JPH01105295A - Display controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make data having display elements by colors which are handled by a color display correspond to colors on a plasma display and make a gradation display by providing a 2nd palette for obtaining gradation display data by performing color-to-gradation conversion for multicolor display data of a 1st palette. CONSTITUTION: This display controller is provided with the 1st palette 11 for obtaining the multicolor display data after color conversion for driving the color display unit 20 and the 2nd palette 12 for obtaining gradation display data for driving the plasma display unit 30 by performing color-to-gradation conversion for the multicolor display data obtained with the 1st palette 11. Consequently, the gradation display drive of the plasma display unit 30 need not be considered by software at all and the data having display elements by colors handled by the color display 20 are made to correspond to the colors on the plasma display 30 to enable the gradation display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Objective of the Invention 1 (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a personal computer, a personal workstation, etc., which are equipped with, for example, a plasma display unit as standard equipment and can optionally connect a color display unit. The present invention relates to a display control device suitable for use in constructing a computer system.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in computer systems such as personal computers and personal workstations that are equipped with a plasma display unit as standard equipment and a color display unit can be optionally connected, plasma It was not possible to express data in different colors using a display unit.

Conventionally, when displaying gradations on a plasma display, display information is given a gradation level by thinning out display dots, blinking, etc.; There was a problem in that it was not possible to display clear divisions such as color-coded display.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As described above, conventionally, in a system that is equipped with a plasma display unit as standard and a color display unit can be optionally connected, colors are displayed on a color display. There was a problem in that the data could not be clearly divided and displayed on the plasma display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display control device that can display data having color-specific display elements handled on a color display in gradation on a plasma display in association with the colors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display control device that can easily realize a gradation display control mechanism of a plasma display that corresponds to display colors on a color display without being aware of it in software. shall be.

The present invention also provides a display that can automatically change the gradation of the plasma display as the display color on the color display changes, and that allows confirmation of the change in the display color on the color display on the plasma display. The purpose is to provide a control device.

Further, according to the present invention, tone correction suitable for a CRT display device (color display device) can be easily performed within the plasma display unit without using a mechanism external to the plasma display unit. To provide a display control device capable of controlling the display drive of a plasma display unit at a gradation that matches the display of a CRT display device (color display device) without being aware of gradation correction in the display drive system. The purpose is to

[Structure of the Invention (Means and Effects for Solving the Problems)] The present invention relates to a display control device that selectively controls the display drive of a plasma display unit and a color display unit. information is set, and according to the same palette information, a first palette for obtaining color-converted multicolor display data for display driving the color display unit, and palette information for gradation display are set, and according to the same palette information, the above-mentioned color display data is obtained. a second palette that performs color-gradation conversion on the multicolor display data obtained from the first palette to obtain gradation display data for display driving the plasma display unit;
The pallet is configured to generate gradation display data for driving the gradation display of the plasma display unit from the multicolor display data supplied to the color display unit. Data having color-specific display elements handled by a color display can be displayed in gradations on a plasma display in association with colors without being aware of the gradation display drive in the software.

The present invention also provides a display control device for optionally controlling the display drive of a plasma display unit and a color display unit, wherein an anode driver for driving an anode electrode of a display panel of the plasma display unit has an anode driver for driving an anode electrode of a display panel of the plasma display unit. gradation correction suitable for a color display device, comprising means for supplying variable modulation pulses whose intervals gradually become wider, and means for obtaining an anode pulse specific to the gradation indicated by display data according to the modulation pulses. This can be easily performed within the plasma display unit without using a mechanism external to the plasma display unit, so color correction can be performed without having to be equally conscious of gradation correction in the plasma display drive system. It becomes possible to control the display drive of the plasma display unit at a gradation that matches the display of the display device (CRT display device).

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 11 and 12 are respectively C in charge of system control.
These are palettes placed on the I10 port that store palette data under the control of the PU, and 11 of these are palettes for color CRT displays (hereinafter referred to as CRT palettes) in which palette data for multicolor display is set. ,
Reference numeral 12 denotes a plasma display palette (hereinafter referred to as PDP) which is provided after the CRT palette 11, and in which palette data for gradation display for color → gradation conversion is set.
(referred to as a pallet).

Here, the CRT palette 11 performs color conversion of [16 colors and 64 colors] according to the CRT palette data, and P
The DP palette 12 receives the color-converted display data obtained from the CRT palette 11 and performs 64 colors-16 gradations-color-gradation conversion on the same display data according to the PDP palette data.

13 is a video RAM (hereinafter referred to as V-R) for storing display data;
AM), which here has a 4-brane (16 colors) structure.

20 is 6 whose color has been converted by the above CRT palette 11.
A color CRT display device (hereinafter simply referred to as a CRT) receives display data in bits and displays 64 colors.
30 is a plasma display device (hereinafter simply referred to as FDP) which receives 4-bit unit display data that has been subjected to color and gradation conversion using the PDP palette 12 and displays 16 gradations. It is.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the above embodiment.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 above.

Note that the present invention provides a configuration in which the CRT 20 and the PDP 30 each have a unique display controller, or a configuration in which the CRT 20 and the PDP 30 are selectively configured using a single display controller (CRTC). Although it is applicable to any configuration in which the display drive is controlled by the CRT 2G or PDP 30, we will take as an example a configuration in which the CRT 20 and the PDP 30 each have their own display controller, and the CRT 2G or PDP 30's selective display drive control will be applied. In addition to control, it also enables simultaneous parallel display drive control of each of the above-mentioned displays.

When starting up the system by turning on the power, first
Under the control of U, the default values of the multicolor display palette data stored in the BIOS/ROM (not shown) are loaded into the CRT palette 11, and then the default values of the gradation display palette data are loaded into the PDP palette 12. The program is loaded (steps St and S2 in FIG. 3).

Here, when selective display of only the CRT 20 is not specified, the display data read from the V-RAM 13 is set according to the multicolor display palette data stored in the CRT palette 11 [18 colors - 64 colors]. After being subjected to color conversion, it is supplied to the subsequent PDP palette 12, and the same PD
Color-gradation conversion is performed from [64 colors to 16 gradations] using the gradation display palette data stored in the P palette 12.

This color-gradation converted display data is P D P 30
(Step S3.S in Figure 3)
4).

FIG. 3 shows an example of display data conversion by each of the above-mentioned palettes 11 and 12 at this time. From the V-RAM 13, for example, 4-bit display data 9H (
When “1001”) is read out, CR
The T palette 11 outputs 6-bit multicolor display data 39H ("111001") indicating blue in 64 colors. Furthermore, this 84-color display data (39H) is
20, and is also supplied to the PDP pallet 12, which is provided 1 mm after the CRT pallet 11.
64 colors and 16 gradations are converted, and from the same palette 7th floor: 4-bit gradation display data 7H indicating A (intermediate gradation)
(“0111”) is output. In this way, CR
T pallet 11. and via the PDP pallet 12 [
Display data that has been subjected to color-gradation conversion (16 colors→4 B colors→1B gradation) is supplied to the PDP 30 and displayed in multiple gradations.

In this way, the PDP 30 is supplied with display data that has been color-converted by the CRT palette 11 and further color->gradation-converted by the PDP palette 12, so that the multicolor display set in the CRT palette 11 is P D P 3 by both the palette data for displaying and the palette data for gradation display.
The color to gradation correspondence of 0 is determined, and the display color on the CRT 20 is directly reflected in the gradation of the PDP 30. Therefore, when the multicolor display palette data of the CRT palette 11 is rewritten by means described later, the color to gradation correspondence on the PDP 30 is also switched as the display color on the CRT 20 is switched, and the PDP 30 You can see the display color switching on the CRT 20 above.

In the PDP 30 display mode as described above, when a command and palette data to change the correspondence between colors and gradations are input as specified by the user, the C
Under the control of the PU, the contents of the PDP pallet 12 are rewritten according to the manual data, and from then on, the rewritten PDP
[64 colors = 16 gradations] color-gradation conversion is performed according to the DP palette data (steps S5 to S7 in Fig. 3).
4. ...).

In addition, when the selection display of only PDP30 is not specified, it is read from the V-RAM 13 and displayed on the CRT.
The display data, which has been color-converted from 16 colors to 84 colors, is sent to the CRT 20 and displayed in multiple colors (64 colors) (steps S7 and S8 in FIG. 3).

At this time, when a palette color change instruction command and palette selection designation information to change the color correspondence of [16 colors - 64 colors] are input as specified by the user, the CP
C by application software under control of U
The rewriting process of the RT palette 11 is executed, and thereafter, color conversion is performed from [16 colors → 64 colors] according to the palette colors of the rewritten CRT palette data (3rd
Figure steps S9, SIO, S3, S8,
...).

Furthermore, when selective display of only the PDP 30 is specified, only the gradation display drive of the PDP 30 using the PDP palette 12 is selectively executed (steps S7, S4, etc. in FIG. 3). ), when the selective display of only the CRT 2G is specified, only the multicolor display drive of the CRT 20 using the CRT palette 11 is selectively executed (steps S3, S8, . . . in FIG. 3).

In this way, both CRT 20 and PDP 30,
or one of them is optionally driven for display, and at this time, the CRT 20 receives data that has been color-converted into [1B color scheme 64 colors] according to the multicolor display palette data set in the CRT palette 11. is displayed and output, and P
The DP 30 contains a multicolor image whose color is converted to [18 colors - 64 colors] using the CRT palette 11, and then further converted from color to gradation from [64 colors → 1B gradation] using the subsequent PDP palette 12. The gradation data is displayed and output.

Therefore, the color density gradation correspondence of the multi-gradation data displayed on the PDP 30 follows the multi-color display palette data set in the CRT palette 11, and when the data contents of the CRT palette 11 are switched, , the correspondence between color and gradation changes accordingly. That is, when the display color correspondence of the CRT 20 is switched, the color → gradation correspondence of the PDP 30 is also changed accordingly.
You can check it on DP30.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 4 and 5 each show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the gradation-display brightness characteristics of the PDP 30 are corrected in accordance with the display brightness characteristics of the CRT 20. As a result, each gradation based on color correspondence can be clearly recognized on the PDP 30.

That is, the gradation input level of PDP 30 is
0, the CRT 20 has a gradation-display brightness characteristic as shown in FIG. 5(a), and the normal gradation level (
The difference between the display brightness at the high gradation level (lli) and the display brightness at the high gradation level (lli) is relatively large, so the gradation level difference can be clearly seen on the CRT 20, but P D P 30
In the case of , the gradation-display brightness characteristic is as shown in the same figure (b), and the difference in display brightness between the normal gradation level (Nl) and the high dark gradation level (old) is relatively small. , therefore, the gradation level difference cannot be clearly recognized.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the gradation-display brightness characteristics of the PDP 30 are corrected on the PDP palette 12 in accordance with the display brightness characteristics of the CRT 20. The gradation level data is further subdivided into l/4 units, and the display brightness at high gradation levels is corrected in units of subdivided gradations, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the specific setting values of the gradation display palette data on the PDP palette 12 at this time. The 6-bit gradation display data is expressed in 6 bits, and the 6-bit gradation display data is sent to the PDP 80.

In this way, according to the display brightness characteristics of the CRT 20,
By extracting the gradation-display brightness characteristics of the D P 30 on the PDP palette 12, each gradation based on color correspondence can be clearly recognized on the PDP 30.

In the above embodiment, the CRT 20 and the PDP 30 each have their own display controllers, but a configuration in which the CRT 20 and the PDP 30 are driven by a common display controller (CRTC) is also possible. In this case, it is also possible to selectively drive and control the CRT2G or PDP30 to display and output multi-gradation data with the same color-gradation correspondence as above on the PDPH. Since the structure and operation can be easily understood from the above embodiments, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

Also, in the above embodiment, an example of color scale gradation conversion from [84 colors to 16 gradations] was shown, but even in other color scale gradation conversions, color-based display elements handled on a color CRT display can be used in the same manner as above. Data can be displayed in gradation on a plasma display (FDP) in association with color.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a plasma display device in a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, ill is a data buffer that continuously receives display data (DATA) of 4 bits per pixel (16 gradations) and outputs it as gradation data (GD). 112 is a clock (CLK), display period signal (ENAB) and mode discrimination/
This is an anode timing generator that receives the clock (MC) from the clock generator 15 and outputs a horizontal shift clock (H8C), latch pulse (LP), etc. 113 is a modulation pulse generator that generates modulation pulses (MP) whose intervals gradually become wider toward higher brightness as shown in FIG. 8, based on the clock (MC) generated by the mode discrimination/clock generator 115. It is a circuit.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a variable resistor for brightness adjustment, which adjusts the brightness by changing the pulse interval of the modulation pulse (MP) generated by the modulation pulse generation circuit 113 in a manner similar to all gradations. 115 is a vertical synchronizing signal (VSYN C) and a horizontal synchronizing signal (H
The display resolution of the display screen is determined from the positive/negative polarity of 8YNC), and the mode switching signal (MS) is output.
This is a mode discrimination/clock generator that generates various internal clocks (MC). Since the mode determination at this time is not directly related to the present invention, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 118 indicates the display period signal (ENAB), a vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC) output from the mode discrimination/clock generator 15, and a horizontal synchronization signal (H3YNC).
).

Scanning data (SD) for cathode electrode drive in response to mode switching signal (MSi 2 bits) etc.
This is a cathode timing generation circuit that generates signals such as , vertical shift clock (VSC), etc. A cathode driver 117 receives the scanning data (SD) and vertical shift clock (VSC) generated from the cathode timing generation circuit 118 and outputs cathode pulses (CAP O to CAP479) for driving the cathode electrode. tta is the gradation data (GD) from the data buffer lit, the horizontal shift clock (H3C) and latch pulse (LP) from the anode timing generator 112, and the variable pulse shown in FIG. 8 from the modulation pulse generation circuit 113. In response to the modulation pulse (MP), the gradation data (GD) is read into the internal shift register using the horizontal shift clock (HSC), and the latch pulse (L
640 pixel data is latched into the internal latch circuit by P), and the pulse width is controlled by the variable modulation pulse (MP), so that the proportion of the width expanding toward high brightness increases according to the gradation of the pixel data. Anode pulses with pulse widths as shown in Figure 8 (ANP O to ANP839
) is an anode driver that outputs 119 is a cathode pulse (
CAP O~CAP479) is received on the cathode electrode,
The anode pulses (ANP O to ANP839) output from the anode driver 118 are received by the anode electrode, and here the maximum display resolution is 640 x 480 dots.
This is a display panel that displays and outputs display data in 16 gradations.

FIG. 7 shows the display panel 119, cathode driver 117, and anode driver 1 shown in FIG. 6 above.
18 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration of 18. FIG.

In the figure, 211 to 213 are anode drivers 1, respectively.
18, 211 is the gradation data (G
212 is a latch circuit that latches the display data stored in the shift register 211 using a latch pulse (LP); The displayed data is pulse-width modulated using modulation pulses (MP) whose intervals gradually widen toward high brightness as shown in Figure 8, and the ratio of the width widening toward high brightness is determined according to the gradation of pixel data. This is a pulse width generation circuit that outputs an anode pulse (ANPO to ANP839) having a pulse width as shown in FIG.

221 is a shift register forming a component of the cathode driver 117, and the cathode timing generation circuit 11B
The scanning data (SD) outputted from the cathode timing generating circuit LLB is shifted in synchronization with the vertical shift clock (VSC) outputted from the cathode timing generation circuit LLB, and the cathode pulse (CAPO~) for driving the cathode electrode is shifted.
CAP479) is output.

231 is an anode electrode of the display panel 119;
Similarly, 32 is a cathode electrode. The cathode electrode 232 receives cathode pulses (CAP O to CAP479) output from the cathode driver 117,
The anode electrode 231 is an anode pulse (ANP O to ANP839) output from the anode driver 118.
In response to this, the maximum display resolution is 640 x 480 dots/16
Displays and outputs display data in gradations.

FIG. 8 shows a modulated pulse (MP), which is generated by the modulated pulse generating circuit 113 and supplied to the pulse generating circuit 213 of the anode driver 118, and whose width increases in proportion to the higher brightness, and the same modulated pulse. 3 is a time chart illustrating anode pulses (ANP) of various gradations generated based on (MP). In the figure, a is the pulse interval width of low luminance, b is the pulse interval of high luminance, and C is the pulse width of low gradation pixel data ('0001' - gradation 1 and '0010' - gradation 2). The difference, d, is the difference between high gradation pixel data ('
This is the difference in pulse width between "1110" - gradation 14 and "1111" - gradation 15).

As is clear from this figure, the modulation pulse (MP) has a pulse interval that gradually increases from low brightness to high brightness.
Therefore, for example, pixel data of a low gradation (“0001” - gradation 1) is pulse width modulated with a modulation pulse (MP) with the narrowest pulse interval, and as the gradation becomes higher, the pulse width is modulated with a modulation pulse (MP) with a wider pulse interval. Width modulated.

The relationship between the anode pulse width and gradation at this time is shown in Figure 9(a).
, and the relationship between display brightness and gradation is shown in FIG. 4(b).

In addition, FIG. 10 shows the conventional modulation pulse and the anode pulse of various gradations generated based on the same modulation pulse as described above.
This is a time chart shown in comparison with the figure, showing that all pulse intervals are constant. ζFigure 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between display brightness and anode pulse width, and Figure 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between display brightness and anode pulse width.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing the relationship between the anode pulse width and gradation and the relationship between display brightness and gradation in the conventional pulse width modulation described above, in comparison with FIG. 9.

According to the third embodiment described above, tone correction suitable for a CRT display device (color display device) can be easily performed within the plasma display unit without using a mechanism external to the plasma display unit. Therefore, it is possible to control the display drive of the plasma display unit at a gradation that matches the display of a CRT display device (color display device) without being aware of gradation correction in the plasma display drive system.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in a display control device in which a plasma display unit and a color display unit are subject to display drive control, a color display control device for display drive of the color display unit is provided. A first pallet for obtaining the converted multicolor display data; and a first pallet provided after the pallet for converting the multicolor display data obtained from the palette from color to gradation to drive the display of the plasma display unit. a second palette for obtaining gradation display data, and a gradation display for driving the plasma display unit to display gradation from the multicolor display data supplied to the color display unit by the second palette. By adopting a configuration that generates data, data with color-specific display elements handled by a color display can be displayed in color on the plasma display without being aware of the gradation display drive of the plasma display unit in the software. It is possible to display gradations in association with .

Further, according to the present invention, in a display control device that optionally controls the display drive of a plasma display unit and a color display unit, an anode driver that drives an anode electrode of a display panel of the plasma display unit has a high brightness The method includes a means for supplying variable modulation pulses whose intervals gradually become wider as the interval increases, and a means for obtaining an anode pulse specific to the gray scale indicated by display data according to the modulated pulse. Since tone correction can be easily performed within the plasma display unit without using a mechanism external to the plasma display unit, tone correction can be done without having to be conscious of it in the plasma display drive system. , color display device (C
It becomes possible to control the display drive of the plasma display unit with a gradation that matches the display of the RT display device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of each palette and the color → gradation conversion operation using the same palette in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a display processing flow in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of each palette and the color-gradation conversion operation using the same palette in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows an example of corrected palette data set in a PDP palette based on the display brightness characteristics of CRT and FDP in the 3rd embodiment of the present invention. A block diagram showing the internal configuration of the spray device, FIG. 7 shows the display panel 11 in the third embodiment.
9, a cathode driver 117, and an anode driver [1B.
The modulated pulse (MP) in the example and the modulated pulse (
FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing the relationship between the anode pulse width and the gradation in the third embodiment; Figure 10 shows the conventional modulation pulse and the anode pulses of various gradations generated based on the same modulation pulse.
11 is a diagram showing the relationship between display brightness and anode pulse width, and FIG. 12 (a
) and (b) show the relationship between the anode pulse width and gradation by conventional pulse width modulation, and the relationship between display brightness and gradation as described in the ninth section above.
It is a figure shown in comparison with the figure. 11... Palette for CRT, 12... Palette for FDP, 13- Hiteo RAM (V-RAM) 20-
・・Color CRT display device (CRT), 30
...Plasma display device (PDP), ill
...Data buffer, 112...Anode timing generator, 113...Modulation pulse generation circuit, 1
14... Brightness adjustment variable resistor, 115... Mode discrimination/clock generator, 11B... Cathode timing generation circuit, 117... Cathode driver, 1
18... Anode driver, 119... Display panel, 211... Shift register, 212...
Latch circuit, 213... Pulse width generation circuit, 221.
...Shift register, 231...Anode electrode, 23
2...Cathode electrode, MP...Modulation pulse, ANP
...Anode pulse. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 3 CRT Flooring Picture (a) (b) Recitation (C) Figure 5 Figure 8 Gradation Gradation 10 Figure 7 Node Pulse Width (LJS) 11 Figure Gradation Figure 12 Gradation Procedure Correction Book Hitoshi Bozs>J"fj, 14゜Kichi, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office 1) Tsuyoshi Moon 1, Case Display Patent Application No. 1983-130924 2, Invention Name Display Control Device 3 , Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (307) Toshiba Corporation 4, Agent 3-7-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo UBE Building September 27, 1988 7 Contents of amendment (1) In the 12th line of page 26 of the specification, the phrase "Figure 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the width and gradation" has been replaced with "A diagram showing the relationship between the width and gradation, and Figure 10 (b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the width and gradation." A diagram showing the relationship between and gradation,
Figure 10 is corrected.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A display control device that optionally controls the display drive of a plasma display unit and a color display unit, which includes a first palette in which multicolor display palette information is set, and a display that is color-converted using the same palette. A means for driving the color display unit to display a multicolor display according to the data and a palette information for gradation display are set, and a second means for obtaining display data obtained by color/gradation conversion from display data obtained from the first palette. pallet and
A display control device comprising means for driving the plasma display unit to display a gradation display using color/gradation-converted display data obtained from the second palette. (2) Claim (1) wherein the second palette corrects the display brightness characteristics of the plasma display unit.
The display control device described. (3) A display control device that optionally controls a display drive of a plasma display unit and a color display unit, the display control device having an anode driver that drives an anode electrode of a display panel of the plasma display unit that gradually increases the brightness. 1. A display control device comprising: means for supplying variable modulation pulses with wider intervals; and means for obtaining an anode pulse specific to a gradation indicated by display data in accordance with the modulation pulses.