JPH0535204A - Character display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily move the character start position of each line in dot units when characters are displayed in dot pattern on plural rows by providing a character start position shifting means which moves the character start position in order by a unit movement amount stored in a unit movement amount memory. CONSTITUTION:In a RAM memory 15, the unit movement amount memory 15a stored with the unit movement quantity in the dot units by which dot pattern characters are moved by single-time sensor movement key operation is formed. Then a cursor movement key is operated repeatedly right before the character at the head of the character string of each row is inputted and then the cursor indicating the head character position of the row shifts in position to the right in order by the unit movement amount at each time. In this case, the cursor movement key operaiton is stopped when the cursor reaches the target character start position, and then original character keys are operated in order to display the respective characters in order from the character starting position specified previously with the cursor movement key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character display device for displaying dot pattern characters on various displays such as electronic bulletin boards, and more particularly to a character display device for displaying characters over a plurality of lines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electronic bulletin board installed on a road or a character display board installed on a plaza such as a town terminal, it is necessary to display various characters depending on the situation. Display normal characters in a dot pattern. When displaying needle road information or advertising information having a certain amount of information, characters are displayed over a plurality of lines.

Generally, in a character display device for displaying characters on such a display device, a remote control device is arranged at a position distant from the display device. In this remote control device, a character pattern memory for storing dot patterns of characters to be displayed on the display, a keyboard for inputting characters to be displayed, and characters input by keys are displayed in the same format as the display. A monitor device such as a CRT is incorporated.

Then, when the operator key-inputs a character from the keyboard, the key-input character is sequentially displayed from the character start position of the first line on the display screen of the monitor device. Then, when the key input operation of the characters for one line is completed and the line feed key is pressed, the cursor moves to the character start position of the second line. Then, if the characters on the second line are keyed in order, the characters on the second line are displayed in order from the character start position.

When the key input processing for all the characters is completed and it is determined that the layout of each character and each line displayed on the display screen of the monitor device is appropriate, the operator presses the display command key to display the monitor. The display contents of the device are displayed on the display as they are.

[0006]

However, the character display device having such a structure still has the following problems to be solved.

That is, in the above character display device, when the display is displayed over a plurality of lines, the start position of the character string on the second line is set to the first line so that the driver or passerby can easily see it. In some cases, it may be necessary to slightly shift the start position of the character string. In such a case, before the character input on the second line is performed, the space key operation is performed on the keyboard to open a character area for one character, and then the key input operation for each character on the second line may be started. .. However, according to this method, the minimum movement amount when shifting the character string in the second line is the character width of one character.

However, generally, in the display device viewed by an unspecified number of people as described above, the number of characters in one line of character string is small. Therefore, if the second line is shifted by one character, it may look unnatural. In such a case, it is often easy to see that the shift is about half or one third of the character width. However, the conventional device has a disadvantage that the character start position of each line can be moved only in character width units.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, a method of processing a character as a graphic is considered. In this case, since each character can be set in dot units, the character string can be started from an arbitrary position. However, it is necessary to input each character with a dot pattern instead of a character code, so it takes a lot of time and effort to change the display content.
Not practical. Further, even when shifting a character string in the display format once created, it is necessary to move each character pattern in dot units, which is a very complicated work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by setting a unit movement amount for each dot in advance, a simple cursor movement key operation can be performed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a character display device that can shift the character start position of each line to an arbitrary position, can create a very easy-to-see display format with a simple operation, and can improve operability and display performance.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reads a dot pattern of a character corresponding to each character code keyed from a keyboard from a character pattern memory and spreads it over a plurality of lines on a display. In the character display device that displays as a unit, the unit movement amount memory that stores the unit movement amount specified by the key input in dots, and the character start position of the line specified by the cursor for each cursor movement key operation It is provided with a character start position shifting means for sequentially moving by the unit moving amount stored in the memory.

[0012]

With the character display device configured as described above,
For example, the unit movement amount is keyed in from the keyboard and set in the unit movement amount memory before each character is keyed in from the keyboard. This unit movement amount is the minimum movement amount represented by the number of dots when the character start position is shifted in response to one cursor movement key operation. Then, the actual shift amount increases with each unit movement amount each time the cursor movement key is operated.

Therefore, the character start position of each line can be arbitrarily set to a value that is a positive multiple of the unit movement amount by repeatedly operating the cursor movement key. Naturally, if the unit movement amount is set to be smaller than the number of dots of the character width of one character, the character start position can be shifted by 1/2 or / 3 of the character width.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the character display device of the embodiment. In this embodiment, a case where the invention is applied to an electronic bulletin board for displaying various road information arranged on the road will be described.

In FIG. 2, a display 3 composed of an electronic bulletin board is attached to a position above the road 1 by a pair of columns 2. The display 3 is composed of a large number of display elements arranged in a matrix so as to be able to display dot characters and various predetermined logo patterns. The display device 3 is connected to a remote control device housed in the road management center 5 via, for example, a private line or a public line 4.

This remote control device, as shown in FIG.
For example, it is composed of a personal computer. That is, the monitor device 7 including a CRT display device and the like is arranged on the main body device 6, and the keyboard 8 is provided in front. The keyboard 8 has a character key 8a for inputting a character code, a line feed key 8b, a cursor movement key 8c for moving the cursor 9 displayed on the display screen 7a of the monitor device 7, a numeral key 8d, and various functions. A key 8e is provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a remote control device. For example, CP that executes various arithmetic information processing
In the processor 10 composed of U (central processing unit),
Monitor device 7 and display 3 via bus line 11
A character pattern memory 12 for storing a dot pattern of characters to be displayed on the keyboard 8, an image memory 13 for storing one screen of characters displayed on the keyboard 8, the monitor device 7 and the display 3 as a dot pattern image, the monitor device 7,
An output port 14 for transmitting image data of a dot image to the display 3, an RA for storing various variable data
The M memory 15 and the like are connected.

In the RAM memory 15, there is formed a unit movement amount memory 15a for storing a unit movement amount SB shown in dot units for moving a dot pattern character by one cursor movement key operation. Further, in the RAM memory 15, a cursor position counter 15b for counting the horizontal position X of the cursor 9 displayed on the display screen 7a of the monitor device 7 and a character number counter 15c for counting the number M of characters displayed in one line. , Row number counter 1 for counting the number of rows N
5d, an operation mode memory 15e for storing the operation mode, and the like are formed.

This operation mode is set to either the "setting mode" or the "input mode" by operating the function key 8e on the keyboard 8.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display format of each character displayed on the display screen 7a of the monitor device 7. Figure 4
In, the "speed caution speed limit 80 km / h" is displayed over two lines. In this embodiment, one full-width character such as a Chinese character is displayed with vertical A dots and horizontal B (= 48) dots. Therefore, the character width is B dots.
The length of the cursor 9 is also set to be the same as the character width B. Furthermore, the reference position of the cursor position X (X =
0) is set at the character start position of the first line, for example.

Each character other than the cursor 9 displayed on the display screen 7a is displayed on the display 3 on the road 1 in the same format.

Then, the processor 10 executes the processing for displaying the dot pattern of the character corresponding to the character code input by the key on the monitor device 7 according to the flow chart of FIG.

When the flow chart is started, first, the number of rows N of the row number counter 15d of the RAM memory 15 is initialized to 1. Next, the state of the operation mode of the operation mode memory 15e is checked (P1). In the setting mode, when the unit movement amount SB indicated by the number of bits is input by the numeral key 8d (P2), the input unit movement amount SB is stored in the unit movement amount memory 15a. And the cursor position counter 1
5b and the cursor position X and the number of characters M of the character number counter 15c are initialized to 0 (P3).

When the operation mode is the input mode at P4,
It is checked whether or not the cursor movement key 8c is operated. When the key operation of the cursor movement key 8c is performed, the unit movement amount memory 15a is displayed at the cursor position X of the cursor position counter 15b.
The unit movement amount SB of is added (P6). When a character code is input by operating the character key 8a of the keyboard 8 at P7, 1 is added to the character number M of the character number counter 15c. The horizontal display position MX of the character
To calculate.

MX = MB + SB Then, at the calculated position MX, the character pattern memory 1
The dot pattern character corresponding to the corresponding character code read from 2 is displayed. Then, the cursor position counter 15
Advance the cursor position X of b by one character (X = X +
B). Next, the cursor 9 is displayed at that position.

With the above processing for displaying one character completed,
If the line feed key 8b is not input at P8, the next key input is awaited.

When the line feed key 8b is keyed in after the input processing of characters for one line is completed (P8), the line number counter 1
A line feed process for updating the line number N of 5d is executed, and the cursor position X and the character number M are cleared to zero.

In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the processor 10 directly displays the characters on the display screen 7a of the monitor 7 for the sake of simplicity.
Actually, it is executed by an access process to the image memory 13.

In the character display device configured as described above, the unit movement amount SB is set in a state where the operation mode is set to the setting mode before key input of each character. If the cursor movement key 8c is repeatedly operated immediately before entering the first character of the character string of each line, the position X of the cursor 9 indicating the first character position of the corresponding line is sequentially moved to the right by the unit movement amount SB. To go. Then, when the cursor 9 reaches the target character start position, the cursor movement key 8c
If the operation is stopped and the original character keys are input in order, each character is displayed in the order from the character start position designated by the cursor movement key 8c.

Therefore, if the unit movement amount SB is set to be narrower than the character width B, for example, (B / 2), (B / 3), (B / 5), one line from the target position can be obtained. It is possible to start the character string, and therefore, it is possible to make the display screen very easy for the person who views the display 3 to see.

The start position of the character string on each line can be easily changed by operating the cursor movement key 8c repeatedly. Therefore, the display work efficiency can be significantly improved as compared with the conventional device in which characters are treated as figures and moved.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the character display device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The rest of the configuration is almost the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, so the explanation is omitted.

When the flow chart is started, the RAM memory 15
The number of lines N, the number of characters M, and the cursor position X of the line number counter 15d are set to initial values N = 1, M = 0, and X = 0 respectively. Next, when the operation mode is the setting mode (Q1), the input of the unit movement amount SB is waited (Q2), and the input unit movement amount SB is stored in the unit movement amount memory 15a.

When the operation mode in Q3 is the input mode,
When a character code is input by operating the character key 8a of the keyboard 8 (Q4), 1 is added to the character number M of the character number counter 15c. Then, the horizontal display position MX of the character is calculated.

MX = M · B Then, at the calculated position MX, the character pattern memory 1
The dot pattern character corresponding to the corresponding character code read from 2 is displayed. Then, the cursor position counter 15
Advance the cursor position X of b by one character (X = X +
B). Then, the cursor 9 is displayed at that position.

With the above processing for displaying one character completed,
If the line feed key 8b is not input in Q5, the next key input is awaited.

When the input processing of characters for one line is completed and the line feed key 8b is keyed (Q5), the cursor position X and the number of characters M are cleared to 0. Next, it is checked whether or not the cursor movement key 8c has been operated (Q6). When the cursor movement key 8c is operated, the cursor position counter 1
The unit movement amount SB of the unit movement amount memory 15a is added to the cursor position X of 5b. Then, each character forming the character string of the corresponding line designated by the number of lines N is translated (shifted) rightward by SB bits. After that, if the confirmation key operation on the keyboard 8 is not executed, the process returns to Q6 again and waits again for the key operation of the cursor movement key 8c.

When the confirmation key operation is executed (Q
8) Since the display character batch moving process on the corresponding line is completed, a line feed process for updating the line number N of the line number counter 15d is executed to clear the cursor position X and the character number M to 0.

In the character display device thus constructed, the unit movement amount SB is set while the operation mode is set to the setting mode. Then, with the input mode set, each character for one line is sequentially input by a normal character input operation. After the input processing of characters for one line is completed and the line feed key is pressed, by repeatedly operating the cursor movement key 8c, each character on the corresponding line is sequentially moved rightward by the unit movement amount SB. .. Then, when the cursor 9 reaches the target character start position, the cursor movement key 8
If the operation c is stopped and the confirmation key is operated, the cursor moves to the head position of the next line, and the character input operation of the next line becomes possible.

That is, in this embodiment, when the input process for the character string for one line is completed, all the characters for one line can be collectively shifted by the key operation of the cursor movement key 8c. It is possible. Therefore, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as that of the previous embodiment.

[0042]

As described above, according to the character display device of the present invention, the unit movement amount in dot units is set in advance, and the character start position of each line is set as a unit in response to the repeated key operation of the cursor movement key. It is moved in units of movement. Therefore, the character start position of each line can be shifted to an arbitrary position by operating the cursor movement keys, and a very easy-to-see display format can be created by simple operation, and operability and display performance can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a character display device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an installation situation of the apparatus of the embodiment,

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a remote control device of the apparatus of the same embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display format of a monitor device of the apparatus of the embodiment.

5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the apparatus of the embodiment, FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the character display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Road, 3 ... Display, 7 ... Monitor device, 8 ... Keyboard, 8a ... Character key, 8b ... Line feed key, 8c ... Cursor movement key, 9 ... Cursor, 10 ... Processor, 12 ... Character pattern memory, 13 ... Image memory, 15a ... Unit movement amount memory.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. The dot pattern of a character corresponding to each character code keyed in from the keyboard (8) is read from the character pattern memory (12) and displayed on the display (3) over a plurality of lines. In the character display device that displays, the unit movement amount memory (15a) that stores the unit movement amount specified by the key input in dots, and the character start position of the line specified by the cursor for each cursor movement key operation A character display device comprising: a character start position shift means (10) for sequentially moving the unit by the unit movement amount stored in the unit movement amount memory.