JPH0887260A - Graphic cursor generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device capable of rapidly revising a display pattern even when a graphic cursor moves in the vicinity of a boundary of a window picture. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with a means 10 inputting a horizontal synchronizing signal, a vertical synchronizing signal and a clock incorporated in a video signal and identifying that a present pixel display exists any position on the picture, a graphic display setting means 20 revising position setting on the picture displaying the graphic cursor and the display pattern of the graphic cursor according to whether the display position is in the area of the window picture, or on a frame, or in a background, a window range storage means 70 provided at every the area, the frame and the background of the window picture, a timing generator 30, a graphic pattern storage means 40, and an output circuit 50 deciding the window picture to be displayed on the picture by the present pixel display from the accumulation states of the area, the frame and the background of the window picture in picture display, selecting the display pattern of the graphic cursor sent from the corresponding graphic pattern storage means and sending it to the display picture of the video signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a graphic cursor generator used in personal computers, workstations, etc., and more particularly to improvement of a device for automatically selecting a graphic pattern according to coordinates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an industrial control device, in order to make it easy for an operator to grasp the operating state of a plant to be controlled, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-114295 proposed by the present applicant. A graphic display device that displays a graphic screen and a character screen in an overlapping manner is known. Further, in order to facilitate data entry, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI-2
A cursor display device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 193189 is known.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration of a conventional device.
In the figure, a current display position identification unit 10 inputs a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, and a clock included in a video signal to identify which position on the screen the current pixel display is at. When a CRT is used as a display device for this video signal, display is performed by a raster scan method, and an electron beam is used for pixel display. A horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC and a clock are input to the X counter 11, and a horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC and a vertical synchronizing signal VSYNC are input to the Y counter 12.

The graphic display setting unit 20 sets which X, Y coordinates on the screen to display a certain graphic pattern, and the setting data DATA is sent from the outside. The horizontal display position of the scanning line is set in the X register 21, and the vertical display position of the scanning line is set in the Y register 22. The address register 23 is set with an address for writing data in the graphic pattern RAM 41. Read / write control unit 24
Controls the reading and writing of DATA in the X register 21, the Y register 22, and the address register 23.

The timing generator 30 is a circuit for detecting the timing when the current pixel display position coincides with the position where the graphic pattern should be displayed. The X coordinate comparator 31 detects the current position signal of the X counter 11 and the X register 2.
The Y coordinate comparator 32 inputs the current position signal of the Y counter 12 and the set coordinate signal of the Y register 22, and outputs the coincidence signal. The AND circuit 33 includes an X coordinate comparator 31.
And the coincidence signal of the Y coordinate comparator 32 are input, and the timing signal is output when both indicate the coincidence state.

The graphic pattern RAM 40 outputs the graphic pattern set by the graphic display setting section 20 in order to display the graphic pattern on the screen in response to the timing signal sent from the timing generator 30, and the graphic pattern is, for example, 64X
It is stored as 64-bit information. The output circuit 50 outputs the bit string signal sent from the graphic pattern RAM to the color lookup table 60. The color look-up table 60 outputs the brightness for each of the three color electron beams of red R, green G and blue B, and is sent to the CRT through the D / A converter.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a multi-window display screen. In displaying a graphic cursor, for example, in a system called "X window", "I" is displayed in the window screen and "I" is displayed in the frame of the window screen.
"↑" and "x" are used in the background.
If you move the graphic cursor near the boundary between windows A and B, x → ↑ → I → ↑ → I → ↑ →
The display of the graphic cursor is changed like x.

[0008]

Then, each time the display pattern of the graphic cursor is changed, the graphic display setting section 20 needs to transfer the graphic pattern to the graphic pattern RAM. Further, on the CPU side as well, it is necessary to determine whether the display position of the graphic cursor is within the window screen, the frame, or the background, and the load on the CPU increases, and the display pattern can be changed due to the movement of the graphic cursor. There was a problem of being late. The present invention solves such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a graphic cursor generation device capable of rapidly changing a display pattern even when the graphic cursor moves near the boundary of a window screen.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention is to input a horizontal synchronizing signal, a vertical synchronizing signal and a clock included in a video signal so that the present pixel display is performed at any position on the screen. 10, the position setting on the screen for displaying the graphic cursor, and the display pattern of the graphic cursor is changed according to whether the display position is within the window screen area, on the frame, or in the background. Graphic display setting means 20 for
A window range storage unit 70 for storing a display area on the screen, which is provided for each frame and background in the area of the window screen, and a current display position provided for each frame and background in the area of the window screen. A timing generator 30 which inputs a signal from the identification means and the window range storage means and outputs a timing signal when the current pixel display coincides with the position where the graphic cursor should be displayed;
A graphic pattern storage unit which is provided for each frame and background, stores the display pattern of the graphic cursor set by the graphic display setting unit, and outputs the stored display pattern when a timing signal is sent from the timing generator. 40, and priority determination means 80 that determines the window screen to be displayed on the screen by the current pixel display from the stacking state of the screen display of the frame and the background in the area of the window screen.
A selector 90 for selecting the display pattern of the graphic cursor sent from the graphic pattern storage means in charge of the window screen defined by the priority determination means,
An output circuit 50 for sending the display pattern selected by the selector to the display screen of the video signal is provided.

[0010]

According to the structure of the present invention, in consideration of the fact that the display pattern of the graphic cursor is individually determined according to whether it is within the window screen area, on the frame, or in the background, this window screen area is considered. Inside, a window range storage means 70, a timing generator 30, and a graphic pattern storage means 4 provided for each frame and background.
0, priority determination means 80 for adjusting the overlapping relationship of window screens, and a selector 90 are provided. Then, the display pattern of the graphic cursor is stored in advance in each graphic pattern storage means 40 by the graphic display setting means 20. Next, the present display position identification means 1
0 and a signal from the window range storage means 70,
When the current pixel display coincides with the position where the graphic cursor should be displayed, a timing signal is generated from the timing generator and the display pattern to be displayed at this pixel display position is sent from the graphic pattern storage means 40 to the output circuit. Then, it is not necessary to individually read the display pattern depending on whether the display position of the graphic cursor is within the area of the window screen, on the frame, or in the background, so that the screen display process can be performed quickly.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. still,
In FIG. 1, components having the same functions as those in FIG. In the figure, a window range storage means 70 is provided with windows 1 to n for each frame and background in the area of the window screen to store the display area on the screen, and read / write control information transmitted from outside as DATA. It is taken in by a control signal from the unit 25. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, windows A and B
When there are three types of the background and the background on the screen, each window screen is provided with two windows in the screen area and the frame, so that a total of five (N = 5) windows are used. The window 1 range register has a display area inside window A, the window 2 range register has a window A frame display area, the window 3 range register has a display area inside window B, and the window 4 range register has The display area of the frame of the window A and the display area of the entire background are stored in the window 5 range register.

The graphic display setting means 20 sets the position of the graphic cursor on the screen by using the X register 21 and the Y register 22. The address register 23 is used when writing the display pattern of the graphic cursor in each of the graphic patterns RAM1 to N. The read / write control unit 25 uses the X register 21,
DA for Y register 22 and address register 23
It controls the reading and writing of TA and also controls the reading and writing of DATA for the window range registers 1 to N.

The timing generator 30 is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the window range registers 1 to N, and has an X coordinate comparator j and a Y coordinate comparator j (j = j), respectively.
1, 2, ..., N) and an AND circuit 33, and detects the timing when the current pixel display position matches the position where the graphic pattern in the window range register j should be displayed. That is, the X coordinate comparator j inputs a signal from the X counter 11 and the X register 21, and receives information from the window range register j whether or not it corresponds to the area of the window j of the screen. Also,
The Y coordinate comparator j includes a Y counter 12 and a Y register 2
A signal is input from 2, and information on whether or not the area corresponds to the window j of the screen is received from the window range register j. The AND circuit 33 outputs a timing signal when both the X coordinate comparator j and the Y coordinate comparator j indicate the coincidence state.

Graphic pattern RAMj (j = 1, 2,
, N) are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the window range registers 1 to N, and output the graphic pattern set by the graphic display setting unit 20. “I”, “↑” in windows 2 and 4, and “x” in window 5 are stored. It is stored as 4-bit information. The graphic pattern RAMj is the timing generator 30 of the own station.
When the timing signal is further sent, the stored display pattern of the graphic cursor is output.

The priority encoder 80 determines the priority order based on the degree of overlap of the windows 1 to 5 on the screen, and extracts the windows 1 to 5 in the uppermost layer at the current pixel display position. The selector 90 sends to the output circuit 50 only the display pattern sent from the graphic pattern RAMj in charge of the windows 1 to 5 to be displayed at the current pixel display position sent from the priority encoder 80. Then, the CRT display is performed through the color lookup table 60.

The operation of the apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be explained. If you move the graphic cursor near the boundary between windows A and B, x → ↑ → I →
The display of the graphic cursor is changed like ↑ → I → ↑ → x. Now, assume that the display of the graphic cursor is at the coordinate of. Then, since the coordinate of corresponds to the window 5 and not the range of the windows 1 to 4, only the output of the AND circuit 33 of the XY coordinate comparator 5 is enabled, the graphic pattern RAM 5 is selected by the selector 90, and "x" is selected. Pattern is displayed.

It is assumed that the coordinate has moved to the next coordinate. Since the coordinates of X are in the area that overlaps with both the frame of the window B and the background, the outputs of the AND circuits 33 of both the XY coordinate comparators 4 and 5 are enabled, and both the graphic pattern RAMs 4 and 5 output to the selector 90. Is output. However, the priority encoder 80 selects the window 4 because the window B has a higher priority than the background. Then, on the screen
↑ ”is displayed.

Similarly, since the coordinates are in the area of the window A and in the area overlapping the frame and the background of the window B, the four XY coordinate comparators 1, 2, 4,
The output of the AND circuit 33 in 5 is enabled,
Selector 90 from graphic pattern RAM1,2,4,5
Is output to. However, since the priority encoder 80 has the highest priority in the area of the window A, the window 1 is selected. Then, "I" is displayed on the screen. In this way, the pattern display corresponding to the uppermost window in the cursor coordinates is performed.

Although a CRT is used as a display device in the above embodiments, the present invention is applicable to various display devices such as liquid crystal screens, plasma display screens, and LED displays. Further, it goes without saying that the color lookup table can be omitted in the case of a monochrome screen.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the display pattern of the graphic cursor is divided into a plurality of display patterns according to whether it is within the window area, on the frame, or in the background, Since a graphic pattern RAM is provided for each display pattern and the display pattern of the uppermost window is selected and displayed, DATA
Is set in the graphic display setting section less frequently, and the DATA setting operation can be performed quickly. Therefore, there is an effect that the display pattern can be changed quickly even when the graphic cursor moves near the boundary of the window screen.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a multi-window display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 current display position identification unit 20 graphic display setting unit 30 timing generator 50 output circuit 40 graphic pattern storage unit 60 color look-up table 70 window range storage unit 80 priority determination unit (priority encoder) 90 selector (selector)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Means (10) for inputting a horizontal synchronizing signal, a vertical synchronizing signal and a clock included in a video signal to identify at which position on the screen the present pixel display is located.
And the position setting on the screen to display the graphic cursor,
Graphic display setting means (20) for changing the display pattern of the graphic cursor according to whether the display position is within the window screen area, on the frame, or in the background, and within the window screen area, for each frame and background. A window range storage means (70) for storing a display area on the screen, and a signal provided from the current display position identification means and the window range storage means provided in each area, frame and background of the window screen. And a timing generator (30) for outputting a timing signal when the current pixel display coincides with the position where the graphic cursor should be displayed, and a timing generator (30) provided in each of the window screen area, the frame and the background, Graphic cursor set by the graphic display setting means Graphic pattern storage means (40) for storing the display pattern and outputting the stored display pattern when a timing signal is sent from the timing generator, and a stacking state in the screen display of the frame, the background and the area of the window screen. From the above, the priority judgment means (80) for defining the window screen on which the current pixel display should be displayed, and the display of the graphic cursor sent from the graphic pattern storage means in charge of the window screen defined by this priority judgment means Selector for selecting patterns (90)
And a display circuit (50) for sending the display pattern selected by the selector to the display screen of the video signal.