JPS61184589A - Image output unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image output device, and more particularly, to a CRT,
The present invention relates to an image output device that outputs a color image to an output device such as a printer.

[Prior Art] In recent years, image processing using computers such as CG or CAD has been widely performed. Recently, color CRT,
With the development of color printers, it became natural to produce color images.

Some devices of this kind are known to express a greater variety of colors by adding eight colors or shading signals through additive or subtractive color mixing using three primary colors.
The hues of the colors used on a single screen are often biased to one side, and there is a need for something that can produce subtle changes in similar hues, so a palette color system is increasingly being adopted. However, recently, changes in color (blink), movement of the image, etc. have been sought for even in such still images.

[Purpose] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems.Soft copy devices such as color CRTs cannot produce images that change in various colors (blink) or images that have some movement. It can be expressed using almost the same processing as conventional stillness,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image output device that can easily produce several types of prints using a hard copy device such as a color printer.

[Structure of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has multiple layers of palette color memory, uses a presettable address counter that separately selects the palette layer, and stores the palette color of each layer in advance. The color information data can be stored in each layer, and when outputting an image, the layer selection address can be counted up at any clock, and the desired palette layer can be specified sequentially. did.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

Conventionally, in color image processing, a palette color (or color map) method has been known as a method for efficiently handling deep color information depending on the screen without significantly increasing the memory capacity of the image itself. In the palette color method, the information of one pixel is coded with several bits, for example, 5
With Bit, 32 colors can be specified, and the colors for each code are registered in advance in a memory called a palette register before transmitting one screen of image data. For example, each color is 8 bits each for R (red), G (green), and B (blue).
A total of 24 bits of data are transmitted as color information with shading. When outputting an image, the desired color information is obtained without delay by selecting the first 5-bit code, and CR
It can be transmitted to an output device such as a printer.

The present invention multilayers this color palette so that images with more colors can be processed at high speed, and effects similar to those of moving images can be obtained through processing similar to that of still images.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image output device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes an input section consisting of a bus driver element, etc., into which image data of 5 bits per pixel and a palette code are input when transmitting palette colors.

The output bus of the input section 1 is connected to an image memory 11, which is capable of storing image data from the main control section, although not shown here. In addition, the output of input section 1 is branched and connected to switch circuit 7, and by selecting switch 7, direct input from input section 1 is switched during pallet data transmission, and output of image pattern memory 11 is switched during image composition. When transmitting pallet data, the palette code is tied to the address of the current data memory of 8.9.10, and the image data once stored in the image pattern memory is tied to the address of 8.9.10 when configuring the screen. Switching of the switch 7 is performed by a switching signal inputted from the terminal 2 to select whether the transmission is pallet data transmission or image data.

Palette data memories 8 to 10 are RAM elements for storing palette information separated into three primary colors, R, G, and H. Eight bits of input data are sent through bus drivers 3 to 5 for inputting gradation information for RlG and B, respectively. Address designation is performed using 9 bits, with the output of the switch 7 being the lower order and the 4 bit data output from the address counter 12 being the higher order (or vice versa). Address counter 12 is given as a layer indication that divides palette memories 8-10 into 16 layers.

That is, palette memories 8 to 10 store 8-bit color shading information for each primary color, and store 4-bit layer instruction addresses and 5-bit color density information.
Each bit has a memory space of 16 x 32 bytes depending on the specified address of the palette.

When configuring the screen, the output of palette memories 8 to 10 can be changed to R by specifying the layer and palette addresses mentioned above.
, G, and B are given to the output control circuit via bus drivers 14-16.

The address counter 12 is incremented by the output of the clock generator 13, increases or decreases the output address 9 by l steps, and also inputs a desired address from the bus driver 6 and strobes it from the input terminal 14'. It consists of a counter element that can be preset so that a desired palette memory layer can be selected.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

Usually, before transmitting one image, the palette memory 8
16 layers of pallet data are transmitted for 10 to 10 layers. This need not necessarily be limited to before image transmission;
Changes to the palette data can be made at any time if necessary.

In the case of pallet data transmission, first set the pallet data transmission flag. This flag causes switch 7
is switched to output the input information of the input section 1 based on the flag information of the terminal 2.

Next, the input data of the input section 1 is set to rooooooJ, the input of the bus driver 6 is set to ro 000J, and the terminal 14'
Palette 0, layer O is selected by strobing address counter 12 via . In this state, 8-bit shading information for each of R, G, and B is input from the bus drivers 3 to 5, and palette color data of the 0th layer and O code are stored in each palette memory.

Next, increment the input data of the input part l by 1 and set it to ``rooool'', and the R of the 0th layer, palette code 1,
Store G and B data. By repeating this process, the shading information decomposed into 33 R, G, and B colors corresponding to the 32 palette colors of the 0th layer is stored.

Next, change the layer instruction input of bus driver 6 to rooolJ, and change the palette data to ro 0000 in the same way as above.
Change from J to rl 1111J, and in between - R, G
, B, information on 32 colors of the first layer is stored.

By repeating this process, desired color information is stored in the palettes of the 0th to 15th layers. Incidentally, when data is input to the 10th layer indicated by the vertical line in FIG. 1, the input to the bus driver 6 becomes rlolOJ.

As described above, desired colors are stored in 16 layers of 32 colors. Here, FIG. 2 shows 32 color palette information and the storage status of each palette memory in relation to each layer. As shown in the figure, three primary color data Ri input via bus drivers 3 to 5. j, Gi j, Bi
j2! l (stored in 16 layers of 32 color palettes from 0 to 31. Here, i and j are integers indicating the layer and palette numbers, respectively.

Up to this point, we have prepared 16 palettes filled with 32 colors obtained by mixing the three primary colors. 32 left
All you have to do is specify which color to use for each pixel.

When outputting an image, the flag output of terminal 2 is switched to image data input, and 5 bits per pixel are sent to the image memory 11 via input section l (corresponding to the above palette data).
Stores the image data of. Here, the resolution of one image is 5
If it is 12x400, the capacity of the image memory 11 is approximately 100.
A million bits would be a good thing.

Subsequently, in order to construct an image, the image data in the image memory 11 is sequentially read out and given to each pixel as address information of the palette memories 8 to 10.

At this time, among the layers specified by the output of the address counter 12, the R specified by the output data of the image memory 11
, G, and B33 originals are outputted via bus drivers 14 to 16 and displayed on a CRT or recorded on a printer.

In such a state, if the contents of the address counter 12 are rewritten, the color of the displayed dot will be changed instantaneously. In addition, the address counter 12 is reset in advance, and the address counter 1 is reset at predetermined intervals from ro 000J by the output of the clock generator 13.
By incrementing or decrementing 2, the color can be changed at regular intervals.

In this case as well, the color of the displayed dot is changed instantaneously.

In the above ml, each cell of palette memories 8 to 10 can store the same color as other cells, for example, a certain layer has the same color no matter which of the 32 palette codes are input. can be set to be displayed. Therefore, by utilizing this fact, images can be erased, moved, blinked, etc. at will.

Figures 3 (A) and CB) show an example in which a CRT is used to express a white pole meandering away from a blue background. Number O in Figure 3 (A)
9.32 shows the palette data to be applied to the background and pixels constituting each pole.0 The image data should be stored in advance in the image memory 11.The image data should be stored in advance in the image memory 11. It becomes what is expressed.

Blue (only B is lit) and white (R, G, and B are all lit) data are written in advance in the palette of each layer, as shown in FIG. 3(B). For example, in layer 1, only pixels corresponding to palette code 0 are expressed in white, and all other palette codes are expressed in blue. Therefore, layer 1
When you select , only the bottom left pole in Figure 3 (A) is displayed in a blue background.

Next, when layer 2 is selected, only the second pole from the left is displayed because only palette code 1 is white and everything else is front. Thereafter, by changing the layer address at appropriate time intervals using the clock generator 13, the CRT
The above display is perceived by the observer as a white pole meandering away from the blue background.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) show the configuration of a palette for obtaining a blinking effect. Figure 4 (A) shows image memory 1.
1 shows the image data to be stored and its palette code. For example, the fireworks on the right side of Figure 4 (A) have palette codes O to 3, and the fireworks on the left have palette codes 4 to 7.
It is expressed by.

Also, set the palette as shown in Figure 4 (B).
For example, the center of the fireworks on the right (palette code O) changes to red, yellow, yellow, red as you select layers 1, 2, 3, etc. At layer 6, it becomes the same color as the dark blue background. ,Disappear. The fireworks on the left side are ignited at the time when layer 6 is selected, that is, when the fireworks on the right side are about to disappear, and a similar color change occurs. Also, if you set the windows of a private house (the code in Figure 4 (B) is omitted) by appropriately scattering black and yellow on each layer,
The fireworks can be flashed randomly depending on the spread of the fireworks.

The above effect can also be used for character display, etc. FIGS. 5A to 5C show educational programs in which kanji corresponding to hiragana on the left side of the screen are sequentially displayed on the right side. The blue background is a palette code of 0, and the problem is assigned a code of 1. therefore,
At layer 1, only questions are displayed. If layer 2 is selected according to the timing of the answer input by the answerer, only the image data of code 2, that is, "Keiko" will be lit, and the question will remain as it is. If layer 3 is selected, code 3 will be stored in the image memory 11. Only the written "Hakurin" is lit. In the same way, the correct answers are lit one by one and the previous answer is erased, or the answerer can select the answer they want to see, and by selecting the layer accordingly, only the desired answer will be displayed. You can also do it. When layer 16 is selected, all the codes in the answer part correspond to white, so all answers are displayed.

FIG. 4(C) shows the structure of pallet data to be transferred when the correct answers in FIG. 4(A) are sequentially illuminated and the previous answers are left behind. Such a palette configuration can also be applied to, for example, a display in which the number of votes received by a candidate is sequentially displayed and left as is in a preliminary election report.

As described above, multiple display colors can be easily handled without sacrificing display speed, and the multi-layer structure of the palette layer enables image movement, erasing (wipe, conceal), blinking, etc. It is possible to create video effects using the same amount of processing as for still images, and using multiple colors.

The above describes a method in which 16 layers of palette data are transmitted all at once in advance and color changes are performed on the display side. However, if constant contact can be made between the image sending side and the receiving display side, it is also possible to provide only a single layer color palette on the display side and a multilayer palette only on the sending side. After the image data is transmitted, only the palette data on the display side may be updated at an appropriate time.

With such a configuration, the same effects as described above can be obtained. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the total amount of address and data information for one layer of pallets is at most 76'B (=32X
Since it is 8x3) bits, it can be sufficiently transmitted within the vertical blanking period.

Although FIGS. 3 to 5 show an example of CR7 display, the output device is not limited to a CRT, and a device such as a color tod printer can be used. In this case, image information such as printing the same image in different colors one after another, or storing test questions together with answers in the image memory in advance, and printing only the questions or only the answers by changing the palette layer. You can also perform split output processing.

[Effects] As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, color density information required for each screen is transmitted in advance in correspondence with a predetermined code to form a color palette, and the color density information required for each screen is transmitted in advance to form a color palette. In a palette color image output device, a code consisting of multiple bits corresponding to the color corresponding to that pixel is transmitted to each pixel of the image, and a colored screen is constructed by referring to the previously transmitted palette color. The palette to be transmitted is multi-layered and combined, and a means is provided to select which layer of the multi-layered palette, and a means is provided to switch the palette layer at any time during image output operation. The display colors can be easily handled without sacrificing the display speed, and the multi-layer structure of the palette layer makes it easy to move, erase, and
It is possible to provide an excellent image output device that can produce moving image effects such as blinking with the same amount of processing as that for still images and using multiple colors.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image output device adopting the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the layered structure of palette information in the palette memory of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (A) FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen according to the present invention.
B) is a table diagram showing the palette structure for controlling the image in FIG. 3(A), FIG. 4(A) is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen according to the present invention, and FIG. 4(B) is a table diagram showing a palette structure for controlling the image of FIG. 4(A), FIG. 5(A) is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the display screen according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5(C) is a table showing a palette structure for controlling the image of FIG. 5(A) in a different manner. 1... Input section 3-6. 14-16... Bus driver 7... Switches 8-10... Palette memory 12... Address counter 13... Clock generator Fig. 1 Fig. 3 ( A) (B)

Claims (1)

[Claims] The color density information required for each screen is transmitted in advance in correspondence with a predetermined code to form a color palette, and then, for each pixel of the image, multiple bits are transmitted according to the color corresponding to that pixel. In an image output device using a palette color method, which transmits a code consisting of 1. An image output device comprising means for selecting a layer and means for switching palette layers at any time during an image output operation.