Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graphic manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-09
2001-10-02
Saras, Steven (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graphic manipulation
C345S687000, C345S685000, C340S457100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image display device for an information processing system, and more particularly to an image display device having a display screen which is small relative to the size of the entire source image, such as one used in small-sized and inexpensive information processing systems, including a tape printing apparatus.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, the small-sized and inexpensive information processing systems of the above-mentioned kind have been capable of processing only image data which is smaller in size than that processed by a personal computer of a general type or the like, and hence images displayed on such a display device have been small in size. However, recently, as technology has advanced, an information processing system which is small-sized and inexpensive and that is capable of processing a very large volume of image data has become available. The display device of this type of system is also required to be capable of displaying large-sized images.
The display device for the information processing system of the above-mentioned kind is limited as to the size and the number of dots available on the display screen, due to size and cost constraints. Therefore, the present assignee has proposed an image display for a tape printing apparatus, which displays the whole image by reducing the size of the original image such that the image can be easily recognized in its entirety even when a display screen which is small relative to the size of the original image is used (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-115224 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-125374, for instance).
Recently, the present assignee has further proposed a tape printing apparatus which is capable of printing various unit images (the term “unit image” is defined to denote any image of a character, a numeral, a symbol, a figure or the like) mixed with respect to orientation and/or sequence, e.g. a mixture of character string images comprised of vertical writing character images and/or horizontal writing character images arranged in the direction of the length of a tape and/or in the direction of the width thereof (see
FIGS. 42A
to
42
G and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-92894 filed by the present assignee). In such a tape printing apparatus, it is required for the user to recognize not only the image of the whole image data but also the orientations and sequence of the character images (unit images) of portions (character strings or the like) to make sure of the intended images and their arrangement.
It is expected that as the width of a tape increases, that is, as the size of printable image data becomes larger and more diversified, the necessity of viewing the orientations and sequence of the unit images becomes more and more important. Further, this necessity presents a problem requiring a solution, not only in the case of a tape printing apparatus but also in other information processing systems which are small-sized and inexpensive, such as a small-sized stamp making apparatus in which viewing and confirmation of images is required for making a stamp having a large stamp face.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide an image display device and method which is improved in usefulness and operability in that even with a display screen small-sized relative to the size of an image to be displayed, the orientations, the sequence, etc. of unit images forming the image, at a desired area, can be easily viewed through relatively simple operations.
To attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an image display device including:
input means for inputting various commands and data;
display means having a display screen;
basic image data storage means for storing part or whole of basic image data formed of a dot matrix; and
display control means responsive to a corresponding one of the various commands input by the input means for converting a portion of the basic image data in a display range to display image data to display the display image data on the display screen.
The image display device according to the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the input means comprises:
start command means for inputting a start command for starting an automatic scroll process for automatically continuously shifting the display range in a scrolling manner in a predetermined one of upward, downward, leftward and rightward directions on the basic image data, and
shift command means for inputting a display range shift command for shifting, at a time point before a start of the automatic scroll process or during the automatic scroll process, the display range set at the time point, selectively in the upward, downward, leftward and rightward directions,
wherein the display control means is responsive to the start command input by the start command means for starting the automatic scroll process, and to the display range shift command input by the shift command means for changing the display image data to thereby display resulting display image data on the display screen.
According to this image display device, by entering the start command, the display range can be automatically scrolled in the predetermined one of the upward, downward, leftward and rightward directions on the basic image data. Further, the scroll process is automatically carried out and there is no need to enter any other commands other than the start command, so that troublesome operations, such as continually depressing cursor keys or like scroll means, are not required. The conversion of image data in the display range on the basic image data to display image data includes, similarly to the conventional devices, simple extraction, expansion (zoom-in of the image)/reduction (zoom-out of the image), and schematizing (substitution of schematic image for each unit image) to reduce each unit image. This makes it possible to display the display image data to such an extent (with a resolution) which enables at least the orientations of unit images to be discriminated. By carrying out the rightward automatic scroll process, for instance, it is possible to easily and successively view the orientations, sequences and the like of the unit images (character images, such as images of characters in vertical writing and/or horizontal writing) arranged from the left to the right on basic image data. Similarly, by carrying out the downward automatic scroll process, it is possible to view unit images (e.g. of characters in vertical writing and/or horizontal writing) from above to below. This is also the case with the upward or leftward automatic scroll process. Further, by entering the display range shift command, it is possible to change the display range at the time point to thereby display an adjacent area of the basic image data. By carrying out this change in the display range during the automatic scroll, it is possible to more conveniently view or recognize details of the image represented by large-sized basic image data. Therefore, even when a display screen is used which is small-sized relative to the image to be displayed, the image display device enables the user to view the orientations, sequences and the like of the unit images which form the image displayed, with ease through relatively simple operations.
Preferably, the display control means starts the automatic scroll process from the display range having been set when the start command is input.
According to this preferred embodiment, the automatic scroll process is started from the display range having been set when the start command is input. Therefore, for instance, if the scroll is carried out to a desired starting position by operating a cursor key or the like and then the starting command is input, it is possible to carry out the automatic scroll process from a desired display range to thereby view the image from a desired portion with ease. This makes it possible to further increase the operab
Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
Nelson Alecia
Saras Steven
Seiko Epson Corporation
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