JPH08160938A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To display even an image with a small density difference as an image suitable for observation. CONSTITUTION: The image display device is equipped with a display image generation part 80 which generates data corresponding to an image to be displayed in one window on a CRT 60 on the basis of reduced image data stored in an image storage part 52, a target area specification part 86 which generates position data indicating a specific target area in the corresponding image, a target area image generation part 88 which generates partial data corresponding to the image included in the area and generates data corresponding to an image to be displayed in another window on the CRT 60 on the basis of the generated data, and a slider information generation part 90 which sets an upper-limit value and a lower-limit value for values indicating the gradations of the image data; and the values of the display image data and target area display image data are converted by referring to a data conversion table stored in a gradation control part 92 on the basis of the set upper-limit value and lower-limit value and the gradations of the display image in the windows vary.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly to an image display device capable of displaying an image suitable for observation even if the image has a small density difference. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art After a substance having a radioactive label is administered to an organism, the organism or a part of the tissue of the organism is used as a sample and the sample is fixed on a radiation film such as a high-sensitivity X-ray film. Autoradiography detection method, protein, nucleic acid sequence, etc., in which the radiographic film is exposed or exposed by time superposition to obtain the positional information of the radiolabeled substance in the sample based on the exposed portion of the radiographic film. A polymer that has been immobilized such as a chemiluminescent substance is brought into contact with a chemiluminescent substance, and the chemiluminescent substance is selectively labeled with a labeling substance that emits chemiluminescence. By contacting and detecting chemiluminescence in the visible light wavelength range caused by contact between the chemiluminescent substance and the labeling substance, A chemiluminescence detection method designed to obtain information, electron irradiation of a metal sample, etc., and detection of a diffraction image or transmission image of the sample to perform elemental analysis, sample composition analysis, sample structure analysis, etc. A detection method using a microscope, a radiation diffraction image detection method of irradiating a sample with radiation, detecting the obtained radiation diffraction image, and performing structural analysis of the sample are known.

In these methods, conventionally, the obtained autoradiographic image, chemiluminescence image, electron microscope image, radiation diffraction image, etc. were recorded on a photographic film and observed. Due to the problem of gradation characteristics, these images recorded on a photographic film are often not clear, and often the desired detection cannot be achieved. Therefore, instead of the conventional photographic film, when irradiated with radiation, visible light, electron beam, etc., the energy is absorbed and stored, and then excited by using an electromagnetic wave in a specific wavelength range, the irradiation is performed. The photostimulable phosphor having a characteristic of emitting photostimulable light in an amount corresponding to the amount of energy such as emitted radiation, visible light, and electron beam is used as a detection material for radiation, visible light, and electron beam. The photostimulable light emitted from the fluorescent substance is photoelectrically detected, converted into a digital signal, subjected to predetermined image processing, and then reproduced on a display means such as a CRT screen or on a photographic film. An autoradiography detection method, a chemiluminescence detection method, an electron microscope detection method, and a radiation diffraction image detection method have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-60784 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-60782). , Kokoku 4-3952
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-205550, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-2500
No. 32864, No. 61-51738, No. 61-93538, No. 59-15843.
Issue Bulletin).

According to the detection method using the stimulable phosphor, the gradation characteristic of the photographic film does not limit the gradation of the obtained image, and the desired digital signal is obtained. By applying image processing like
There is an advantage that it is possible to reproduce an image with improved observation suitability.

[0005]

In the field of autoradiography detection method, a stimulable phosphor is used as a detection material, and an autoradiography image is automatically generated according to the signal level of the digitized image signal. There is known an autoradiography image display device which reproduces an autoradiography image having a desired gradation on a display means such as a CRT screen or a photographic film. According to this method, the gradation of an autoradiographic image with a small density difference is also corrected and displayed, so that the observation characteristics of the image can be improved. However, the autoradiography image display device automatically performs image processing according to the signal level of the image signal so that the displayed image has the optimum gradation, and all the displayed images are displayed. It is not always easy for the observer to observe, or depending on the purpose of observation, it may be rather difficult to observe. On the other hand, when the gradation of the image is changed so that the observer can easily observe the image, it is necessary to change the signal levels of all the image signals, which requires a lot of time for the signal processing. was there.

An image signal obtained by once recording an autoradiography image, a chemiluminescence image, an electron microscope image, a radiation diffraction image, etc. on a photographic film, photoelectrically reading the recorded image and converting it into a digital signal In addition, when the desired signal processing is performed, the same problem occurs when reproducing on a display means such as a CRT screen or a photographic film.

[0007]

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display device capable of displaying an image suitable for observation even if the image has a small difference in density.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display image in which individual data has a gradation that can be reproduced as an image on a display device by subjecting image data representing the gradation of the image to predetermined processing. An image display device configured to generate data and reproduce an image corresponding to the display image data on a window of the display device, wherein the display is based on reduced image data obtained by reducing the image data. First image generating means for generating display image data corresponding to an image to be displayed in one window of the device, and partial area for generating partial area data indicating a predetermined partial area in the image corresponding to the image data. A data generating unit and a unit corresponding to an image to be displayed in another window of the display device based on the partial image data corresponding to the image included in the partial area. Second generating region display image data
Image generating means and data value setting means for setting an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a value indicating the gradation of the image data, and based on the upper limit value and the lower limit value set by the data value setting means, The values of the display image data and the partial area display image data are converted, whereby the image display device is configured to change the gradation of the image displayed in the window.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image display device further generates histogram data showing a distribution of data values of each of the image data, and displays a histogram corresponding to the histogram data in a predetermined window of the display means. And a data value setting means configured to generate position data corresponding to a movable slider that indicates a position in the displayed histogram. In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the image display device further includes a conversion table storing data to be referred to in order to convert the image data into the display image data, and the conversion table based on the position data. And a data rewriting means for rewriting data. In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the conversion table is configured such that the value of the image data is its address and the value of the display image data is its data. In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the second image generating means is configured to generate partial region display image data which has a one-to-one correspondence with the partial image data.

In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the image display device further comprises partial area moving means for moving the partial area in the image, and the partial area data generating means is provided for moving the partial area. Therefore,
It is configured to generate partial region data. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image is
It is composed of an image selected from the group consisting of an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image, an electron microscope image and a chemiluminescence image. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the autoradiographic image, the radiation diffraction image or the electron microscopic image causes the radiation or electron beam emitted from the sample to be accumulated and absorbed in the stimulable phosphor, after which the bright It is obtained by irradiating the stimulable phosphor with electromagnetic waves and photoelectrically converting the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chemiluminescence image is a visible light emitted from a sample, which is accumulated and absorbed in a stimulable phosphor, and then the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with an electromagnetic wave. , And is obtained by photoelectrically converting the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor.

In the present invention, a stimulable phosphor that can be used to generate an autoradiography image, a radiation diffraction image or an electron microscope image is capable of accumulating radiation or electron beam energy, It is not particularly limited as long as it is excited and can release the energy of the accumulated radiation or electron beam in the form of light, but it is preferably one that can be excited by light in the visible light wavelength range. . Specifically, for example, the alkaline earth metal fluorohalide-based phosphor (Ba _1-x, M disclosed in JP-A-55-12145).
²⁺ x) FX: yA (where M ²⁺ is Mg, Ca, Sr,
At least one alkaline earth metal element selected from the group consisting of Zn and Cd, X is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and A is E
u, Tb, Ce, Tm, Dy, Pr, He, Nd, Yb
And at least one 3 selected from the group consisting of
Valent metal element, x is 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.6, y is 0 ≦ y ≦ 0.2
Is. ), An alkaline earth metal fluorohalide-based phosphor SrF disclosed in JP-A-2-276997.
X: Z (where X is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and Z is Eu or Ce), and europium activation disclosed in JP-A-59-56479. Composite halogen-based phosphor BaF
X · xNaX ′: aEu ²⁺ (wherein X and X ′ are at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and I, x is 0 <x ≦ 2, and a is 0 < a ≦ 0.2), MOX: xCe (where M is Pr, and M is Pr, which is a cerium-activated trivalent metal oxyhalogen-based phosphor disclosed in JP-A-58-69281).
Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, He, Er, T
At least one trivalent metal element selected from the group consisting of m, Yb and Bi, X is one or both of Br and I, and x is 0 <x <0.1. ), LnOX: xCe, which is a cerium-activated rare earth oxyhalogen-based phosphor disclosed in JP-A-60-101179 and JP-A-60-90288, where Ln is Y,
At least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Gd and Lu, X is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and x is 0 <
x ≦ 0.1. ) And JP europium activated complex halide No. disclosed in Japanese 59-75200 phosphor ^{M II FX · aM I X '} · bM' II X '' z 2+ cM III
X ^{″ 1} ₃ · xA: yEu ²⁺ (where M ^II is at least one alkaline earth metal element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca, M ^I is Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs at least one alkali metal element selected from the group consisting of, M ^'II is at least one trivalent metal element selected from the group consisting of be and Mg, M ^III is Al, G
at least one trivalent metal element selected from the group consisting of a, In and Tl, A is a metal oxide, X is Cl, Br
And at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of I, X ′, X ^″ and X ^{″ 1} is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I, and a is 0 ≦ a ≦ 2, b is 0 ≦ b ≦ 10 ⁻² , c
Is 0 ≦ c ≦ 10 ⁻² and a + b + c ≧ 10 ⁻² , x is 0 <x ≦ 0.5, and y is 0 <y ≦ 0.2. ) Can be preferably used.

In the present invention, stimulable phosphors that can be used to generate a chemiluminescent image include:
Any energy capable of accumulating light energy in the visible light wavelength range, being excited by electromagnetic waves, and capable of releasing accumulated energy of light in the visible light wavelength area in the form of light, is not particularly limited. However, those that can be excited by light in the visible light wavelength range are preferable. Specifically, for example, the metal halophosphate-based phosphor, the rare earth element-activated phosphor, the aluminate-based phosphor, the silicate-based phosphor, and the fluoride-based phosphor disclosed in JP-A-4-232864 are disclosed. Body is,
It can be preferably used.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the image generated based on the reduced image data obtained by reducing the image data is displayed in one window, and based on the partial image data corresponding to the image included in the partial area. The image generated by
Since it is displayed in another window and the gradations of both of these images are changed, the gradation of the entire image can be observed, and at the same time, a more detailed image floor of the desired area can be observed. The key can also be observed, and an image more suitable for observation can be displayed. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a histogram showing the distribution of the value of each data of the image data is displayed in a predetermined window of the display means, and with reference to this histogram, the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the gradation are displayed. Since it can be determined, the observer can more easily obtain an image with a desired gradation. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, partial area display image data corresponding to the partial image data in a one-to-one correspondence is generated, so that a more detailed image can be displayed in a desired area. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the partial area in the image displayed in one window can be moved, so that the observer can easily obtain a detailed image of the predetermined area. Becomes

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading device that generates image data to be displayed by the image display device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 has a stimulable phosphor layer (not shown) made of a stimulable phosphor, and the stimulable phosphor layer contains a sample (not shown). The image is stored in the form of electron beam energy. In this embodiment, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is used as an image detecting material for an electron microscope (not shown), and a metal sample (not shown) is irradiated with an electron beam and transmitted through the metal sample. The energy of the electron beam is accumulated in the stimulable phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. In this way, the stimulable phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in which the energy of the electron beam transmitted through the metal sample is accumulated is scanned by the laser beam 2 to excite the stimulable phosphor and Emits light. The laser light 2 is generated by the laser light source 3 and passes through the filter 4 to cut a portion of the wavelength region corresponding to the wavelength region of the photostimulable light generated from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 by the excitation by the laser light 2. To be done. Then, the laser beam 2 is
The beam diameter is accurately adjusted by the expander 5 and enters the optical deflector 6 such as a galvanometer mirror. The laser beam 2 deflected by the optical deflector 6 is reflected by the plane reflecting mirror 8 via the fθ lens 7 and is one-dimensionally incident on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. The fθ lens 7 ensures that when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is scanned by the laser light 2, the scanning is always performed at a uniform beam speed.

In synchronization with the scanning by the laser light 2, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and the entire surface thereof is scanned by the laser light 2. ing. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is irradiated with the laser beam 2, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 emits photostimulable light in an amount proportional to the electron beam energy stored and recorded, and the emitted photostimulable light is directed to the light guide sheet 9. Incident. The light guide sheet 9 is
Its light-receiving end is linear and is arranged in close proximity so as to face the scanning line on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. Further, its light-exiting end is in the shape of an annular ring and is formed by a photoelectric multiplier or the like. It is connected to the light receiving surface of the conversion type photodetector 10. This light guide sheet 9 is made by processing a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet such as an acrylic synthetic resin, and the light incident from the light receiving end repeats total reflection on the inner surface of the light emitting sheet while the light exiting end is emitted. The shape is determined so as to be transmitted to the light receiving surface of the photodetector 10 through the portion. Therefore, according to the irradiation of the laser beam 2, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1
The stimulated emission light emitted from the light enters the light guide sheet 9 and is repeatedly received by the photodetector 10 through the emission end portion while repeating total reflection.

A filter is attached to the light-receiving surface of the photodetector 10 for transmitting only the light in the wavelength region of the photostimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 and cutting the light in the wavelength region of the laser light 2. The photodetector 10 is attached so as to photoelectrically detect only the stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. The photostimulable light photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 10 is converted into an electric signal, amplified by an amplifier 11 having a predetermined amplification factor into an electric signal of a predetermined level, and then the A / D converter 12 Entered in. The electric signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 12 with a scale factor suitable for the signal fluctuation width, and input to the line buffer 13. The line buffer 13 is
The image data for one scanning line is temporarily stored, and when the image data for one scanning line is stored as described above, the data is stored more than the capacity of the line buffer 13. The image data is output to the transmission buffer 14 having a large capacity, and the transmission buffer 14 is configured to output the image data to the image display device when the image data having a predetermined capacity is stored. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image display device and the image reading device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, an image display device 30 is stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet 1, and an image reading device 2 is used.
The image data of the electron beam transmission image of the sample read by 0 and converted into a digital signal is received, and the density, color tone,
The signal processing means 40 for performing signal processing and the signal processing means 40 from the image reading device 20 to the signal processing means 40 so as to reproduce a visible image having an appropriate contrast and the like and having excellent observation analysis characteristics. An image data storage means 50 for storing image data, a CRT 60 configured to display an image on a main window and a plurality of sub-windows, for reproducing image data of an electron beam transmission image of a sample as an image, and observation An input device 70 that allows a person to input desired information is provided. The image data temporarily stored in the transmission buffer 14 of the image reading device 20 is input to the reception buffer 41 of the signal processing means 40 of the image display device 30 and temporarily stored therein. When a predetermined amount of image data is stored, the stored image data is output to and stored in the image data temporary storage unit 51 of the image data storage means 50. In this way, from the transmission buffer 14 of the image reading device 20 to the reception buffer 41 of the signal processing means 40.
The image data sent to and temporarily stored in
The image data is stored in the image data temporary storage unit 51 of the image data storage unit 50 from the reception buffer 41. In this way, when the image data obtained by scanning the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 with the laser light 2 is stored in the image data temporary storage unit 51 of the image data storage unit 50, the signal processing unit 4
The control unit 42 of 0 reads the image data from the image data temporary storage unit 51, performs the necessary signal processing on the image data, and then
Only such image data is stored in the image data storage means 50.
The image data is stored in the image data storage unit 52, and then the image data stored in the image data temporary storage unit 51 is deleted.

The image data stored in the image data storage unit 52 of the image data storage unit 50 is processed by the signal processing unit 43 according to a predetermined instruction of the control unit 42 so that the observer can observe and analyze the image. After being read out and subjected to predetermined processing, it is displayed on the screen of the CRT 60. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal processing unit of an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a peripheral unit related thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal processing unit 43 performs a predetermined process on the image data read from the image storage unit 52 to generate display image data of an image to be displayed on the main window of the CRT 60. Histogram data for displaying on the screen of the CRT 60 a generation unit 80 and a histogram indicating an integrated value of the number of pixels for each pixel forming an image corresponding to the image data read by the display image generation unit 80. A histogram generator 82, a window memory 84 for expanding the display image data and histogram data generated by the display image generator 80, and a window displayed on the CRT 60 according to a predetermined instruction given by the input means 80. A target area designating unit 86 for designating a target area for specifying a part of the captured image, Performs predetermined processing on the image data corresponding to the designated target area by the target area specifying unit 86, CRT 60
Target area image generation unit 8 for generating target area display image data of an image to be displayed on the sub window
8, a slider information generation unit 90 for generating information on the position of the slider to be displayed in the histogram displayed on the screen of the CRT 60, and a density conversion table in response to a predetermined instruction given by the input device 70. And a gradation control section 92 for updating the value of the above and supplying it to the display image generation section 80 and the target area image generation section 88.

The display image generating section 80 firstly follows the image storage section 5 in accordance with an instruction input by the observer to the input device 70.
The image data stored in the predetermined area 2 is read out, this is temporarily stored, and the read out image data is thinned out to generate reduced image data. In this embodiment, the data is thinned to 1 / M in the scanning line direction of the image reading device 20 and in the direction perpendicular to the scanning line direction. That is, one selected from the image data corresponding to M ² (M × M) pixels is used as the unit reduced image data for one pixel. Reduced image data is configured from the unit reduced image data generated in this way. Next, the display image generation unit 80 outputs the unit reduced image data to the CRT 6 based on the data given from the gradation control unit 92.
0 is converted into unit display image data that can be displayed on the screen, display image data composed of the unit display image data is expanded in the window memory 84, and the image corresponding to the expanded data is displayed on the main window of the CRT 60. Is displayed in. The histogram generation unit 82 uses the display image generation unit 80.
Thus, a histogram of the values of the unit image data that constitutes the image data read from the image storage unit 52 and temporarily stored in the display image generation unit 80 is generated. This unit image data indicates the density value of one pixel to be displayed, and in this embodiment, this value corresponds to any of 0 to 4095. Therefore, the histogram generated by the histogram generation unit 82 indicates which density value and how many exist. The histogram generator 82 corresponds to this histogram and
The histogram data that can be displayed on the sub window of the screen of 0 is output to the window memory 84.

The target area designation section 86 is a CRT 60.
The position data indicating the position of the target area in the image displayed on the main window of is generated. This target area is a minute rectangular area included in the image displayed on the main window, as will be shown later. The position data is composed of the coordinate values of the target area in the image displayed on the main window. The position data generated by the target area designating unit 86 changes in response to the observer moving the target area displayed on the main window of the CRT 60 using the input device 70 such as a mouse. The position data generated by the target area designation unit 86 is given to the display image generation unit 80, and the display image generation unit 80 specifies the target area based on the position data in the image displayed in the main window of the CRT 60. Such data is formed in the reduced image data. The target area image generation unit 88, based on the position data generated by the target area designation unit 86, from the image data temporarily stored in the display image generation unit 80, a partial image that is image data corresponding to the target area. The target is formed by reading the data, converting the unit image data corresponding to one pixel in the partial image data into unit display image data based on the data given by the gradation control unit 92, and including the unit display image data. The area display image data is stored in the window memory 84.
Output to. The target area display image data expanded in the window memory 84 is output to the CRT 60 and CR
The image corresponding to this target area display image data is reproduced on the sub window of T60. The image data corresponding to the target area generated by the target area image generation unit 88 is not thinned out, unlike the display image data generated by the display image generation unit 80. Therefore, the image displayed in the sub window of the CRT 60 is more detailed and clearer than the image displayed in the main window of the CRT 60.

The slider information generation unit 92 generates slider position data indicating the position of the slider to be displayed in the histogram displayed in a predetermined subwindow, and supplies this to the window memory 84 and the gradation control unit 92.
Therefore, as the observer moves the slider using an input device such as a mouse, slider position data indicating a new position of the slider is generated. The gradation control unit 92, as shown in FIG.
And a calculation unit 96. The color conversion table 94 has 4096 addresses so as to correspond to the values of the unit image data forming the image data stored in the image storage unit 52, and the data area corresponding to each address has
Red, green, and blue 8-bit predetermined data values (hereinafter referred to as "RGB values") A (0) to A
It is configured to store (4095). In the present embodiment, the main window for displaying the image corresponding to the display image data of the CRT 60 and the sub window for displaying the image corresponding to the target area display image data are configured to be able to display the images of 256 stages. Therefore, the data values A (0) to A (4095) are 0, respectively.
It corresponds to any value from 1 to 255. Therefore, the RGB values stored in the color conversion table 92 are used to determine the color of the image corresponding to the display image data to be displayed on the screen of the CRT 60 and the image data of the target area.

In the data area of the color conversion table 92, initially, every time the address increases by 16, RG
The values are stored such that each data value forming the B value is decreased by 1. The calculation unit 96 calculates the RGB value of the color conversion table 92 based on the slider position data provided by the slider information generation unit 90, and writes the calculated value in the color conversion table 92. Arithmetic unit 96
The calculation by will be described in detail later. The operation of the image display device thus configured will be described below. When the observer gives a predetermined instruction using the input device 70,
The display image generation unit 80 of the signal processing unit 43 includes the image storage unit 5
Image data is read out from a predetermined area 2 and thinned out to generate reduced image data. Next, with reference to the color conversion table 94 of the gradation control unit 92, each value of the unit reduced image data forming the reduced image data is set as an address, and unit display image data composed of RGB values corresponding thereto is generated. Then, display image data composed of such unit display image data is generated. At this time, the target area designating unit 86 gives initial position data of the target area to the display image generating unit 80. Therefore, the display image generation unit 80 generates display image data such that the target area is formed at the position corresponding to the given initial position data.

The histogram generation unit 82 generates a histogram of the values of the unit image data corresponding to each pixel of the image data read from the image storage unit 52 by the display image generation unit 80, and the corresponding histogram data Is output to the window memory 84. The slider information generator 90 also outputs initial slider position data to the window memory 84. Target image generator 8
Reference numeral 8 refers to the color conversion table 94 of the gradation control unit 92, sets unit image data constituting partial image data corresponding to the target area designated by the target area designation unit 86 as an address, and corresponds to this. Unit display image data composed of RGB values is generated. By repeating such processing, target area display image data is generated and output to the window memory 84. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an electron beam transmission image of the metal sample displayed on the screen of the CRT 60 in this way. In FIG. 5, 10
Reference numeral 0 is a main window showing an entire image corresponding to the display image data generated by the display image generating unit 80. Reference numeral 102 denotes a target area configured so that an observer can move to an arbitrary position by using an input device such as a mouse. Reference numeral 104 denotes a sub-window for displaying the target image area, and an image corresponding to the target area image data generated by the target area image generating unit 88, that is, a portion corresponding to the target area 102 in the main window 100 should be observed. The image is displayed. Reference numeral 106 denotes a histogram display window, which is used by the display image generation unit 80 to display the image storage unit 5.
The integrated value of the number of pixels for each density of the pixels corresponding to the image signal level of the image data read from No. 2 is shown.
Further, in the histogram display window 106, the lower limit density based on the slider position data generated by the slider information generating unit 90 is set so that the observer can arbitrarily set the image density upper limit value and the image density lower limit value. Setting slider 108a and upper limit concentration setting slider 108
b is provided. This lower limit concentration setting slider 108
a and the upper limit density setting slider 108b are displayed on the histogram display window 1 by the input device 70 such as a mouse.
It can be moved in 06.

For example, as is clear from the histogram display window 106 of FIG. 5, in the electron beam transmission image of the metal sample, the proportion of the electron beam scattered by the metal sample is small, so the distribution of the concentration histogram is narrow, and The image displayed in the main window 100 or the sub window 104 may be unclear.
Therefore, in such a case, the observer moves the lower limit density setting slider 108a and / or the upper limit density setting slider 108b in the histogram display window 106 by using the input device 70 such as a mouse. When the lower limit density setting slider 108a and / or the upper limit density setting slider 108b moves, the slider information generating unit 9
0 calculates slider position data indicating the position of the lower limit density setting slider 108a and the position of the upper limit density setting slider 108b, and supplies this to the calculation unit 96 of the gradation control unit 92. FIG. 6 shows the slider position data generated by the slider information generator 90 and the calculator 9 of the gradation controller 92.
6 is a diagram for explaining a color conversion table 94 according to No.

As described above, in the color conversion table 94, the RGB value is initially increased every 16 addresses.
The values are stored so that the respective data values that make up the value decrease by one. That is, as shown by the straight line 110 in FIG. 6B, the values A (0) to A (15) for the addresses 0 to 15 are 225, and the values A (16) for the addresses 16 to 31 are respectively.
Through A (31) are 224, and the values A (4080) through A (4095) for the addresses 4080-4095 are 0, respectively. On the other hand, the lower limit density slider 10
8a and the upper limit density slider 108b are moved as shown in FIG. 6A, and when the value of the lower limit density position data that constitutes the slider position data is n and the value of the upper limit density position data is m, As shown by the straight line 112 in FIG. 6B, the value A (0) for address 0 to address n
Through A (n) is 255, address m through address 4
The values A (m) through A (4095) for 095 are zero.
Further, the values A (n + 1) to A (m-1) for the address (n + 1) to the address (m-1) are values obtained by evenly distributing 255. In other words, the calculation unit 9
6 calculates the RGB value to be written in the data area of the color conversion table 94 according to the following formula.

Y = f (X) (where Y is each RGB value, X is an address) f (X) = 255 (X <n) 0 (X ≧ m) 255-[(X-n) / (M−n + 1)] × 256 (where n is the value of the lower limit density data, m is the value of the upper limit density data, and the fractional part in [] is rounded down). Based on the given slider position data, RGB values to be written in the data areas of the color conversion table 94 are calculated, and these data are written in the color conversion table 94.
The data of the color conversion table 94 is output to the display image generation unit 80 and the target area image generation unit 88. In the display image generation unit 80, each value of the unit reduced image data forming the reduced image data is set as an address by referring to the color conversion table 94 in which the data is rewritten by the calculation unit 96, and RGB corresponding to this is set. Unit display image data composed of values is generated, and display image data composed of such unit image data is generated again. On the other hand, the target area image generation unit 88 also refers to the color conversion table 94 in which the data has been rewritten to obtain the unit image data forming the partial image data corresponding to the target area specified by the target area specification unit 86. The unit image data composed of RGB values corresponding to the address is generated, and the target area image data composed of such unit image data is generated again.

The display image data regenerated by the display image generation unit 80 and the target area image data regenerated by the target area image generation unit 88 are expanded in a predetermined area of the window memory 84, and this is C
It is displayed on the main window 100 and the sub window 104 of the RT screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an electron beam transmission image of the metal material displayed on the screen of the CRT 60 after the lower limit density setting slider 108a and the upper limit density setting slider 108b are appropriately moved in this way. The lower limit density setting slider 108a and the upper limit density setting slider 1 in the histogram display window 106
By moving 08b as shown in FIG. 7, the image displayed in the main window 100 and the image corresponding to the image included in the target area 102 in the main window 100 displayed in the sub window 104 are made clear. You can In particular, the target area 10 in the main window 100 displaying the thinned images is displayed.
In response to moving 2 using the input device 70 such as a mouse, it is possible to change the image displayed in the sub window 104 in which the unthinned image is displayed. The target area 102 is moved from the image to a desired area to be observed in more detail, and the image of this area is displayed in the sub window 1
04 can be displayed. According to the present embodiment, the slider position data of the lower limit density setting slider and / or the upper limit density setting slider is calculated by the slider information generation unit 90 in response to the operation of the input device 70, and based on this slider position data. Then, the data in the color conversion table of the gradation control unit is rewritten, and the color conversion table in which this data has been rewritten is referenced to determine the display image data to be displayed in the main window and the target area image data to be displayed in the sub window. Because it is generated
It is possible to provide an image display device capable of displaying even an image with a small density difference as an image suitable for observation.

Further, a more detailed image of the target area selected from the images displayed on the main window,
Since it can be displayed on the sub-window, the observer can determine the gradation of the image as desired. Furthermore, since the image data corresponding to the image displayed on the main window has been thinned out,
Its capacity is comparatively small, and the image displayed on the sub-window is an image of a comparatively small area, and since the capacity of the image data corresponding to this is comparatively small, the image can be displayed without increasing the processing time. It is possible to perform a process for determining the gradation of. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and those modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the value of the unit image data forming the image data stored in the image storage unit corresponds to any of 0 to 4095, and
The value of the unit image data forming the display image data that can be displayed on the screen of the CRT is configured to correspond to any of 0 to 255, but it is obvious that the value is not limited to this. is there.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display image generation unit 80 sets one selected from the image data corresponding to M ² pixels as the unit reduced image data for one pixel, The reduced image data is composed of, but is not limited to this, and at least
Reduced image data may be generated so that the amount of data is reduced. For example, unit reduction using the average value of unit image data corresponding to one pixel of image data corresponding to M ² pixels as a data value. Image data may be calculated, and reduced image data may be constructed from these unit reduced image data. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned example, for the case of displaying an electron beam transmission image of a metal sample generated using an electron microscope, the description was added, the present invention is not only an electron beam transmission image of the metal sample, In addition to displaying other electron microscope images such as electron diffraction images of metal samples, autoradiography images of genes using Southern blot hybridization method, autoradiography generated by thin layer chromatography of proteins image,
Autoradiography images for separation and identification of proteins, or evaluation of molecular weight and characteristics by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, metabolism, absorption and excretion routes and states of administered substances in experimental animals such as mice When displaying autoradiographic images, such as those used for studying, the chemiluminescent image of genes using the Southern blot hybridization method and the chemiluminescent image generated by thin-layer chromatography of proteins , Protein separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, identification, or
Widely used for displaying chemiluminescence images using chemiluminescence methods such as chemiluminescence images for evaluation of molecular weight and properties, and also for displaying radiation diffraction images of metal samples, etc. can do.

The present invention also provides an autoradiography detection method, a chemiluminescence detection method, an electron microscope detection method, and a radiation diffraction method if the observer adjusts the gradation of the displayed image. It can also be applied when displaying an image generated by a method other than the image detection method. Further, in the present specification, the term “means” does not necessarily mean physical means, but also includes cases where the functions of the respective means are realized by software. Further, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

[0031]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image display device capable of displaying an image suitable for observation even if the image has a small difference in density.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading apparatus that generates image data to be displayed by an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image display device and an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal processing unit of an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a peripheral unit related thereto.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gradation control unit.

FIG. 5 is a photograph showing a halftone image showing an example of an electron beam transmission image of a metal sample displayed on the screen of a CRT.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining slider position data and a color conversion table.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing that after the lower limit density setting slider and the upper limit density setting slider are appropriately moved, CR
It is a photograph showing a halftone image showing an example of an electron beam transmission image of a metal material displayed on the screen of T.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Storage Phosphor Sheet 2 Laser Light 3 Laser Light Source 4 Filter 5 Beam Expander 6 Optical Deflector 7 fθ Lens 8 Planar Reflector 9 Light Guide Sheet 10 Photodetector 11 Amplifier 12 A / D Converter 13 Line Buffer 20 image reading device 30 autoradiographic image forming / analyzing device 40 signal processing unit 41 line buffer 42 control unit 43 signal processing unit 50 image data storage unit 51 image data temporary storage unit 52 image data storage unit 60 CRT 70 input device 80 display Image generation unit 82 Histogram generation unit 84 Window memory 86 Target area designation unit 88 Target area image generation unit 90 Slider information generation unit 92 Gradation control unit 94 Color conversion table 96 Calculation unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A display image data in which each data has a gradation that can be reproduced as an image on a display device by performing a predetermined process on the image data indicating the gradation of the image, and the display data is displayed. An image display device configured to reproduce an image corresponding to image data on a window of the display device, wherein the image is displayed in a window of the display device based on reduced image data obtained by reducing the image data. First image generating means for generating display image data corresponding to the image to be rendered, partial area data generating means for generating partial area data indicating a predetermined partial area in the image corresponding to the image data, and the partial The partial image data corresponding to the image included in the area is generated, and the partial area display image data corresponding to the image to be displayed on the other window of the display device is generated based on the partial image data. A second image generating unit that generates the image data; and a data value setting unit that sets an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a value indicating the gradation of the image data, the upper limit value and the lower limit value set by the data value setting unit. The image display device is configured such that the values of the display image data and the partial area display image data are converted based on the above, and thereby the gradation of the image displayed in the window is changed. 2. Histogram generating means configured to generate histogram data indicating a distribution of data values of each of the image data and display a corresponding histogram in a predetermined window of the display means. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the data value setting unit generates position data corresponding to a movable slider that indicates a position in the displayed histogram. 3. A conversion table that stores data to be referred to in order to convert the image data into the display image data, and a data rewriting unit that rewrites the data in the conversion table based on the position data. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The image according to claim 3, wherein the conversion table is configured so that the value of the image data is its address and the value of the display image data is its data. Display device. 5. The second image generating means is configured to generate partial area display image data corresponding to the partial image data in a one-to-one correspondence. The image display device according to one item. 6. The apparatus further comprises partial area moving means for moving the partial area in the image, and the partial area data generating means is configured to generate partial area data in accordance with the movement of the partial area. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display device is an image display device.