JPH07295544A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image display device which can display various images at low cost. CONSTITUTION:An MPU 42 detects and reports the address of image data on a ROM 52 corresponding to an image to be displayed on a liquid crystal display 38 to VDP 50, determines the display magnification of the image in a main scanning direction, and sends an indication to a selector 56 so as to output one of two signals of different frequency inputted from oscillation circuits 58A and 58B. The image data which are read out of the ROM 52 and temporarily stored in the VRAM of a scroll screen generator 64 or moving screen generator 66 are read out in order at a speed synchronized with the internal clock signal outputted from a timing generator 70 corresponding to the frequency of the reference signal inputted from the selector 56 and outputted to a display controller 62, which outputs a video signal showing an image where pixels are arrayed in the main scanning direction at intervals corresponding to the frequency of the reference signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly to an image display device for converting image data into a video signal and displaying an image on an image display means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of pachinko game machines, but as an example, an auxiliary game machine equipped with a display section and a variable winning machine that is opened a predetermined number of times in conjunction with this are provided on a game board. There is something. The display of the auxiliary game device
For example, a plurality of drums with numbers, pictures, etc. recorded on the outer circumference consist of slots arranged rotatably like a so-called slot machine, and when a ball hits a specific winning opening provided on the game board, the slots rotate. After that, the display is stopped and a three-digit number is displayed on the display unit. And when the three displayed numbers are aligned, the specific game state,
This is a so-called jackpot, and the variable winning device that has been kept in the closed state is intermittently opened, so that the winning rate of a hit ball is rapidly increased.

Further, recently, in order to improve the service to the player, there is also seen one using an image display device including a display such as a liquid crystal as a display portion of the auxiliary game device. The image display device includes a storage device such as a ROM in which a large number of frames of image data are stored in advance, and an image processing processor. The image processor selectively reads out image data corresponding to the image to be displayed on the display from the image data for a large number of frames stored in the ROM or the like, converts it into a display driving signal, and outputs it to the display. As a result, the image of the image data is displayed on the display. In the above configuration, various images can be displayed in addition to the image representing the slot as described above, so that the service to the player can be improved.

[0004]

However, in the pachinko gaming machine, there is always a demand for further improvement of the service to the player, and the image display device is also required to be able to display more various images. In order to fulfill this demand, it is necessary to store a large amount of image data in a storage means such as a ROM corresponding to the various images, and accordingly, a large capacity ROM or address space is required. Since a large image processor is required, there is a problem that the cost of the image display device increases.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain an image display device capable of displaying various images at low cost.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image display device according to the present invention is inputted with a storage means for storing image data in advance and image data stored in the storage means. Video signal output means for converting and outputting to a video signal representing an image in which pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction at intervals corresponding to the frequency of the reference signal, and the video signal input from the video signal output means, and the input video Image display means for displaying the image represented by the signal, and the reference signal during at least one image non-display period after the display of a predetermined main scanning line on the image display means is completed and after the display of one image is completed. And a frequency changing means for changing the frequency.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the image data is stored in the storage means in advance, and the video signal output means performs the main scan on the image data stored in the storage means at intervals corresponding to the frequency of the input reference signal. A video signal representing an image in which pixels are arranged in the direction is converted and output, and the image display unit displays the image represented by the video signal input from the video signal output unit. On the other hand, the frequency changing means changes the frequency of the reference signal during at least one image non-display period after the display of the predetermined main scanning line on the image display means is completed and after the display of one image is completed. When the frequency of the reference signal is changed by the frequency changing means, the pixel interval along the main scanning direction of the image displayed on the image display means changes, and the main scanning direction of the image displayed on the image display means changes. The display magnification changes.

For example, when the frequency of the reference signal is changed in the image non-display period after the display of one image is completed by the frequency control means, the image in which the display magnification along the main scanning direction is entirely changed Is displayed. Further, for example, when the frequency of the reference signal is changed in the image non-display period after the display of the predetermined main scanning line is completed by the frequency control means, the pixel interval along the main scanning direction is partially changed. The image is displayed.

As described above, by changing the frequency of the reference signal by the frequency changing means, for example, the whole one frame is displayed or only a part of one frame is displayed for the image data corresponding to a single frame image. Enlarged display,
By changing the display magnification partially, it is possible to express perspective and various display methods such as, so for example, in order to perform the above-mentioned display, it corresponds to each display. There is no need to prepare image data for each. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the storage capacity of the storage means for storing the image data or to use an image processing processor having a large address space as the video signal output means, so that an image display device capable of displaying various images can be provided. It can be realized at low cost.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case where the image display device according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a pachinko machine 10 according to the first embodiment. The pachinko machine 10 is provided with a holding frame 12, and a game board 14 is fitted in an upper front position of the holding frame 12. Also, the holding frame 12
At a lower position on the front surface of the device, a supply plate 16 for supplying pachinko balls and a receiving plate 18 for storing the discharged balls are arranged. further,
A launching device 20 that launches a pachinko ball is provided on the right side of the tray 18 in the plane of FIG. The firing device 20 includes an operation dial 22, and pachinko balls are continuously fired by rotating the operation dial 22 by a predetermined amount.

A variable winning device 24 is disposed below the game board 14 and is configured to be intermittently opened only in a predetermined case. A variable display device 26 is arranged in the center of the game board 14. A first specific winning opening 28 is provided on each side of the variable display device 26. A second specific winning opening 30 is arranged below the variable display device 26.

FIG. 2 shows the variable display device 26 described above in an enlarged state. This variable display device 26 is
A display unit 32 having a color liquid crystal display 38 and a display unit 3 for counting the number of times the variable winning device 24 is opened.
4 and a winning ball display unit 36 for pooling and displaying the number of hit balls that have won the first specific winning opening 28 and the second specific winning opening 30 while the display content of the display unit 32 is being changed. I have it.

In the liquid crystal display 38, a pair of glass substrates each having a transparent electrode formed on one surface thereof are arranged so that the transparent electrodes face each other with a predetermined gap, and a liquid crystal is provided between the pair of glass substrates. It is filled and configured. When a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal through the electrodes, the light transmittance of the portion sandwiched between the electrodes changes according to the magnitude of the applied voltage. The arrangement is such that the light transmittance can be changed for each part corresponding to each dot when divided into a matrix as a unit.

As an example, each dot has B (blue) light or G (green) light or R as shown in FIG.
A filter that transmits (red) light is compatible. Figure 3
In the example shown in FIG. 6, 6 dots indicated by a thick line constitute one conceptual pixel, and the color and luminance of each pixel are the light transmittance of each dot, specifically, not shown in the figure disposed on the back surface of the liquid crystal display 38. It changes depending on the amount of light of B, G, or R color emitted from the backlight and transmitted through each dot.

As shown in FIG. 4, a liquid crystal display 38
Is connected to the display device 40. The display device 40 is MP
U (micro processing unit) 42, RAM4
4, a ROM 46, and an input / output port 48, which are connected to each other via a bus. Further, a plurality of external circuits (not shown) are connected to the input / output port 48. The external circuit outputs a sensor that detects the state of each part of the pachinko machine 10 (for example, whether or not a hit ball has won a specific winning opening), and several bits of data (referred to as a command) indicating the detection result of the sensor. A control circuit and a command output from an external circuit are input to the MPU 42 via the input / output port 48.

A selector 56 is connected to the input / output port 48. The selector 56 has two input terminals. One of the input terminals has an oscillating circuit 58A that outputs a signal of frequency f ₁ , and the other input terminal thereof has a signal of frequency f ₂ different from the frequency f _1. The output oscillation circuits 58B are connected to each other. The selector 56 outputs one of the two signals respectively input from the oscillation circuits 58A and 58B according to the instruction signal input from the MPU 42 via the input / output port 48. The MPU 42, the selector 56, and the oscillation circuits 58A and 58B form the frequency changing means of the present invention.

A video display processor (hereinafter referred to as VDP) 50 as a video signal output means of the present invention is connected to the MPU 42. VD
P50 is an MPU connected to each other via a bus 50A
Interface unit 60, display controller 6
2, a scroll screen generator 64, a moving screen generator 66, a ROM interface unit 68, and a timing generator 70. The MPU interface unit 60 is connected to the MPU 42 and
Various commands and data are exchanged with the U42. Further, the signal output end of the MPU interface unit 60 is an interrupt signal input terminal of the MPU 42 (“INT” in FIG. 4).
Connected as shown).

The ROM interface section 68 is connected to the ROM 52 as the storage means of the present invention. ROM
In 52, various image data corresponding to various images displayed on the liquid crystal display 38 are stored. The ROM interface unit 68 reads the image data stored in the ROM 52, and uses the read image data on the bus 50B.
Output to the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66 via. Each of the scroll screen generator 64 and the moving screen generator 66 has a VRAM. The image data input from the ROM interface unit 68 is temporarily stored in the VRAM, and the scroll screen or moving screen is displayed on the display controller 62 via the bus 50A. Output as image data to represent.

The output end of the display controller 62 is connected to the signal input end of the interface section 54.
The display controller 62 converts the image data input from the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66 into a video signal, and the interface unit 5
Output to 4. As an example of the video signal, the color encoder 62 according to the present embodiment outputs a video signal conforming to the NTSC system. The signal output end of the interface section 54 is connected to the liquid crystal display 38 as the image display means of the present invention.

The output end of the selector 56 is connected to the timing generator 70 via the terminal CLK, and the signal output from the selector 56 is input as a reference signal. The timing generator 70 divides the reference signal based on the input reference signal to generate an internal clock signal, and the internal clock signal is supplied via the signal line 50B to the scroll screen generator 64, the moving screen generator 66, the ROM interface. Output to each of the units 68. As a result, the scroll screen generator 64,
Video plane generator 66 and ROM interface unit 6
Each of the eight operates at a speed synchronized with the internal clock signal.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. When the pachinko machine 10 is powered on, various initial settings are performed. The MPU 42 outputs an instruction signal to the selector 56,
The selector 56 is instructed to output one of the predetermined two signals of the frequencies f ₁ and f ₂ . Here, as an example, it is assumed that f ₁ > f ₂ is set, and the output of the signal of the frequency f ₁ input from the oscillation circuit 58A is instructed. As a result, the signal of the frequency f ₁ is input to the timing generator 70 as the reference signal, and the internal clock signal of the frequency corresponding to the frequency f ₁ is output from the timing generator 70.

In the ROM 46 of the display device 40, the RO
The head addresses of the various image data stored in M52 are stored in advance as a table. MPU
At 42, a ROM 52 corresponding to an image (for example, an image showing a slot as shown in FIG. 5) which is read out from the ROM 46 and displayed in an idle state immediately after power-on.
It detects the start address of the image data stored in, and notifies the detected start address to the VDP 50.

ROM interface section 68 of VDP 50
Then, the start address of the image data notified from the MPU 42 via the MPU interface unit 60 and the bus 50A is instructed to the ROM 52, and the image data stored at the notified address is read. The image data read out as described above is a part of the image data corresponding to the image displayed in the idle state. ROM
The interface unit 68 sequentially increments or decrements the address notified to the ROM 52 at the timing synchronized with the frequency of the internal clock signal, and reads the image data for one frame. The image data read from the ROM 52 by the ROM interface unit 68 is sequentially stored in the VRAM of the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66.

The image data once stored in the VRAM is sequentially output to the display controller 62 as image data representing the scroll screen or the moving screen by the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66. Since the screen generator 64 and the moving screen generator 66 operate at the speed synchronized with the internal clock signal, the image data is also output at the timing synchronized with the internal clock signal. On the other hand, the display controller 62 sequentially converts the input image data into a video signal, adds a synchronization signal and the like, and outputs the video signal as a video signal conforming to the NTSC system.
In the NTSC method, the time of one main scan (time interval of horizontal synchronizing signal) is constant (63.5 μsec), so that the display controller 62 indicates from the display controller 62 at the interval corresponding to the frequency of the reference signal in the main scanning direction. A video signal representing an image in which pixels are lined up is output.

In the VDP 50, the interface unit 5
4 outputs a signal to the interrupt signal input terminal INT1 of the MPU 42 when the vertical blanking period of the video signal starts, and when the horizontal blanking period of the video signal starts, the interrupt signal input terminal of the MPU 42 Output a signal to INT2.

The interface unit 54 shapes the waveform of the input video signal into a waveform suitable for the liquid crystal display 38, performs amplitude adjustment, γ correction, contrast, brightness adjustment, etc., and outputs it to the liquid crystal display 38. The liquid crystal display 38 judges the color and brightness of each dot based on the input video signal, and among the many electrodes provided in the liquid crystal display 38, the electrodes to which a voltage is applied are sequentially switched and the judged color of each dot is determined. And the applied voltage is controlled according to the brightness. As a result, an image as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 38 as an example.

By the way, when the player rotates the operation dial 22 by a predetermined amount, a pachinko ball is launched from the launching device 20 and the game is started. Along with this, commands indicating the states of the respective parts of the pachinko machine 10 are input to the MPU 42 from an external circuit. The MPU 42 determines a game state or the like of the pachinko machine 10 based on a command input from an external circuit, and controls the change of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 38 and the operation of each part according to the determined game state or the like.

For example, when the hit ball wins either the first specific winning opening 28 or the second specific winning opening 30, the MPU
Reference numeral 42 displays a moving image (a so-called image, which is composed of images of a number of consecutive frames in a time series), which is an image that stops after the slot has rotated and the number has changed. Further, when the numbers displayed on the liquid crystal display 38 are aligned, a specific game state, that is, a so-called jackpot is achieved. In this case, MP
U42 controls so that the variable winning device 24 is intermittently opened and the number of times the variable winning device 24 is currently open is displayed on the number-of-times display portion 34, and the player is displayed on the liquid crystal display 38. Display a moving image to entice you.

When the image to be displayed is changed as described above, the address of the image data corresponding to the image to be changed and displayed is detected and the same operation is performed. Further, when it is desired to increase the display magnification along the main scanning direction to display an image, the MPU 42 synchronizes with the interrupt signal input from the VDP 50 via the interrupt signal input terminal INT1.
The oscillation circuit 58B is operated during the vertical blanking period of the video signal (that is, the image non-display period after the display of one image is completed).
The selector 56 is instructed to output the signal of the frequency f ₂ input from. Since f ₁ > f ₂ in this embodiment, the frequency of the internal clock signal is lowered by inputting this signal as a reference signal to the timing generator 70, and the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66 causes the display controller to display. 62
The output speed of the image data to is also decreased in synchronization with the decrease in the frequency of the internal clock signal. Therefore, the display controller 62 outputs a video signal representing an image in which the pixel intervals along the main scanning direction are widened.

As a result, as compared with FIG. 6 showing an example in which an image is displayed using a signal of frequency f ₁ as a reference signal, as shown in FIG. By reducing the frequency of the signal, the display magnification in the width direction is increased as a whole, and an image in which a part of one frame is enlarged (see FIG. 7) is displayed. Further, the MPU 42 has an interrupt signal input terminal IN
In synchronization with the interrupt signal input via T2, the frequency of the reference signal is switched during the horizontal blanking period of the video signal (that is, the image non-display period after the display of the predetermined main scanning line is completed). In this case, an image in which the display magnification in the main scanning direction is partially changed in the sub scanning direction is displayed.

As described above, by switching the frequency of the reference signal, it is possible to display the image data corresponding to a single image by various display methods. It is no longer necessary to prepare image data for each of the displays. Therefore, the storage capacity of the ROM 52 that stores image data is increased,
Since it is not necessary to use the VDP 50 having a large address space, various images can be displayed and the cost of the display device 40 can be kept low.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG.
The display device 40 according to the second embodiment is provided with a frequency control circuit 80 and a voltage controlled oscillation circuit (hereinafter referred to as VCO) 82 instead of the selector 56 and the oscillation circuits 58A and 58B of the first embodiment.

The input end of the frequency control circuit 80 is connected to the input / output port 48, and the output end of the frequency control circuit 80 is connected to the input end of the VCO 82. A frequency instruction signal is input from the MPU 42 to the frequency control circuit 80 via the input / output port 48, and the VCO 82 outputs a signal having a voltage level corresponding to the frequency instructed by the frequency instruction signal.
Output to. The VCO 82 outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to the voltage level of the input signal. The output end of the VCO 82 is connected to the timing generator 70,
The signal output from O82 is input to the timing generator 70 as a reference signal. In the second embodiment, the MPU 42, the frequency control circuit 80, and the VCO 82 constitute the frequency changing means of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. When displaying an image on the liquid crystal display 38, the MPU 42 determines an appropriate display magnification in the main scanning direction of the image to be displayed, determines the frequency of the reference signal corresponding to the display magnification, and causes the frequency control circuit 80 to display the frequency. A frequency indicating signal indicating the determined frequency is output. As a result, the frequency control circuit 80 outputs a signal of a voltage level corresponding to the instructed frequency, and the VCO 82 inputs a signal of a frequency corresponding to the voltage level to the timing generator 70 as a reference signal, and the timing generator 70.
Outputs an internal clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the reference signal. As a result, the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66 outputs image data at a speed corresponding to the determined display magnification, and the display controller 62 arranges pixels at intervals corresponding to the appropriate display magnification. A video signal representing the image is output, and the image is displayed at the appropriate display magnification.

The oscillation frequency of the VCO 82 continuously changes according to the change of the voltage level of the input signal.
Therefore, each time the display of a single main scan line is completed, VC
When the MPU 42 outputs the frequency instruction signal so that the voltage level of the signal input to the O60 gradually changes, the display magnification along the main scanning direction is set as shown in FIG. 9 or 10 as an example. It is also possible to display an image in a stereoscopic manner by continuously changing it in the sub-scanning direction and expressing perspective.

In the images shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in addition to continuously changing the display magnification along the main scanning direction over the sub-scanning direction, the start position of the pixel row on each main scanning line is also changed. Although it is necessary to continuously change it along the sub-scanning direction, this can be realized by changing the read start address of the image data from the ROM 52, the VRAM of the scroll screen generator 64 or the moving screen generator 66. In the VDP 50 of this embodiment, this change of the read start address can be controlled from the outside. As a result, the variation of the image display method is further increased as compared with the first embodiment.

In the above description, the case where a video signal conforming to the NTSC system is used as the video signal according to the present invention has been described as an example, but a video signal conforming to the PAL system or SECAM system may be used. It is also possible to use digital video signals separated for each RGB.

Further, although the example using the color liquid crystal display 38 as the image display means according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and a monochrome liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube, a plasma display panel, an electro display. Various display devices such as a luminescent panel can be applied.

Furthermore, although an example in which a ROM is used as the storage means according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and other non-volatile semiconductor memory, for example, EP.
A ROM, an EEPROM or the like may be used, or a storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk may be used.

Although the VDP 50 is applied as the video signal output means in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. As the video signal output means, the input image data is converted into a video signal and output, and the display timing (the number of dots in the main scanning direction,
The number of lines in the sub-scanning direction, the display start position, etc.) can be controlled externally, for example, the standard cell I
It can be realized by C or a custom gate array.

Further, although the case where the image display device according to the present invention is applied to the display portion of a pachinko machine has been described above as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image data stored in the storage device is read. It is possible to apply as long as it is a display device that displays an image of the image data on the image display means.
It goes without saying that it can be used as a display for advertising.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments have the embodiments of the technical matters described below in addition to the technical matters described in the claims.

(1) The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency changing means is capable of changing the frequency of the reference signal within a change width of a predetermined value or less.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image data stored in the storage means is a video signal representing an image in which pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction at intervals corresponding to the frequency of the input reference signal. And outputs the image to the image display means, and at least one of the image non-display after the display of a predetermined main scanning line in the image display means is completed by the frequency changing means and after the display of one image is completed. Since the frequency of the reference signal is changed during the display period, an excellent effect that various images can be displayed at low cost can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing a variable display device of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an array of pixels of a color liquid crystal display.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a display device according to a first example.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an image representing a slot as an example of an image displayed on a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing an example of an image displayed when a reference signal of frequency f ₁ is used in the display device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an image diagram showing an example of an image displayed when a reference signal of frequency f ₂ is used in the display device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a display device according to a second example.

FIG. 9 is an image diagram showing an example of a pixel array of an image that can be displayed on the display device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a pixel array of an image that can be displayed on the display device of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Pachinko machine 38 Liquid crystal display 40 Display device 42 MPU 50 VDP 52 ROM 56 Selector 58A Oscillation circuit 58B Oscillation circuit 62 Display controller 64 Scroll screen generator 66 Video plane generator 80 Frequency control circuit 82 VCO

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit that stores image data in advance, and the image data stored in the storage unit represents an image in which pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction at intervals corresponding to the frequency of an input reference signal. Video signal output means for converting the video signal and outputting the video signal, image display means for inputting the video signal from the video signal output means, and displaying an image represented by the input video signal, and a predetermined main part of the image display means. An image display device including: a frequency changing unit that changes the frequency of the reference signal during at least one image non-display period after the display of the scanning line is completed and after the display of one image is completed.