JPS6329838A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display an optional rectangular part on an optional position of a display screen by providing a display device with refresh memories, a means for setting up a rectangular area, a means for setting up the priority of display, a means for detecting coincidence, and a display selecting means and superposedly displaying the contents of the refresh memories on the rectangular area of the screen. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 1 writes character/graphic data in refresh memories 71-73 in accordance with a program stored in a memory 2. Namely, data are transmitted through an address bus 100, drivers/receivers 91, 92 and a multiplexer to draw data necessary for the refresh memories 71-73. On the other hand, a display control part 3 supplies a synchronizing signal (line 109) to a display unit in accordance with display timing and supplies also a display address to the refresh memories 71-73 through a line 102. The contents of the refresh memories 71-73 are outputted through lines 1041-1043, set up in shift registers 81-83, successively shifted in accordance with clocks, and outputted to lines 1071-1073.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a display device that performs multi-window display.

(Prior Art) In recent years, OA workstations have appeared that can handle not only code information such as characters, but also figures, images, etc. in an integrated manner. In order to output a screen that is easy for the user to understand, the Works System, which performs interactive processing, uses a technique called bitmap control and is equipped with a multi-window display function that displays information from multiple windows simultaneously on the same screen.

Methods for realizing the above multi-window display include a method of developing a display image exactly the same as the display screen on the pit map memory, and a method of creating a table for each display rask as described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,910. There was a method to synthesize and display the display image on the screen while interpreting and executing it.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, the former problem is that when windows overlap in a complicated manner, it becomes complicated and requires a ripping operation when updating the display contents, and a large amount of time is required to create and destroy windows. The disadvantage is that the operation speed is slow due to the need to process and move data.

In addition, the latter has the disadvantage that table content interpretation, processing, and control must be executed in real time, and therefore the hardware becomes large and expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive display device that can extremely quickly create, erase, and move multiple overlapping multi-windows and update display contents. purpose.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving Problems) The present invention provides a plurality of refresh memories for storing display data, a means for setting a plurality of rectangular areas of arbitrary size on a display screen, A means for setting display priority when areas overlap, a means for detecting a match when areas fall within the display period, and output of multiple refresh memories read out in synchronization with display timing. , a display selection means for selecting the output of the refresh memory in descending order of priority based on a signal indicating a match and the output of the priority setting means, and displaying the contents of the refresh memory in a rectangular area on the screen. It is configured to display overlapping images.

(Operation) First, in order to set a plurality of rectangular areas on the screen, the CPU sets a plurality of coordinate values of two points of the rectangle. As a result, the coordinate value and the display address value are compared, and a match is detected when the rectangular area corresponds to the period in which it is displayed. The output is rearranged in priority when the areas inputted to the priority control section overlap, and the priority is controlled here, and the signal and video signal of the rectangular area are input to the display selection section. Here, the contents of the refresh memory are superimposed and displayed in arbitrary areas on the screen.

As a result, windows can be created and disappeared at high speed, and overlapping can be performed freely.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a CPU that controls drawing of characters and figures;
j is a memory for storing programs and data executed by the CPU 1, and 3 is a display control section for controlling display timing and generating addresses for data to be displayed. The above CP
U 1 , memory 2 and display control unit 3 each have a number of data address lines (10 lines each).
0°101).

4 is an area detection section. The area detection unit 4 has registers 41 to 43 in which a rectangular area is set, and compares the values set in these registers 41 to 43 with the display address generated by the display control unit 3, and determines whether the display address is in the rectangular area. Outputs a match signal when the The embodiment of the present invention has three sets of detection units 41 to 43. Reference numeral 5 denotes a priority control unit which rearranges and outputs the outputs of the area detection unit 4 according to priority instructions, and 6 selects one of the outputs of refresh memories 71 to 73, which will be described later, according to the output of the priority control unit 5. 71-73 are refresh memories, 81-83 are shift registers that convert parallel data obtained from the refresh memories 71-73 into bit-serial video signals, and 91-93 are reading data from CPtJJ. /A driver/receiver that transfers the corresponding data in response to a write instruction. Reference numeral 10 denotes a multiplexer that switches between the access address of the CPU 1 to the refresh memories 71 to 73 and the access address of the display control unit 3 for display at a predetermined timing.

Note that the display device is generally a CRT display, but it is not shown in this figure.

FIGS. 2 to 6 are diagrams cited to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and each shows the operational concept of the area detection unit 4 and the operational concept of the priority control unit in table form. , an operation timing chart of the selection section, a table showing its logic, and a circuit configuration for realizing the logic.

Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

The CPU 1 writes character/graphic data to the refresh memories 71 to 73 according to the program stored in the memory 2. That is, data is transferred via the data bus 101, via the address bus roo, and to the driver/receiver 9.
1 and 92, necessary data is drawn in the refresh memories 71 to 73 through the multiplexer. Since such control and operation are well known, detailed explanation will be omitted.

On the other hand, the display control unit 3 supplies a synchronization signal (line 109) to a display device (not shown) according to the display timing. It also supplies display addresses to refresh memories 71-73 via line 102.

The contents of refresh memories 71 to 73 are on line 1041.
~Output via IQ43 and shift registers 81~8
3 and are sequentially shifted according to a clock not shown and output on lines 1071-1073.

71 to 73 are refresh memories for independent screens, respectively. Now, in order to set three rectangular areas on the screen, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the coordinates of the two points of the rectangle are stored in the register 41 built in the area detection section f, and in the register 42.
Similarly, the coordinate values of the other two rectangular areas are set in 43. As a result, this coordinate value and display address value are compared, and a signal indicating a rectangular area is output on lines 1051 to 1053 as shown in FIG. 2(C). Figure 2 (
b) shows the definition of xll yi l X2 + y. Signals propagating on lines 1051-1053 enter priority control section 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the output contents are rearranged on lines 1061 to 1063 according to the designated priority number. 1061 has the highest priority, 1062
It continues to decrease to 1063°. For example, number 0 is 105
In the order of 1.1052.1053, number 3 is 10
53,1051.1052.

Rectangular area signal with priority control as described above (
lines 1061 to ro6s) and video signals (line 10
71 to 107.7) are input to the display selection section 6. Fourth
The figure shows the input/output relationship (lines 1061 to 1063, lines 1071 to 1073, and line 108) of the selection section 6 in a timing chart.

A circuit that realizes such operation timing can be realized by the logic shown in FIG. 5, and one embodiment thereof is shown in FIG. In the figure,
6Z162 is an inverter, 63-64 are AND gates,
65 is or f-).

It may be realized by RAM or ROM. In this case, lines 1061-1063 and 1071-1023 are connected to address bus 101, and line 10B is connected to the output end. In this case, the priority control section 5 can be made unnecessary.

Further, in the case of RAM/ROM, there is an advantage that by adding some signals, it is possible to instruct transparent/opaque and other operations regarding the overlapping display of the three refresh memories 71 to 730.

As explained above, the contents of the refresh memories 71 to 73 can be superimposed on any area on the screen, and can be displayed easily and quickly.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Any rectangular portion of the refresh memory can be displayed at any position on the display screen. Windows can be created and deleted quickly.

(2) Superimposition is free.

(3) When drawing with the CPU, there is no need to be aware of the size of the area on the screen or the overlapping parts, so high-speed drawing can be achieved.

(4) It can be realized with a small hardware configuration and is economical.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are diagrams cited to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. The operational concept of the control section is shown in a table format, the operation timing chart of the selection section is shown, the logic thereof is shown in a table format, and the circuit configuration for realizing the logic is shown. 4... Area detection unit, 5... Priority control unit, 6...
-Display selection section, 73-73...refresh memory. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of refresh memories for storing display data, a means for setting a plurality of rectangular areas of arbitrary size on a display screen, a means for setting a display priority when the above-mentioned areas overlap, and the above-mentioned area. means for detecting a match when it corresponds to the display period, the output of multiple refresh memories read in synchronization with the display timing, the signal indicating the match, and the priority setting means based on the output of the priority setting means. 1. A display device comprising means for selecting the output of the refresh memory in descending order of frequency and displaying the contents of the refresh memory overlappingly in a rectangular area on a screen.