IMAGE PROCESSOR

Abstract: A CRT controller (6) having a function to read out a predetermined image from a frame memory (2) that stores images to be processed, causes a window memory (5) to generate bit patterns, the window memory (5) having a size that corresponds to said frame memory (2) and storing bit patterns that designate the validity or invalidity of image operations. Bit patterns are formed in response to the object that is to be processed by the frame memory (2), and the image processing is conducted only on the image data in the region of frame memory (2) specified by the bit patterns.

Description: This invention relates to a picture processing apparatus for processing picture data received from a sensor such as a video camera and displaying the processed data on a display unit. More particularly, the invention relates to a picture processing apparatus so adapted that picture processing can be limited by a window pattern generated by a graphic display processing controller. In a conventional picture processing apparatus, picture data from the sensor of e.g. an industrial robot are stored in a buffer memory such as a frame memory having a storage area corresponding to the display frame of the display unit, and discrimination of the position of an object contained in the picture data and recognition of the shape of the object are realized by executing predetermined picture processing with regard to all information in the frame memory. With the conventional picture processing apparatus of this type, there are cases where the desired results can be obtained without performing processing with regard to all picture data in the frame memory. However, even if processing is executed by a dedicated picture processor for picture data stored in a frame memory, picture processing based on all information in the designated frame memory is unavoidable, thereby prolonging processing time. In the prior art there are picture processing systems employing windows to mask unwanted areas of the frame memory which need not be processed. One such system is disclosed in US-A-4400728, in accordance with the precharacterising part of the attached claim 1. Another system has been conceived in which window pattern information is outputted at the same time that the frame memory is designated by a main processor, a bit pattern designating an area for feature recognition of a picture stored in the frame memory is formed in another frame memory in advance, and the area of picture processing is limited by the bit pattern. Such a system is disclosed in EP-A-137481 With this method, however, window data are generated and stored by the main processor, which therefore must be given a large memory capacity. In addition, processing time is prolonged, making it impossible to perform picture processing efficiently. An object of the present invention is to provide a picture processing apparatus in which the memory capacity of the main processor can be reduced and picture processing time shortened so that highly efficient picture processing can be realized. According to the present invention there is provided a picture processing apparatus for processing picture data from a sensor and for displaying the processed data on a display unit, comprising: a picture processor for performing picture processing; a frame memory for storing a picture to be processed by the picture processor; a window memory having a size corresponding to that of the frame memory so as to store a bit pattern for designating validity or invalidity of picture area processing performed by said picture processor, the processing being called valid if it is performed within a given area; a graphic display processing controller for generating contents of the window memory; and a main processor for providing the graphic processing controller with predetermined command data; characterised in that: the graphic display processing controller is adapted to generate such bit pattern for the window memory in response to said predetermined command data from the main processor; and said graphic display processing controller is a CRT controller having a CRT display function and comprises a graphic display algorithm controller which analyzes said predetermined command data from said main processor and calculates, in pixel units, an amount of change in the position of a graphic display point in accordance with an algorithm with respect to said predetermined command data, a graphic display point address generator for computing a window memory address, which corresponds to a pixel position to be graphically displayed, on the basis of the amount of change in the position of a graphic display point calculated by the graphic display algorithm controller, and a logical operation unit which performs a logical operation between data read from the window memory and said graphic display point data with respect to said graphic display point computed by the graphic display algorithm controller and the graphic display point address generator, thereby to rewrite the data in the window memory in dependence upon said predetermined command data from the main processor. In the picture processing apparatus of the invention constructed as set forth above, the graphic processing controller generates a bit pattern with respect to the window memory, forms a bit pattern in accordance with what in the frame memory is to be processed, and performs picture processing solely with regard to picture data in the area of the frame memory specified by the bit pattern. As a result, the memory capacity of the main processor can be reduced and highly efficient picture processing can be carried out. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a picture processing apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view for describing the construction of one example of a CRT controller used in the apparatus of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a graphic processor. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a picture processing apparatus according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic view for describing an example of the internal construction of a CRT controller. In Fig. 1, numeral 1 denotes a processor for performing picture processing. The processor is connected to a frame memory 2, a plurality of which are provided each for storing one frame of picture data two-dimensionally as plural horizontal and vertical pixel data. Numeral 3 denotes an AD converter for converting analog picture data from a video camera, which serves as a sensor, into a digital signal, and for writing the digital signal into the frame memory 2 via a bus transmitter/receiver 4. Numeral 5 denotes a window memory, the size of which corresponds to the frame memory 2, storing a bit pattern for specifying the validity or invalidity of picture processing executed by the processor 1. The window memory 5 is connected to a CRT controller 6 having a graphic display processing control function, and to the processor 1. The CRT controller 6 is a control circuit which functions to generate a synchronizing signal in order that picture data will be accepted from the video camera, store pictures in the frame memory 2 one frame at a time, and read a predetermined picture from the frame memory 2 to a display unit such as a CRT display, not shown. The CRT controller 6 is connected to a main bus 8 of a host CPU 7 and, upon receiving command data for bit pattern generation designated by the host CPU 7, functions to generate a bit pattern, which is then stored in the window memory 5, or to rewrite the bit pattern stored in the window memory 5. Further, numeral 9 denotes a bus transmitter/receiver similar to the bus transmitter/receiver 4 and connected to a DMA bus 10, which is capable of performing a high-speed transfer of pixel data with the frame memory 2, and to the data bus 8. As shown in Fig. 2, the CRT controller 6 comprises three processors controlled independently by a microprogram, namely a graphic processor 11, a display processor 12 and a timing processor 13, as well as an interface 14 on the side of the host CPU 7, and an interface 15 on the side of the CRT. Fig. 3 illustrates the construction of the graphic processor 11 having the graphic procesing control function in the CRT controller 6. The CRT controller 6 generally controls an exchange of data with the window memory 5 on the basis of a command/parameter received from the host CPU 7. This graphic processing operation is executed efficiently and at high speed by the following three processing controllers: a graphic algorithm controller 111 which analyzes command data from the host CPU 7 and calculates, in pixel units, an amount of change in the position of a graphic display point in accordance with an algorithm microprogrammed with respect to the command data, a graphic display point address generator 112 for computing a window memory address, which corresponds to a pixel position to be graphically displayed, on the basis of the calculated amount of change of the pixel, and a logical operation unit 113 which performs an operation between window memory data and graphic display data with respect to the graphic display point calculated by the graphic display point address generator, thereby rewriting the data in the window memory 5. Accordingly, if the CRT controller 6 having this graphic display processor 11 is used, the command data for bit pattern generation transferred from the host CPU 7 is interpreted and graphic display processing is performed at high speed with respect to the window memory 5. More specifically, graphic display point addresses are generated successively based on a graphic generating algorithm and a predetermined logical operation is performed on pixels designated by the picture data. The display processor 12 controls the display address of the frame memory 2 in dependence upon the frame format displayed on the CRT. The timing processor 13 generates a CRT synchronizing signal as well as various timing signals required within the controller 6. The interface 14 on the side of the host CPU 7 has an asynchronous bus interface control function which renders the interface connectable to a general-purpose microprocessor, a control function for a DMA controller, and an interrupt control function. The interface 14 is capable of writing a bit pattern from the host CPU 7 into the window memory 5, and of reading out the bit pattern for the purpose of rewriting the same. The interface 15 on the CRT side is for inputting and outputting a synchronizing control signal and picture data signal with respect to the video camera and CRT display, and is capable of switching between a write address and a display address in dependence upon various operating modes. When predetermined picture data in the frame memory 2 is accessed and picture processing for feature recognition of an object in a picture is carried out in the picture processing apparatus constructed as set forth above, a bit pattern specifying the validity or invalidity of processing performed by the picture processor 1 is formed in the window memory 5 in a size corresponding to the specified frame memory 2, so that the picture processing can be executed by the processor while it refers to the valid bits. In addition, a plurality of the window memories 5 can be provided and the window information limited by the bit pattern formed in the memories can be designated by the command data from the host CPU 7 in dependence upon the picture to be processed. Further, it is possible to modify or set a pattern with ease from the CRT controller whenever necessary while it is displayed on the display device. Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the CRT controller 6 for writing data into the frame memory 2 is used in synchronization with the video camera to execute graphic display processing with regard to the window memory 5. Accordingly, it is possible to subject picture data from the video camera to high-speed picture processing without providing a special graphic display processing control apparatus and without using the processing function of the CPU 7. At such time the CPU 7 need only output command data conforming to e.g. the shape, size, area, apices and lengths of sides of the object to be processed by the robot. Though the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment, the invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the CRT controller can be constructed in a variety of ways. Further, the setting of a window pattern may be predetermined in accordance with the features of the object to be processed in a picture. Thus, as set forth above, the picture processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processor for performing picture processing, a frame memory for storing a picture to be processed by the processor, a window memory having a size corresponding to the frame memory for storing a bit pattern for designating the validity or invalidity of processing performed by the processor, a graphic display processing controller for generating a bit pattern with respect to the window memory, and a main processor for providing the graphic display processing controller with command data for predetermined bit pattern generation. Accordingly, a window pattern, which was set in the frame memory in the prior art, can be generated in the window memory from the graphic display processing controller. As a result, the memory capacity of the main CPU can be reduced, and the validity or invalidity of processing is specified for every pixel of the frame memory. The end result is that highly efficient picture processing can be realized. Thus, as set forth above, the picture processing apparatus according to the present invention forms a bit pattern in dependence upon the object of processing in the frame memory, and picture processing is performed only with regard to picture data in the specified frame memory area. This enables highly efficient picture processing to be realized. Accordingly, the invention is well suited for application to a picture processing apparatus for processing, and for displaying on a display unit, a picture imaged by a video camera indicative of the state of an operation performed by an industrial robot or the like.

Claims: A picture processing apparatus for processing picture data from a sensor and for displaying the processed data on a display unit, comprising: a picture processor (1) for performing picture processing; a frame memory (2) for storing a picture to be processed by the picture processor (1); a window memory (5) having a size corresponding to that of the frame memory (2) so as to store a bit pattern for designating validity or invalidity of picture area processing performed by said picture processor (1), the processing being called valid if it is performed within a given area; a graphic display processing controller (6) for generating contents of the window memory (5); and a main processor (7) for providing the graphic processing controller (6) with predetermined command data; characterised in that: the graphic display processing controller (6) is adapted to generate such bit pattern for the window memory (5) in response to said predetermined command data from the main processor (7); and said graphic display processing controller (6) is a CRT controller having a CRT display function and comprises a graphic display algorithm controller (111) which analyzes said predetermined command data from said main processor (7) and calculates, in pixel units, an amount of change in the position of a graphic display point in accordance with an algorithm with respect to said predetermined command data, a graphic display point address generator (112) for computing a window memory address, which corresponds to a pixel position to be graphically displayed, on the basis of the amount of change in the position of a graphic display point calculated by the graphic display algorithm controller (111), and a logical operation unit (113) which performs a logical operation between data read from the window memory (5) and said graphic display point data with respect to said graphic display point computed by the graphic display algorithm controller (111) and the graphic display point address generator (112), thereby to rewrite the data in the window memory (5). A picture processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of said window memories (5) are provided, wherein a window memory (5) storing a bit pattern conforming to a picture to be processed is selected.

Inventors: KURAKAKE, MITSUO, OTSUKA, SHOICHI
Applicants: FANUC LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G09G5, G06T1, G06T11