JPH0437795A - Character display device for high vision - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display characters of high quality with excellent operability by preparing a character font for high vision separately, extracting necessary font data according to text data, and developing them on a bit map plane and displaying characters. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 60 performs processes based upon application software on a hard disk 10 in order. Data for the font for high vision are loaded in a font memory 80 from the hard disk 10. A font set on the hard disk 10 can easily be replaced with other sets at need. A font prepared for a computer 100 consists of 16X16 picture elements, but the font for high vision consists of 42X42 picture elements. Namely, the font loaded in the font memory 80 is displayed best on the display device for high vision and high-definition characters are displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a high-definition character display device, and particularly to a device for displaying characters prepared in the form of text data on a high-definition display device.

[Conventional technology]

Hi-Vision is attracting attention as a new information medium. This high-definition system has the feature of being able to display images with much higher definition than conventional television systems, and is expected to be applied to a variety of fields in the future. In some fields, it has become necessary to display text on high-definition screens.

There are two main known methods for displaying characters on a high-definition display device. The first method is to use a scanner to capture characters from a printing plate or the like as image data, and display the characters as images. The second method is to express characters in the form of text data using a computer and display the characters based on this text data.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, both of the above two methods have problems. The first method has the advantage of being able to import the text directly from the printing plate, allowing you to freely select the font, font size, etc., and displaying beautiful text, but it is time-consuming. The problem is that it takes time. In particular, when correcting characters, it is necessary to repeat the work from the creation of the printing plate, which is very inconvenient.

On the other hand, the second method uses a computer to create character data, making it very easy to input and correct characters, and is excellent in terms of workability, but the problem is that the quality of displayed characters is poor. There is.

A character font suitable for high-definition is composed of 42x42 pixels, whereas a character font prepared for general personal computers is 16x16 pixels.

Therefore, interpolation processing is performed on this low-resolution computer character font to display characters on a high-visibility display device. With such a method, it is not possible to display high-definition characters that fully utilize the performance of high-definition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a high-definition character display device that can display high-quality characters suitable for high-definition with good workability.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a device for displaying characters on a high-definition display device, including a first storage unit that stores text data indicating characters to be displayed, and font data for characters to be displayed on the high-definition display device. a second storage section that stores text data; reads text data from the first storage section, extracts font data corresponding to a character indicated by the read text data from the second storage section, and stores this font data at an allocation position; The computer has a bitmap plane that corresponds to the pixel arrangement on the display screen of a high-definition display device, and outputs the font data output from the computer along with data indicating the layout position in this bitmap plane. The present invention includes an image development section that develops the image data on a bitmap plane, and a signal conversion section that converts the image data developed on the bitmap plane into a signal suitable for a high-vision display device.

[For production]

In the high-definition character display device according to the present invention, characters to be displayed can be prepared in the form of text data using a computer. Therefore, inputting and correcting characters is very easy, and the workability is extremely good. Moreover, high-definition character fonts suitable for display on high-definition display devices are prepared, and each character prepared in the form of text data is
Corresponding font data is extracted. In this way, characters are displayed in high-definition fonts on high-definition display devices, making it possible to display high-quality characters.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a high-definition character display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of this device is as follows. First, a computer 100 is prepared to control the entire apparatus. In this embodiment, a personal computer is used. A hard disk 10 is connected to this computer 100 as an external storage device, and a keyboard 20, a mouse 30, a monitor 40, and a printer 50 are further connected as peripheral devices. Moreover, inside the computer 100, C.
PU60, system memory 70, font memory 80
is configured.

Although the system memory 70 and the font memory 80 are separate memories from a software perspective, they are both internal memories of the computer 100 from a hardware perspective. The image development unit 200 has a bitmap plane (a virtual plane composed of a graphics RAM and in which one pixel of the display screen corresponds to a one-bit cell) corresponding to the pixel arrangement of a high-definition display screen. Computer 100 outputs the font data to image development section 200 along with layout position data indicating the layout position of the font data. The output font data is developed on a bitmap plane based on the layout position data. The image data developed in this manner is output as an RGB signal, but is converted into Y, Pb, and Pr signals in the signal converting section 300 and provided to the high-definition display device 400.

The hard disk 10 stores application software, text data, and high-definition fonts. The application software is basic software for operating the computer 100, and the text data is data indicating characters to be displayed on the high-definition display device 400. Also,
The high-definition font is font data suitable for displaying characters on the high-definition display device 400, and is used after being loaded into the font memory 80, as will be described later.

The basic operation of this device is as follows. First, the CPU
60 sequentially performs processing based on application software in the hard disk 10.

At this time, the system memory 70 is used as a work area if necessary. The first process to be performed is to load high-definition font data in the hard disk 10 into the font memory 80 (RAM in this embodiment). By loading the font from the hard disk 10 into the font memory 80, the access speed can be increased. Further, the font set in the hard disk 10 can be easily replaced with another one as needed. In the device of this embodiment, the font originally prepared for the computer 100 is 16X16
In contrast, high-definition fonts are composed of 42x42 pixels. That is, the fonts loaded into the font memory 80 are optimal for display on the high-definition display device 400, making it possible to display high-definition characters. Further, even if the characters are the same, separate fonts are prepared for each of a plurality of fonts, and furthermore, separate fonts are prepared for each character size. For example, if we prepare two types of fonts, Mincho and Gothic, and two sizes, full-width and half-width, for one kanji ``yama'', there are a total of four fonts. will be prepared separately.

Continuing, the CPU 60 c, based on instructions from the user given from the keyboard 2e or the mouse 30,
Necessary text data is read from the hard disk 10. That is, the text data for the character string that the user has instructed to display is read out. Subsequently, for each character indicated by this text data, corresponding font data is extracted from the font memory 80 and output to the image development section 200. At this time,
Layout position data indicating the layout position of each font data and display mode data indicating the display mode of characters (color, presence or absence of blink display, reverse display, etc.) are also output. Furthermore, if a cursor needs to be displayed, cursor data indicating the shape and position of the cursor is also output. The image development unit 200 develops the font data into a bitmap plane while referring to the layout position data and display mode data. The cursor is also expanded based on the cursor data. Since this unfolding operation is a feature of the present invention, it will be described in detail later. In this way, one screen worth of image data (raster data) to be displayed is formed on the bitmap plane in the image development section 200, and this image data is output in the form of RGB signals.

The high-definition display device 400 includes Y, Pb
, Pr signals (Y is a luminance signal, pb and Pr are color difference signals) must be provided. Therefore, the signal converter 300 converts the RGB signals into Y, Pb, and Pr signals. Since this conversion process is a well-known technique, detailed explanation will be omitted here. Note that the user can check a screen corresponding to the display screen of the high-definition display device 400 on the monitor 40 (naturally, the screen will have a low resolution), and if necessary, print a hard copy of this screen on the printer 50. can be obtained from.

Next, the font data expansion operation, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in more detail the internal configurations of the computer 100 and the image development section 200 in the apparatus shown in FIG. A common bus 101 and an expansion slot 102 are provided in the computer 100 surrounded by the broken line in the figure, and the two are connected in the middle. A CPU 60, a system memory 70, and a font memory 80 are connected to the common bus 101, and furthermore, a keyboard interface 21, a mouse interface 31, a monitor interface 41,
A printer interface 51 is connected, and a keyboard 2 is connected to each of these interfaces.
0, a mouse 30, a monitor 40, and a printer 50 are connected. Further, a hard disk is connected to the expansion slot 102 via the disk interface 11, and an image development section 200 is further connected to the expansion slot 102. The core of the image development unit 200, which is surrounded by a dashed line in the figure, is
A graphics signal processor 210. This processor 210 is connected to the expansion slot 102 in the computer 100 and to the graphics bus 201 in the image development section 200. The graphics bus 201 has seven bitmap planes 2.
20 and a program memory 230 are connected. A program for operating the graphic signal processor 210 is stored in the program memory 230. Graphic signal processor 210 develops font data provided from computer 100 onto bitmap plane 220 according to this program. Each of the seven bitmap planes 220 is a memory brain composed of bit cells each consisting of 1920 x 1024 pixels, and each bit cell has a logic of either "lo" or "O" based on the command of the graphic signal processor 210. The lookup table 240 determines the digital signal R based on the logic states of the seven bitmap planes 220.
D.

GD and BD are generated in chronological order. This digital signal RD
, GD, and BD are converted into analog signals R, G, and B by the D/A converter 250.

Next, the font data expansion operation, which is the main point of the present invention, will be explained in detail. First, I will briefly explain the structure of the text data from which font data is extracted (
. In the device of this embodiment, the text data is composed of a data enumeration as shown in FIG. In Figure 3,
Each alphabet represents 1 byte of data, and every 2 bytes constitutes 1 unit of data. Of course, one unit of data does not necessarily have to consist of two bytes.
It may be composed of 1 byte. One unit of data is data indicating a function code or character code. The character code is a code that specifies a single character, and for example, a JIS Kanji code is used.

A function code is a code that indicates the attributes of the following character code, such as font, character size, color, etc.
This is a code that identifies reverse characters, blink characters, etc.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, function code 1 performs the function of specifying the font, character size, color, etc. of the three characters corresponding to the following character codes 1 to 3, and function code 2 performs the function of specifying the font, character size, color, etc. , performs the same function for the character strings corresponding to the following character codes 4-. When the computer 100 reads such text data, it extracts the corresponding font data from the font memory 80 by considering the function code for each character code. For example, if function code 1 shown in Figure 3 indicates a full-width Gothic character, and character code 1 indicates the kanji for "yama," then the character code 1 shown in Figure 4 is Full-width Gothic font data as shown at the top will be extracted. As mentioned above, this font is a 42 x 42 pixel font, and the computer
This is a higher definition font than the font that 0 has internally.

In this way, the computer 100 extracts the corresponding font data for each character code making up the text data, and provides this to the image development section 200. At this time, along with the font data, data indicating the layout position of each character and data indicating the display mode (color, presence or absence of blink display, reverse display, etc.) are also output. Additionally, if a cursor needs to be displayed, cursor data is also output. The computer 100 can calculate the layout position of each character based on the text data.

For example, once the layout position of the first character is determined, the layout position of the next character will be shifted to the right by 42 pixels. Furthermore, if there is a character code indicating a line break, the next character will be allocated to the left end position, which is moved downward by 42 pixels. The image development unit 200 is the computer 10
The font data given from 0 is expanded to the layout position also given from the computer 100. Fourth
The figure shows an operation for developing a font of the character "yama" at an allocation position 221 on a bitmap plane 220. In this way, the graphics signal processor 2
10 develops font data (data in which a logical value of "1" or "0" is defined for each pixel in a 42×42 area) sequentially given from the computer 100 to a desired layout position on the bitmap plane 220. Continue working. In this way, the bitmap plane 220
A bitmap with a logical value of "0" or "1" is formed on the top, and this becomes image data constituting one screen of the high-definition display device 400.

The above is the basic principle of developing font data on a bitmap plane, but in reality, a plurality of bitmap planes are prepared. This is actually available. Fifth
The three planes R1G and B shown in the figure are planes for developing characters, and the two planes B shown in FIG.
L, INV is a plane that develops the display mode, and the seventh
The two planes TC and MC shown in the figure are planes for expanding the cursor. The three planes R, G, and B for developing characters correspond to the three primary colors red, green, and blue, respectively. For example, if a character string consisting of 6 characters such as "scenery in the mountains" is given and this character string is specified as a color red, the graphic signal processor 210 will process the 6 characters as shown in FIG. Character font data is expanded to a predetermined layout position of plane R. If these color specifications are white, planes R, G,
It will be expanded to all of B. In this way, the given color determines which plane should be developed. In this way, the planes R, G, B are 1920
By forming it in a size of x1024 pixels,
There is a large degree of freedom regarding the display position of characters. In other words, it becomes possible to specify the position of a character in units of one pixel. Generally, when displaying characters on a personal computer, for example, one screen consists of 4 full-width characters.
It is divided into sections such as 0x25, and the position of characters is limited within these sections. If character positions can be controlled pixel by pixel as in this device, character strings can be displayed in a beautiful layout.

On the other hand, the brain BL shown in FIG. 6 is a brain indicating an area to be displayed in a blinking manner, and the brain INV is
This is a brain indicating an area to be displayed in reverse video. If the display mode data specifies that a certain character should be displayed blinking or being reversed,
Bits are written to these branes. For example, if the above-mentioned 6 characters "Scenery in the mountains" are specified to be displayed in a blinking manner, the graphic signal processor 210 displays a blinking image in the area of the brain BL corresponding to the allocation area of these 6 characters. Write a bit (for example, “1”) indicating this. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the bit in the hatched area b1 on the brain BL becomes '1'.When displaying in reverse, the bit '1' is similarly placed in that area in the brain INV. is written.The feature of this device is that each dedicated bitmap plane is provided in order to blink or display the characters in reverse. The information is not defined for each character, but
This means that the area on the screen is defined.

As mentioned above, the position of a character can be controlled in units of one pixel, but if you define blinking and inverted display for an area like this, you can handle characters assigned to any position. I can do it.

Another feature of this device is as shown in Figure 7.
The point is that a dedicated bitmap plane is provided to expand the cursor. The brain TC in Figure 7 is a dedicated plane for the text cursor (a cursor for indicating the position of a character), and the brain MC is a special plane for the mouse cursor (a cursor for indicating the operation position of the mouse on the screen). be. In the device of this embodiment, the text cursor consists of a rectangular area tc of 42×42 pixels, and the mouse cursor consists of an arrow-shaped area mc. The position of each cursor is indicated by the computer 100. Based on this instruction, the graphics signal processor 210 stores bits in the area tc of the brain TC.
Also, write bit “1” in area mc of brain MC. All other areas write bit “0”.
so that it becomes In this way, by providing an independent dedicated brain for the cursor, bits in other brains are not affected by movement of the cursor. That is, when the cursor is moved, only the bits in the brane TC or brane MC change. Therefore, even if the text cursor or mouse cursor passes over a character string displayed on the screen, information regarding the original character string is not lost. Furthermore, even when the cursor moves over a blinking character or a reversed character, it is possible to display the character correctly so that the cursor does not blink or reverse. While conventional devices handle the cursor as a type of character, this device can handle the cursor as a type of graphic figure.

The image actually displayed on the display device 400 is obtained by integrating the seven bitmap planes described above. This integration is performed by logical operations between corresponding bits of each bitmap plane (bits at the same position on the plane). This logical operation can be freely defined depending on the display mode, and an example will be described below. First, branes R, G, and B are each made into independent basic planes, and logical operations with other branes are performed for each of these branes. For example, between brane R and brane INV,
A logical operation for reverse display is performed. Specifically, when the logical value "l" is given in the brane INV, an operation is performed on the corresponding bit of the brane R to invert the logical value. Further, a logical operation for blinking display is performed between the brane R and the brane BL. Specifically, the logical value "1" in the brain BL
is given, an operation is performed on the corresponding bit of the brane R to periodically invert the logical value.

A logical operation is performed between the brain R and the plane TCMC to display the cursor preferentially. Specifically, an operation that takes the logical sum of both branes may be performed. To prevent the cursor from blinking or reversing, plane T should be used rather than logical operations with plane BL and INV.
It is sufficient to give priority to logical operations with C and MC.

In the device of this embodiment, the results of such logical operations are prepared in advance in the lookup table 240.

Therefore, according to the logical value of each bit of the seven bitmap planes 220, this lookup table 240 is
By subtracting, the result of integrating the seven planes is obtained. At the output stage of this lookup table 240, each bit position is scanned in a predetermined order, and the final result is a time-series digital signal RD.

GD and BD are output. These digital signals are converted into analog signals R, G, and B by the D/A converter 250.

Although the present invention has been described above based on an illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment only.
It can be implemented in various ways. For example, in the above embodiment, seven bitmap planes are prepared in the image development section, but any number of planes may be prepared. Further, although the operation of integrating seven bitmap planes is performed using a lookup table, this operation may be performed using various logic elements.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the high-definition character display device according to the present invention, a high-definition character font is separately prepared, necessary font data is extracted based on text data, and this is developed on a bitmap plane to display characters. Since the display is performed, high-quality characters suitable for high-definition display devices can be displayed with good workability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a high-definition character display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a computer and an image development unit in the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of text data handled by the device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a bitmap plane prepared in an image development section in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 220...Bitmap plane, 221...Allocation position, bl...Blink display area, tc...Text cursor display area, mC...Mouse cursor display area.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A device for displaying characters on a high-definition display device, comprising: a first storage unit storing text data indicating characters to be displayed; and a first storage unit storing text data indicating characters to be displayed; A second storage section that stores font data, reads text data from the first storage section, extracts font data corresponding to a character indicated by the read text data from the second storage section, and extracts the font data from the second storage section. a computer that outputs the data together with data indicating the layout position; and a bitmap plane corresponding to the pixel arrangement on the display screen of the display device, the computer outputs the font data output from the computer based on the data indicating the layout position. A high-definition device comprising: an image development section that develops the image data on the bitmap plane; and a signal conversion section that converts the image data developed on the bitmap plane into a signal compatible with the display device. Character display device.