EP0197846A1 - Colour video signals control circuit for a high resolution visualization system, and visualization system comprising such a circuit - Google Patents

Colour video signals control circuit for a high resolution visualization system, and visualization system comprising such a circuit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0197846A1
EP0197846A1 EP86400664A EP86400664A EP0197846A1 EP 0197846 A1 EP0197846 A1 EP 0197846A1 EP 86400664 A EP86400664 A EP 86400664A EP 86400664 A EP86400664 A EP 86400664A EP 0197846 A1 EP0197846 A1 EP 0197846A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flashing
memory
color
control circuit
circuit
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Granted
Application number
EP86400664A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0197846B1 (en
Inventor
Philippe Ligocki
Dominique Caignault
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Thales SA
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Cimsa Sintra SA
Thomson CSF SA
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Publication of EP0197846A1 publication Critical patent/EP0197846A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
    • G09G5/02—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed
    • G09G5/06—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables

Definitions

  • the invention relates to high resolution graphic display machines used to display images produced in digital form by a computer, on one or more color screens.
  • This type of machine conventionally has a computer coupled to a memory called “image memory” by graphic hardware and software resources: input-output processor, graphics processor, vector and character generator, surfacing processor, etc ...
  • image memory a memory
  • input-output processor graphics processor
  • graphics processor vector and character generator
  • surfacing processor etc ...
  • the image is decomposed into points or "pixels" and each point is characterized by an aspect word recorded, after processing, in the image memory.
  • This word of appearance defines in numerical form the color of the point and possibly if it blinks.
  • the image can consist of 1024 lines of each 2048 points and be projected onto the screen of a cathode-ray tube by means of a television-type scan, at the frequency of 50 images per second.
  • the terminal is equipped with an image memory making it possible to memorize the aspect word of each point, this memory being read in synchronism with the scanning.
  • the image memory in which a point is defined by an aspect word is coupled to a work station comprising a color screen by a circuit controlling color video signals.
  • the aspect word extracted from the image memory is directly decoded by a digital-analog decoding circuit, to produce analog signals feeding the projection device, that is to say generally say three primary analog signals, R, G, B, respectively controlling the red, green and blue beams of a trichrome cathode ray tube.
  • the terminal station can be constructed so that three of these bits encode the amplitude of the signal R, three encode the amplitude of the signal V, and two the amplitude of the signal B.
  • These eight bits of the aspect word in image memory provide a "palette" of 2 ° colors. In such a simple design, the pallet is determined once and for all by construction.
  • a known improvement consists in adding a random access memory known as table memory.
  • table memory instead of the aspect word supplied by the image memory, it is a color word read in table memory which feeds the analog digital decoding circuit producing the primary signals for each pixel, the reading address. of the table memory being given by the aspect word supplied by the image memory.
  • a bit allocated to the flashing is conventionally provided in the format of the aspect word which indicates for each point whether it is flashing or not.
  • a flip-flop providing a flashing signal alternating between 0 and 1 at the rate desired for the flashing, and the flashing bit of the aspect word controls the transmission of this signal.
  • the flashing signal thus present for the only points which should flash is used to cut out the primary signals applied to the projection device, the flashing thus being between the color given by the aspect word extracted from the table and the black.
  • a useful improvement consists in allowing the user to assign to each color which should be able to flash a flashing color of his choice.
  • the capacity of the color table is doubled, or the number of colors available in a palette is divided by two, and, for any point that needs to flash, that is to say each time the flash bit is set 1, the flashing signal is applied to an address bit, the most significant one, for example from the table memory, this bit remaining at zero for the non-flashing points.
  • the flashing points permanently for the non-flashing points and during the alternation 0 of the flashing signal, for the flashing points, it is the first half of the table memory which is used and which attributes to the points their "normal" color.
  • the second half of the table memory is addressed, and in this second half the flashing colors are loaded. With each normal color of the palette, the user can thus associate the flashing color of his choice.
  • the subject of the invention is a circuit for controlling color video signals in which the flashing can be controlled with several rates, without there being any provision in the format of the aspect word for bits particularly affected by the flashing, this circuit allowing also to have, for each color capable of flashing, several flashing colors without the capacity of the table memory being increased, and without affecting the speed of its reading.
  • the invention also relates to a high resolution display system comprising such a circuit.
  • the high resolution display system into which the color video controller circuit according to the invention is inserted creates, using a computer, images described in digital form.
  • each of the points of the image is characterized by an aspect word stored in image memory.
  • This aspect word consists of several bits, for example 8 bits.
  • the image memory comprises eight planes, each storing a bit of the aspect word characteristic of each of the points of the image.
  • This image memory 1 in FIG. 1 is controlled via a bus called a processing unit bus, bus UT 10, and the data necessary for writing it are transmitted to it via a data bus. , called “block bus”, 100, the data being able to be transmitted in a writing mode called “by blocks” by blocks corresponding on the image to squares of 8 ⁇ 8 pixels.
  • the color video signal controller circuit includes a memory known as table memory 2, made up in practice of three transcoding tables 21, 22, 23 respectively assigned to the three primary colors red, green and blue, and whose read address is given. by the aspect word corresponding to the point read in the image memory.
  • table memory 2 makes up in practice of three transcoding tables 21, 22, 23 respectively assigned to the three primary colors red, green and blue, and whose read address is given. by the aspect word corresponding to the point read in the image memory.
  • the memory of transcoding tables 2 comprises 2 "addresses, and each transcoding table assigned to a primary color provides a primary color in digital form.
  • digital-analog converters 31, 32, 33 respectively assigned to the decoding of the video signals of color R, G and B.
  • Each primary color can be coded on 8 bits which leaves the possibility of choosing a color among 2 "colors, but these colors obviously cannot be all available simultaneously for an image because the table 2 does not contains only 28 boxes
  • These digital-analog converters 31, 32, 33 respectively control the red, green and blue beams of a trichrome cathode-ray tube forming the color screen 4.
  • the reading address of the table memory is given by the aspect word supplied by the image memory read in synchronism with the color scanning, and, at a given address, it is a given word of color, read in the memory of tables which feeds the digital-analog decoders producing the primary signals.
  • the color video controller circuit further comprises a set of buffer memories.
  • tables, 5, consisting of several buffers of color tables, for example 4: 51, 52, 53, 54.
  • Each buffer of tables is a random access memory having the same capacity as the memory of tables, but not requiring the speed of it. These memories are not expensive, and it is possible to provide as many as necessary;
  • These table buffers are loaded via an interface circuit, 6, which receives the color data to be loaded into the table buffers of the processing unit bus 10. The content of these table buffers can be changed on demand.
  • the information corresponding to the different possible color palettes is transferred, during the frame scan returns, to the table memory 2, on command by a control circuit 7.
  • the transfers are controlled by according to the needs and in particular in the event of blinking of certain sets of points of the image.
  • the control circuit 7 receives the flashing signal or signals indicating the flashing alternations, and controls as a function of these signals the loading of the content of a table buffer memory into the table memory 2.
  • the table buffer memory 51, 52, 53 or 54 transferred to the table memory is determined by the state of the flashing signals.
  • FIG. 1 shows four table buffers which are associated with two flashing signals of different periods represented in FIG.
  • the non-flashing color palette is only reduced by the number of addresses in memory of tables assigned to flashing. This reduction of the palette is most often negligible because the blinking is generally used to draw attention following a specific event, on an element of the image of limited size. Such elements never contain a large number of colors.
  • the set of memories 5 comprises a set of buffers in reserve, for example a second set of four table buffers.
  • the data relating to the table buffer memories are written in these memories in the following manner: the interface circuit 6 supplied by the link 55 the number of the table buffer memory in which the data is to be written, and supplies by an address bus and a data bus respectively the address ADE and the corresponding data ED to the designated table buffer memory.
  • the control circuit supplies at 55 the number of the table buffer to be transferred into the memory of transcoding tables, as a function of the flashing clock signals HC, and HC z , and only during the sweep returns defined by the frame synchronization signal SY.T also applied to the control circuit 7.
  • the control circuit supplies, to the corresponding table buffer memory, 51, 52, 53 or 54, the read address ADL, and the data to be read corresponding, LD, is transmitted from the output of the designated table buffer memory to the data input ED of the table memory 2, for writing to the address ADE also designated by the control circuit 7.
  • the flashing signals which can be produced by counters, have a fixed number of image scanning periods for each alternating flashing.
  • Figure 2 shows an example of two flashing signals described above, one having a period of 6 seconds with an alternation of 4 seconds and an alternation of 2 seconds, the other having a period of 2 seconds with alternations 1 second.
  • These two signals determine four possible states denoted 1, 2, 3 and 4 and to each of these states corresponds a buffer of color tables 51, 52, 53, or 54 taken from the set of memories 5 and transferred into the memory. tables 2 each time a new state is detected.
  • these tables stored in buffers 51 to 54 are determined as a function of the colors of the non-flashing dots and of the flashing colors. These buffers can be loaded during active scanning periods.
  • the image memory 1 could comprise eight planes and provide an eight-bit aspect word.
  • This provision which is not directly linked to the invention can obviously be modified; in particular, to allow animation effects, the image memory can comprise two groups of planes used alternately, one being used for displaying the image while, in the other, loading the image next.

Abstract

1. A colour video signal control circuit for a high resolution display system, controlled by a picture storage (1), in which the aspect of each picture pixel is encoded by means of an aspect word of several bits, comprising : - a transcoding table storage (2) containing codes associated with a scale of colours and addressed on reading by the aspect word associated with each point to be displayed on the colour screen (4) of this circuit, - digital-to-analog converters (31, 32, 33) receiving each a part of the code read out of the transcoding storage at the address defined by the aspect word, and each delivering a primary colour signal as a function of this code to the screen (4), characterized in that the control circuit further comprises : - a set (5) of table buffer storages (51, 52, 53, 54) initially loaded by other codes associated with other scales of colours, and - a control circuit (7) receiving the screen scanning return signal (SYT) as well as blinking signals (HC1 , HC2 ), the contents of each table buffer storage being susceptible to be transferred into the transcoding table storage (2) during a return period of the picture scanner under control of the control circuit (7).

Description

L'invention se rapporte aux machines de visualisation graphique haute résolution servant à visualiser des images produites sous forme numérique par un ordinateur, sur un ou plusieurs écrans couleurs.The invention relates to high resolution graphic display machines used to display images produced in digital form by a computer, on one or more color screens.

Ce type de machine dispose classiquement d'un calculateur couplé à une mémoire dite "mémoire d'image" par des ressources matérielles et logicielles graphiques: processeur d'entrée-sortie, processeur graphique, générateur de vecteurs et de caractères, processeur de surfaçage, etc... Dans ces systèmes, l'image est décomposée en points ou "pixels" et chaque point est caractérisé par un mot d'aspect enregistré, après traitement, dans la mémoire d'image. Ce mot d'aspect définit sous forme numérique la couleur du point et éventuellement s'il clignote. A titre d'exemple l'image peut se composer de 1024 lignes de chacune 2048 points et être projetée sur l'écran d'un tube cathodique au moyen d'un balayage du type télévision, à la fréquence de 50 images par seconde. Pour permettre l'entretien de l'image, c'est-à-dire sa répétition et éventuellement sa modification à la fréquence de balayage, le terminal est équipé d'une mémoire d'image permettant de mémoriser le mot d'aspect de chaque point, cette mémoire étant relue en synchronisme avec le balayage. Ainsi la mémoire d'image dans laquelle un point est défini par un mot d'aspect est couplée à un poste de travail comportant un écran couleur par un circuit contrôleur de signaux vidéo couleur.This type of machine conventionally has a computer coupled to a memory called "image memory" by graphic hardware and software resources: input-output processor, graphics processor, vector and character generator, surfacing processor, etc ... In these systems, the image is decomposed into points or "pixels" and each point is characterized by an aspect word recorded, after processing, in the image memory. This word of appearance defines in numerical form the color of the point and possibly if it blinks. By way of example, the image can consist of 1024 lines of each 2048 points and be projected onto the screen of a cathode-ray tube by means of a television-type scan, at the frequency of 50 images per second. To allow maintenance of the image, that is to say its repetition and possibly its modification at the scanning frequency, the terminal is equipped with an image memory making it possible to memorize the aspect word of each point, this memory being read in synchronism with the scanning. Thus the image memory in which a point is defined by an aspect word is coupled to a work station comprising a color screen by a circuit controlling color video signals.

Dans les terminaux de visualisation de conception simple, le mot d'aspect extrait de la mémoire d'image est directement décodé par un circuit de décodage numérique-analogique, pour produire des signaux analogiques alimentant le dispositif de projection, c'est-à-dire en général trois signaux analogiques primaires, R, V, B, commandant respectivement les faisceaux rouge, vert et bleu d'un tube cathodique trichrome. Si la mémoire de point fournit `des mots de huit bits, le poste terminal peut être construit de façon que trois de ces bits codent l'amplitude du signal R, trois codent l'amplitude du signal V, et deux l'amplitude du signal B. Ces huit bits du mot d'aspect en mémoire d'image permettent de disposer d'une "palette" de 2° couleurs. Dans une conception aussi simple, la palette est déterminée une fois pour toutes par construction.In the display terminals of simple design, the aspect word extracted from the image memory is directly decoded by a digital-analog decoding circuit, to produce analog signals feeding the projection device, that is to say generally say three primary analog signals, R, G, B, respectively controlling the red, green and blue beams of a trichrome cathode ray tube. If the point memory provides eight-bit words, the terminal station can be constructed so that three of these bits encode the amplitude of the signal R, three encode the amplitude of the signal V, and two the amplitude of the signal B. These eight bits of the aspect word in image memory provide a "palette" of 2 ° colors. In such a simple design, the pallet is determined once and for all by construction.

Pour obtenir tout un jeu de palettes, un perfectionnement connu consiste à adjoindre une mémoire vive dite mémoire de tables. Ainsi, au lieu du mot d'aspect fourni par la mémoire d'image, c'est un mot de couleur lu en mémoire de tables qui alimente le circuit de décodage numérique analogique produisant les signaux primaires pour chaque pixel, l'adresse de lecture de la mémoire de tables étant donnée par le mot d'aspect fourni par la mémoire d'image.To obtain a whole set of pallets, a known improvement consists in adding a random access memory known as table memory. Thus, instead of the aspect word supplied by the image memory, it is a color word read in table memory which feeds the analog digital decoding circuit producing the primary signals for each pixel, the reading address. of the table memory being given by the aspect word supplied by the image memory.

Si en plus du choix de palettes le terminal offre une possibilité de clignotement, il est prévu d'une manière classique dans le format du mot d'aspect un bit affecté au clignotement qui indique pour chaque point s'il clignote ou non. Il est prévu en outre une bascule fournissant un signal de clignotement alternant entre 0 et 1 à la cadence désirée pour le clignotement, et le bit de clignotement du mot d'aspect commande la transmission de ce signal. Le signal de clignotement ainsi présent pour les seuls points devant clignoter est utilisé pour découper les signaux primaires appliqués au dispositif de projection, le clignotement se faisant ainsi entre la couleur donnée par le mot d'aspect extrait de la table et le noir.If in addition to the choice of palettes the terminal offers the possibility of flashing, a bit allocated to the flashing is conventionally provided in the format of the aspect word which indicates for each point whether it is flashing or not. There is also a flip-flop providing a flashing signal alternating between 0 and 1 at the rate desired for the flashing, and the flashing bit of the aspect word controls the transmission of this signal. The flashing signal thus present for the only points which should flash is used to cut out the primary signals applied to the projection device, the flashing thus being between the color given by the aspect word extracted from the table and the black.

Un perfectionnement utile consiste à permettre à l'utilisateur d'attribuer à chaque couleur devant pouvoir clignoter une couleur de clignotement de son choix. Pour y parvenir la capacité de la table de couleurs est doublée, ou on divise par deux le nombre de couleurs disponibles dans une palette, et, pour tout point devant clignoter, c'est-à-dire chaque fois que le bit de clignotement vaut 1, le signal de clignotement est appliqué à un bit d'adresse, celui de plus fort poids par exemple de la mémoire de tables, ce bit demeurant à zéro pour les points non clignotants. Ainsi, en permanence pour les points non clignotants et pendant l'alternance 0 du signal de clignotement, pour les points clignotants, c'est la première moitié de la mémoire de tables qui est utilisée et qui attribue aux points leur couleur "normale". Pour les points clignotants seulement, et pendant l'alternance 1 du signal de clignotement, c'est la seconde moitié de la mémoire de tables qui est adressée, et dans cette seconde moitié sont chargées les couleurs de clignotement. A chaque couleur normale de la palette, l'utilisateur peut ainsi associer la couleur de clignotement de son choix.A useful improvement consists in allowing the user to assign to each color which should be able to flash a flashing color of his choice. To achieve this, the capacity of the color table is doubled, or the number of colors available in a palette is divided by two, and, for any point that needs to flash, that is to say each time the flash bit is set 1, the flashing signal is applied to an address bit, the most significant one, for example from the table memory, this bit remaining at zero for the non-flashing points. Thus, permanently for the non-flashing points and during the alternation 0 of the flashing signal, for the flashing points, it is the first half of the table memory which is used and which attributes to the points their "normal" color. For the flashing dots only, and during alternation 1 of the flashing signal, the second half of the table memory is addressed, and in this second half the flashing colors are loaded. With each normal color of the palette, the user can thus associate the flashing color of his choice.

Les inconvénients de cette solution sont d'une part qu'il faut ajouter au mot d'aspect un bit affecté par construction au clignotement, et ne servant à rien pour toutes les images dans lesquelles on ne se sert pas de cette fonction. D'autre part, il faut doubler la capacité de la mémoire de tables; or cette mémoire est encombrante et chère car elle doit être très rapide pour répondre à la fréquence de lecture des points. De plus la moitié affectée au clignotement demeure inutilisée dans les images sans clignotement et est mal utilisée dans les images avec clignotement car en général il n'y a que peu de couleurs devant pouvoir clignoter.The disadvantages of this solution are on the one hand that it is necessary to add to the aspect word a bit affected by construction to the blinking, and being used for nothing for all the images in which one does not make use of this function. On the other hand, it is necessary to double the capacity of the memory of tables; however this memory is bulky and expensive because it must be very fast to respond to the frequency points reading. In addition, the half assigned to blinking remains unused in images without blinking and is badly used in images with blinking because in general there are only a few colors that should be able to blink.

Par ailleurs, il est en pratique souhaitable que l'utilisateur puisse disposer, pour chaque couleur susceptible de clignoter, de plusieurs, au moins deux, couleurs de clignotement en plus de la couleur normale, ainsi que de plusieurs, au moins deux, cadences de clignotement, cela pour permettre à l'observateur de l'image de distinguer plusieurs causes de clignotement. Ces dernières exigences conduisent à utiliser plusieurs signaux de clignotement, et avec la solution connue décrite ci-dessus il faut alors prévoir au moins deux bits d'aspect affectés par construction au clignotement pour en définir la cadence, et d'autre part multiplier par plus de deux la capacité de la mémoire de tables, ou diviser par plus de deux la palette disponible pour les couleurs non clignotantes ou normales.Furthermore, it is in practice desirable for the user to have available, for each color capable of flashing, several, at least two, flashing colors in addition to the normal color, as well as several, at least two, flashing, this to allow the observer of the image to distinguish several causes of flashing. These latter requirements lead to the use of several flashing signals, and with the known solution described above, it is then necessary to provide at least two appearance bits assigned by construction to the flashing in order to define the rate thereof, and on the other hand to multiply by more. the capacity of the table memory by two, or divide by more than two the palette available for non-flashing or normal colors.

L'invention a pour objet un circuit contrôleur de signaux vidéo couleur dans lequel le clignotement peut être commandé avec plusieurs cadences, sans qu'il y ait à prévoir dans le format du mot d'aspect des bits particulièrement affectés au clignotement, ce circuit permettant également de disposer pour chaque couleur susceptible de clignoter de plusieurs couleurs de clignotement sans que la capacité de la mémoire de-tables soit accrus, et sans nuire à la rapidité de sa lecture.The subject of the invention is a circuit for controlling color video signals in which the flashing can be controlled with several rates, without there being any provision in the format of the aspect word for bits particularly affected by the flashing, this circuit allowing also to have, for each color capable of flashing, several flashing colors without the capacity of the table memory being increased, and without affecting the speed of its reading.

Selon l'invention un circuit contrôleur de signaux vidéo de couleur pour système de visualisation haute résolution, commandé par une-mémoire d'image, dans laquelle l'aspect de chaque pixel d'image est codé sur plusieurs bits par un mot d'aspect, comportant :

  • -une mémoire de tables de transcodage contenant des codes associés à une palette de couleurs, et adressée en lecture par le mot d'aspect associé à chaque point à visualiser sur un écran couleur de ce circuit,
  • -un ensemble de convertisseurs numériques-analogiques recevant chacun une partie du code lu dans la mémoire de transcodage à l'adresse définie par le mot d'aspect, chaque convertisseur délivrant un signal vidéo de couleur primaire fonction de ce code,
    est caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre : -un ensemble de mémoires tampons de tables préalablement chargées par d'autres codes associés à d'autres palettes de couleur,
  • -un circuit de commande recevant le signal de retour de balayage de l'écran, ainsi que des signaux de clignotement, le contenu de chaque mémoire tampon de tables pouvant être transféré, en cas de besoin, dans la mémoire de tables de transcodage pendant un retour de balayage de l'image sur ordre du circuit de commande.
According to the invention, a color video signal controller circuit for a high resolution display system, controlled by an image memory, in which the appearance of each image pixel is coded on several bits by an aspect word. , comprising:
  • -a memory of transcoding tables containing codes associated with a color palette, and read by the aspect word associated with each point to be displayed on a color screen of this circuit,
  • a set of digital-analog converters each receiving part of the code read from the transcoding memory at the address defined by the aspect word, each converter delivering a video signal of primary color as a function of this code,
    is characterized in that it further comprises: -a set of table buffers previously loaded by other codes associated with other color palettes,
  • a control circuit receiving the screen sweep return signal, as well as flashing signals, the content of each table buffer memory being able to be transferred, if necessary, into the memory of transcoding tables during one image scan return on command of the control circuit.

L'invention a également pour objet un système de visualisation haute résolution comportant un tel circuit.The invention also relates to a high resolution display system comprising such a circuit.

L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres caractéristiques apparafuont à l'aide de la description qui suit en référence aux figures annexées.

  • -La figure 1 est le schéma synoptique du circuit contrôleur vidéo couleur selon l'invention ;
  • -La figure 2 est un diagramme de signaux qui permet d'illustrer le fonctionnement de ce circuit.
The invention will be better understood and other characteristics will appear with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended figures.
  • FIG. 1 is the block diagram of the color video controller circuit according to the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a signal diagram which illustrates the operation of this circuit.

Le système de visualisation haute résolution dans lequel est inséré le circuit contrôleur vidéo couleurs selon l'invention crée au moyen d'un ordinateur des images décrites sous forme numérique. Comme indiqué ci-dessus, chacun des points de l'image est caractérisé par un mot d'aspect mis en mémoire d'image. Ce mot d'aspect se compose de plusieurs bits, par exemple de 8 bits. Ainsi on peut, comme représenté sur la figure, considérer que la mémoire d'image comporte huit plans, chacun stockant un bit du mot d'aspect caractéristique de chacun des points de l'image.The high resolution display system into which the color video controller circuit according to the invention is inserted creates, using a computer, images described in digital form. As indicated above, each of the points of the image is characterized by an aspect word stored in image memory. This aspect word consists of several bits, for example 8 bits. Thus we can, as shown in the figure, consider that the image memory comprises eight planes, each storing a bit of the aspect word characteristic of each of the points of the image.

Cette mémoire d'image 1 sur la figure 1 est commandée par l'intermédiaire d'un bus dit bus unité de traitement, bus UT 10, et les données nécessaires à son écriture lui sont transmises par l'intermédiaire d'un bus de données, dit "bus bloc", 100, les données pouvant être transmises dans un mode d'écriture dit "par blocs" par des blocs correspondant sur l'image à des carrés de 8 x 8 pixels.This image memory 1 in FIG. 1 is controlled via a bus called a processing unit bus, bus UT 10, and the data necessary for writing it are transmitted to it via a data bus. , called "block bus", 100, the data being able to be transmitted in a writing mode called "by blocks" by blocks corresponding on the image to squares of 8 × 8 pixels.

Le circuit contrôleur de signaux vidéo couleur comporte une mémoire dite mémoire de tables 2, constituée en pratique de trois tables de transcodage 21, 22, 23 respectivement affectées aux trois couleurs primaires rouge, verte et bleue, et dont l'adresse en lecture est donnée par le mot d'aspect correspondant au point lu dans la mémoire d'image. Dans l'exemple indiqué ci-dessus, le format du mot d'aspect étant huit bits, la mémoire de tables 2 de transcodage comporte 2" adresses, et chaque table de transcodage affectée à une couleur primaire fournit sous forme numérique une couleur primaire à des convertisseurs numériques-analogiques 31, 32, 33 respectivement affectés au décodage des signaux vidéo de couleur R, V et B. Chaque couleur primaire peut être codée sur 8 bits ce qui laisse la possibilité de choisir une couleur parmi 2" couleurs, mais ces couleurs ne peuvent évidemment être toutes disponibles simultanément pour une image du fait que la table 2 ne contient que 28 cases. Ces convertisseurs numériques-analogiques 31, 32, 33 commandent respectivement les faisceaux rouge, vert et bleu d'un tube cathodique trichrome formant l'écran couleur 4.The color video signal controller circuit includes a memory known as table memory 2, made up in practice of three transcoding tables 21, 22, 23 respectively assigned to the three primary colors red, green and blue, and whose read address is given. by the aspect word corresponding to the point read in the image memory. In the example indicated above, the format of the aspect word being eight bits, the memory of transcoding tables 2 comprises 2 "addresses, and each transcoding table assigned to a primary color provides a primary color in digital form. digital-analog converters 31, 32, 33 respectively assigned to the decoding of the video signals of color R, G and B. Each primary color can be coded on 8 bits which leaves the possibility of choosing a color among 2 "colors, but these colors obviously cannot be all available simultaneously for an image because the table 2 does not contains only 28 boxes These digital-analog converters 31, 32, 33 respectively control the red, green and blue beams of a trichrome cathode-ray tube forming the color screen 4.

Dans les systèmes tels que décrits jusqu'ici, l'adresse de lecture de la mémoire de tables est donnée par le mot d'aspect fourni par la mémoire d'image lue en synchronisme avec le balayage couleur, et, à une adresse donnée, c'est un mot de couleur donné, lu dans la mémoire de tables qui alimente les décodeurs numériques-analogiques produisant les signaux primaires.In systems as described so far, the reading address of the table memory is given by the aspect word supplied by the image memory read in synchronism with the color scanning, and, at a given address, it is a given word of color, read in the memory of tables which feeds the digital-analog decoders producing the primary signals.

Pour permettre de réaliser de manière rapide un clignotement dans l'image, sans nuire à la rapidité de la lecture de la mémoire vive de la table de transcodage, le circuit contrôleur vidéo couleur suivant l'invention comporte en outre un ensemble de mémoires tampons de tables, 5, constitué de plusieurs mémoires tampons de tables de couleurs, par exemple 4 : 51, 52, 53, 54. Chaque mémoire tampon de tables est une mémoire vive ayant la même capacité que la mémoire de tables, mais n'exigeant pas la rapidité de celle-ci. Ces mémoires ne sont pas onéreuses, et il est possible d'en prévoir autant que nécessaire; Ces-mémoires- tampons de tables sont chargées par l'intermédiaire d'un circuit d'interface, 6, qui reçoit les données de couleur à charger dans les mémoires tampons de tables du bus d'unité de traitement 10. Le contenu de ces mémoires tampons de tables peut être modifié à la demande. Une fois stockées dans les mémoires tampons de tables, les informations correspondant aux différentes palettes de couleurs possibles sont transférées, pendant les retours de balayage trame, dans la mémoire de tables 2, sur commande par un circuit de commande 7. Les transferts sont commandés en fonction des besoins et particulièrement en cas de clignotement de certains ensembles de points de l'image. Le circuit de commande 7 reçoit le ou les signaux de clignotement indiquant les alternances de clignotement, et commande en fonction de ces signaux le chargement du contenu d'une mémoire tampon de tables dans la mémoire de tables 2. La mémoire tampon de tables 51, 52, 53 ou 54 transférée dans la mémoire de tables est déterminée par l'état des signaux de clignotement. A titre d'exemple, on a représenté sur la figure 1 quatre mémoires tampons de tables qui sont associées à deux signaux de clignotement de périodes différentes représentés sur la figure 2, de la manière suivante : on suppose qu'il existe deux signaux possibles de clignotement de périodes différentes, HC, et HC2 , appliqués au circuit de commande 7. Le premier a par exemple une période de 6 secondes et comporte une alternance de 4 secondes et une alternance de 2 secondes, l'autre ayant une période de 2 secondes comportant deux alternances égales de 1 seconde. Les changements d'état de la mémoire de tables doivent intervenir à la fin de chacune des alternances, et durant les retours de balayage de préférence, pour être invisibles sur l'écran. Avec ces deux signaux de clignotement possibles, quelles que soient les périodes de clignotement, il existe quatre états possibles. A chacun de ces 4 états correspond respectivement une mémoire tampon de tables 51, 52, 53 ou 54 dans l'ensemble 2. et à chaque changement d'état, le circuit de commande 7 transfère en mémoire de tables 2 la mémoire tampon de tables relative au nouvel état.To allow rapid flashing in the image, without adversely affecting the speed of reading from the RAM of the transcoding table, the color video controller circuit according to the invention further comprises a set of buffer memories. tables, 5, consisting of several buffers of color tables, for example 4: 51, 52, 53, 54. Each buffer of tables is a random access memory having the same capacity as the memory of tables, but not requiring the speed of it. These memories are not expensive, and it is possible to provide as many as necessary; These table buffers are loaded via an interface circuit, 6, which receives the color data to be loaded into the table buffers of the processing unit bus 10. The content of these table buffers can be changed on demand. Once stored in the table buffers, the information corresponding to the different possible color palettes is transferred, during the frame scan returns, to the table memory 2, on command by a control circuit 7. The transfers are controlled by according to the needs and in particular in the event of blinking of certain sets of points of the image. The control circuit 7 receives the flashing signal or signals indicating the flashing alternations, and controls as a function of these signals the loading of the content of a table buffer memory into the table memory 2. The table buffer memory 51, 52, 53 or 54 transferred to the table memory is determined by the state of the flashing signals. By way of example, FIG. 1 shows four table buffers which are associated with two flashing signals of different periods represented in FIG. 2, as follows: it is assumed that there are two possible signals of flashing of different periods, HC, and HC2, applied to the control circuit 7. The first has for example a period of 6 seconds and comprises an alternation of 4 seconds and an alternation of 2 seconds, the other having a period of 2 seconds with two equal alternations of 1 second. Changes in the state of the table memory must occur at the end of each half-wave, and preferably during the sweep returns, to be invisible on the screen. With these two possible flashing signals, whatever the flashing periods, there are four possible states. Each of these 4 states corresponds respectively to a table buffer memory 51, 52, 53 or 54 in set 2. and to each change of state, the control circuit 7 transfers the table buffer memory to table memory 2 relating to the new state.

Ce qui distingue les points clignotants n'est plus, comme dans l'art connu, l'état d'un bit d'aspect affecté à la fonction clignotement, mais, la couleur du point lue à l'adresse donnée par le mot d'aspect en mémoire de tables; toute adresse pour laquelle la combinaison de bits donnant la couleur est la même dans les quatre mémoires tampons de tables indique que le point correspondant ne clignote pas, et chaque différence de couleur entre une même adresse des quatre mémoires de tables correspond à un point clignotant. On dispose ainsi pour chaque point clignotant de quatre couleurs correspondant aux quatre tampons et associées aux quatre états de clignotement.What distinguishes blinking dots is no longer, as in the known art, the state of an aspect bit assigned to the blinking function, but, the color of the dot read at the address given by the word d 'appearance in memory of tables; any address for which the combination of bits giving the color is the same in the four table buffers indicates that the corresponding point does not flash, and each difference in color between a same address of the four table memories corresponds to a flashing point. There are thus for each flashing point four colors corresponding to the four buffers and associated with the four flashing states.

Quand le clignotement n'est pas utilisé il est possible d'utiliser la totalité de la table de couleur, soit 28 adresses, pour définir la palette des couleurs.When flashing is not used, it is possible to use the entire color table, ie 2 8 addresses, to define the color palette.

Quand le clignotement est utilisé, la palette de couleur non clignotante n'est réduite que du nombre d'adresses en mémoire de tables affectées au clignotement. Cette réduction de la palette est le plus souvent négligeable car le clignotement sert en règle générale à attirer l'attention à la suite d'un évènement précis, sur un élément de l'image de taille limitée. De tels éléments ne contiennent jamais un grand nombre de couleurs.When flashing is used, the non-flashing color palette is only reduced by the number of addresses in memory of tables assigned to flashing. This reduction of the palette is most often negligible because the blinking is generally used to draw attention following a specific event, on an element of the image of limited size. Such elements never contain a large number of colors.

Ainsi, pour qu'un élément de l'image affiché en continu devienne clignotant il n'est plus nécessaire comme dans l'art connu de charger dans la mémoire d'image le bit de clignotement, dans le mot d'aspect; il suffit de charger dans un tampon de tables le petit nombre de couleurs utilisées dans l'élément clignotant et il est possible de réaliser cette opération sans gêner la visualisation durant une période de retour de balayage. Un perfectionnement permet de faciliter cette opération: pour cela il suffit que l'ensemble de mémoires 5 comporte un ensemble de tampons en réserve, par exemple un second jeu de quatre mémoires tampons de tables. Ainsi, pour un élément susceptible de clignoter il est possible de disposer en permanence de tampons relatifs à l'état clignotant.Thus, for an element of the continuously displayed image to become flashing, it is no longer necessary, as in the known art, to load the flashing bit into the image memory, in the aspect word; it is enough to load in a buffer of tables the small number of colors used in the flashing element and it is possible to carry out this operation without disturbing the visualization during a sweep return period. An improvement makes this operation easier: for this it suffices that the set of memories 5 comprises a set of buffers in reserve, for example a second set of four table buffers. Thus, for an element capable of flashing, it is possible to permanently have buffers relating to the flashing state.

Revenons au détail du fonctionnement des mémoires, les données relatives aux mémoires tampons de tables, calculées par exemple par l'ordinateur qui pilote le terminal, sont écrites dans ces mémoires de la manière suivante : le circuit d'interface 6 fournit par la liaison 55 le numéro de la mémoire tampon de tables dans laquelle les données sont à écrire, et fournit par un bus d'adresses et un bus de données respectivement l'adresse ADE et la donnée correspondante ED à la mémoire tampon de tables désignée. Pour la lecture, le circuit de commande fournit en 55 le numéro du tampon de tables à transférer en mémoire de tables de transcodage, en fonction des signaux d'horloge de clignotement HC, et HCz , et seulement pendant les retours de balayage définis par le signal de synchronisation trame SY.T également appliqué au circuit de commande 7. Le circuit de commande fournit, à la mémoire tampon de tables correspondante, 51, 52, 53 ou 54, l'adresse de lecture ADL, et la donnée à lire correspondante, LD, est transmise de la sortie de la mémoire tampon de tables désignée à l'entrée ED de donnée de la mémoire de tables 2 , en vue de son écriture à l'adresse ADE également désignée par le circuit de commande 7.Returning to the detail of the operation of the memories, the data relating to the table buffer memories, calculated for example by the computer which controls the terminal, are written in these memories in the following manner: the interface circuit 6 supplied by the link 55 the number of the table buffer memory in which the data is to be written, and supplies by an address bus and a data bus respectively the address ADE and the corresponding data ED to the designated table buffer memory. For reading, the control circuit supplies at 55 the number of the table buffer to be transferred into the memory of transcoding tables, as a function of the flashing clock signals HC, and HC z , and only during the sweep returns defined by the frame synchronization signal SY.T also applied to the control circuit 7. The control circuit supplies, to the corresponding table buffer memory, 51, 52, 53 or 54, the read address ADL, and the data to be read corresponding, LD, is transmitted from the output of the designated table buffer memory to the data input ED of the table memory 2, for writing to the address ADE also designated by the control circuit 7.

Les signaux de clignotement, qui peuvent être produits par des compteurs, comportent un nombre déterminé de périodes de balayage d'image pour chaque alternance de clignotement.The flashing signals, which can be produced by counters, have a fixed number of image scanning periods for each alternating flashing.

La figure 2 montre un exemple de deux signaux de clignotement décrits ci-dessus, l'un ayant une période de 6 secondes avec une alternance de 4 secondes et une alternance de 2 secondes, l'autre ayant une période de 2 secondes avec des alternances de 1 seconde. Ces deux signaux déterminent quatre états possibles notés 1, 2, 3 et 4 et à chacun de ces états correspond une mémoire tampon de tables de couleurs 51, 52, 53, ou 54 prise parmi l'ensemble de mémoires 5 et transférée dans la mémoire de tables 2 à chaque détection d'un nouvel état. Comme indiqué ci-dessus ces tables mémorisées dans les tampons 51 à 54 sont déterminées en fonction des couleurs des points non clignotants et des couleurs de clignotement. Ces tampons peuvent être chargés pendant les périodes actives de balayage.Figure 2 shows an example of two flashing signals described above, one having a period of 6 seconds with an alternation of 4 seconds and an alternation of 2 seconds, the other having a period of 2 seconds with alternations 1 second. These two signals determine four possible states denoted 1, 2, 3 and 4 and to each of these states corresponds a buffer of color tables 51, 52, 53, or 54 taken from the set of memories 5 and transferred into the memory. tables 2 each time a new state is detected. As indicated above, these tables stored in buffers 51 to 54 are determined as a function of the colors of the non-flashing dots and of the flashing colors. These buffers can be loaded during active scanning periods.

L'invention n'est pas limitée aux modes de réalisation précisément décrits et représentés. En particulier il a été indiqué ci-dessus que la mémoire d'image 1 pouvait comporter huit plans et fournir un mot d'aspect de huit bits. Cette disposition qui n'est pas directement liée à l'invention peut évidemment être modifiée ; en particulier, pour permettre des effets d'animation, la mémoire d'image peut comporter deux groupes de plans utilisés alternativement, l'un étant utilisé pour l'affichage de l'image pendant que, dans l'autre se charge l'image suivante.The invention is not limited to the embodiments precisely described and shown. In particular, it has been indicated above that the image memory 1 could comprise eight planes and provide an eight-bit aspect word. This provision which is not directly linked to the invention can obviously be modified; in particular, to allow animation effects, the image memory can comprise two groups of planes used alternately, one being used for displaying the image while, in the other, loading the image next.

Claims (6)

1. Circuit contrôleur de signaux vidéo de couleur pour système de visualisation haute résolution, commandé par une mémoire d'image (1) dans laquelle l'aspect de chaque pixel d'image est codé par un mot d'aspect de plusieurs bits, comportant : -une mémoire de tables de transcodage (a) contenant des codes associés à une palette de couleurs, et adressée en lecture par le mot d'aspect associé à chaque point à visualiser sur un écran couleur (4) de ce circuit, -des convertisseurs numériques-analogiques (31, 32, 33) recevant chacun une partie du code lu dans la mémoire de transcodage à l'adresse définie par le mot d'aspect, chacun-délivrant un signal de couleur primaire fonction de ce code à l'écran (4),caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre : -un ensemble (5) de mémoires tampons de tables - (51, 52, 53, 54) préalablement chargées par d'autres codes associés à d'autres palettes de couleur, -un circuit de commande (7) recevant le signal de retour de balayage de l'écran (SYT), ainsi que des signaux de clignotement (HC, , HC2), le contenu de chaque mémoire tampon de tables pouvant être transféré, en cas de besoin, dans la mémoire de tables de transcodage (2) pendant un retour de balayage de l'image sur ordre du circuit de commande (7). 1. A color video signal controller circuit for a high resolution display system, controlled by an image memory (1) in which the appearance of each image pixel is coded by an aspect word of several bits, comprising : a memory of transcoding tables (a) containing codes associated with a color palette, and addressed in reading by the aspect word associated with each point to be displayed on a color screen (4) of this circuit, digital-analog converters (31, 32, 33) each receiving a part of the code read in the transcoding memory at the address defined by the aspect word, each delivering a primary color signal depending on this code to the screen (4), characterized in that it further comprises: -a set (5) of table buffers - (51, 52, 53, 54) previously loaded by other codes associated with other color palettes, a control circuit (7) receiving the screen sweep return signal (SYT), as well as flashing signals (HC,, HC 2 ), the content of each table buffer memory being transferable, if necessary, in the memory of transcoding tables (2) during a scan return of the image on command of the control circuit (7). 2. Circuit selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (7) commande un transfert du contenu d'une mémoire tampon de tables pour modifier la palette de couleurs utilisée pour visualiser une image sur l'écran, notamment lors des changements d'état de signaux de clignotement, le contenu de chaque mémoire tampon de tables correspondant à une palette de couleurs prédéfinie.2. Circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control circuit (7) controls a transfer of the content of a table buffer memory to modify the color palette used to display an image on the screen, especially during changes in the status of flashing signals, the content of each table buffer corresponding to a predefined color palette. 3. Circuit selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que, pour un clignotement périodique de certains éléments d'image, le circuit de commande charge au début de chaque alternance du clignotement le contenu d'une mémoire tampon de tables dans la mémoire de transcodage (2).3. Circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that, for a periodic flashing of certain picture elements, the control circuit loads at the start of each alternation of the flashing the content of a table buffer memory in the transcoding memory (2). 4. Circuit selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que l'ensemble (5 ) des mémoires tampons de tables comporte autant de mémoires (51, 52, 53, 54) que d'états définis par les différentes combinaisons possibles des signaux de clignotement.4. Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the set (5) of table buffers comprises as many memories (51, 52, 53, 54) as states defined by the different combinations possible flashing signals. 5. Circuit selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que l'ensemble (5) des mémoires tampons de tables comporte plus de mémoires que d'états définis par les différentes combinaisons possibles des signaux de clignotement, différents tampons pouvant être affectés à un même état de clignotement, par exemple pour élargir la palette de couleurs en l'absence de clignotement.5. Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the set (5) of table buffers comprises more memories than states defined by the different possible combinations of flashing signals, different buffers being able be assigned to the same flashing state, for example to widen the color palette in the absence of flashing. 6. Utilisation du circuit contrôleur vidéo couleur, selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5 dans un système de visualisation haute résolution dans lequel les images sont produites sous forme numérique par un ordinateur, le contenu des mémoires tampons de tables (51, 52, ... 54) étant défini par l'utilisateur et chargé dans ces mémoires tampons par l'intermédiaire d'un bus (10) relié à cet ordinateur via un circuit d'interface (6).6. Use of the color video controller circuit according to one of claims 1 to 5 in a high resolution display system in which the images are produced in digital form by a computer, the content of the table buffers (51, 52, ... 54) being defined by the user and loaded into these buffer memories via a bus (10) connected to this computer via an interface circuit (6).
EP19860400664 1985-04-01 1986-03-27 Colour video signals control circuit for a high resolution visualization system, and visualization system comprising such a circuit Expired - Lifetime EP0197846B1 (en)

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FR8504933A FR2579789B1 (en) 1985-04-01 1985-04-01 COLOR VIDEO SIGNAL CONTROLLER CIRCUIT FOR HIGH RESOLUTION VIEWING SYSTEM AND VIEWING SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A CIRCUIT

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GB2195519A (en) * 1986-09-12 1988-04-07 Apple Computer Enhanced video graphics controller
EP0266506A2 (en) * 1986-10-31 1988-05-11 International Business Machines Corporation Image display processor for graphics workstation
WO1989001218A1 (en) * 1987-07-24 1989-02-09 Apollo Computer, Inc. Display controller utilizing attribute bits
EP0354480A2 (en) * 1988-08-09 1990-02-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Display signal generator
EP0537881A2 (en) * 1991-10-16 1993-04-21 Pioneer Video Corporation Graphics decoder
EP0855693A1 (en) * 1997-01-24 1998-07-29 Digital Equipment Corporation System and method for displaying blinking objects on a display device
WO2001016930A1 (en) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-08 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for controlling a colour display with not more than one control element per pixel

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WO1983002509A1 (en) * 1982-01-18 1983-07-21 Honeywell Inc Method and apparatus for controlling the display of a computer generated raster graphic system

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WO1983002509A1 (en) * 1982-01-18 1983-07-21 Honeywell Inc Method and apparatus for controlling the display of a computer generated raster graphic system

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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2195519A (en) * 1986-09-12 1988-04-07 Apple Computer Enhanced video graphics controller
US4823120A (en) * 1986-09-12 1989-04-18 Apple Computer, Inc. Enhanced video graphics controller
GB2195519B (en) * 1986-09-12 1991-01-16 Apple Computer Enhanced video graphics controller
EP0266506A2 (en) * 1986-10-31 1988-05-11 International Business Machines Corporation Image display processor for graphics workstation
EP0266506A3 (en) * 1986-10-31 1990-10-24 International Business Machines Corporation Image display processor for graphics workstation
WO1989001218A1 (en) * 1987-07-24 1989-02-09 Apollo Computer, Inc. Display controller utilizing attribute bits
EP0354480A2 (en) * 1988-08-09 1990-02-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Display signal generator
EP0354480A3 (en) * 1988-08-09 1991-10-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Display signal generator
EP0537881A2 (en) * 1991-10-16 1993-04-21 Pioneer Video Corporation Graphics decoder
EP0537881A3 (en) * 1991-10-16 1995-02-01 Pioneer Video Corp Graphics decoder
EP0855693A1 (en) * 1997-01-24 1998-07-29 Digital Equipment Corporation System and method for displaying blinking objects on a display device
WO2001016930A1 (en) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-08 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for controlling a colour display with not more than one control element per pixel

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FR2579789A1 (en) 1986-10-03
FR2579789B1 (en) 1987-05-15
DE3669084D1 (en) 1990-03-29
EP0197846B1 (en) 1990-02-21

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