JPH0321173A - Pattern generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a shadowed pattern within a short period by synthesizing an original image signal and an original shadow signal to obtain a shadowed image signal. CONSTITUTION:Original shadow signals obtained from two delay blocks 13, 14 are applied to an OR gate 15 and a synthesized shadow signal based on OR operation is outputted. Which signal, the original image signal, or the original shadow signal, is to be displayed is decided by a deciding means 16 when both signals are overlapped. When the original image signal is logic '0' and the synthesized shadow signal is logic '1', a shadow color (black) is outputted, and when both the original image signal and synthesized shadow signal are '0', a video signal of a background color (blue) is outputted. The original image can be observed so as to be superposed to the shadow image by the operation of the deciding means. An output device 17 displays the image by applying the output of the deciding circuit as a video signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a pattern generation device for outputting characters, graphics, etc. to a display device, printer, or the like.

(Prior art) Conventionally, when displaying characters, figures, etc. with shadows, the fourth
As shown in the figure, a character 42 that is copied using a shadow color (for example, black) is used as a shadow for a character 41 that is originally displayed,
When displayed, characters 41 are synthesized so that they are on the top and the shadows 42 of the characters are on the bottom, thereby realizing a shaded character 43.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of this, in which the character data written in the first image memory 51 is shaded by an image memory control means 55 that controls reading/writing of the image memory. Copy to the second image memory 52,
The data in both image memories is determined by a determining means 53 to determine that the data from the first image memory 51 is superior, and the output thereof controls the color of the display 54 to display characters with shadows.

In this case, the above-mentioned copying operation is performed by the image memory control means 55 reading all the pixel data constituting the character written in the image memory 51 and affecting the image memory 52, as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a problem that the more the number of pixel data forming a character, the longer the copy operation takes. Furthermore, this conventional method requires at least two image memories, which increases the cost.

An effect similar to the effect of adding shadows to characters or figures, etc.
Border display has also been conventionally used to emphasize the edges. For example, a pattern display signal generating device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 63236088 attempts to create border data without using two memories in border display. However, in the method described in the above publication, odd-numbered bit data of data read out from a memory storing pattern data is supplied in parallel, shifted by a first clock signal, and output serially. 1 shift register and a second shift register that is supplied with even-numbered bit data of the data read from the memory in parallel, shifts it using a second clock signal, and outputs it serially. Therefore, it is intended for data processing on the same line, and cannot be used to create characters with shadows that emphasize three-dimensionality, such as adding shadows by shifting lines.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by using only one image memory instead of at least two, and by eliminating time-consuming copying and producing good images in real time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pattern generation device that can obtain added characters.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a pattern generation device for obtaining a shaded image signal, which includes an image memory for storing an image, and an image memory control means for controlling reading and writing of an image with respect to the image memory. , dot delay means for delaying the original image signal read from the image memory on the same line;
The present invention is characterized in that the original image signal and the original shadow signal are combined to obtain a shadowed image signal.

Line delay means can be used to apply delays on different lines to the original image signal read out from the image memory.

In other words, the dot delay means provides a delay of M pixels to the original image signal, and the line delay means provides a delay of L lines and N pixels to the original image signal. Note that M, L, and N of the M pixel, L line, and N pixel are positive or negative integers, but N may be O.

Further, the dot delay means and the line delay means M,
A plurality of them can be used by changing the values of L and N (only one of L and N may be changed), and the density, color, etc. may be changed depending on the values of M, L, and N.

The delay means is not necessarily limited to one that provides a temporal delay, but also a spatial delay, that is, a delay means that changes the readout position (address) in the image memory by M, L, N between the original image signal and the original image signal. This also includes the case where the value is shifted by a value corresponding to .

(Function) The function of the present invention is that the pixel signal of the original image in the image memory that stores the image, the original image signal that has an M pixel delay relationship with it, and/or the L line and the N pixel delay relationship. An image signal with a shadow is obtained by combining it with a certain original shadow signal.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows an example of the determination means in FIG. 1. In the figure, 1l is an image memory, 2 is an image memory control means, 13 is a 1 pixel delay block, 14 is a 1 line + 1 pixel delay block, 15 is an OR circuit, 16 is a determination means, 17
is an output device such as a cathode ray tube.

Suppose that the image memory 11 has data written in the form ``AJ'' as shown by white circles in FIG. For one line, a memory address corresponding to line scanning of pixels from left to right and surface scanning from the upper line to the lower line is given, and an original image signal is output.

To explain the shadow of the image in this actual legend, referring to the display screen, as shown by the black circle 32 in FIG. 3, the shadow of the image is placed on the right side and lower right side of the pixel of the original image composed of the white circle 31. That is, this is the case where M, L, and N are all 1. Therefore, the signal for adding a shadow on the right side is the signal of that pixel by 1
The pixel delay block 13 can be used to delay the display by one pixel on the display screen, and the signal for adding a shadow to the lower side of the stone can be obtained by setting the shadow of that pixel by 1 line by the -1 pixel delay block 14. In terms of a display screen, this can be obtained by delaying by one horizontal line and then delaying by one pixel, resulting in the display being shifted to the lower right side.

The original shadow signals obtained from these two delay blocks are ORed at the same display position using ○R game 1.39 to form a composite shadow signal.

The determining means 16 determines which one should be displayed when the original image signal and the original image signal overlap, and can use a LUT or the like. For example, as shown in the truth table in Table 1, if the original image signal is logical, the character color (white) is output, and if the original image signal is logical O and the composite shadow signal is If the logic is 1, the shadow color (black) is output, and if both the original image signal and the composite shadow signal are logic 0, the background color (*) is output.
Now outputs the video signal. Due to the operation of this determining means, the original image appears to be above the shadow image on the display screen.

The output device 17 displays an image as shown in FIG. 3 by receiving the output of the determination circuit as a video signal.

Table 1: Logic of Judgment Means Figure 2 is an example of the judgment means that realizes the truth table in Table 1, configured with a logic circuit.
3 to 25 are NOT circuits, 26 and 27 are AND circuits, 28
-30 are output terminals.

When the original image signal is input to the input terminal 21 and the synthesized shadow signal is input to the input terminal 22, a white signal is output to 28, a black signal is output to 29,
A green signal output can be obtained at 30.

The logical sum of the output from the 1-pixel delay block l3 and the output of the 1-line + 1-pixel delay block 14, and the truth value of the original image signal and the composite signal in the determination means, are determined for the same position in the display image. Therefore, these three data can be realized by giving appropriate delays to each of them.

Further, it is not necessary to apply a time delay by a delay circuit, and the image memory control means can generate pixel data one pixel before, and image data one line + one pixel before the pixel read out as an original image signal. The same effect as a time delay can be obtained by reading out and applying it to the determination means. In this way, the original image signal can be delayed with respect to the shadow signal, so the shadow image can be placed on the left side or above. Therefore, it will be understood that L, M, and N in the present invention are not limited to positive values, but also include negative values.

In addition, in this embodiment, for simplicity, a 1 pixel delay block was used as the dot delay means, and a 1 pixel + 1 line delay block was used as the line delay means to give a shadow of misalignment. A line delay of 10N pixels may be applied, or a plurality of dot delay means and a plurality of line delay means may be used to enlarge the shadow. In that case, the density and color of each may be changed sequentially. .

Furthermore, it is also possible to display the shadow on the left or above by changing the logic of the determining means and the logic gate and making the color and priority of the shadow opposite to those of the original image.

Furthermore, by using a printing device such as a printer as an output device, it is also possible to realize a printer that prints characters with a shadow effect.

In the embodiment, letters are used for explanation, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by using figures instead of letters.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, two image memories, which were conventionally required when displaying an image with an effect such as a shadow, are combined into one. Since it can be displayed in real time without copying between memories as in the conventional method, it is possible to obtain a shaded pattern in a short time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the determination means, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a display image according to an embodiment, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional example. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Image memory, 2... Image memory control means, 13... 1 pixel delay block, 14... 1 line + 1 pixel delay block, 15... OR circuit, 16...
- Judgment means, 17... Braun tube.

Claims (1)

[Claims] an image memory for storing images; an image memory control means for controlling reading and writing of images in the image memory; and a dot delay means and a line delay means for delaying the original image signal read from the image memory on the same line. 1. A pattern generating device, comprising: combining the original image signal and the original shadow signal to obtain a shadowed image signal.