JPH06139349A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device which is capable of performing an image data processing at high speed. CONSTITUTION:In an image forming device where at least first and second memories 22 and 23 are connected to an image synthesizing means 21 in parallel by a bus line and an image synthesizing processing is performed by writing the image data transferred to this image synthesizing means 21 in the first and second image memories 22 and 23, a mode that data is simultaneously transferred to the first and second image memories 22 and 23 and a mode that data is selectively transferred to the first and second image memories 22 and 23 are prepared.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image data as a moving image recorded on a recording medium such as a CD ROM.
The present invention relates to an image creating apparatus that creates an image to be displayed on an RT display or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A CD-ROM for recording digital data as pits on an optical disk has a large recording capacity and is used as an external recording medium in game machines and personal computers using microcomputers. It is considered to record moving image (animation) image data in a ROM, read the image data, supply the image data to a host computer, and display the moving image on a display such as a CRT.

In this case, it is necessary to change the manner in which the moving image displayed on the display of the game machine is displayed as the game progresses. That is, unlike the case where a video program such as a movie is played back from a VTR or the like, the image displayed next changes depending on the operation status of the game.
Therefore, in order to smoothly progress the game, it is necessary to perform a process of sequentially changing the display image on the computer side (that is, creating the sequential display image) in accordance with the operation status of the game.

Here, as a configuration of an actual game machine,
The image data read from the CD-ROM and a program for creating a display image from the image data are transferred to a buffer memory provided on the host computer side of the game machine main body, and the image data stored in the memory is changed in accordance with the program. The necessary processing is performed to obtain display image data, and the display image data is converted into a predetermined format (NT
It is output as a video signal of SC system, etc.).

[0005]

By the way, in the case of performing such a display image synthesizing process, an image memory such as a frame memory is used to perform a process of writing data to be displayed in the image memory. When the data for one sheet is written, the image data for this one sheet is read out and converted into a video signal. Therefore, in order to display a smooth moving image, at least two sets of image memories are provided,
A memory that causes one image memory to read the image that has been subjected to the combining process while the other image memory is performing the image combining process by writing the data, and performs the combining process in one field or one frame period. It is necessary to switch between and the memory to be read.

In such a case, the image data is selectively written in the two sets of image memories, and the selectively written image data is read out. However, if the data can be written only selectively in this way, there is a problem that it takes time to write the data when there is data to be written in common in both memories. That is, it is necessary to write the data in one image memory, then perform the process of switching the memory in which the data is written, and after this process, write the data in the other image memory.

If it takes time and effort to transfer the data as described above, the processing speed of the image data becomes slower.

In view of the above points, the present invention has an object to provide an image forming apparatus of this type capable of processing image data at high speed.

[0009]

According to the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, at least first and second image memories 22 are provided.
And 23 are connected in parallel to the image synthesizing means 21 by a bus line, and the image data transferred to the image synthesizing means 21 are written in the first and second image memories 22 and 23 to perform the image synthesizing process. In the creating device, the first and second
In this mode, a mode for simultaneously transferring data to the image memories 22 and 23 and a mode for selectively transferring data to the first and second image memories 22 and 23 are prepared.

Further, in this case, the image synthesizing means 21 is connected to the system bus, and the image data transferred by this system bus is stored in the first and second image memories 22 and 23.
It is designed to be written in.

[0011]

According to the present invention, since the data can be transferred to the first and second image memories at the same time, when the same data needs to be transferred to both memories, the transfer processing is finished at once, The processing time required for the transfer is reduced by that much, and the data processing efficiency is improved.

Further, in this case, since the image data transferred by the system bus can be directly written into the first and second image memories at the same time, the data processing efficiency is further improved.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this example, C is executed according to the execution of the game.
An image creating apparatus for reading out image data recorded in a D-ROM and displaying an animation or the like is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central control unit (CPU) composed of a microcomputer. The central control unit 1 is connected to a control pad 2, and according to the operation of a key or the like arranged on the control pad 2. The game progresses and each part is controlled. In this case, a backup memory 3 is connected to the central controller 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a CD ROM reproducing section, which is an optical disk (CD
Data such as a game program is reproduced from the ROM). Then, the data reproduced by the CD ROM reproducing section 4 is supplied to the CD ROM decoding section 5 to decode the data. In this case, the buffer memory 6 is connected to the CD ROM decoding section 5.

Then, the data decoded by the CD ROM decoding unit 5 is transferred to the main memory 7 via the bus line, and the necessary processing is performed under the control of the central control unit 1. In this case, the memory controller 8 is connected to the bus line, and writing and reading of data to and from the main memory 7 are performed under the control of the memory controller 8 in accordance with a command from the central controller 1.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a voice synthesizing circuit. The voice synthesizing circuit 11 is supplied with voice data and a program for decoding the voice data from the main memory 7 and the CD ROM decoding section 5 via a bus line. Audio processing for decoding into a digital audio signal is performed based on the decoding program, the obtained digital audio signal is supplied to the audio output circuit 13, converted into an analog audio signal, and connected to the output terminal 14 of the audio output circuit 13. Output the sound from the speaker. In this case, a buffer memory 12 is connected to the voice synthesis circuit 11, and voice processing is performed using this buffer memory 12.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an image synthesizing section, which is supplied with image data and a decoding program therefor from the main memory 7 and the CDROM decoding section 5 via a bus line and decodes the image data. A process of synthesizing into one frame image is performed based on the program for use. In this case, two frame memories 22 and 23 are connected in parallel to the image synthesizing unit 21 by a bus line, and the two frame memories 22 and 23 are alternately used at a period of one field to generate one frame memory. Performs frame image composition processing.

That is, in a certain field period, image data is written in one memory 22 according to a program to perform an image synthesizing process for one frame, and at the same time, one frame image written in the other memory 23 is written. 1 of the data
Read and output the fields. Then, in the next field period, one field of one frame of image data written in one memory 22 is read and output, and at the same time, one frame of image data is written in the other memory 23 according to a program. Perform image synthesis processing. Therefore, the image synthesizing process for one image (one frame) in the image synthesizing unit 21 using both memories 22 and 23 is normally completed within one field period. This image synthesizing process is performed under the control of the central controller 1 based on the program stored in the main memory 7. However, the transfer of image data or the like from the main memory 7 or the like to the image synthesizing unit 21 side is performed under the control of the memory controller 8. The data written in the memories 22 and 23 includes not only image data used for direct display but also program data for controlling the synthesis of the images.

In this way, the two memories 22 and 23 are
Image synthesis processing is alternately performed in a 1-field cycle by using, and the image data read from both memories 22 and 23 is supplied from the image synthesis section 21 to the image output section 22.
A video signal of a predetermined format such as a system is output from the output terminal 25, and the combined image is displayed on the screen of the monitor receiver 26 connected to the output terminal 25.

As described above, data is normally written alternately to the frame memories 22 and 23, but in this example, a mode is also available in which data can be written to both frame memories 22 and 23 at the same time. . That is, not only when it is desired to write the same image data in both frame memories 22 and 23, but also when the control data for controlling image composition is to be written in both frame memories 22 and 23, the image composition unit 21 Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously write data in the frame memories 22 and 23.

As described above, two frame memories 2 are simultaneously operated.
By being able to write data in 2 and 23, the time required for data transfer processing can be shortened. That is, both memories 2 like control data accompanying image processing
When the data common to 2 and 23 is transferred from the main memory 7 or the like, the process is completed by performing the transfer process only once, and it is not necessary to individually transfer the data to the memories 22 and 23. The processing time can be shortened accordingly. Therefore, the processing time required for synthesizing the image data is shortened, and high-speed operation is possible.

Although two frame memories are used alternately in the above embodiment, three or more frame memories may be used alternately. A field memory may be used instead of the frame memory. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image display device of the game machine is applied, but it can be applied to other similar image synthesizing devices. Also, as a recording medium for image data, a CD-
A recording medium other than the ROM may be used.

[0025]

According to the present invention, data can be transferred to the first and second image memories at the same time. Therefore, when the same data needs to be transferred to both memories, the transfer process is completed once. However, the processing time required for the transfer is shortened, and the data processing efficiency is improved.

Further, in this case, since the image data transferred by the system bus can be directly written in the first and second image memories at the same time, the data processing efficiency is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Central Control Unit (CPU) 4 CD ROM Reproducing Section 5 CD ROM Decoding Section 7 Main Memory 8 Memory Controller 21 Image Compositing Section 22, 23 Frame Memory 24 Image Output Section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. At least first and second image memories are connected in parallel to an image synthesizing means by a bus line, and image data transferred to the image synthesizing means are written in the first and second image memories. In the image creating apparatus for performing the image synthesizing process, a mode for simultaneously transferring data to the first and second image memories and a mode for selectively transferring data to the first and second image memories are prepared. Image creation device. 2. The image creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image synthesizing means is connected to a system bus, and image data transferred by the system bus is written in the first and second image memories. .