Display control apparatus and method

Abstract: Display control apparatus and method for a display apparatus having a ferroelectric liquid crystal as an operating medium for updating a display which can hold a display state updated by applying an electric field or the like. The display control apparatus comprises an input device to input image data, a memory to store the inputted image data by an amount corresponding to first and second image planes, a comparator to compare the stored image data of the first and second image planes, a processor to halftone process the image data of the pixel in which the value of the image data of the first image plane is different from the value of the image data of the second image plane and a transmitting circuit to transmit the data which has been halftone processed by the processor to a display apparatus such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal display. The image data is sent from a computer, a hard disc drive, a floppy disk drive, or the like.

Description: The present invention concerns a display control apparatus for controlling a display device having memory characteristics, for example a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device, which can be updated by partial rewrite driving. The present invention also concerns display apparatus including both a display control apparatus and a display device. It also concerns a method of processing image data for use by a display device having memory characteristics and which therefore can be updated by partial rewrite driving. Examples of display devices that have memory characteristics include not only ferroelectric liquid crystal display devices but also thin film transistor active matrix display devices which latter include transistor controlled memory components. In the case of display devices having memory characteristics it is possible to perform partial rewrite driving to update the display state of a restricted portion of the display screen of the display device to correspond to changes in the image represented by image data. There is now also a requirement for display apparatus including a display device of the type just described that is capable of displaying a halftone image. Examples of such display apparatus are described in EP-A-0378780 and in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Volume 32 No. 5A October 1989, pages 194 to 197. Each of the above references describe display apparatus which includes a display control apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data of successive first and second image frames; processing means for executing half-tone processing to process the input image data; memory means for storing error data produced during the execution of half-tone processing by the processing means; and transmitting means for transmitting image data, halftone processed by the processing means, to the display device. In particular in EP-A-0378780 there is described a display control apparatus including processing means for executing half-tone processing in which rounding errors produced during image data quantization are stored and used to modify the input image data as quantization progresses. The rounding error data is stored in one or more line buffers and is continually replenished as the image data of each respective frame is quantized to produce processed halftone image data. It is a problem combining techniques of halftone processing and partial rewrite driving. In particular it is a problem combining these techniques in an efficient manner. The above problems therefore have been addressed and the present invention, as defined in the appended claims, is provided as a solution. As set out in the appended claims to perform both halftone processing and rewrite driving the image data of successive image frames is compared, error data stored during the execution of the halftone processing of the image data of the first image frame is retained for use during the halftone processing of the image data of the second image frame and that image data of the second image frame that is different in value to the image data of the first image frame is halftone processed using the retained error data. Accordingly, when only-part of the display screen is to be rewritten it is only necessary to execute halftone processing for a portion of the image data including that image data that is different in value to the image data of the preceding frame and it is not necessary to execute halftone processing for all the image data of the current frame. Halftone processing accordingly is performed efficiently. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a system construction according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed construction of an FLCD interface in Fig. 1; Fig. 3A is a diagram showing a comparison circuit in Fig. 2; Fig. 3B is a diagram showing a conversion circuit in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 to 8 are diagrams for explaining an error diffusion method; and Figs. 9 to 14 are flowcharts for explaining a display control according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing system using an FLC display apparatus having a display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as a display apparatus of various kinds of characters, image information, and the like. In the diagram, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU to control the whole information processing system; 13 a main memory which is used to store programs which are executed by the CPU 11 or is used as a work area when the programs are executed; and 14 a DMA controller (Direct Memory Access Controller; hereinafter, referred to as a DMAC) to transfer data among the main memory 13 and various kinds of apparatuses constructing the information processing system without passing through the CPU 11. Reference numeral 15 denotes an LAN interface to interface between an LAN (Local Area Network) 16 such as an Ethernet or the like and the system and 17 indicates an input/output apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as I/O) having an ROM, an SRAM, an interface of the RS232C type, and the like. Various kinds of external apparatuses can be connected to the I/O 17. Reference numerals 18 and 19 denote a hard disc drive and a floppy disc drive as external memory devices; 20 a disk interface to connect signals between the hard disc drive 18 and floppy disk drive 19 and the system; 21 a printer which can record at a relatively high resolution and can be constructed by an ink jet printer, a laser beam printer, or the like; 22 a printer interface to connect signals between the printer and the system 23 a keyboard to input character information such as various kinds of characters or the like, control information, or the like; 24 a mouse as a pointing device; 25 a key interface to connect signals among the keyboard 23, the mouse 24, and the system; and 26 an FLC display apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as an FLCD) whose display is controlled by an FLCD interface 27 as a display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The FLCD has a display screen using the foregoing ferroelectric liquid crystal as a display operating medium. Reference numeral 12 denotes a system bus comprising a data bus, a control bus, and an address bus to connect signals among the above various apparatuses. In the information processing system to which the above various kinds of apparatuses or the like are connected, generally, the user of the system operates in correspondence to various information which is displayed on the display screen of the FLCD 26. That is, character information, image information, or the like which is supplied from an external apparatus (for example, scanner) that is connected to the LAN 16 or I/O 17, or from the hand disc 18, floppy disk 19, keyboard 23, or mouse 24, or operation information which has been stored in the main memory 13 and relates to a system operation of the user, or the like is displayed on the display screen of the FLCD 26. While observing the contents displayed on the screen, the user edits the information or executes an instructing operation to the system. The above various kinds of apparatuses or the like construct display information supplying means to the FLCD 26, respectively. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of the FLCD interface 27. In the diagram, a switcher 28 is connected to the system bus 12. Each of a frame buffer (a) 29 and a frame buffer (b) 30 can store the display data of one image plane (one pixel consists of eight bits). The frame buffers 29 and 30 are connected to the switchers 28 and 31, respectively. Reference numeral 32 denotes a comparison circuit. As shown in detail in Fig. 3A, the comparison circuit 32 has: a flag 321 for judgment when the image plane is switched; a comparison flag 322 indicative of the result of the judgment of the pixel of one line; a pixel counter 323 to count the number of pixels of one line; and a line counter 324 to count the number of lines of one image plane. Reference numeral 34 denotes a frame buffer (c) (one pixel consists of eight bits) to store the display data of one image plane and transfer the data to a conversion circuit 36. The conversion circuit 36 executes a pseudo halftone process. As shown in detail in Fig. 3B, the conversion circuit 36 has: a buffer 361 for one line; a pixel counter 362 to count the number of pixels of one line; a table 363 to calculate an error value which is spread; and a table error diffusion table 364 to calculate an error value which is spread to each pixel when the error data generated when the input data has been binarized is diffused. Reference numeral 39 denotes a frame buffer (d) (one pixel consists of eight bits) to store the data displayed at that time point by an amount corresponding to one image plane. Reference numeral 35 denotes a partial writing flag. By setting the flag into a line to be partially rewritten, the line is stored. Reference numeral 37 denotes the error frame buffer to store errors occurring when the 8-bit data is converted into the 1-bit data by the conversion circuit 36. The error frame buffer 37 has a capacity corresponding to one image plane (one pixel consists of eight bits). The error data stored in the error frame buffer 37 will now be briefly explained. It is now considered the case of binarizing the image data of one pixel a in one image plane by the conversion circuit 36. In the conversion circuit 36, the error data stored at the same address as α is read out from the error frame buffer 37 and the error data is added to the image data of the pixel α. The result of the addition is binarized on the basis of a predetermined threshold value. Now, the error data occurring when the previous image plane had been binarized has been stored in the error frame buffer 37. In the embodiment, only the portion in which the value of the inputted data was changed from the preceding image plane is binarized. Therefore, in the data of a certain image plane, when a pixel β in which the value of data differs from that of the preceding image plane occurs, all of the pixels before the pixel β have the same data as that of the preceding image plane. Therefore, as error data which is added to the pixel β, it is sufficient to use the error data stored in the error frame buffer 37 in which the error data of the preceding image plane has been stored. The error data in the error frame buffer 37 is updated on the basis of the binary error data which is generated when the data of the pixel β is binarized. The updated error data is used when the pixels after the pixel β or the pixels of the next and subsequent image planes are binarized. Reference numeral 33 denotes a reset circuit to initialize the error frame buffer 37, partial writing flag 35, and frame buffer (d) 39. On the basis of the signal from the comparison circuit 32, when it is determined that the preceding image plane differs from the present inputted image plane (such a case occurs when a scene is switched or the like), the binarizing process by the error diffusion method must be executed for the whole area of one image plane with respect to the newly inputted image plane. Therefore, the data stored in the error frame buffer 37, partial writing flag 35, and frame buffer 39 are unnecessary. Accordingly, the reset circuit 33 resets those data. Reference numeral 38 denotes a partial write control circuit for executing a partial writing operation to the FLCD 26 with respect to the partial writing line detected by the partial writing flag 35. In the embodiment, for simplicity of explanation, it is now assumed that the display data which is sent from the system bus is black and white data of eight bits. In the embodiment, it is now assumed that the conversion circuit 36 converts the 8-bit data into the 1-bit data by using the error diffusion method as a pseudo halftone process. The principle of the error diffusion method is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Since the input data is the 8-bit data, densities of 256 gradations are expressed and a threshold value for binarization assumes 127. 1 ○ A density of pixel which is at present processed assumes 135. The density value 135 is cumulative data in which the errors occurring by the preceding binarizing processes were added. Namely, the cumulative data denotes data in which the diffused error data was added to the input data and is data that is actually binarized (pseudo halftone processed) by the threshold value. 2 ○ Either one of 0 and 255 is decided. In the above case where the cumulative data is equal to 135, since it is larger than the binarization threshold value 127, it is set to 255. 3 ○ The error data is diffused to the peripheral pixels. Since the value which is inherently equal to 135 has been set to 255, the error data is equal to -120 corresponding to a difference between 255 and 135. In this instance, the error data is diffused at a ratio (stored in the diffusion table 363 in the conversion circuit 36) which has been determined for peripheral 12 pixels as shown in Fig. 4. 4 ○ The processes are executed to the next pixel. According to the error diffusion method as mentioned above, even when the density level of one certain pixel changes, the error data is spread and diffused with respect to all of the pixels subsequent to such one pixel. According to the invention, in order to make the most of the feature of the partial writing process as a feature of the FLCD the pseudo halftone process is executed to only the changed portion, thereby raising an processing efficiency. The display data is loaded into the main memory via the HD 18, FD 19, LAN 16, or the like. The display data is processed by the CPU 11 and is transferred to the FLCD interface 27 by the DMAC 14. The above processes are continuously repeatedly executed in order to display continuous image data like an animation. In the FLCD interface 27, the transferred display data is sent to the switcher 28, by which the number of lines of the display data is first counted. When it is detected that the display data of one image plane has been sent, the switch is switched. Due to this, the display data is alternately stored into the frame buffers (a) 29 and (b) 30 on an image plane unit basis. In the initial state, the contents in the frame buffers 29 and 30 have been cleared to 0. The data of one image plane in the first display data is stored into the frame buffer (a) 29. For convenience of explanation, it is now assumed that the display data sent at present is stored into the frame buffer (a) 29 and the display data of one image plane before which had precedingly sent has been stored in the frame buffer (b) 30. That is, the display data in the frame buffer (b) 30 is displayed on the FLCD 26 at a time point when the data is being written into the frame buffer (a) 29. By switching the switcher 31, the display data is supplied to the comparison circuit 32 on a line unit basis in correspondence to the frame buffers (a) 29 and (b) 30. The comparison circuit 32 has line buffers corresponding to two lines. The display data in the frame buffers (a) 29 and (b) 30 is stored into the line buffers. The comparison circuit 32 compares the data stored in each buffer in the comparison circuit 32 by an amount of one line on a pixel unit basis. The line number is notified to the partial writing flag 35 in the case where even one pixel in the line differs. The compared display data is transferred to the frame buffer (c) 34. The above processes are sequentially repeated by an amount corresponding to one image plane. The conversion circuit 36 executes the pseudo halftone process with respect to the line in which the partial writing flag has been set. When the above error diffusion method is used in the pseudo halftone process, as shown in Fig. 6, as for a certain pixel, the error differences of the preceding pixels before such a pixel is processed have been accumulated. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing to which pixels subsequent to a certain pixel the errors are diffused in the case where such a pixel was processed. In Fig. 7, when a pixel A is processed, the errors are spread to twelve pixels in the portion surrounded by a broken line. When an attention is paid to a pixel B in the broken line portion, the errors are spread to twelve pixels in the portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line. By repeating processes similar to those mentioned above, as for a pixel E, a density at the following ratio is added to the errors of the pixel A. E = (1/48) x (5/48) x (1/48) x (3/48) The above equation, however, relates to the case where the pixels were processed in accordance with the order of A → B → C → D. In the case where a pixel C' was processed, the errors of A → B → C' → D must be added. Fig. 8 is diagram showing on which range the errors of a certain pixel exert an influence. However, Fig. 8 shows a range of the pixels such that the absolute value of the error is equal to or larger than 1 when the errors generated in a pixel X in Fig. 8 lie within a range of ±127. Since the cumulative error of the errors of those pixels can be provided as a constant for the pixel to be processed, there is no need to execute complicated calculations (it is sufficient to perform only one addition and one multiplication). The constants of those cumulative errors are previously held in the conversion circuit 36 as a table (hereinafter, referred to as an error spread table). The conversion circuit 36 recognizes the line to be binarized with reference to the partial writing flag 35 and executes a binarizing process to the display data in which the flag has been set in the data which is sent from the frame buffer (c) 34. The data corresponding to the pixel is extracted from the error frame buffer 37 and the value of the error data is added to the pixel and the resultant value is compared with a threshold value, thereby binarizing. Since the data which is sent from the frame buffer (c) 34 is used in the process of the next image plane, it is stored into the frame buffer (d) 39. At the time point when the binarizing process is executed, the data displayed (data of the preceding image plane) has already been stored in the frame buffer (d) 39. Therefore, the data corresponding to the pixel to be binarized is extracted from the frame buffer (d) 39. The value of the extracted pixel (value before the error data is added) is compared with the value of the pixel to be binarized. When they differ, the errors at a time point when the data of the pixel to be binarized was binarized must be reflected to the other pixels. Therefore, the errors of all of the pixels which are influenced are calculated in accordance with the above error spread table and are accumulated into the error frame buffer 37. When the value of the pixels data stored in the frame buffer (d) 39 is equal to the value of the data of the corresponding pixel stored in the frame buffer (c) 34, there is no need to change the value of the errors stored in the frame buffer 37. Therefore, the value in the error frame buffer 37 is not updated. The converted display data is transferred to the partial write control circuit. In the transfer circuit, the corresponding line of the FLCD 26 is rewritten with reference to the partial writing flag. In the case where the number of lines whose values differ exceeds a predetermined value (hereinafter, such a value assumes a constant N) in the comparison circuit 32, this means that the scene of the display data has been switched, so that the reset circuit 33 is activated. The reset circuit 33 initializes the partial writing flag 35, frame buffer 39, and error frame buffer 37. The binary data which was pseudo halftone processed is outputted from the conversion circuit 36 and transferred to the partial write control circuit 38. The partial write control circuit 38 executes a partially writing operation to the FLCD 26 with respect to the partial writing lines detected by the partial writing flag 35. By repeating the above processes, only the changed portion of the continuous data such as an animation can be pseudo halftone processed and displayed. Fig. 9 is a flowchart when the operation of the embodiment is executed. In the diagram, the display data is read out from the LAN 16, HD 18, or FD 19 and stored into the main memory 13 in step S01. In step S02, the display data read out in step S01 is converted into the display data (multivalue data of every pixel) which can be processed by the FLCD interface 27. In step S03, the display data corresponding to one image plane is transferred to the FLCD interface 27 by using the DMAC 14. In step S04, the display data is processed by the FLCD interface 27 and displayed on the FLCD 26 (as will be explained hereinlater). In step S05, a check is made to see if the whole display data has completely been transferred to the FLCD interface or not. If NO, the processing routine is returned to step S03. By repeating the processes from step S03 to S05, the continuous data such as an animation can be displayed. [FLCD interface] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the processes which are executed in the FLCD interface 27. In Fig. 10, a reception process of the display data is executed in step S06. In step S07, the display data of the preceding image plane is compared with the display data extracted at present. In step S08, a check is made to see if the scene has been switched or not. When the scene is not switched, step S10 follows and the pseudo halftone process is executed to the portion in which those display data differ. In step S11, the partial writing operation is executed to the FLCD. When the scene is switched, the initializing process is executed in step S09. The processing routine advances to step S10-1 and the pseudo halftone process is executed to all of the data of the image planes extracted at present. In step S11-1, the binary data corresponding to one image plane is written into the FLCD. [Display data reception process] Fig. 11 is a flow chart showing the details of the display data reception process in step S06 in Fig. 10. In Fig. 11, the frame buffers (a) 29 and (b) 30 are initialized in step S12. In step S13, a check is made to see if the display data has been transferred or not. The process in step S13 is repeated until the display data is transferred. In step S14, the displayed data transferred in step S13 is stored into the frame buffer (a) 29 or (b) 30. In step S15, a check is made to see if the display data corresponding to one image plane has been stored or not. If NO, the processing routine is returned to step S13. If YES, step S16 follows and the switcher 31 is switched and the processing routine is returned to step S13. The processes in steps S13 to S16 are repeated. [Display data comparison process] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the details of the display data comparison process in step S07 in Fig. 10. In Fig. 12, the count value of the line counter 324 is reset to "0" in step S17. The flag 321 is reset to "0" in step S18. The comparison flag 322 is reset to "0" in step S19. The count value of the pixel counter 323 is reset to the initial value "0" in step S20. A check is made in step S21 to see if the display data for display at present corresponding to one pixel has been received or not. The process in step S21 is repeated until the display data is received. In step S22, a check is made to see if the preceding display data corresponding to one pixel has been received or not. The process in step S22 is repeated until the display data is received. In step S23, the value of the flag 321 is compared with the constant N. When the value of the flag 321 is equal to or larger than N, this means that the image plane has been switched to quite a different image plane. Therefore, the data of one line is obviously different from the preceding data without needing to perform the comparison in step S24, so that the processing routine advances to step S26. When the value of the flag 321 is smaller than N, step S24 follows and the comparison flag 322 is checked. When the value of the comparison flag 322 is not equal to "0", this means that the at least one of the different pixels has already been detected in the line which is now being compared. Thus, step S26 follows. When the value of the comparison flag 322 is equal to "0", step S25 follows. In step S25, the data of the pixel received in step S21 (present display data) is compared with the data of the pixel received in step S22 (one preceding display data). When they are equal, step S27 follows. When they are different, the comparison flag is set to "1" in step S26. In step S27, the pixel which has been received in step S21 and is display at present is transferred to the frame buffer (c) 34. In step S28, the count value of the pixel counter 323 is increased by +1. In step S29, the count value of the pixel counter 323 is checked, thereby judging whether the comparing operations corresponding to one line have been finished or not. If NO, the processing routine is returned to step S21. By repeating the processes in steps S21 to S29, the data corresponding to one line is compared. If YES in step S29, step S30 follows. In step S30, a check is made to see if the value of the comparison flag 322 is equal to "0" or not. If YES, this means that the present display data is the same as the data of the preceding display line, so that step S32 follows. When the value of the comparison flag 322 is not equal to "0" in step S30, this means that the data of the present display line differs from the data of the preceding display data, so that the value of the flag is increased by +1 in step S31. In step S311, the flag corresponding to the line is set into the partial writing flag 35. In step S32, the count value of the line counter 324 is increased by +1. In step S33, the count value of the line counter 324 is checked, thereby discriminating whether the comparing operations of one image plane have been finished or not. If NO, the processing routine is returned to step S19. By repeating the processes in steps S19 to S33, the data corresponding to one image plane is compared. If YES in step S33, step S17 follows and the comparing processes corresponding to the next image plane are executed. [Pseudo halftone process] Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the details of the pseudo halftone process in step S10 of the partial writing portion in Fig. 10. With respect to the pseudo halftone process corresponding to one image plane in step S10-1, all of the data of one image plane is binarized by the error diffusion method. Therefore, its detailed description are omitted here. In Fig. 13, in step S34, the line to be partially written is extracted by retrieving the inside of the partial writing flag 35. In step S35, the count value of the pixel counter 362 is reset to "0". In step S36, the pixel corresponding to the count value of the pixel counter 362 of the line corresponding to the line detected in step S34 is extracted from the frame buffer (c) 34. In step S361, the cumulative error data corresponding to the value of the pixel counter 362 of the line corresponding to the line obtained in step S34 is extracted from the error frame buffer 37. In step S37, the value which is derived by adding the value of the pixel fetched in step S36 and the cumulative error data fetched in step S361 is binarized on the basis of the threshold value. In step S38, the value binarized in step S37 is set to the location in the buffer 361 corresponding to the value of the pixel counter 362. In step S39, the pixel corresponding to the value of the pixel counter 362 of the line corresponding to the line obtained in step S34 is extracted from the frame buffer (d) 39. In step S40, the value of the pixel fetched in step S36 is compared with the value of the pixel fetched in step S39. When they are equal, since there is no need to update the error data stored in the error frame buffer 37, the processing routine advances to step S43. When they are different in step S40, step S41 follows. In step S41, differences between the input data and the binary data (0, 255) which occur upon binarization in step S37 are obtained. The error data that is diffused to a plurality of pixels is obtained by using the error spread table 364. In step S42, the value calculated in step S41 is rewritten in place of the cumulative error data stored at the corresponding location in the error frame buffer 37, thereby updating the error frame buffer 37. In step S421, the pixel fetched in step S36 is set into the frame buffer (d) 39 at the location corresponding to the value of the pixel counter 362 of the line corresponding to the line obtained in step S34. In step S43, the count value of the pixel counter 362 is increased by +1. In step S44, the count value of the pixel counter 362 is checked, thereby judging whether the processes corresponding to one line have been finished or not. If NO, the processing routine is returned to step S36. By repeating the processes in steps S36 to S44, the halftone processes corresponding to one line are executed. When it is determined in step S44 that the processes for one line have been finished, in step S45, the display data in the buffer 361 is transferred to the partial write control circuit 38 and the processing routine is returned to step S34. The processes in step S34 to S45 are repeated after that. [Initializing process] Fig. 14 is a flowchart for the initializing process in step S09 in Fig. 10. The initializing process is executed when the scene is switched in the comparison between the preceding image plane and the image plane to be newly displayed. In step S46, the error frame buffer 37, frame buffer (c) 39, and partial writing flag are initialized. Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the case where the input data is expressed by one color, namely, the case of a monochromatic display, a color image can be also displayed by executing the above processes for each of the input data of three colors of R, G, and B. Such a color display can be realized by providing the circuit shown in Fig. 2 for each of the input data of R, G, and B. The display apparatus is not limited to the apparatus having the ferroelectric liquid crystal device as mentioned above but can also use a liquid crystal display apparatus of what is called a TFT type. A method of executing the halftone process which can be used in the embodiment is not limited to the error diffusing method. It is also possible to use any other method such as average error least method, average density preserving method, or the like which can correct the errors occurring when input data is quantized. Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the example in which the input data is converted into the binary data, in the case where the FLCD can display gradations of a multilevel which is larger than 2 for one pixel, it is sufficient that the input data is quantized into the multilevel data which can be displayed by the FLCD and that the error data in the error frame buffer 37 is updated on the basis of the error data occurring upon quantization. As described above, in the case where an animation is halftone processed by the quantizing method of the density preserving type and is displayed, the halftone process is executed to only the changed portion which was changed from the preceding image plane, so that the display data can be displayed at a high speed by the efficient processes. Moreover, since the error data necessary to the halftone process of the changed portion has previously been stored in the memory, the display image of a high image quality can be obtained by using the error data stored in the memory. Further, in the case where the scene of the display data is changed, the error data of the preceding image plane stored in the memory is reset and the halftone process is executed for the input data of one image plane, so that the binarizing process according to the input data can be executed at a high fidelity. Although the present invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiment. the invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment but many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims of the invention.

Claims: A display control apparatus for controlling a display device that can be updated by partial rewrite driving, said apparatus comprising: input means (15-20) for inputting image data of successive first and second image frames; processing means (36) for executing halftone processing to process the input image data; memory means (37) for storing error data produced during the execution of halftone processing by said processing means (36); and transmitting means (38) for transmitting image data, halftone processed by said processing means, to the display device; said apparatus being characterised in that: said apparatus includes comparing means (28-32, 35) for comparing the image data of the second image frame with the image data of the first image frame; said memory means (37) is adapted for, and is arranged to, retain the error data, stored during the execution of halftone processing of the image data of the first image frame, for use during halftone processing of image data of the second image frame; and said processing means (36) is responsive to said comparing means (28-32, 35) and to said memory means (37) to execute halftone processing of that image data of said second image frame that is different in value to the image data of said first image frame, using error data retained by said memory means. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising: means (11, 36) for updating the error data, retained by said memory means (37), by using error data produced during the execution of the halftone processing of the image data of said second image frame. An apparatus according to either preceding claim comprising: judging means (32) for judging from a comparison of image data of the first and second image frames whether the image data of the second image frame represents a different image scene to that represented by the image data of the first image frame; and resetting means (23) responsive to said judging means, which resetting means is adapted and arranged to reset the error data, retained in said memory means (37), in the event that it is judged by said judging means (32) that the second image frame represents a different image scene. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said processing means (36) is responsive to said judging means (32) and is adapted and arranged to execute halftone processing in the following manner: (a) in the event that it is judged by said judging means (32) that the first and second image frames of image data represent the same scene, to execute halftone processing of a portion only of the image data of the second frame, which portion includes that image data of the second image frame that is different in value to the image data of the first image frame; and (b) in the event that it is judged by said judging means (32) that the first and second image frames of image data represent different scenes, to execute halftone processing of the image data of the entire second frame. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said processing means (36) is adapted to execute halftone processing by binarizing the image data. An apparatus according to any preceding claim adapted to process colour image data, wherein respective processing means (36), memory means (37), transmitting means (38) and comparing means (28-32, 35) are provided for processing the respective processing colour image plane data of the first and second image frames. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said input means (15-20) includes an input data interface (15) for inputting image data from a computer. A display apparatus comprising: a display device (26) that can be updated by partial rewrite driving; and a display control apparatus (15-20, 27) for controlling said display device (26), which display control apparatus (15-20, 27) is an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. A display apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said display device (26) is a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device. A method of processing image data for use by a display device that can be updated by partial rewrite driving, said method comprising: executing halftone processing of first and second image frames of image data; producing, storing and using error data during the execution of said halftone processing; and transmitting the halftone processed image data to the display device; which method is characterised by steps of: retaining the error data produced and used during the execution of the halftone processing of the image data of the first image frame; comparing the image data of the second image frame with the image data of the first image frame; and halftone processing that image data of the second image frame that is different in value to the image data of the first image frame, using the retained error data. A method according to claim 10 which includes steps of updating the retained error data and using the updated error data during said halftone processing of the image data of the second image frame. A method according to either of claims 10 or 11 which includes: judging, from a comparison of image data of the first and second image frames, whether the image data of the second image frame represents a different image scene to that represented by the image data of the first image frame; and, in the event that it is judged that the image data of the second image frame represents a different scene, resetting the retained error data. A method according to claim 12 wherein: (a) in the event that it is judged that the first and second image frames of image data represent the same scene, halftone processing is performed for a portion only of the image data of the second frame, which portion includes that image data of the second image frame that is different in value to the image data of the first image frame; and (b) in the event that it is judged that the first and second image frames of image data represent different scenes, halftone processing is performed for all image data of the second frame.

Inventors: HASEGAWA TAKETO, HASEGAWA, TAKETO, HASEGAWA, TAKETO, C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G09G3
IPC codes: G09G3