JPS62151889A - Image output unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image output device for outputting and displaying a predetermined image on a display device using a computer or the like.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides an image output device including: a first memory that stores a video signal; a controller that reads at least a portion of the video signal from the first memory and draws it on a second memory;
a processor that controls the controller; a third memory that stores the video signal transferred from the second memory;
A display device is provided to display the image gap signal stored in the memory of the display device, and the drawing operation can be performed independently of the display operation on the display device, thereby making it possible to efficiently execute the drawing operation in a short time. This is what I did.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, various images have been created using computers, etc., and CR
2. Description of the Related Art Image output devices that output and display images on a display device such as T are becoming popular. In these devices, a predetermined image is drawn using a graphic display controller (GDC) or the like, and the data is stored in a memory such as a VRAM or a frame memory.

The image stored in the memory is then displayed on the display device.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in conventional devices, the image data to be displayed on the display device is directly drawn in the memory that stores it. .

The image had to be rewritten during the retrace interval of the synchronization signal, which had the disadvantage that rewriting took time. In addition, if rewriting is performed outside of this period, the image may flicker or the display screen must be erased until the drawing operation is completed, resulting in poor operability6. Means] FIG. 1 is a block diagram when the image output device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle navigation device.

In the figure, 1 is a recording medium or C as a storage medium.
The D-ROM (including its drive device) records digitized map information. CD-ROM
Data from I is interface 2, address bus 3
, a memory (RAM) 5 via a data bus 4, etc. Reference numeral 6 denotes an information processor (CPU), which performs various image data processing, as well as the keyboard 12 and its interfaces 1 and 3.
It also controls peripheral devices in response to commands input via the controller. Reference numeral 7 indicates a direction sensor that detects the direction of the vehicle from geomagnetism or the like, and reference numeral 8 indicates a speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle. 9 is GPS (Global Position
oning system) that detects the current position of the vehicle from latitude, longitude information, etc. 10 is a navigation processor (CPU), which corrects the data of the direction sensor 7, speed sensor 8, etc., calculates the amount of movement of the vehicle from these data, and when the GPS device 9 cannot detect latitude and longitude information. etc., the current position is calculated from the input data. Alternatively, the current location that has been set and input is corrected in accordance with information from the GPS device 9. The processor 1o and the processor 6 are capable of mutually transmitting and receiving data. 11 are these processors 6
．． R O stores 1o programs and other necessary information
M, 14 is a control logic that supplies necessary timing signals to each circuit 1 means, devices, etc.

15 is a graphic display controller (GDC)
), reads necessary data from the memory 5, and draws a predetermined image in the memory (VRAM) 16-17.

18 is a parallel/serial (P/S) conversion circuit that selects data from one of the memories 16 and 17 and converts it from a parallel signal to a serial signal. A color palette register 19 serves as a color conversion circuit, and converts the 3-bit color signal in the video signal supplied from the P/S conversion circuit 18 into a prespecified 5-bit color signal. The video signal into which the color signal has been converted is stored in the memory (VRAM) 20.
Furthermore, the video signal is transferred from the memory 2o to the memory (VRAM) 21, and the video signal stored in the memory 21 is red (R), green (
D/A conversion circuit 26.2 for each of the three primary colors of G) and blue (B)
7.28, the digital signal is converted into an analog signal and displayed on a display device 29 such as a CRT. Although not shown, a touch sensor made of a transparent electrode or the like is provided on the front surface of the screen of the display device 29.

24 is a synchronization signal generation circuit, which generates a mutually synchronized horizontal synchronization signal (H3YNC) and vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC).
) and dot')') (DCK) are generated and output to address counters 23, 25, etc., which set the addresses of the register 19, memory 20, 21, etc. 22 is an offset register, which sets the offset position of the portion of the image stored in the memories 16 and 17 to be transferred to the memory 2o. 30 to 37 are buffers inserted at predetermined positions, respectively.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows the structure of the keyboard 12. As shown in the figure, each operation key is arranged on the outer periphery of the display device 29. 51 is a navigation (NAVI) key operated when performing a navigation operation; 52 is a help key operated when outputting an operation explanation image to the display device 29; 53 is a guide (GUIDE) key; , is operated when displaying symbols such as parking lots, hotels, gas stations, etc. on the map. 54 is a destination (DEST) key, which is operated when setting a destination. 55 is a SET key. and display device 2
It is operated when registering the item specified by the cursor displayed at 9 or the position on the map. 56 is a cancel (CANCEL) key, and when operated on a limited predetermined screen, the screen returns to the previous screen. 57 is a reduction key, and 58 is an enlargement key, each of which is operated to reduce or enlarge the map displayed on the display device 29. 59 is a scroll key, and keys 59a to 59d are used to move the cursor up and down, left and right, respectively.
is manipulated. Reference numeral 60 denotes a text (TEXT) key, which is operated when displaying information related to the running of the vehicle. The program when each of the above keys is operated is managed by the processor 6.

On the other hand, the CD key 61 is operated when operating the compact disc player, the TV key 62 is operated when receiving television broadcasting, the AM and FM keys 63 are operated when receiving AM or FM broadcasting, and equalization of reproduced sound. Sound select (SOUND 5EL) operated when selecting characteristics from predetermined characteristics *-
64, a muting key 65 that instantly mutes the playback sound, a volume 66 that adjusts the volume of the playback sound,
An air conditioning (A/C) key 67 is provided to be operated when operating the air conditioner, and a predetermined operation is executed by a CPU (not shown).

[Effect]

The effect will now be explained. First, the basic operation when the navigation key 51 is operated will be explained. The operation in this case is managed according to the flowchart shown in the third section, for example. As a first step, it is determined whether the current location has been set. When the current location has already been set, a display routine is executed, and when it has not been set, a current location setting routine is executed. These routines will be described later.

Next, the system enters a key wait state, and if there is no key power, the display routine is further executed, and then the key enters the wait state again.

If there is a key human power, next it is determined whether there is a mode change,
When a mode change occurs, the routine shifts to that mode. Modes include navigation mode, text mode, AV mode, etc. If there is no mode change, the command is next determined and the destination is set in response to the command.

Routines such as drive guide, help, enlargement/reduction, and output of corrected 1st position are executed. Thereafter, the system returns to the state of waiting for the key force, and the display routine is executed until the key force is applied.

The routine for setting the current location is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, cancel key 56
The presence or absence of the operation is determined, and when the operation is performed, the current location is reset and a predetermined position is set as the temporary current location. Further, the scale of the map is set to a predetermined value (1/1.6 million in this case). A map centered on the predetermined location is then displayed on the display device 729.

When the cancel key 56 is not operated, it is determined whether or not the current location has been set.

If the current location has been set, a map of a preset scale (1/200,000 in this example) centered on the current location is displayed on the display device 29. If the current location has not been set, a predetermined location is set as the temporary current location, and a map of a predetermined scale (1/200,000 in this example) centered at that location is displayed.

When the map is displayed on the display device 29, the input key is then determined, and processes such as setting the scale, moving the cursor, setting, setting the place name guide, and canceling are performed in response to the input key. When the cancel key 56 is operated, the process returns to the first step. When the set key 55 is operated, it is further determined whether or not the center position is to be set. If the center position is not set, the scale specified by the cursor is set, and a scale set is executed to display a map of that scale. If it is a set of center positions,
Similar to the case where the place name and guide set key 53 is operated, a determination is then made to set the current location. If the current location is set, the current location is set; if the current location is not set, the destination is set.

The destination setting routine is performed as shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether the destination has been set, and if it has not been set, the routine for setting the current location is called.
During the routine, the destination will be entered, and if completed, a map centered on the destination will be displayed. Next, the distance from your current location to your destination is calculated and displayed. Thereafter, the operation of the cancel key 56 is determined, and when the cancel key 56 is operated, the process returns to the first step, and when the cancel key 56 is not operated, a map centered on the destination is displayed.

Eight types of map scales are available.

If the reduction key 57 is operated when setting the scale,
The image on the display device 29 is rewritten to a map with a scale one step lower, and a cursor indicating the range of the scale before rewriting is displayed (shown as a square in Fig. 23. For convenience, two cursors are shown in the figure). (However, only one cursor is actually displayed.) Further, when the reduction key 57 is operated.

Since the size of the cursor becomes equal to the size of the screen of the furniture display device 29, the cursor disappears from the screen, but when the reduction key 57 is further operated, the cursor is displayed on the screen again.

When the enlargement key 58 is operated, a cursor indicating the range of one scale higher is displayed. When the enlargement key 58 is further operated, the cursor becomes smaller one by one. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the cursor shown on the outside changes in size to the size shown on the inside, and as the cursor is further operated, it becomes even smaller.

For example, when the scroll key 59 is operated in such a state, the cursor position remains unchanged at the center of the screen, but the map moves vertically and horizontally. When the desired position is found in this way and the set key 55 is operated with the cursor displayed, the range displayed by the cursor is displayed on the screen at that scale, and at this time the cursor changes to a cross mark. (Fig. 24), further operate the scroll key 59 to move the map up, down, left and right, align the desired position with the center cursor, and operate the set key 55 to display the current location or destination. set at the point.

The above reduction key 57, enlargement key 58 and set key 55
If the changes in the screen due to each operation are displayed together, the 25th
The result will be as shown in the figure. In the figure, blocks indicated by upward arrows represent enlargement operations, blocks indicated by downward arrows represent reduction operations, and blocks indicated by the letters SET represent set operations. If the screen changes horizontally in the diagram, it means that the scale of the map does not change, with the upper row being 1/1.6 million, and the lower rows being 1/1.6 million.
/800,000, 1/400,000, 1/200,000, 1/100,000, 11
The scales are 50,000, 1/2, 50,000, 1/1, and 250,000.

It is also possible to move the cursor instead of the map when the scroll key 59 is operated. However, if this is done, for example, when moving the cursor while searching for a predetermined destination, if the destination is found to be outside the displayed map, the displayed map will be redrawn. A separate operation is required, which causes interruptions in operation and deteriorates operability. Therefore, as in the embodiment, it is preferable to fix the cursor at approximately the center of the screen and move the map so that the user can search for the destination simply by continuously operating the scroll key 59.

In this way, two types of cursors are used to perform enlargement, reduction, and scrolling, which not only makes one display easier to see, but also improves operability. Furthermore, when enlarging, after the target scale is set, the drawing operation to the memory (which takes time), which will be described later, starts when the set key 55 is operated, so that the operation can be performed smoothly.

Next, the display routine will be explained. The display routine is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this routine, first the direction sensor 7, the speed sensor 8
The current location of the vehicle is calculated by the processor 10 from such information. Alternatively, when latitude and longitude information is input from the GPS device 9, the current location can be specified from this information. Calculation of the current location is performed at regular intervals, and the data is constantly updated. Next, it is determined whether or not there is a map centered on the current location in the storage memory 5, and if not, the data is loaded onto the memory 5 from the CD-ROM 1.

1 when a map centered on the current location is stored in memory 5
Next, it is determined whether the map centered on the current location is within the range of the map drawn in memory 16 or 17, and if it is not within the range, the back side of memory 16 or 17 (memory 20
Drawing (rewriting) is performed by the controller 15 in the memory of the memory (to which data is not supplied).

If a map centered on the current location is written in the memory 16 or 17, it is first determined whether a map of another scale is loaded in the memory 5, and if it is not loaded, the map is written from the CD ROMI onto the memory 5. loaded into.

When a map of another scale is written on the memory 5, it is first superimposed on the map on the front side of the memory 16 or 17 (whichever data is transferred to the memo IJ 20), and the processor 10 calculates it. A military mark is written by the processor 6 in accordance with the current location, and the second data is further transferred from the front side memory to the memory 20. This vehicle mark is a mark that allows the direction of travel to be recognized, as shown in the center of FIG. 21, for example (the figure shows the vehicle traveling northward (upward)). The map and military marks written in the memory 20 in this manner are further transferred to the memory 21, and the images stored in the memory 21 are displayed on the display device 29. After further processing of routines such as enlargement and reduction, the process moves to the next step.

By a similar operation, the direction from the current location to the apparent location is displayed as shown by the arrow in the upper right corner of FIG.

The step (indicated by A in the figure) of loading map data from CD-RO to 11 in the above display routine is shown in more detail in FIG. 7. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, first, a predetermined area (indicated by a broken line in the figure) around the current location P is set, and the file number of the map within that area is set.

As shown in FIG. 16, a predetermined range (a　o　o　).

The map data of HX8000H (H is a hexadecimal unit) is divided into four equal parts by two straight lines, a horizontal line and a line perpendicular to it, and the lower left area is 0, the lower right area is 1, and the upper left area is 2. , the upper right area corresponds to number 3, respectively. Each of the four areas is then further divided into four smaller areas and numbered in the same way, with the first number being represented by the first digit, the next number being represented by the second digit, and so on. are divided and numbered (file numbers). Therefore, the data of the area centered on point P in Fig. 16 is O (1/1.6 million scale map).

03 (1/800,000 scale map), 030,031.
It exists in maps represented by file numbers such as 032, 033 (1/400,000 scale map). However, CD-ROM 1 only contains maps of 1/800,000, 1/200,000, 1,150,000, 1/1.2, and 50,000 scales.
/1.6 million, 1/4ρ million, 1/100,000, and 1/25,000 scale maps.

It is expressed by thinning out and drawing the data of the map at the above-mentioned scale. The distance between two points on this map is calculated as a rectangular coordinate system using predetermined units of latitude and longitude near the center (4000H, 4000H) as a reference.

In this way, map data including the current location of each scale (four scales) to which the file numbers as described above are assigned is read from the CD-ROM 1 and written into the memory S. Further, as shown in FIG. 18, a predetermined range on the memory 5 centered on the current location (range indicated by diagonal lines in the figure)
is clipped, and this clipped range is written to the back side of the memory 16 or 17.

Since the current location moves as the vehicle travels, the steps of calculating the current location and displaying the own army mark are interrupted at predetermined intervals in these flows.

The details of the step of rewriting data in the memories 16 and 17 (indicated by reference numeral B in the figure) shown in FIG. 6 are as shown in FIG. 8, for example. In other words, the memory 16°l7 is the back side when drawing is done by the controller 15, and the memory 2
The side that is transferring data to 0 is considered to be the front side, and the controller 15 always draws in the memory on the back side, and when the drawing is completed, the front side and the back side are reversed. For example, the 18th
As shown in the figure, only a part of the image drawn on the front side of the memory 16 and 17 within a predetermined range is transferred to the memory 20 and further to the memory 21 and displayed on the first display device 29.

Therefore, in this flow as well, as the vehicle travels, the steps of calculating the current location and displaying the own vehicle mark are interrupted at predetermined time intervals, but once drawn in the memory 1 and 17, There is no need to rewrite the data too frequently. As the vehicle travels, when the range displayed on the display device 29 exceeds the range written in the front memory, it becomes necessary to rewrite the data. However, rewriting the data requires some time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, a predetermined distance D (on the memory distance) by the outer range (
(indicated by a broken line in the figure), and when this outer range exceeds the range of the map drawn in the front side memory, a map centered on the current location at that time is read from the memory 5 and drawn in the back side memory. do. Further, this distance is changed depending on the scale of the map. Therefore, the smaller the scale (the more the map is enlarged), the faster the display position of your vehicle's mark on the map will move, but the writing to the memory on the back will be done faster, so the map will not be displayed on the screen. This prevents parts from being displayed with missing parts.

Furthermore, the step of transferring the map drawn in the memories 16 and 17 to the memory 20 in FIG. 6 (indicated by C in the figure) is shown in more detail in FIG. 9. That is, first, in the front side memory of the memories 16 and 17, the data of the range (16×16 dots) in which the own army mark at the center of the range to be transferred to the memory 20 (FIG. 18) is displayed is temporarily saved to the memory 5. Then, the controller 15 draws the vehicle mark thereon according to a command from the processor 6. At this time, the own army mark is displayed in a direction corresponding to the traveling direction of the vehicle detected by the calculation of the processor 10. The map centered on the own army mark drawn in the memory on the front side in this manner is transferred to the memory 20. The range to be transferred is specified by the offset register 22 (and therefore the address counter 23). That is, under the control of the processor 6, the offset register 22 stores predetermined coordinate values that change in accordance with the current location. This value is the first
As shown in Figure 8, the position (X) of the dot where the controller 15 starts transfer on one horizontal scanning line,
The position of the horizontal scan line in the field where the transfer starts @(
Y). Therefore, for example, focusing on one horizontal scanning line, as shown in FIG. 19, dot counting is started at the timing of the horizontal synchronizing signal, and when a predetermined offset value X is counted, a predetermined number of dots are counted from the next dot. The video signal in the represented range is transferred to the memory 20. Also, focusing on the fields, when a transfer command is output from the processor 6 to the controller 15, as shown in FIG. After counting the offset value Y, data in a range of a predetermined number of scanning lines from the primary scanning line is transferred to the memory 20. When the data is transferred to the memory 20, the data is further transferred to the memory 21 at the timing of the vertical synchronization signal of the display device 29 that arrives after that, taking the time of one field of the display device 29.

The data written in the memory 21 is read out and displayed on the display device 29.
It is designed to be driven by a synchronizing signal such as a system. Therefore, the memory 21 that outputs data to the display device 29 is also N T
It is driven by a clock with the same frequency as the synchronization signal of the SC system. On the other hand, the synchronization signal of the controller 15 controlled by the processor 6 as a computer (for example, the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal is 24.83kl(z)) is generally the same as the synchronization signal of the NTSC system (for example, the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal of the NTSC system is 15.75kHz), the display device 29 (memory 21
) cannot be driven. Therefore, memory 2o is placed as a buffer between memory 21 and memory 16.17, and the writing clock is the same as that of memory 16.17.
The same clock as that of the memory 21 is used for reading.

Further, when data is transferred to the memory 20, the color signals of the three primary colors, each represented by a 3-bit signal, are converted into a 15-bit color signal by the color palette register 19. This 15-bit color signal is specified by the processor 6. Therefore, the 8 types of low gradation colors represented by 3 bits are converted to any of the 32 types of high gradation colors represented by 5 bits each of R2O and B, and by appropriately mixing the 3 primary colors, 32768 colors are converted. The address counter 25 sends a predetermined address signal to the color palette register 19 and memory 20.21 in order to specify the position of each dot for which color conversion is performed. is outputting. The digital data of the map and military marks written in the memory 21 are converted into analog signals by the D/A conversion circuit 26, 27, and 28, and displayed on the display section [29]. As described above, since the maps do not overlap in this own-army mark display area, it is possible to prevent the own-vehicle mark from becoming difficult to see on the screen (FIG. 21).

When the transfer from the front side memory to memory 2o is completed,
The map data saved in the memory 5 is returned to the front side memory again. In this way, the operation of saving and returning the map data in the range in which the own army mark is displayed is repeatedly performed as the vehicle moves, so that the amount of calculations and the capacity of the memory used can be reduced. Also CD-RO
The number of accesses to M1 is reduced, allowing smooth display.

The map data written to the memory 5 has a scale of 1/80.
1/200,000, 1/200,000 and 1,150,000 dots are 8o0x800 dots, and these are 1/1,600,000 and 1/4, respectively.
When drawn in the memory 16.17 at a scale of 00,000 and 1/100,000, it is 400×400 dots. Also, map data with a scale of 1/1° 250,000 is 1600X160
0 dot, and when this is scaled to 1/25,000 and drawn in memory 16.17, it is 800 x 80.
It is considered as 0 dot. Smallest scale (enlarged) 1/1
．． This increases the number of dots on the 250,000 map compared to other large scale (reduced) maps.

Of course, the number of dots can be the same, but the current location will move faster on a smaller scale map. Therefore, as in the example, if the number of dots is increased in the case of a small scale than in the case of a large scale, the C.
The frequency of access to D-ROM 1 can be reduced accordingly.

On the other hand, the memory for drawing 16.17 is 640 x 400 dots (high resolution or large capacity), and the memory for display 20.21 is 256 x 256 dots (low resolution or small-1) for 1 display device rR, and the screen of 29 is, for example, 256 x It is said to be 216 dots.

The processor 6 can directly write, for example, a photographic image of an intersection, etc. recorded on the CD-ROMI into the memory 20. Also in this case, since the image data being displayed on the display device 29 is output from the memory 21, one displayed image is not affected by the writing operation. In this way, the display device 29 can alternatively display either an image drawn in the memory 16, 17 by the controller 15 under the control of the processor 6, or an image drawn directly in the memory 20 by the processor 6. It has become.

Next, an example of recording map data will be described. As is well known, a map is a flat representation of the state of the earth on a spherical surface. There are various ways to express it, but the maps published by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan use the Transverse Mercator projection for relatively small scale maps (relatively enlarged maps) of 1/200,000 or less. Also, relatively large scale maps exceeding 1:200,000 (relatively reduced maps) are based on the conic projection. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG.

If multiple maps of a given range are arranged on a plane so that the left and right boundaries do not separate, the distance between two points can be accurately expressed, but the north-south direction and east-west direction are mutually exclusive. If each map is digitized as it is, it will be necessary to display the north-south direction and east-west direction on the screen of one display device 29 at an angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal direction, which will create a big difference from the user's perception. occurs, and operability deteriorates. Moreover, if this is done, the calculations for specifying the current location on the map become complicated, increasing the burden on the processor 10. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of maps drawn for each predetermined area using a projection method such as the Transverse Mercator projection or a conic map are placed in a predetermined planar circle and The reference latitude lines are located on the same horizontal line so that they are adjacent to each other in the east-west direction, and the reference meridian lines on the reference latitude lines are located on the same straight line perpendicular to the horizontal line so that they are adjacent to each other in the north-south direction, The location on the map is specified using rectangular coordinates on the plane. Figure 11 (a) is an example where the lower left point of each map in a predetermined range is set as the reference point B of the latitude and longitude lines, and Figure 11 (b) is an example where the reference point B is the reference point 0 of the middle line. This is an example of B. However, in any case, when calculating the distance between two points on the map, use the unit approximately at point 0 (for example, 10 km).
) Based on the length per latitude (longitude).

Then, as shown in FIG. 12(b), discontinuous portions that occur in left and right adjacent maps are corrected so that the portions are located on a vertical straight line. As a result, for example, the upper right (northeast) point Ai on the 1/200,000 scale map and the (same) upper left (northwest) point A2 that corresponds to point ○ on the map of the area east of it.
is replaced by 1 point A. When earth coordinates are converted into rectangular coordinates (x+y) in this way, the error that occurs on a 1/200,000 scale map, for example, is ±70 m at most.

As shown in FIG. 12(a), the error is locally concentrated in a predetermined range in the north-south direction (the shaded area in the figure).

As a result, the distance error in this area increases, but
The overall east-west direction is horizontal.

The north and south directions can be displayed vertically, which matches the user's senses and improves operability.

Calculation of current location becomes easy.

Data expressed on a map includes line segments,
Symbols and place names are provided. The line data is the first
It is configured as shown in Figure 3.

In other words, line segment data includes major national roads, local roads, other roads,
Classified into eight types of lines (represented by 8-bit data), such as coastlines and railways, and attributes (represented by 7-bits), such as tunnels and streetcars, and compiled into packages. Packages are prepared for each type of line to be displayed, such as a red line, for example, a predetermined number of packages form one set, and end data (d d d d h) is arranged at the end of each set.

Further, in each package, attribute and line type data are arranged as a header at the beginning, followed by the total number of strokes in the package, and then each stroke data.

One stroke represents one continuous line segment. Each stroke data is expressed by the number of cylinders of a line segment serving as a unit, and the coordinates of the starting point and end point in units of 10 m (the same applies hereinafter). The end point of a line segment that is one unit that makes up one stroke is the start point of the next line segment that will be the jet level, so the coordinates of the start point of each unit line segment and the end point of the last unit line segment are The data constitutes one stroke data.

Two types of line types are available for river or coastline data. In other words, as shown in Fig. 22, rivers and coastlines themselves are represented by solid lines, and by placing a broken line at a predetermined distance away from the solid line toward the river or sea, it can be shown that the side of the broken line is the river or sea side. is expressed. Since such display does not take much time, it is performed when it is necessary to increase the drawing speed (for example, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is fast compared to the scale of the map). On the other hand, if there is no need to significantly increase the drawing speed, the dots are sequentially operated horizontally starting from point Z using a predetermined point 2 on the dashed line as a reference, and each dot is colored until the scanning line intersects with the solid line representing the coastline. . Although it takes some time to color rivers, oceans, etc. in this way, it takes less time than the conventional method of directionalizing solid lines representing rivers and coastlines and coloring one side of them. Can be colored. Also, the calculations for this purpose become easier.

Even the same road is expressed in a different color depending on the scale, and only predetermined roads (roads contained in a predetermined package) are displayed at a predetermined scale.

Symbols representing ski resorts, hotels, mountains, gas stations, parking lots, etc. are available. The symbol data is structured as shown in FIG. That is, symbols are also packaged into predetermined symbols, and an end mark (eeee) is placed at the end of a predetermined number of packages.
h) is placed. Number of symbol packages is 2
It is said to be within 56 pieces. In each package, 7
The serial number of the symbol consisting of bits (for example, the serial number among the symbols representing mountains) and the symbol pattern consisting of 8 bits corresponding to each symbol (for example, what number is the mountain symbol, what is the number of the hotel symbol? etc., 1
(one number corresponds to one symbol) is used as a header, followed by the number of symbols (always 1 in this example) and the coordinates at which the symbol is displayed.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show examples in which a mountain symbol is displayed. Mountains are generally displayed as iso-shoulder lines on maps. However, if it is expressed as isoshoulder lines, not only does the amount of map data increase, but also the display 29 used as a vehicle navigation device cannot be made very large, making it difficult to see. Therefore, it is preferable to display the mountain as a relatively small symbol as in the embodiment.

The place name data is structured as shown in FIG. In other words, as in the case described above, an end mark (f f f
f h) are arranged. A place name level consisting of 8 bits is arranged as a header of each place name package. Eight types of place name levels are prepared, and only place names of a predetermined place name level are displayed on the display device 29 at a predetermined scale. Next to the place name level, the number of place name cylinders contained in the package and each place name data are arranged. The name data of each place is
The coordinates where the place name should be displayed, the number of characters (up to 6), and the kanji code are arranged.

Although the present invention has been described above by way of example in which it is applied to a vehicle navigation device, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited thereto.

〔effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides an image output device including a first memory that stores a video signal, a controller that reads at least a portion of the video signal from the first memory and draws it on a second memory, and a processor that controls the controller. and the second
A third memory that stores the video signal transferred from the second memory and a display device that displays the video signal stored in the third memory are provided, so that the drawing operation can be performed independently of the display operation on the first display device. It is possible to perform drawing operations efficiently and efficiently in a short period of time. Therefore, the user does not notice the drawing operation, improving operability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram when the image output device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle navigation device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the display device and keyboard, FIGS. 3 to 9 are flowcharts, and FIGS. Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram explaining the conversion of the earth coordinates to Cartesian coordinates, Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram of the line segment data, Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram of the symbol data, and Figure 15 is the place name data. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the map is divided, FIG. 17 is a schematic illustrative diagram of the memory, and FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating data reading and writing. FIG. 19 is a waveform diagram thereof, FIG. 20 is a timing chart thereof, FIGS. 21 to 24 are plan views of the display screen, and FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of enlarged and reduced screens. 1...CD-ROM 2.13...Interface 5.16.17.20.21...Memory 6...Information processor 7...Direction sensor 8.
...Speed sensor 9...GPS device 10...Navigation processor 11...ROM 12...Keyboard 15...
・Graphic display controller 18...Parallel/serial conversion circuit 19...Color palette register 22...Offset register 23.25...Address counter 24...Synchronization signal generation circuit 26.27.28...D /A conversion circuit 29...Display device or higher

Claims (1)

[Claims] a first memory that stores a video signal; a controller that reads at least a portion of the video signal from the first memory and draws it on a second memory; a processor that controls the controller; An image output device comprising: a third memory that stores the transferred video signal; and a display device that displays the video signal stored in the third memory.