JPH04240694A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm the display contents of a display part, provided outside a building, etc., in an operation room. CONSTITUTION:The signal which is led from a control board 11 to the display part 12 through a transmission line 13 is branched to a transmission line 14 and received even by a display data storage controller 15. The display data storage controller 15 is inserted into an extension bus slot of a personal computer 16. The signal passed through the transmission line 14 is stored in the display data storage controller 15 in sequence. The display part 12 has display elements 19 arrayed to constitute a display screen 20. On the display screen 20, characters or a picture is displayed according to the correspondence relation between the array configuration of the display elements 19 and the transmission order of the signal passed through the transmission line 13. The personal computer 16 reads the store contents out of the display data storage controller 15 according to the correspondence relation and displays them on a display device 17.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a control panel that stores content to be displayed and controls the transmission of display data in a predetermined order, and a control panel that inputs this display data to control display elements and display elements. The present invention relates to a display device that has a display section including a drive circuit that converts ON/OFF signals, and displays images outdoors.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional display device 1 is shown in FIG. The content to be displayed is stored in read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as “ROM”).
”) and read/write memory (hereinafter referred to as “RAM”) and read/write memory (hereinafter referred to as “RAM
”) and stored in the central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”).
A control panel 2 that controls the transmission of display data in a predetermined order is usually provided in an operation room 3 where the display device 1 is installed and where maintenance personnel and the like are located. The display unit 4 is usually installed outside the operation room 3 away from the control panel 2, for example, several tens of meters to sometimes several hundred meters away. As the transmission line 5, which is the control wiring between them, a transmission line suitable for long-distance transmission, such as RS422 or optical fiber cable, is used. The display unit 4 has a display screen in which light emitting bodies such as light bulbs and light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as "LEDs"), or display elements such as magnetic reversal elements are arranged as pixels, and the display elements are arranged as pixels. Includes a driver section for driving.

[0003] The control panel 2 has a display procedure stored in advance.
In some cases, it has an OM, but sometimes it interprets data and commands transmitted from a data processing device such as a personal computer 6, as shown in FIG.
A configuration may also be adopted in which the information is temporarily stored in AM.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The content displayed on the display device 1 having the above-described configuration can be viewed by viewing the display section 4 directly with the naked eye or by viewing the surveillance camera 7 at one or more locations facing the display section 4. A common method is to install a monitor TV 8 in the operation room 3 and connect it to a monitor TV 8 through a signal line 9, so that the display contents of the monitor TV 8 can be monitored at hand.

However, in a small display system, for example, a system with a display area of 1 m2 or several m2 and only one display device, a surveillance camera 7 etc. is rarely installed, and display problems on the display device 1 are caused by human error. eyes, usually relying on the eyes of lifeguards. In this case, the human cost increases and the burden on the manufacturer and the user of the display device 1 is heavy.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, it is conceivable to install the surveillance camera 7, but in this case, of course, there may be cases where there is no suitable installation location facing the display section 4, and it is not always possible to install the surveillance camera 7. Not necessarily. Even if such an installation location exists, it may not be possible to fully satisfy demands such as color images and high resolution. In addition, it is necessary to perform long-distance wired transmission via the signal line 9 after the installation work of the display unit 4, which inevitably increases the construction cost.
This will place a heavy burden on the user.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device that can significantly reduce the maintenance man-hours required to check the display contents displayed on the display section, and that can immediately detect abnormalities in the display from within the operation room. be.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a first display means for displaying a character or an image on a first display screen constituted by a plurality of pixels arranged, and a method for each pixel of the first display means. a signal generating means for generating signals representing contents to be displayed in a predetermined order, a first transmitting means for guiding the signal from the signal generating means to the first display means, and a signal branching from the first transmitting means. a memory means for receiving and sequentially addressing signals from the second transmitting means, and reading out the stored contents of the memory means to display pixels on the first display screen of the first display means. and second display means for displaying images on a second display screen in accordance with the arrangement configuration of the image display apparatus.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the first display screen of the first display means is composed of a plurality of pixels arranged. The signal generating means generates signals representing contents to be displayed for each pixel of the first display means in a predetermined order. The signal generated from the signal generating means is given to the first display means via the first transmission means. The second transmission means branches the signal from the first transmission means and guides it to the memory means. The memory means receives the signals from the second transmission means and sequentially addresses and stores them. The contents stored in the memory means are read by the second display means and displayed on the second display screen in correspondence with the pixel arrangement configuration on the first display screen. By installing the second display means in the operation room, for example, the display content on the first display screen of the first display means can be monitored within the operation room.

0010

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
0 basic configuration is shown. The control panel 11, which is a signal generation means, outputs transmission output signals to two systems in parallel to a display section 12, which is a display means, and one system is transmitted through a first transmission line 13 to a display unit, which is a first display means. 12 as before. The other system is for inputting data to a display data storage control device 15, which is a memory means, via a second transmission line 14 branched from the first transmission line 13. This display data storage control device 15 is configured to sequentially store and store the display data from the control panel 11 in real time and update the stored contents, and always stores the latest display data. There is.

According to this embodiment, the display data output from the control panel 11 is parallel 8-bit gradation data as shown in FIG. FIG. 2(1) shows gradation data D0 to D8 for the display elements of the display section 12. Figure 2 (2) shows the system clock (hereinafter abbreviated as "SCK") approximately 1
Shows a MHz signal. Data signals D0 to D7 change and are output in synchronization with this SCK signal. In addition, Figure 2 (
The PE signal shown in 3) is a signal that indicates the start phase of display data, and outputs the "H" level in synchronization with the SCK signal by one cycle, and the display data is valid from the time it falls to the "L" level. express something. The sending order of the 8-bit data of display data D0 to D7 is 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 9, ...
This corresponds to the control order of the display elements of the display unit 12. The transmitted data D0 to D7 follow a control order corresponding to the arrangement of display elements in the display section 12 shown in FIG. This control order may be as shown in FIG. 3(1) or as shown in FIG. 3(2). This control order is determined by the connection state of the control wiring between the display element in the display section 12 and the driver.

Signals D0 to D7 output from the control panel 11
, SCK, and PE are input to the display section 12. Display section 1
2 turns on/off the display element 19, which is a pixel, according to the input order.
OFF or gradation display. On the other hand, in synchronization with the SCK signal shown in FIG. 2 (2) and after the falling of the PE signal shown in FIG. I will store it. This storage is performed in synchronization with the SCK signal, which is as fast as about 1 MHz, so the hardware counts the address for storage and stores it in a RAM or the like.

[0013] The display data stored in this way is
It is updated every time a signal is received, and normally this update cycle is 60H, which is the same as an NTSC signal, taking into account video display data.
It is z. Of course, it is not limited to this 60Hz, but 5
The display should not flicker even at 0 Hz. Also 120H
There is no problem even if it is in a high frequency range such as z.

The display data D0 to D7 thus stored in the memory can be directly addressed by the personal computer 16 or the like and read out at any timing. The display data storage control device 15 is
It is connected to an expansion bus slot of a personal computer 16, etc., and is configured to be easily readable by an application software program. Display data storage control device 1
5 and the expansion bus of the personal computer 16 can be sufficiently realized using normal general interface technology. For example, it may be treated as one of the input devices.

The stored contents of the memory are read out in the same order as the writing order, and are stored in the personal computer 16 in accordance with the arrangement of the display elements 19 constituting the display screen 20 of the display section 12.
is displayed on a display monitor screen on a display device 17 that displays image data from. As a result, control panel 1
A signal representing the display content sent from the display unit 12 to the display unit 12 is projected onto the display monitor screen of the display device 17, so that the display content of the display unit 12 can be easily observed in the operation room 18. . If the display data storage control device 15 is configured so that it can be inserted directly into the expansion bus slot of the personal computer 16, the output from the control panel 11 can be directly inserted into the expansion bus slot of the personal computer 16. It can be transferred via a connected internal bus circuit. Such a personal computer 16 and display device 17 are included in the second display means.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the control panel 11 shown in FIG. 1. Signals representing images to be displayed on the display unit 12, code signals corresponding to characters representing characters, symbols, figures, etc. to be displayed, commands for controlling the display mode, etc. are created by the personal computer 16, Input circuit 21
given to. The control panel 11 includes a CPU 22 and a ROM 2.
3, a RAM 24, an interface circuit 25, a hard disk device 26, etc., and are interconnected via an address bus 27 and a data bus 28. When a signal is applied to the input circuit 21, an interrupt is applied to the CPU 22 via an interrupt line 29. CPU22
detects an interrupt and stores data and commands sent from the personal computer 16 in the RAM 24. When the data reception process due to such an interrupt is completed, the CPU 22 reads the stored contents of the RAM 24 and stores the data in the R
With reference to the stored contents of the hard disk device 26 via the OM 23 and the interface circuit 25, a signal representing the contents to be displayed on the display section 12, such as a font corresponding to a character code, is created, and the image memory (
(hereinafter abbreviated as "VRAM") 30. C.P.
According to the command, U22 performs VR at every predetermined period.
The stored contents of AM30 are sequentially read out and output circuit 31
give to Display data D0 to D9 from the output circuit 31 to the transmission lines 13 and 14 are derived from S from the clock circuit 32.
This is done by an interrupt via line 33, synchronous to the CK signal. A PE signal is also derived from the clock circuit 32.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the display section 12 shown in FIG. 1. From control panel 11 to transmission line 13
The signal via is given to the input circuit 41. Display section 1
2 is composed of a plurality of display panels 42, 43, and 44 connected in cascade. One display panel 42 includes an LED matrix 50 in which LEDs are arranged as pixels in a 16×16 matrix to form a display screen. To drive this LED matrix 50, a column driver circuit 51 and a row driver circuit 52 are provided. Column driver circuit 51 includes shift registers 53 and 54, is supplied with display data D0 to D7, and is shifted in synchronization with the SCK signal. The signals from each stage of the shift registers 53 and 54 are sent to latches 55 and 55 as parallel 8-bit data.
56 and is latched in synchronization with the PE signal. The data latched in the latches 55 and 56 is sent to the LE via a drive circuit 57 having a digital/analog conversion function.
It is given in the column direction of the D matrix 50. Row driver circuit 52 includes a decoder 58 and a drive circuit 59, and drives LED matrix 50 in the row direction. The PE signal is given to the counter 60 as a clock signal, and a signal representing the count result of the counter 60 is given to the decoder 58 as 4-bit data. The decoder 58 has four
One of the 16 rows is selected by the bit signal. The LED matrix 50 is sequentially driven for each row selected by the count value of the counter 60. In this way, each row of the LED matrix 50 is sequentially driven, and so-called dynamic driving is performed.

Signals are applied to the other display panels 43 and 44 via buffers 61-67. The display screen of the display unit 12 is composed of an array of LED matrices 50. Note that since the display data D0 to D7 are 8-bit parallel data, each stage of the shift registers 53 and 54 and the latches 55 and 56 store this parallel data, and the drive circuit 57 converts it into an analog signal and outputs it to the LED matrix. 50
to drive.

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of the LED matrix 50. LEDs 100 to 111 as pixels are arranged at the intersections of each row A0 to A15 and each column C0 to C15. Each LED 100-111 emits light when rows A0-A15 and columns C0-C15 are both driven.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the display data storage control device 15. A signal is applied from the control panel 11 to the input circuit 71 via the transmission line 14. Display data signals D0 to D7 are applied to input terminals of first and second data buffers 72 and 73. The PE signal is applied to the clock terminal of flip-flop 74. The flip-flop 74 divides the frequency of the PE signal into 1/2 and applies the output thereof to the gate terminal of the first data buffer 72 and then to the gate terminal of the second data buffer 73 via the first inverting circuit 75 . first and second data buffers 72,
The output from 73 is the memory 1st and 2nd RAM
76 and 77 as data.

The SCK signal is applied to counter 78 as a clock signal. The counter 78 is reset by the PE signal, counts the SCK signal, and provides address signals to the first and second RAMs 76 and 77 via the first and second address buffers 79 and 80.

An interface circuit 81 is provided between the personal computer 16 and the expansion slot bus. Address signals from the personal computer 16 are sent to the first and second RAMs 7 via an interface circuit 81 and third and fourth address buffers 82 and 83.
6,77. 1st and 2nd RAM76,7
The data signal from 7 is read to the personal computer 16 via third and fourth data buffers 84, 85 and an interface circuit 81. The PE signal is given to the personal computer 16 as an interrupt signal. The output from the flip-flop 74 is applied to the gate terminals of the first and fourth address buffers 79 and 83, and the output from the flip-flop 74 is applied to the gate terminals of the second and third address buffers 80 and 82 through a second inverting circuit 86. An output from flip-flop 74 is provided. flip flop 7
The output of No. 4 is applied to the gate circuit of the third data buffer 84 via the third inverting circuit 87, and also directly to the gate circuit of the fourth data buffer 85.

In the display data storage control device 15 configured as described above, the control panel 11
Display data D0 to D7 from the first or second RAM 7
6 or 77. At this time, the data is stored in the memory location specified by the address signal given from the counter 78. The personal computer 16 has the first or second RAM in which writing is being performed.
the first or second RAM 76, which is different from 76 and 77;
Data is read from 77.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the personal computer 16. CPU91
The ROM 93 and RAM 94 are connected via the internal bus 92.
, a disk device 95, a cathode ray tube (hereinafter abbreviated as "CRT") which is a display device 17, an input means 96 such as a keyboard, an output circuit 97, and an additional bus slot 9.
8 are connected. Programs and data for the operation of the CPU 91 are provided from a ROM 93, a RAM 94, and a disk device 95. The operator inputs commands, data, etc. through the input means 96 while looking at the CRT display device 17. Such commands, data, etc. are given to the control panel 11 via the output circuit 97. Display data storage control device 15 is inserted into expansion bus slot 98 . Display data storage control device 15
The display contents read out from the CPU 91 are displayed on the CRT in real time. The operator can check the display contents on the display means 12 in real time by the display on the CRT. For example, in response to a command, you can check whether an image is displayed as an animation or a character is displayed while moving.

In the above embodiment, the display section 12 is
Although the LEDs are arranged in a matrix as display elements 19, it goes without saying that the display may be arranged in a matrix using light bulbs, fluorescent lamps, liquid crystal elements, or the like as pixels. Furthermore, even when each pixel is capable of expressing a plurality of colors and the display means 12 is configured to be able to display images or characters in a plurality of colors, the display content is expressed for each color. It goes without saying that the same effects as in the above-mentioned embodiments can be achieved by applying a signal and performing a corresponding color display on the display device 17.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the personal computer 16 creates the data that the display section 12 provides to the control panel 11, and the display contents are checked using the display device 17 connected to the personal computer 16. Of course, a device for providing data to the control panel 11 and a device for checking the display contents of the display section 12 may be provided separately. As in this embodiment, when the personal computer 16 is also used, when the display contents of the display means 12 are changed,
You can immediately check the changed contents, and display section 1
It is easy to grasp the status of display effects on 2. Further, at the stage where the personal computer 16 reads data from the display data storage control device 15 and displays it on the display device 17, the display corresponding to the arrangement configuration of the display elements 19 in the display section 12 can be changed by software. Therefore, it is possible to check the display contents corresponding to the display section 12 having various configurations.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the content displayed on the first display screen can be displayed even if the first display means is located at a remote location.
This can be confirmed on the second display screen of the second display means. This eliminates the need to move the first display screen to a position where it can be seen with the naked eye or to photograph it with a surveillance camera to check the first display screen located at a remote location. It is possible to significantly reduce the maintenance man-hours required to check the performance contents. Furthermore, even if there is an abnormality in the display content on the first display means, it can be immediately noticed on the second display screen, so that countermeasures can be taken immediately.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if the content of the display performance on the first display screen is changed, the performance status can be immediately checked on the second display screen. It is easy to change the displayed content to make it more effective.

Further, according to the present invention, when constructing an image display device, even if the first display means is in an unfinished state, the content to be displayed by the first display means is prepared in advance, and the content displayed by the second display means is prepared in advance.
This can be easily confirmed using the display means. Generally, the construction period required for the first display means installed outside a building is the longest, and when creating display data while checking the display contents after the first display means is completed, it is necessary to use the first display means as an image display device. Construction period will be longer. By creating the display contents in advance during the construction period of the first display means, the construction period for the image display device can be shortened, and the system cost for the image display device can be reduced.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even during construction of the first display means, malfunctions in other parts can be detected and improved in advance. That is, after the normal display is confirmed by the second display means, it is confirmed that the operation is normal except for the first transmission line and the first display means. If a malfunction occurs when the first transmission line and the first display means are connected, it is presumed that at least one of the first transmission line or the first display means is defective, and the image display device is installed at the construction site. It is easy to implement countermeasures, and the cost required for on-site adjustments is significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a display device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing signals derived from the control panel 11. FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing a display state of the display section 12 corresponding to the signals shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the control panel 11. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the display section 12. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of the LED matrix 50.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the display data storage control device 15.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the personal computer 16.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional display device 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Display device 11 Control panel 12 Display section 13,14 Transmission line 15 Display data storage control device 16 Personal computer 17 Display device 18 Operation room 19 Display element 20 Display screen 42, 43, 44 Display panel 50 LED matrix 51 Column driver circuit 52 Row driver circuit 71 Input circuit 76,77 RAM 78 Counter 81 Interface circuit 91 CPU 92 Internal bus 98 Expansion bus slot

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first display means for displaying a character or an image on a first display screen constituted by a plurality of pixels arranged, and a signal representing content to be displayed for each pixel of the first display means. a signal generating means for generating signals in a predetermined order; a first transmitting means for guiding the signal from the signal generating means to the first display means; and a second transmitting means for branching and guiding the signal from the first transmitting means.
transmission means, memory means for receiving and sequentially addressing signals from the second transmission means, and reading out the stored contents of the memory means and arranging the pixels on the first display screen of the first display means. an image display device comprising: second display means for displaying an image on a second display screen in correspondence with the image display apparatus.