 8a of the changeover circuit 5 and the other contact a2. This results in
The video signal defined by the first LUT 6a for the image data read from the first display memory 1a is input to the CRT monitor 4 for color images as a red video signal. Thereafter, in the same manner, the second and third display memories lb
, lc for the image data read out from the second and third LUTs 6b.

The video signals defined in 6c are G of the CRT monitor 4 for color images as a green video signal and an audio video signal, respectively.
Input to the input terminal and B input terminal.

As a result, it is possible to create pseudo colors by combining arbitrary colors for one image data, and C
The image is displayed on the RT monitor 4 as a pseudo-color image.

Next, a case will be described in which a true color image such as a microscopic photograph or an endoscopic image is displayed. In this case as well, in the same way as when displaying the above-mentioned pseudo color, the changeover switches 8a to 8c of the changeover circuit 5 in FIG. The display control circuits 2a to 2c are connected to a CRT for color images.
Connect to the R, G, and B input terminals of the monitor 4, respectively.

In this case, since a true color image is displayed, one image data has data for each color of red, green, and blue.For example, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) to (c), , red data is written to the first display memory 1a,
Green data is written in the second display memory 1b, and blue data is written in the third display memory IC. Moreover, LUT6a in each display control circuit 2a to 2C
~6c, a color display table is written under the control of a CPU not shown. For example, the first L U
T6a is used for red display, the second LUT6b is used for green display, and the third LUT6c is used for blue display, as shown in Figures 5(c), (b), and (a), respectively. As shown, when the image data value is O to 15, the brightness intensity changes from O to 15, and when the image data is 15"
It is said that the same curve changes linearly so that the brightness is maximum when . By defining the first to third LUTs 6a to 6C in this way, the image data of each color of red, green, and blue read out from each display memory 1a to IC, respectively, has a brightness ratio of 1:1. The following actions will be taken and displayed.

In this state, image data of each color is read from each display memory 1a-IC and inputted to each display control circuit 2a-2c. Then, L U T 6 in the first display control circuit 2a
A defines the relationship between the magnitude of the red image data and the intensity of display brightness, and the D/A converter 7a converts it into an analog quantity to create a color video signal. This video signal is input to the R input terminal of the CRT monitor 4 for color images via the first changeover switch 8a of the changeover circuit 5 and the other contact a2. This results in
The video signal defined by the first LUT 6a for the red image data read from the first display memory 1a is input to the CRT monitor 4 for color images as a red video signal. Similarly, the video signals defined in the second and third LUTs 6b and 6c for the green and blue image data read from the second and third display memories lb and lc are the green video signal and the audio signal, respectively. The signal is input as a video signal to the G input terminal and B input terminal of the CRT monitor 4 for color images. As a result, the red, green, and blue image data read from the first to third display memories 18 to IC are displayed as color images on the CRT monitor 4 for color images.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the display control circuit 2
The video signals for monochrome images or color images outputted from a to 2c are switched by a switching circuit 5, and when a monochrome image is to be displayed, they are input to the CRT monitors 38 to 3c for monochrome images, respectively, to display a color image. When doing so, input the three video signals corresponding to the three CRT monitors 3a to 3C for black and white images as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) signals for the CRT monitor 4 for color images. can do.

Therefore, without adding any display memory or display control circuit for displaying color images, it is possible to
One C for color images for RT monitors 3a to 3C
Color images can be displayed simply by adding the RT monitor 4. Therefore, according to the present invention, the configuration of the device can be simplified and downsized, and costs can be reduced.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image workstation according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing image data written to each display memory when displaying pseudo color, Figure 3 is a graph showing the LUT curves in each display control circuit when displaying pseudocolor images, and Figure 4 is an explanation showing image data written to each display memory when displaying a true color image. Similarly, FIG. 5 is a graph showing the LUT curve in each display control circuit when displaying a true color image. 1a to IC...Display memory, 2a to 2C...Display control circuit, 3a to 3C...CRT monitor for monochrome images, 4...CRT monitor for color images, 5...
-Switching circuit, 6a to 6c... Lookup table (LUT), 7a to 7cm D/A converter. 8a-8c...Selector switch. Hitachi Medico Co., Ltd. Figure 2 IC Figure 3 1-I diagram Figure 4 IC 5th cause

Claims (1)

[Claims] multiple display memories into which image data to be displayed is written;
A plurality of display control circuits that perform necessary processing on the image data read from the display memory, perform D/A conversion, and send out video signals, and a plurality of black and white images that display the video signals from the display control circuits as images. In an image workstation having a CRT monitor for black-and-white images, one CRT monitor for color images is installed in parallel with the CRT monitor for black-and-white images, and the CRT monitor for black-and-white images is Display control circuit and CRT for black and white images
An image workstation characterized in that a switching circuit is provided between a monitor and a switching circuit for switching a video signal for a monochrome image or a color image output from the display control circuit and inputting the signal to each CRT monitor.