Graphic image processing apparatus

• US 5,796,388 A
• Filed: 03/11/1993
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kusano, Hiroko, Yasuhara, Hiroshi, Yasuhara, Nae, Marusawa, Miyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US08/031,036
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/712, 178/18-19, 434/84-85, 434/169, 434/170, 434/258, 434/339, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/168, 345/169, 345/172, 345/173, 345/473
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 11/10 Teaching painting

Abstract

A graphic image processing apparatus comprises a character pattern selecting device for selecting a predetermined character pattern, a color selecting device for selecting predetermined color data corresponding to the character pattern, a display device for displaying the character pattern, an operating device for moving a cursor on the display device, a first memory for storing data corresponding to the character pattern and color information and reading it out, a second memory for storing display data which are displayed on the display device, a control device for changing the cursor to the character pattern by operating the character pattern selecting device, and an executing device for fixing the character pattern in the second memory so as to display a desired position which is decided by the user by operating the operating device.

Claims

1. A graphic image processing apparatus comprising:

a switch pad;

character pattern selecting means for selecting a predetermined character pattern, wherein the character pattern selecting means comprises a plurality of selecting keys mounted to a top surface of the switch pad, where each of the selecting keys of the character pattern selecting means has a mark thereon indicative of a different one of a set of character patterns;

color selecting means for selecting predetermined color data corresponding to said character pattern, wherein said color selecting means comprises a plurality of selecting keys mounted to the top surface of the switch pad, where each of the selecting keys of the color selecting means has a color thereon indicative of a different one of a set of colors;

display means for displaying said character pattern;

operating means for moving a cursor displayed on said display means;

first memory means for storing data corresponding to said character pattern and color data and reading out said data corresponding to said character pattern and color data in response to actuation of the selecting keys;

second memory means for storing display data indicative of data displayed on said display means;

control means for changing said cursor to said character pattern in response to actuation of at least one of the selecting keys of said character pattern selecting means; and

executing means for storing said character pattern in said second memory means, wherein the executing means includes an executing key mounted to the top surface of the switch pad, and wherein in response to actuation of the executing key, the executing means stores said character pattern in said second memory means so as to display said character pattern in a desired position on the display means, wherein the desired position is determined by operation of said operating means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operating means is a joystick for moving said cursor in a desired direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display means is a television monitor which is connected for displaying said character pattern.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising converting means for converting digital data of said character pattern to a video signal which is transmitted to said display means.

5. A graphic image processing apparatus comprising:

a casing;

character pattern selecting keys mounted to a top surface of the casing, for selecting predetermined character patterns, where each of the character pattern selecting keys has a mark thereon indicative of a different one of the character patterns;

color selecting keys mounted to the top surface of the casing, for selecting predetermined color data corresponding to said character patterns, wherein each of the color selecting keys has a different color indicative of a selected value of the color data, and wherein actuation of any of said character pattern selecting keys generates analog data corresponding to a selected one of said character patterns and actuation of any of said color selecting keys generates analog data corresponding to a selected color;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting said analog data to digital signals;

a displaying apparatus;

operating means for moving a cursor displayed on the displaying apparatus, wherein the displaying apparatus is electrically connected to the operating means but physically separated from said operating means, and wherein the operating means is mounted to the top surface of the casing;

a read only memory for storing digital data corresponding to said predetermined character patterns and said predetermined color data and reading out said digital data in response to said digital signals;

a video processor for converting digital data read out from the read only memory to video data, and supplying the video data to the displaying apparatus for display on said displaying apparatus;

a random access memory for storing said video data;

control means for replacing said cursor with digital data corresponding to said selected one of the character patterns, after said digital data are read out from said read only memory;

a second random access memory; and

executing means for storing video data corresponding to said selected one of the character patterns in said second random access memory, wherein the executing means includes an executing key mounted to the top surface of the casing, and wherein in response to actuation of the executing key, the executing means stores said video data in said second random access memory to enable display of the selected one of the character patterns in a desired position on the displaying means, wherein the desired position is determined by operation of said operating means.

6. A graphic image processing apparatus comprising:

a switch pad;

character pattern selecting means for selecting a predetermined basic character pattern, wherein the character pattern selecting means includes a plurality of pattern selecting keys mounted to a top surface of the switch pad, each of the pattern selecting keys having a mark thereon indicative of a different one of a set of character patterns, and means for generating a basic pattern selection signal in response to actuation one of the pattern selecting keys;

display means for displaying said basic character pattern;

operating means for moving a cursor on said display means;

first memory means for storing data corresponding to a basic character and data corresponding to various characters corresponding to said basic character;

second memory means for storing display data which are displayed on said display means;

control means for changing said cursor to said basic character pattern in response to generation of the basic pattern selection signal;

executing means for fixing said basic character pattern in said second memory means, wherein the executing means includes an executing key mounted to the top surface of the switch pad, and wherein in response to actuation of the executing key, the executing means stores said basic character pattern in said second memory means to enable display of the basic character pattern in a desired position on the display means, wherein the desired position is determined by operation of said operating means;

a starting key mounted to the top surface of the switch pad, and means for generating a start signal in response to actuation of the starting key; and

memory control means for sequentially reading out data corresponding to said basic character and said various characters from said first memory means in response to generation of the start signal, to cause animated sequential display of the basic character and the various characters on the display means.