JPWO2015083279A1 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The information processing apparatus (100) is an apparatus in which the CPU (1) performs information processing for realizing a specific function and performs overall control. In the information processing apparatus (100), when the drawing circuit (2) receives the execution start command, it executes the display list (31), which is a set of commands for drawing a still image, stored in the VRAM (3), Draw a still image. When a still image is drawn, the display list (31) stored in the VRAM (3) is rewritten by the CPU (1), and an execution start command is transmitted to the drawing circuit (2). Thereby, the information processing apparatus (100) displays the animation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an animation drawing technique in an information processing apparatus.

  In an information processing apparatus that performs specific information processing using a CPU (Central Processing Unit, an example of a processing apparatus) such as an industrial device or a basic equipment, a simple HMI (Human Machine Interface) has been used in the past. However, recently, animation is increasingly used in information processing apparatuses.

  The animation is realized by sequentially drawing a plurality of still images having slightly different attributes such as displayed buttons and pictures, such as the position, size, and color of the components constituting the screen. In order to make the animation look smooth, it is necessary to perform drawing at a speed of about 30 fps (frame per second) or more.

However, information processing apparatuses with limited applications such as industrial equipment and infrastructure equipment have only the minimum necessary performance, and it is difficult to execute drawing at a speed of 30 fps or higher.
For this reason, such an information processing apparatus is often equipped with a dedicated drawing circuit for realizing animation. However, when the drawing circuit executes all the processes for realizing the animation, the circuit scale increases and the cost increases. On the other hand, when the circuit scale of the drawing circuit is reduced and a part of the processing is executed by the CPU, the load on the CPU increases, and processing other than drawing is under pressure.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for realizing an animation by reducing the circuit scale of a drawing circuit while keeping the load on the CPU small.
In the technique described in Patent Literature 1, a set of sprite images that are components constituting a screen, sprite attributes representing the position and size of drawing each sprite image, and an animation execution that records the procedure for drawing the sprite image Prepare a program. Then, the drawing circuit interprets the animation execution program and draws the sprite image with reference to the sprite attribute. On the other hand, the CPU executes only the process of rewriting the sprite attribute according to the elapsed time.

JP 2011-018291 A

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the animation execution program is fixed, there is a limitation in animation expression.
For example, since the order in which the sprite images are drawn cannot be changed, when the sprite images are drawn at overlapping positions, the order of the arrangement of the sprite images cannot be changed. You cannot replace a sprite image with another sprite image or increase or decrease the number of sprite images during the animation. Since the sprite image is also determined in advance, a part of the image cannot be changed as the animation progresses. Since the sprite image is a raster image, the quality deteriorates when it is enlarged.

  An object of the present invention is to realize an animation capable of flexible expression by reducing the circuit scale of a drawing circuit while keeping the CPU load small.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
An information processing apparatus that performs information processing by a processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus having a function of displaying an animation realized by sequentially drawing a plurality of still images,
A storage device for storing a display list which is a set of instructions for drawing one still image;
A drawing circuit for executing a display list stored by the storage device and drawing a still image upon receiving an execution start command;
When the still image is drawn by the drawing circuit, the processing device rewrites the display list and transmits a new execution start command to the drawing circuit.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, since the drawing circuit only executes the display list and draws a still image, the circuit scale is small. Since the processing device only rewrites the display list, the load is small. In addition, flexible display is possible by rewriting a display list, which is a set of commands for drawing a still image, for each still image.

1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an animation drawing process of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the display list 31. FIG. The figure which shows the figure drawn by the subroutine X. The figure which shows the figure drawn by the subroutine Y. FIG. The figure which shows each command of the subroutine X. Explanatory drawing of the subroutine X. FIG. The figure which shows the output image 32 drawn by the display list 31 shown in FIG. The figure which shows the display list 31 rewritten. The figure which shows the output image 32 drawn by the display list 31 shown in FIG.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.
The information processing apparatus 100 is an industrial device, infrastructure equipment, or the like, and has a specific function. Also, it has a function of drawing an animation in order to support a specific function.
The information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU 1, a drawing circuit 2, a VRAM 3 (Video Random Access Memory), and an output unit 4.

The CPU 1 performs information processing for realizing a specific function of the information processing apparatus 100 and performs overall control of the information processing apparatus 100.
Among the functions for drawing animation, the CPU 1 stores a display list 31 that is a set of instructions for drawing a still image in the VRAM 3 and performs a process of rewriting a part of the display list 31 for each frame (for each still image). . In addition, the CPU 1 transmits an execution start command for the display list 31 to the drawing circuit 2.

The drawing circuit 2 executes the display list 31 stored in the VRAM 3 to draw an output image 32 that is a still image, and outputs the drawn output image 32 to the VRAM 3.
The drawing circuit 2 includes a display list execution unit 21 and a drawing unit 22. The display list execution unit 21 executes the display list 31 and outputs drawing commands and data. The drawing unit 22 draws the output image 32 based on the command and data output from the display list execution unit 21 and outputs the drawn output image 32 to the VRAM 3.

  The VRAM 3 is a storage device that stores a display list 31 and an output image 32.

  The output unit 4 outputs the output image 32 output to the VRAM 3 to a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an animation drawing process of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.
First, the CPU 1 generates a display list 31 describing the drawing contents of the first frame of the animation, or obtains it from some storage device and stores it in the VRAM 3 (S1). Then, the CPU 1 transmits an instruction to start execution of the display list 31 to the drawing circuit 2 (S2).

When receiving the execution start command, the display list execution unit 21 of the drawing circuit 2 sequentially executes the commands of the display list 31 stored in the VRAM 3 and outputs drawing commands and data (S3). The drawing unit 22 of the drawing circuit 2 draws the output image 32 based on the output command and data, and outputs the drawn output image 32 to the VRAM 3 (S4).
The output unit 4 outputs the output image 32 output to the VRAM 3 to the display device (S5).

The CPU 1 determines whether there is a next frame (S6).
When there is a next frame (“Yes” in S6), the CPU 1 rewrites the display list 31 stored in the VRAM 3 with a command describing the drawing contents of the next frame (S7). Then, the CPU 1 returns the process to S <b> 2 and transmits an execution start command for the display list 31 to the drawing circuit 2.
On the other hand, when there is no next frame (“No” in S6), the CPU 1 ends the animation drawing process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the display list 31.
The display list 31 is a list in which instructions that can be interpreted by the drawing circuit 2 are arranged in order. The display list 31 includes at least a subroutine that is a group of instructions for drawing graphics constituting the screen, a call instruction for calling the subroutine, an attribute instruction for designating attributes such as the position and orientation of the graphic drawn by the subroutine, and the display list 31. And an end instruction indicating the end of the.
In the display list 31, a call instruction is arranged next to the attribute instruction, and a subroutine called by the call instruction is arranged after the call instruction. An end instruction is arranged after the last call instruction.

  In the display list 31 shown in FIG. 3, a matrix setting instruction (an example of an attribute instruction) that can simultaneously specify rotation, enlargement / reduction, parallel movement, and the like is arranged at address A0, and a subroutine arranged at address A5 is called at address A1. A call instruction is arranged. Furthermore, a matrix setting instruction is again arranged at address A2, and a calling instruction for calling a subroutine arranged at address A6 is arranged at address A3. An end instruction is arranged at address A4.

  Here, it is assumed that the subroutine X is a subroutine for drawing a rectangle shown in FIG. 4, and the subroutine Y is a subroutine for drawing a graphic shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an instruction of the subroutine X. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the subroutine X.
From address A50 to address A54, instructions for specifying the positions of the respective points 1 to 4 of the rectangle to be drawn are arranged. An instruction for designating the thickness of the line to be drawn is arranged at the address A55, and an instruction for designating the color of the line to be drawn is arranged at the address A56. Address A57 includes points designated by addresses A50 to A54 (between points 1 and 2, between points 2 and 3, between points 3 and 4, and between points 4 and 1). ) Are connected by a line designated by addresses A55 and A56. A return instruction for returning to the subroutine caller is arranged at the address 58.

  As for subroutine Y, as in subroutine X, an instruction for designating the position of each point is first arranged, followed by an instruction for designating the thickness and color of the line to be drawn, and an instruction for connecting the points with lines. Is placed and a return instruction is placed.

An operation example of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described.
The CPU 1 stores the display list 31 indicating the drawing contents of the first frame of the animation in the VRAM 3 (S1), and then transmits an execution start command for the display list 31 to the drawing circuit 2 (S2). Here, it is assumed that the display list 31 shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the VRAM 3.

Then, the display list execution unit 21 sequentially executes the display list 31 and outputs drawing commands and data (S3), and the drawing unit 22 draws the output image 32 based on the output commands and data. The drawn output image 32 is output to the VRAM 3 (S4). Here, it is assumed that the output image 32 shown in FIG. 8 is output to the VRAM 3.
Specifically, the display list execution unit 21 first reads a matrix setting command at the address A0 of the display list 31 shown in FIG. 3, and outputs a matrix M0. Next, the display list execution unit 21 reads the call instruction at the address A1, and moves to the subroutine X at the address A5 according to the call instruction. Then, the display list execution unit 21 sequentially reads from the address A50 to the address A56 shown in FIG. 6, outputs the position of each point, the thickness and color of the line, further reads the address A57, and draws a straight line. Output instructions.
At this time, the drawing unit 22 determines the position of each point by applying the rotation, enlargement / reduction, parallel movement, etc., designated by the matrix M0 to the coordinates of the point designated by the addresses A50-A54, and addresses A55, A56. Draw a picture connecting the determined points with lines of thickness and color specified in.
Subsequently, the display list execution unit 21 returns to the address A2 by the return instruction at the address A58, reads the matrix setting instruction at the address A3, executes the subroutine Y, and outputs the instruction and data. At this time, the drawing unit 22 determines the position of each point by applying the rotation, enlargement / reduction, parallel movement, etc., designated by the matrix M1 of the address A3 to the coordinates of the point designated by the subroutine Y. Draw a picture connecting the determined points with lines of thickness and color specified in.

  Then, the output unit 4 outputs the output image 32 output to the VRAM 3 to the display device (S5).

When the still image of the first frame is output to the display device, the CPU 1 determines whether there is a next frame (S6). Here, it is assumed that there is a next frame.
Since there is a next frame, the CPU 1 rewrites a part of the display list 31 stored in the VRAM 3 (S7), and then transmits an execution start command for the display list 31 to the drawing circuit 2 (S2). Here, as shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that the matrix M0 arranged at the address A0 of the display list 31 shown in FIG. 3 is rewritten to M0 ′, and the matrix M1 arranged at the address A2 is rewritten to the matrix M1 ′. .

  Then, as in the first frame drawing, the display list execution unit 21 sequentially executes the display list 31 to output drawing commands and data (S3), and the drawing unit 22 outputs the output commands and data. The output image 32 is drawn based on the data, and the drawn output image 32 is output to the VRAM 3 (S4). Here, it is assumed that the output image 32 shown in FIG. 10 is output to the VRAM 3. In FIG. 10, the drawn figure is the same as in FIG. 8, but the drawn positions are different from those in FIG. 8 because the matrices M0 and M1 are rewritten to the matrices M0 'and M1'.

  Then, the output unit 4 outputs the output image 32 output to the VRAM 3 to the display device (S5).

  Thereafter, the display list 31 is rewritten (S7), and the rendering process based on the rewritten display list 31 (S2 to S5) is repeated until there is no frame. Thereby, the content of the output image 32 changes sequentially, and animation display is realized.

  As described above, in the information processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the drawing circuit 2 only executes the display list 31 to draw a still image, and thus the circuit scale is small. Since the CPU 1 only rewrites the display list 31, the load is small.

  In addition, by rewriting the display list 31 that is a set of commands for drawing a still image for each still image, not only the position and orientation of the figure to be drawn, but also the order of drawing the figure, the appearance and deletion of the figure, and the figure to be drawn It is possible to realize animations with a wide range of expression, such as partial changes.

  Furthermore, the figure to be drawn is a vector format composed of a list of point coordinates. For this reason, the image quality of the drawing result does not deteriorate even if the image is scaled or rotated.

In the above description, an example of a command for drawing a line is shown as a command for drawing a graphic. However, the command for drawing a graphic is not limited to a command for drawing a line, but may be any command that can be executed by the display list 31.
For example, a command for drawing a raster-type sprite image, a command for painting a region where dots are connected by a line, or the like may be used. It is possible to fill with not only a single color but also a color scheme with opacity, a color scheme with gradation, a specific pattern, and a specific image. The line connecting the points may be connected using an arbitrary curve such as a Bezier curve or a spline curve as well as a straight line. In addition, other commands that affect the drawing contents, such as those that specify a raster operation and those that specify a scissor area, may be used.

In the above description, an example in which a matrix setting command, which is an example of an attribute command, is set before the call command. However, any attribute instruction other than the matrix setting instruction may be arranged before the call instruction.
For example, a command for simply specifying only the position, a command for adding or integrating a specific color over the entire figure, and the like may be arranged.

Further, in the above description, the display list 31 has been described as executing the previous subroutine moved by the call instruction. However, the display list 31 may have a nested structure in which a call instruction is further arranged in a subroutine called by the call instruction.
For example, the display list 31 may be configured such that a subroutine for drawing a person has several matrix setting instructions and a call instruction, and a subroutine called by each call instruction draws a hand, a leg, or the like. Good.

In the above description, the example in which the CPU 1 rewrites the matrix setting command in the display list 31 in S7 has been described. However, the CPU 1 may rewrite any command other than the matrix setting command in the display list 31.
For example, the CPU 1 may rewrite the call command for the display list 31. In FIG. 3, if the destination of the call instruction at address A1 is rewritten to address A6 and the destination of the call instruction at address A3 is rewritten to address A5, the drawing order of graphics can be changed during the animation. Thereby, the front-rear relationship of the arrangement when the figures overlap can be exchanged.
Further, for example, a subroutine to be called may be rewritten to another subroutine. Thereby, the figure drawn can be changed to another figure. Further, the called subroutine may be rewritten to a NOP instruction that does nothing, and conversely, a NOP instruction may be arranged in advance as a called subroutine, and the NOP instruction may be rewritten to a subroutine that draws a figure. Thereby, a figure can be deleted or made to appear during the animation.
Further, for example, part of the contents of the called subroutine may be rewritten. For example, in the subroutine X shown in FIG. 6, a part of the figure can be deformed by rewriting the address A51, and the line thickness and color can be changed by rewriting the address A55 and the address A56. .

  Further, the CPU 1 may rewrite only one of the subroutine, the call instruction, and the attribute instruction. Thereby, although the width of the expression of animation becomes narrow, the load of CPU1 can be made smaller.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU, 2 Drawing circuit, 21 Display list execution part, 22 Drawing part, 3 VRAM, 31 Display list, 32 Output image, 4 Output part, 100 Information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
An information processing apparatus that performs information processing by a processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus having a function of displaying an animation realized by sequentially drawing a plurality of still images,
A storage device for storing a display list which is a set of instructions for drawing one still image;
A drawing circuit for executing a display list stored by the storage device and drawing a still image upon receiving an execution start command;
When the still image is drawn by the drawing circuit, the processing device rewrites only a part of the display list and transmits a new execution start command to the drawing circuit.

Claims (4)

An information processing apparatus that performs information processing by a processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus having a function of displaying an animation realized by sequentially drawing a plurality of still images,
A storage device for storing a display list which is a set of instructions for drawing one still image;
A drawing circuit for executing a display list stored by the storage device and drawing a still image upon receiving an execution start command;
When the still image is drawn by the drawing circuit, the processing device rewrites the display list and transmits a new execution start command to the drawing circuit. 2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the display list includes a subroutine for drawing a graphic, a call command for calling the subroutine, and an attribute command for designating an attribute of the graphic drawn by the subroutine. apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attribute command specifies at least one of a position, a posture, a size, and a color of the graphic. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing apparatus rewrites at least one of the subroutine, the calling instruction, and the attribute instruction when a still image is drawn by the drawing circuit.

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