JPH023517B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for simultaneously displaying many moving objects on a video display screen.

Several methods have already been proposed for displaying a plurality of moving objects on a video display screen for video games and the like. However, in the past, writing data related to moving objects to memory was limited to the horizontal blanking time, so the number of moving objects that could be displayed on the video display screen was limited by the horizontal blanking time. and were relatively few in number.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method that allows a greater number of moving objects to be displayed simultaneously in one field of a video display screen than ever before.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

In Figure 1, a microprocessor (CPU)
The data from the program memory 1 and the input signal S1 from the player are input to the player. Reference numeral 3 denotes a object memory for storing data regarding moving objects that are manually controlled by one or more players and moving objects that are automatically controlled by a program. This data consists of four pieces for each specimen: vertical position data, specimen identification data, colored identification data, and horizontal position data. The CPU transfers the data for each specimen "1" to "N" consisting of these four types of data to the specimen memory 3 via the data bus 2 based on the input signal S1 from the player or the data from the program memory 1. Write via. The address output of the CPU when addressing the specimen memory 3 corresponds to specimen identification numbers "1" to "N".

Timing and overall control of the CPU is performed by a synchronization signal generation circuit 4. This generation circuit 4 generates a vertical synchronization signal group V, a horizontal synchronization signal group H, an erasure signal E, a composite blanking signal B, and a composite synchronization signal representing the vertical scanning position in response to signals associated with normal color television image display. It is designed to output signal C. In Figure 2, 0S, 1S,
2S, 3S... are horizontal scanning periods, and 1B, 2B,
3B... indicates the blanking period.

Now, the data written to the specimen memory 3 is
As indicated by WR1 in the figure, the data is read out during the blanking period 1B and the subsequent horizontal scanning period 1S.
That is, the switch 5 receives the address of the selection signal S2 from the CPU and, under the control of the horizontal synchronizing signal group H, instructs the object memory 3 to specify the address of the object to be read.

When N moving objects are to be displayed on a video display screen, vertical position data, object identification data, colored identification data, and horizontal position data are first stored in the object memory 3 in sequence for the first object.
is read from.

The read vertical position data D1 of the first moving target is input to the comparison and subtraction unit 6, where it is subtracted from the vertical synchronization signal group V at that time, and the subtraction result is sent to the latch circuit 8. , is latched by the vertical position data output command signal _P1 input from the synchronization signal generation circuit 4 to this circuit. At this time, part of the output from comparison and subtraction unit 6 is
Passes through AND gate 7, is input to the latch circuit,
Outputs in-range signal _S3 . This latch circuit 8
Of the output signal consisting of a total of 8 bits, 4 bits are extracted as a vertical line number, 1 bit of which is always input to the image memory 11, and 3 bits can be input to the image memory through the switch 10. There is. The image memory 11 functions as a character generator that determines the shape of an image. A total of 4 bits stored in this image memory 11 become the address of the image memory 11. The in-range signal _S3 from the latch circuit 8 is output when all the four input signals of the AND gate 7 are binary "1". In other words, the AND gate 7 determines whether the comparison result is within the predetermined number of presets, and outputs the in-range signal _S3 if it is within the range of the predetermined number of presets. The generation of this in-range signal _S3 means that the object should be displayed on the next scanning line. This in-range signal _S3 becomes one input of an AND gate 16 placed in front of a preset switch 17 for horizontal position counters 19a and 19b as address indicating means, which will be described later. write signal switch 23
This becomes one input of the AND gate 22 placed in front of the gate.

Next, the object identification data D2 of the first object is read out from the object memory 3 and similarly latched by the latch circuit 9 in response to the object identification data output command signal P2. This latched object identification data D2 passes through the switch 10 and becomes an address signal for the image memory 11. This address signal is this image memory 11
accesses the storage address of the displayed image and derives the image data. The derived image data is input to the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 12, where it is converted into a serial video signal synchronized with the clock K1 from the synchronization signal generation circuit 4 input to the circuit, and then sent to the video color synthesis circuit 14. Sent for each pixel.

The colored identification data D3 of the first specimen is read out from the specimen memory 3 and similarly latched by the latch circuit 13 in response to the colored identification data output command signal P3. The color identification data D3 is the video color synthesis circuit 1
4 and is combined with the above-mentioned serial video signal to become a specimen video coloring signal, which is stored in the specimen video coloring signal memory 20.
sent to.

The sample image coloring signal memory 20 is divided into a memory 20a and a memory 20b to enable simultaneous display of a large number of images on the video display screen, and correspondingly, the horizontal position counter 19 is also divided into a counter 19a and a memory 20b. It is divided into 19b. A preset switch 17 and a preset switch 18 are provided in order to alternately use both horizontal position counters 19a and 19b, as well as the sample image coloring signal memories 20a and 20b. The switches 18 and 23 are configured to switch to the output terminal b side when receiving the switching signal P5 from the synchronizing signal generating circuit 4, and to switch to the output terminal a side when the switching signal P5 disappears.

Finally, the horizontal position data D4 of the first specimen is read out from the specimen memory 3, and the horizontal position counter 1 is read out from the specimen memory 3.
9a and 19b. In this case, the in-range signal S3 is input to one input terminal of the AND gate 16, and the horizontal position data output command signal P4 is input to the other input terminal, so the in-range signal S3 is output as the horizontal position data D4. Only when the horizontal position data output command signal P4 is present, the horizontal position counter 19a or 19b is preset. The in-range signal S3 is input to one input terminal of the AND gate 22, and the clock K2 is input to the other input terminal, and a write signal is output only when the in-range signal S3 is output. This write signal is sent to switch 23.
Through the sample image coloring signal memory 20a, 20b
As a result, the standard image coloring signal outputted from the image coloring synthesis circuit is written into the standard image coloring signal memory. Here, first, the switching signal P
Therefore, it is assumed that the switches 17, 18, and 23 are switched to the output terminal a side. The horizontal position counter 19a, which has been preset in response to the signal from the switch 17, advances its count by the clock K2 from the synchronizing signal generating circuit 4.
The count value of the counter 19a serves as an address signal for the object image colored signal memory 20a, and a write signal is applied to the object image colored signal memory 20a via the switch 23. Therefore, the sample image coloring signal memory 20a contains the sample image coloring signal from the image coloring synthesis circuit 14, which is output in synchronization with the clock K1.
It will be written to the address corresponding to the display horizontal address of 0a. However, in-range signal S
3 has not occurred, that is, the vertical position data D1
does not exist, meaning that the object will not be displayed on the next scanning line, no output signal will appear in the AND gate 16 even when the horizontal position data output command signal P4 is generated. Horizontal position counter 19a is not preset. No horizontal address signal is generated by counter 19a. Further, since no write signal appears at the output of the AND gate 22, the standard video coloring signal from the video coloring synthesis circuit 14 is not written into the standard video coloring signal memory 20a.

The above is the operation for the first specimen from reading the specimen memory 3 to writing the specimen video coloring signal into the specimen video coloring signal memory 20a, but these operations are the same for the second specimen. This is repeated within a period WR1 consisting of the sum of the horizontal blanking period 1B and the next scanning period 1S shown in FIG. At this time, if the specimen image coloring signal of the second and subsequent specimens overlaps with the specimen image coloring signal of the specimen previously written in the specimen image coloring signal memory 20a, is written on top of the specimen image coloring signal of the specimen written in the specimen image coloring signal memory.

In the explanation of the operation so far, we have taken as an example the case of a so-called serial type specimen memory in which the vertical position data, specimen identification data, and horizontal position data are sequentially read out from the specimen memory one by one. It is also possible to provide a sample memory for each of these pieces of data and use a parallel type sample memory in which each piece of data is read out simultaneously.

Now, all the specimen image coloring signals of the specimen written in the specimen image coloring signal memory 20a are read out during the following horizontal blanking period 2B and horizontal scanning period 2S. For this purpose, the switches 17 and 18 are switched to the output terminal b side by the initial switching signal P5 from the synchronizing signal generating circuit 4. Therefore, if the in-range signal S3 is generated, the horizontal position counter 19b is preset at the timing when the horizontal position data output command signal P4 is generated.
Start writing operation. Further, the horizontal position counter 19a is reset by the switching signal P5 from the synchronization signal generating circuit 4, and the address signal of the object image coloring signal memory 20a is initialized. By initializing this address signal, the object image coloring signal memory 20a moves to a read operation. That is, the write and read operations of both memories 20a and 20b are reversed.

The sample image coloring signal of the sample that has been read out is input to the coloring circuit 15 through the switch 21 which is also switched by the switching signal P5, and is colored through the circuit 15 to produce red, green, and blue colors. It is applied as a video signal to a video display monitor, and an image of the specimen is displayed at a position corresponding to the scan. Simultaneously with the start of the readout period RD1 of the one specimen image colored signal memory 20a,
The horizontal position counter 18 for the other specimen image colored signal memory 20b starts counting the clock K2 for the horizontal position data D4. Note that the contents of the standard image coloring signal memory are erased immediately after being sequentially read out pixel by pixel, and a series of standard image coloring signal writing operations for each pixel are performed during the next horizontal blanking period and horizontal scanning period. Prepare for.

The above is an explanation of the write operation and read operation of the target image coloring signal, and this operation is always repeated for all horizontal scanning lines.

The present invention provides a set of horizontal position counter object image coloring signal memory, and writes and reads the sum of horizontal blanking period and horizontal scanning line period to 1, respectively.
Because the cycles are alternated, the number of latches that can be displayed on the video display screen can be increased compared to traditional display methods that write only during the horizontal blanking period. be. Thus, a large number of moving objects can be displayed simultaneously on the video display screen, for example as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, two specimen image coloring signal memories are prepared, and their write operation periods or read operation periods are shifted by the above-mentioned one cycle and used alternately. However, this is not necessarily the case. There's no need. For example, one of the write operation period or the read operation period is the length from the beginning of the horizontal blanking period to the end of the next horizontal blanking period,
The other read operation period or write operation period may have a length of only the horizontal scanning time, and both operations may be used by shifting the length of either one. Of course, the operations of both memories can be shifted by the horizontal blanking period. Further, although the color method has been described in this embodiment, it is clear that a monochrome method can also be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between writing and reading operations of two specimen image coloring signal memories, and FIG.
The figure shows an example of an image on a video display screen displaying a number of specimens according to the method of the present invention. 1: Program memory, 3: Specimen memory, 4:
Synchronous signal generation circuit, 5, 10, 17, 18, 2
1: Switch, 6: Comparison and subtraction circuit, 8, 9,
13: latch circuit, 11: image memory, 12: parallel-serial conversion circuit, 14: video coloring signal memory,
15: Coloring circuit, 19a, 19b: Horizontal position counter, 20a, 20b: Sample image coloring signal memory, 23: Write signal switch.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. Vertical position data, object identification data and data for each moving object to generate a video signal of the moving object formed on a video display screen by repeated horizontal scans. Horizontal position data is stored in advance in the object memory, and for each moving object, the vertical position data indicates whether or not the image data of the moving object is output on the horizontal scanning line corresponding to the vertical scanning position of the screen of the video display screen. Based on the vertical position data and vertical scanning position of the moving target corresponding to the target identification data, the pixel information of all the targets to be displayed on the screen is determined from the image memory stored in advance as image data for each target. The image data for the line determined by the line is read out to form a specimen video signal, and this signal is outputted to a memory having a storage area for storing all the video signals for one horizontal scanning line. The address for storing the above sample image signal is
The address instruction means outputs the object video signal to the memory based on the horizontal position data, the object video signal of the moving object to be output on the horizontal scanning line is stored in the memory, and then the memory is read out and the object image signal of the moving object to be output on the horizontal scanning line is stored in the memory. A method for displaying a large number of moving objects on a video display screen by outputting a body image signal toward the video display screen, comprising at least two memories and a plurality of objects provided as addressing means in each memory. The memory and the horizontal position counter are switched between the read side and the write side by a switching signal generated in synchronization with the horizontal scanning of the screen of the video display screen. If a preset signal for presetting horizontal position data is supplied only to the counter, and an in-range signal indicating that a moving object should be displayed on the next scanning line is output to the memory on the writing side, According to an address instruction of a horizontal position counter in which the horizontal position data is preset, the image data for the line is sequentially stored pixel by pixel;
A method characterized in that reading from one memory and writing a specimen video signal to another memory are performed simultaneously in parallel.