JPH05289640A - Video image drawing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the easiness of use of the video image drawing device by storing an image which is drawn by image processing. CONSTITUTION:Image information on the image drawn through an image processing part 24 by using a pad 2 is stored in an image memory 25. A memory switch 11 is pressed before the device is powered off, and then, the image information in the image memory 25 is written and stored in a nonvolatile memory 13. Then, a read switch 12 is pressed after the power source is turned on again, and then, the image information on the image which is drawn before, is read out of the nonvolatile memory 13 and written in the image memory 25 again. Consequently, the previous image can be reproduced on a monitor 6 and redrawn to improve the easiness of use.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video image rendering device capable of storing an image rendered by image processing even when the power is turned off.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a video image drawing apparatus has been put into practical use which draws a picture by an image processing technique using an image input pad (painting apparatus) and displays the picture on a monitor such as a general television receiver. ..

FIG. 5 shows an external view of a conventional example. Reference numeral 1 is an image drawing device called a graphic computer. A pad 2, a function key 4, and a painting switch 5 are arranged therein. 3 is a painting pen. Reference numeral 7 is a video cable for transferring a signal drawn by the graphic computer 1 to the monitor 6. As the monitor 6, a dedicated display or the like is used in addition to the television receiver.

The operation of the graphic computer 1 will be briefly described below. The user uses the pen 3 to draw a picture on the pad 2. The painting switch 5 is a switch for inputting a picture drawn on the pad 2. When drawing a picture, this switch 5 is used.
Draw while pressing. The function key 4 is used to specify a color, a line thickness, and the like. The drawn picture is converted into a video signal, input to the video input of the monitor 6 through the video cable 7, and displayed on the monitor 6.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the above-mentioned conventional example, which will be described in more detail. The graphic computer 1 includes a pad control unit 20, a CPU 21 connected to a bus line,
ROM 22, RAM 23, I / O 28, image processing unit 24
A pad 2, a function key 4 connected to the pad control unit 20, a painting switch 5 connected to the I / O 28, an image memory 25 connected to the image processing unit 24,
The encoder 26 and the video output connector 27 are included.

In the graphic computer 1, the pad 2 has a two-dimensional space of XY and outputs the position pressed by the painting pen 3 as XY coordinates. This signal is converted by the pad control circuit 20 into data that can be read by the CPU 21.

From the pad control circuit 20, the CPU 21
On the other hand, a signal notifying that the pad 2 or the like has been input is also issued. Now, when there is any input from the pad 2 or the like, the pad control circuit 20 outputs a signal indicating that there is an input to the CPU 21. Upon receiving this signal, the CPU 21 reads the position input from the pad control circuit 20. Here as well, (1) If the read position is the position of the function key 4, the setting (for example, color setting) suitable for the key is performed.

(2) When the read position is not the position of the function key 4, that is, for painting, the CPU 21 reads the position and performs the operation set by the function key 4 in the operation of (1).

For example, in the operation of (1), "yellow" and "line"
When the setting is made to draw, the operation (process) of drawing a yellow line at the pressed position of the pad 2 is performed by the operation of (2). CPU
Reference numeral 21 sets the color and position to be drawn in the image processing section 24. Such information is digitally stored in the image memory 25. The image processing unit 24 reads out these pieces of information and R
It is converted into a GB signal and output to the encoder 26. The encoder 26 converts this RGB signal into a video signal and outputs it from the video connector 27. The ROM 22 stores programs, fixed data, etc., and the RAM 23 temporarily holds variable data.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image drawing apparatus (graphic computer), the image cannot be saved, and when the power is turned off, the image drawn with great effort will be seen again. There was a problem that I could not do it.

For example, the image being drawn is related to time,
If you want to continue tomorrow, or if you were printing the drawn image on a printer, etc., but you want to send it later due to time, or if you have more than two types of drawn images at the same time, it is impossible at present. ..

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video image drawing device which can save an image drawn by image processing and is easy to use. ..

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the video image drawing apparatus of the present invention has a function of drawing an image, a decoding unit for decoding image information of the drawn image, and the decoding unit. In a video image rendering apparatus having an image memory for storing the stored image information and an output unit for displaying the stored image information, a non-volatile memory for storing the stored contents even when the power is turned off is provided. However, the image information of the image memory is stored in the nonvolatile memory before the power is turned off.

[0014]

In the video image drawing apparatus of the present invention, the image information of the image drawn by the image processing is stored in the non-volatile memory before the power is turned off, and after the power is turned off, the previously drawn image can be retrieved again. Then, it is possible to play back the image and add it to the image to improve the usability.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 shows the external configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 in the drawing is an image drawing device called a graphic computer. A pad 2, a function key 4, a painting switch 5, a memory switch 11, and a read switch 12 are arranged therein. 3 is a painting pen. Reference numeral 7 is a video cable for transferring a signal drawn by the graphic computer 1 to a video input to the monitor 6. As the monitor 6, a dedicated display or the like is used in addition to the television receiver. As described above, the external appearance of the present embodiment is almost the same as that of the conventional example, except that the memory switch 11 and the read switch 12 are added.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the first embodiment. The graphic computer 1 includes a pad control unit 20, a CPU 21, a ROM 2 connected to a bus line.
2, RAM 23, I / O 28, image processing unit 24, non-volatile memory 29, pad 2, function key 4 connected to the pad control unit 20, painting switch 5, memory switch 11 connected to the I / O 28, The read switch 12 and the image memory 25 connected to the image processing unit 24
And an encoder 26, a video output connector 27, and the like.

The difference from the block configuration of the conventional example is that a memory switch 11, a read switch 12, and a non-volatile memory 29 are added. In the above, the non-volatile memory 29 is a battery backed up RAM, an EEPROM, a slash memory, an IC card, etc.
There is no particular limitation as long as it is non-volatile.

The operation and action of the first embodiment constructed as above will be described. The operation of drawing a picture on the graphic computer 1 is the same as the conventional example. The user draws a picture by the operation shown in the conventional example, and presses the memory switch 11 when the picture is completed or when it is necessary to turn off the power while drawing the picture. When the memory switch 11 is pressed, the CPU 21 reads the data in the image memory 25,
The data is written in the non-volatile memory 29. During this time,
A message such as "In memory" is displayed on the monitor 6 and "Memory complete" is displayed when writing of one sheet of data is completed.
You may display a message such as.

When reading the data stored in the non-volatile memory 29, the read switch 12 is pressed. When the read switch 12 is pressed, the CPU 21 reads the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 29 and writes it in the image memory 25. During this time, a message such as "memory reading" may be displayed on the monitor 6, and a message such as "memory reading completed" may be displayed when reading of one sheet of data is completed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image information drawn by the user of the image memory 25 is stored in the non-volatile memory 29 according to the instruction of the user, and the non-volatile memory 29 can be read out, whereby the power is turned off. Even when the image information is input again, the previous image information can be viewed on the monitor 6 or drawn to complete the image.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the external structure of the
(A) shows a plan view and (b) shows a side view. The appearance of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but a memory card 13 and a memory card insertion port 14 are added to the side surface of the graphic computer 1 so that the memory card 13 can be inserted into the graphic computer 1. Is different. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in which the non-volatile memory is incorporated, in that the non-volatile memory is replaced by a memory card 13.
The feature is that the graphic computer 1 is detachable.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the second embodiment. The block configuration of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the memory card connector 30 is provided in place of the non-volatile memory in the graphic computer 1 of the first embodiment and its terminals are provided. The CPU
It is connected to the bus line 21 and the memory card 13 can be attached to and removed from the connector 30. Here, the memory card 13 is not particularly limited as long as it is a non-volatile memory card such as RAM backed up by a battery, EEPROM, slash memory, or IC card.

The operation and action of the second embodiment configured as above will be described. The operation of drawing a picture on the graphic computer 1 is the same as the conventional example. The user draws a picture by the operation shown in the conventional example, and presses the memory switch 11 when the picture is completed or when it is necessary to turn off the power while drawing the picture. When the memory switch 11 is pressed, the CPU 21 checks whether or not the memory card 13 is inserted, and if it is inserted, the data in the image memory 25 is read and the data is written in the memory card 13. During this time, a message such as "memory in card" or the like may be displayed on the monitor 6, and a message such as "memory is completed in card" or the like may be displayed when writing of one data is completed.

When reading the data stored in the memory card 13, the read switch 12 is pressed. When the read switch 12 is pressed, the CPU 21 confirms whether or not the memory card 13 is inserted as described above, and if it is inserted, the data stored in the memory card 13 is read out and the image memory 25 is read. Write in. During this time,
A message such as "card reading" may be displayed on the monitor 6 and a message such as "card reading completed" may be displayed when reading of one sheet of data is completed.

By using a non-volatile memory for storing image information as a memory card in this way, there is an advantage that there is no limit to the images that can be stored. In addition, there is an advantage that the memory card can be rented out and distributed.

The memory switch 11 and the read switch 12 described in the first and second embodiments.
The switch is provided via the I / O 28, but this function may be performed by the function key 4 described above. Further, although the memory operation is described as storing all of one image, a part of the image may be stored by providing a function of designating a memory location. In addition, the nonvolatile memory 2 of the first embodiment
The number of images that can be stored in the memory card 13 of the ninth and second embodiments is not limited to one, and a plurality of images can be stored as needed. As described above, the present invention has various applications in line with its gist,
Various embodiments are possible.

[0029]

As is clear from the above description, according to the video image drawing apparatus of the present invention, by having the nonvolatile memory for storing the image information drawn by the image processing, the following effects can be expected.

(1) Since the image information can be stored, the drawn image can be retrieved again even when the power is turned off.

(2) An image can be drawn subsequently to the image taken out again.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2 of the present invention,
The following effects can be expected by allowing the operator to attach and detach the non-volatile memory (memory card etc.).

(1) By increasing the number of non-volatile memories (memory cards etc.), there is no memory limitation for storing images.

(2) A non-volatile memory (memory card, etc.) can be rented and borrowed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a second embodiment of the present invention, (a)
Is the plan view, (b) is the side view

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the above conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Graphic computer 2 ... Pad 5 ... Painting switch 11 ... Memory switch 12 ... Readout switch 13 ... Memory card 14 ... Memory card insertion slot 21 ... CPU 24 ... Image processing unit 25 ... Image memory 29 ... Non-volatile memory 30 ... Memory card connector

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A decoding unit for decoding image information of the drawn image, an image memory for storing the decoded image information, and a display unit for displaying the stored image information. A video image rendering device having an output section, comprising a non-volatile memory for storing the stored contents even when the power is turned off, and storing the image information of the image memory in the non-volatile memory before the power is turned off. A video image rendering device characterized by: 2. The video image rendering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is portable and has an attachment / detachment structure that allows an operator to attach and detach the non-volatile memory. Wear.