System for the display of color images on matrix display panels

• US 5,150,105 A
• Filed: 04/04/1991
• Issued: 09/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Geneste, Philippe, Bossoutrot, Pierre, Perbet, Jean-Noel
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/681,451
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 340/701, 340/702, 340/703, 340/767, 340/793, 358/429, 358/21 R, 358/81
• US Class Current: 345/694
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2051 with use of a spatial dither pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/12 by switched stationary formation of lamps, photocells or light relays

Abstract

The system provides for a function of smoothing, and therefore, softening the contours without any loss in addressability, as well as for the homogenization of the spatial distribution in the screen. It has a microprocessor based management and control circuit, an image generator, an image memory, a scanning circuit in X and Y directions and a video processing set placed between the memory and the matrix screen display device. The management and processing circuits are determined so that the matric scan is done by taking into account, for each image point to be displayed, data stored in a zone of the image called a micro-region, formed by at least three pixels in X and at least three pixels in Y, the micro-region being centered on the coordinates of the image point to be displayed.

Claims

1. A system for displaying color images on a matrix display panel, comprising:

a generator for generating an image to be displayed,

an image memory, coupled to the generator to receive the image to be displayed, for storing the image,

scanning means for reading the image from the image memory according to a matrix scan defined in X and Y coordinates,

means for processing, in accordance with characteristics of a plurality of micro-regions of the matrix display panel, the image read from the image memory to produce a processed image, the processed image being defined by a plurality of image points to be displayed on the matrix display panel,

means for displaying the processed image on the matrix display panel, and

management and control means for determining dimensions of each of the micro-regions, each of the micro-regions comprising a first number n of pixels in the X direction and a second number m of pixels in the Y direction, n and m each being at least equal to three, and for controlling the display means to display each of the image points in a respective one of the micro-regions, the center of said each micro-region being substantially located at the center of the respective one of the image points, the image points being displayed such that a first one of the micro-regions and at least a second one of the micro-regions partially overlap.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the management and control means determine the dimensions of the micro-regions as a function of parameters relating to characteristics of the image including information relating to type of the image and origin of the image, characteristics of the matrix display panel including information relating to distribution of color pixels and directivity of transmission, a condition of the matrix display panel including faults displayed, a number of points of the image and plotting information including information relating to X and Y coordinates, color, luminosity, line and area.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means includes addressing means which, by restricted addressing of a number of pixels among the m.n pixels of the micro-region, produces one of half tones and grey tones in a desired color.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprises a monitoring register for receiving information pertaining to characteristics of the image and the display matrix panel and producing a signal pertaining to a type of the micro-regions, a combinational logic circuit for computing a shape of the micro-region in accordance with the signal and information relating to characteristics of the matrix display panel, and a circuit for providing addressing data relating to the micro-regions to the matrix display panel.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the micro-regions have a predetermined shape, the parameters n and m which define the shape of the micro-region being one of fixed and variable.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the management and control means determine the dimensions of the micro-regions as a function of several parameters relating to characteristics of the image including information relating to type of the image and origin of the image, characteristics of the matrix display panel including information relating to distribution of color pixels and directivity of transmission, a condition of the matrix display panel including faults displayed, a number of points of the image and plotting information including information relating to X and Y coordinates, color, luminosity, line and area.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said scanning means includes addressing means which restrict addressing of a number of pixels among the m.n pixels of each of the micro-regions to produce one of half tones and grey tones in a desired color.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein the processing means comprises a monitoring register for receiving information pertaining to characteristics of the image and the display matrix panel and producing a signal pertaining to a type of the micro-regions, a combinational logic circuit for computing a shape of the micro-region in accordance with the signal and information relating to characteristics of the matrix display panel, and a circuit for providing addressing data relating to the micro-regions to the matrix display panel.