JP2008134537A - Image data generation device for use in curved surface display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data generation device for use in a curved surface display panel, which generates image data capable of preventing that an image observed from a direction is recognized to be warped, when determining the direction for observing the curved surface display panel in the fixed direction. <P>SOLUTION: The image data for one screen for use in a flat panel wherein pixels are arranged by the number of rows and columns being equal to that of the curved surface display panel is input in a horizontal vertical correction unit 1. The horizontal vertical correction unit 1 reduces string data for P columns included in the image data for one screen in conformity with a contraction scale rate of height v/V, and further corrects row data. A scaling unit 3 performs correction for adding the string data that indicates only white colors for the number of columns equivalent to the string data reduced by the horizontal vertical correction unit 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a curved display panel image data generation apparatus that generates image data for a curved display panel, and more particularly to a curved display panel that generates image data for displaying an image that does not cause an observer to feel distortion. The present invention relates to an image data generation device.

  Conventionally, various display panels generally have an aspect in which an image is displayed on a flat panel. However, recently, a curved display panel (hereinafter referred to as a curved display panel) has been proposed as a display panel. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a curved liquid crystal panel.

  Further, in order to increase the degree of freedom of an image to be displayed, a driving method in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix and a desired image is displayed by controlling the state of each pixel is widely known. The curved liquid crystal panel described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a plurality of combinations of transparent electrodes and thin film transistors (TFTs) are arranged so as to face the common electrode. Then, each pixel is driven independently using a thin film transistor as a switching element to display an image.

  In addition, an image data generation apparatus that converts image data of an original image to generate image data has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-354468 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-315763

  When an image is displayed by supplying image data for a flat panel (planar display panel) to a curved display panel in which pixels are arranged in a matrix, the panel shape is a curved surface. There is a problem that appears to be locally distorted.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation where the letter “A” is displayed on a flat panel in which pixels are arranged in a matrix. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, the character “A” is displayed by the plurality of pixels 110. Note that the size of each pixel 110 is equal.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a curved display panel. A plurality of pixels (not shown in FIG. 13) are arranged in a matrix on the curved display panel 100, and each pixel has the same size. In addition, the size of each pixel of the curved display panel is assumed to be the same as the size of each pixel of the flat panel. FIG. 13 shows an example in which the display surface 101 of the curved display panel 100 is a concave curved surface. Assume that the same image data as that for displaying the letter “A” shown in FIG. 12 on the flat panel is supplied to the curved display panel 100 to display an image. Also in this case, the curved display panel 100 displays the letter “A” on the display surface 101. However, some characters appear to be distorted to the observer.

  Since the curved display panel 100 shown in FIG. 13 is curved in the vertical direction, when the display surface 101 is observed from the front, the height of each pixel is reduced toward the observer in the vertical direction from the center. It feels like That is, the apparent height of the pixels that are away from the center in the upward or downward direction appears to be reduced. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the apparent height of each pixel of the curved display panel. FIG. 14 shows the curved display panel as viewed from the side. In the example shown in FIG. 14, 14 pixels having a height a are arranged vertically. However, since the curved display panel 100 is curved in the vertical direction, when the display surface is observed from the front, the height of the pixel at the center is almost the same as the height a of the pixel itself, such as H7 and H8. Become. However, the further away from the center in the vertical direction, the smaller the pixel height is observed. For example, the height of the upper end pixel and the lower end pixel is lower than the height of the pixels near the center, such as H1 and H14. Is done.

  When an image is displayed on such a curved display panel 100 by supplying the same image data as the image data supplied to the flat panel, the pixel height seems to be reduced as the distance from the center portion increases in the vertical direction. The upper and lower parts of the image appear distorted. 15 shows a case where the same image data as when the image illustrated in FIG. 12 is displayed on the flat panel is supplied to the curved display panel 100 and an image (in this example, the letter “A”) is displayed on the curved display panel. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the visual recognition state of this image. Since the curved display panel recognizes that the upper and lower pixels are shrunk, when comparing FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, the upper and lower parts of the letter “A” displayed on the curved display panel are shrunk. The character is recognized as distorted. Note that the width of the character (image) is the same as that displayed on the flat panel, but the height of the character (image) is observed with the pixel height reduced, so that the height of the character (image) is smaller than that of the flat panel. Is also recognized low.

  Although the case where the display surface 101 (see FIG. 13) of the curved display panel 100 is observed from the front is described as an example here, the image appears to be locally distorted when observed from other directions. For example, when the display surface 101 of the curved display panel 100 is observed obliquely downward, the height of the pixel at the lower part of the curved display panel 100 is observed to be particularly reduced, and the lower part of the image looks particularly distorted.

  In the above example, the case where the curved display panel 100 is curved in the vertical direction has been described as an example. However, even when the curved display panel 100 is curved in the horizontal direction, the image is observed as if distorted. Note that “curved in the vertical direction” means a state in which the vertical sectional view of the panel is curved. “Curved in the horizontal direction” means a state in which the horizontal sectional view of the panel is curved.

  In addition, not only when the display surface is a concave curved surface, but also when the display surface is a convex curved surface, the problem is that the image is observed as if distorted.

  Therefore, the present invention provides image data generation for a curved display panel that generates image data that can prevent an image observed from that direction from being distorted and recognized when the direction for observing the curved display panel is set to a certain direction. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  Aspect 1 of the present invention is a curved display panel in which a plurality of pixels having the same size are arranged in a matrix and curved in the vertical direction, and it can be approximated that the line of sight to each position of the curved display panel is parallel. Image data for displaying an image on a curved display panel whose position perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint determined at a position far away from the curved display panel is set as the reference position is equal to the number of lines on the curved display panel. And an image data generation apparatus for a curved display panel that is generated by correcting image data for a flat panel in which pixels are arranged in the number of columns, and the length along the curve of the display area in which the pixels are arranged is expressed as V And an orthogonal projection of the upper end of the display area onto a plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint to the reference position and a plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint to the reference position at the lower end of the display area. Column data included in the image data for the flat panel so that the number of column data included in the image data for the flat panel is approximately v / V times when the interval from the orthogonal projection to the plane is v. Data reduction means (for example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1) for reducing image data, and row correction means for correcting the image data by replacing the row data included in the image data in which the column data is reduced with the row data of the replacement target row (E.g., horizontal / vertical correction unit 1) and data addition means (e.g., scaling) that adds column data representing a single display of the same number as the reduced column data to the image data corrected by the row correction means. And a line correction unit for each row aligned from the reference position to the edge of the display area, and orthogonally projecting the upper end of the pixel of each row onto the plane and the normal of the lower end of the pixel of each row onto the plane. Display area of the distance from the projection The total value L from the display is calculated, the height of the display area is v, the number of columns and rows of pixels are equal to the number of columns and rows of pixels of the curved display panel, and the height of each pixel is common The total value M of the heights of the pixels from the edge of the display area in each flat panel is obtained for each line, and the ratio with the cumulative value L is closest to 1 for each line aligned from the reference position to the edge of the display area. Provided is a curved display panel image data generation device characterized by specifying a row from which a value M is obtained as a replacement target row.

  Aspect 2 of the present invention is an aspect in which, in aspect 1, the data reduction means has an integer group closest to a value obtained by dividing column data included in image data for a flat panel by vV by a pixel width of the curved display panel. If at least one of the image data of two adjacent pixels in two adjacent column data in the group shows a specific color for each group, the image data of the two pixels Is replaced with image data of one pixel indicating a specific color, and if the image data of two adjacent pixels in two adjacent column data in the group indicate non-specific colors, the two Provided is an image data generation apparatus for a curved display panel that replaces image data of pixels with image data of one pixel indicating a non-specific color to reduce column data.

  Aspect 3 of the present invention can be approximated by a curved display panel in which a plurality of pixels having the same size are arranged in a matrix and curved in the horizontal direction, and the line of sight to each position of the curved display panel is parallel. Image data for displaying an image on a curved display panel whose position perpendicular to the line of sight from a viewpoint determined at a position far away from the curved display panel is set as a reference position is equal to the curved display panel. An image data generation device for a curved display panel, which is generated by correcting image data for a flat panel in which pixels are arranged in the number and the number of columns, and the length along the curvature of the display area in which the pixels are arranged Let V be an orthogonal projection of the right end of the display area onto a plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint to the reference position, and the left end of the display area perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint to the reference position. The rows included in the image data for the flat panel so that the number of row data included in the image data for the flat panel is approximately v / V times when the interval from the orthogonal projection to the surface is v. Data reduction means for reducing data (for example, horizontal / vertical correction unit 1) and column correction for correcting image data by replacing column data included in image data with reduced row data with column data of a replacement target column A data addition means (for example, a line addition means for adding the same number of single displays as the reduced line data to the image data corrected by the means (for example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1) and the column correction means (for example, And a column correction means for each column aligned from the reference position to the display region end, and orthogonal projection to the plane of the right end of the pixel in each column and the left end of the pixel in each column Display area of the distance from the orthogonal projection to the plane The cumulative value L from the end is calculated, the width of the display area is v, the number of columns and rows of pixels are equal to the number of columns and rows of pixels of the curved display panel, and the width of each pixel is common. A cumulative value M of the widths of the pixels from the edge of the display area in the flat panel is obtained in a matrix, and the cumulative value M that has the closest ratio to the cumulative value L for each column aligned from the reference position to the edge of the display area is 1. An image data generation device for a curved display panel is provided that identifies a column from which the above is obtained as a replacement target column.

  According to aspect 4 of the present invention, in the aspect 3, the data reduction unit is an integer closest to a value obtained by dividing the line data included in the image data for the flat panel by vV by the height of the pixel of the curved display panel. Grouped into groups, and for each group, if at least one of the image data of two adjacent pixels in two adjacent row data in the group shows a specific color, the image of the two pixels If the data is replaced with image data of one pixel indicating a specific color and the image data of two adjacent pixels in two adjacent row data in the group indicate non-specific colors, the two Provided is an image data generation device for a curved display panel that replaces pixel image data with image data of one pixel indicating a non-specific color to reduce row data.

  According to the present invention, when the direction in which the curved display panel is observed is set to a certain direction, it is possible to generate image data that can prevent an image observed from that direction from being distorted and recognized.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a curved display panel that displays an image based on image data created by the curved display panel image data generation apparatus according to the present invention. However, illustration of the transparent electrode etc. arrange | positioned on the board | substrates 11 and 12 is abbreviate | omitted. Here, an example in which the curved display panel 10 is a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between the substrates 11 and 12 is shown. Further, it is assumed that the curved display panel 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is curved in the vertical direction.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the display surface 15 is a concave curved surface, and the viewer's viewpoint 21 observes an image displayed on the display surface 15 from the front direction of the display surface 15.

  The curved display panel 10 has a configuration in which a liquid crystal (not shown) is sandwiched between a first transparent substrate 11 and a second transparent substrate 12. The liquid crystal is sealed in the curved display panel 10 by the first transparent substrate 11, the second transparent substrate 12, and a sealing material (not shown). The first transparent substrate 11 and the second transparent substrate 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 are both curved in the vertical direction. However, it is not curved in the horizontal direction.

  The curved display panel 10 may be, for example, a curved display panel that includes a switching element (for example, TFT (Thin Film Transistor)) for each pixel arranged in a matrix and employs active matrix driving. In this case, a common electrode (not shown) is arranged on one transparent substrate, and a combination of display electrodes and switching elements (not shown) corresponding to each pixel is arranged in a matrix on the other transparent substrate. Is done. In the following description, it is assumed that the switching element is a TFT. Each display electrode is disposed so as to face the common substrate with the liquid crystal interposed therebetween. The common electrodes and the display electrodes arranged in a matrix are curved so as to match the shape of the transparent substrate.

The display electrode is connected to the drain of the TFT. The source of the TFT is connected to the source wiring, and the gate of the TFT is connected to the gate wiring. When the gate is set to a predetermined on potential via the gate wiring, the source and the drain are in a conductive state, and the display electrode is set to the same potential as the source wiring. When the gate potential is set to a predetermined off potential, the source and the drain are brought out of conduction, and the source wiring and the display electrode are also brought out of conduction. The predetermined on-potential is a predetermined potential of the gate for bringing the source and drain into conduction. The predetermined off potential is a predetermined potential of the gate for making the source and drain non-conductive. Hereinafter, the predetermined on potential is represented as V _gH and the predetermined off potential is represented as V _gL .

Each gate wiring is connected to the gate of each TFT in one row for each row. Each source line is connected to the source of each TFT in one column for each column. Of the gate driver and source driver (both not shown) for driving the curved display panel 10, the gate driver scans while sequentially selecting the gate wiring, sets the potential of the selected gate wiring to V _gH , The potential of the unselected gate wiring is set to V _gL . During the selection period of the row selected by the gate driver, the source driver sets the potential of each source wiring according to the image data of each pixel for one row corresponding to the selected gate wiring. As a result, a voltage corresponding to the image data is applied to the liquid crystal between each pixel electrode and the common electrode for one row corresponding to the selected gate wiring. Charges are accumulated in the pixels for one row. Thereafter, by sequentially selecting the gate wiring in the same manner, an image for one screen is displayed.

  The curved display panel 10 may be a curved display panel that employs simple matrix driving. In this case, a plurality of scanning electrodes (not shown) are arranged on one transparent substrate, and a plurality of signal electrodes (not shown) are arranged on the other transparent substrate. Each scanning electrode and each signal electrode are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other through a liquid crystal. Each scanning electrode and each signal electrode are curved to match the shape of the transparent substrate. Of the scan electrode driver and signal electrode driver (both not shown) for driving the curved display panel 10, the scan electrode driver scans the scan electrodes while sequentially selecting the scan electrodes. The potential is set, and the other scan electrodes are set to a predetermined non-selection potential. While one scan electrode is selected, the signal electrode driver sets the potential of each signal electrode according to the image data of each pixel for one row corresponding to the selected scan electrode. As a result, a voltage corresponding to the image data is applied to the liquid crystal between the selected scan electrode and each signal electrode. Thereafter, by sequentially selecting scanning electrodes in the same manner, an image for one screen is displayed.

  The size of each pixel of the curved display panel that displays an image based on the image data created by the curved display panel image data generation apparatus according to the present invention is equal. That is, the height (length along the curve) of each pixel is equal, and the width of each pixel is also equal.

  Although the curved display panel 10 is a liquid crystal panel driven by an active matrix driving method or a simple matrix driving method here, another display panel may be used. For example, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display panel may be used.

  The curved display panel image data generating apparatus according to the present invention generates image data of an image to be displayed on the curved display panel as described above. That is, the image data supplied to the above-described source driver or signal electrode driver is generated.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an image data generation device for a curved display panel (hereinafter referred to as an image data generation device) according to the present invention. In the following description, a case where the curved display panel is curved in the vertical direction will be described as an example. Further, an example will be described in which the display surface on which the curved display panel displays an image (the surface on the side where the image is observed by the observer) is a concave curved surface. In the following description, it is assumed that the curved display panel 10 is curved in an arc shape in the vertical direction, and the curvature radius of the curvature is constant. Hereinafter, this curvature radius is set to r.

  The image data generation apparatus of the present invention receives image data for a flat panel (planar display panel) in which pixels are arranged with the same number of rows and columns as the curved display panel. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image data is binary image image data. The image data includes data (for example, “0” or “1”) corresponding to each pixel arranged in a matrix on the flat panel. Hereinafter, in the image data, the display of each pixel is represented by “0” or “1”, “0” represents white display, and “1” represents black display. The image data generation apparatus of the present invention generates image data for a curved display panel by correcting the image data for a flat panel.

  The image data generation device includes a horizontal / vertical correction unit 1, a first frame memory 2, a scaling unit 3, and a second frame memory 4.

  Each of the first frame memory 2 and the second frame memory 4 is a storage device capable of storing image data for one screen.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 receives image data for one screen for a flat panel in which pixels are arranged with the same number of rows and columns as the curved display panel. Of the image data for one screen, image data corresponding to one column of pixels is referred to as column data, and image data corresponding to one row of pixels is referred to as row data. Further, it is assumed that the number of columns of pixels in the curved display panel is P columns, and the image data for one screen includes column data for P columns. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 stores the input image data for one screen in the first frame memory 2. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 reads the image data stored in the first frame memory 2 and corrects the image data.

  Here, it is assumed that the height of the display area when it is assumed that the display area of the curved display panel (area where pixels are arranged in a matrix) is not curved. That is, the length along the curvature of the display area is V (see FIG. 1). A plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the observer's viewpoint 21 to the reference position 22 is referred to as a plane T. An interval (distance) between the orthogonal projection 71 on the plane T at the upper end of the display area and the orthogonal projection 72 on the plane T at the lower end of the display area is defined as v (see FIG. 1). The reference position will be described later. When an image is displayed based on the input image data assuming that the display area of the curved display panel is not curved, the height of the image displayed in the display area is V. Since it is curved, the height of the image is observed as v. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs correction to reduce the column data for the P columns included in the image data for one screen to the column data for the p columns in accordance with the scale factor v / V of the height. p is the number of column data after reduction, and the number of columns reduced is P-p. However, strictly speaking, p / P = v / V may not be established. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs correction to reduce column data by superimposing column data of some columns with column data of columns adjacent to the column. Further, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 corrects the row data. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 corrects the row data by replacing the row data with other row data or superimposing the row data of some rows with the row data of the row adjacent to the row. Specific description of correction by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 will be described later. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 outputs the corrected image data to the scaling unit 3.

  When the corrected image data is input from the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1, the scaling unit 3 stores the image data in the second frame memory 4. Then, the scaling unit 3 reads the image data stored in the second frame memory 4, and the image data is the same number of pixels as the original image data (image data for one screen for a flat panel). To correct. The scaling unit 3 performs correction for adding column data corresponding to the number of columns (Pp columns) corresponding to the column data reduced by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. Do. However, the column data for the Pp column added by the scaling unit 3 represents only white display or black display. That is, the scaling unit 3 adds the column data for the Pp column representing only white display or the column data for the Pp column representing only black display to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. . Hereinafter, column data for the Pp column representing only white display is added.

  The scaling unit 3 adds column data as image data of a region outside (both left and right sides) of the image represented by the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. That is, the scaling unit 3 is arranged so that the image represented by the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 is arranged in the center of the display area, and only one color (only white in this example) is displayed on both sides thereof. Perform correction to add data. The scaling unit 3 adds column data having a number of columns that is half of Pp that is the reduced number of columns as column data on the left side in the display area, and the number of columns that is half of Pp that is the number of columns that has been reduced. Column data may be added as column data on the right side of the display area. When Pp is an odd number, the number of columns added as the left column data in the display area may not match the number of columns added as the right column data in the display area.

  Before describing the operation of the image data generation device, first, a situation where the curved display panel 10 is observed will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which the curved display panel 10 is observed. In FIG. 3, only a portion serving as a display area is shown as the curved display panel 10. It is assumed that the curved display panel 10 to which the image data generation device of the present invention is applied is observed from a predetermined direction. If the distance between the observer's viewpoint 21 and the curved display panel 10 is sufficiently large with respect to the radius of curvature r, the lines of sight from the viewpoint 21 to each position on the display surface of the curved display panel 10 are parallel. Can be approximated. The viewpoint 21 is assumed to exist at a position away from the curved display panel 1 to the extent that each line of sight from the viewpoint 21 to each position on the display surface of the curved display panel 10 can be approximated to be parallel. That is, the observer observes an image displayed on the display surface of the curved display panel 10 from such a position.

  A reference position 22 is defined on the curved display panel 10. The reference position 22 is a position at which the line of sight from the viewpoint 21 intersects the curved display panel 10 perpendicularly among the positions in the curved display panel 10. For the sake of convenience, in the following description, it is assumed that the reference position 22 is located at the boundary of pixels arranged vertically (pixels 31 and 32 in the example shown in FIG. 3). In the example shown in FIG. 3, the viewpoint 21 is present in the front direction of the curved display panel 10 and the reference position 22 is the central portion in the vertical direction of the curved display panel 10.

  It is assumed that n pixels are arranged in the upward direction from the reference position 22 to the upper end of the display area of the curved display panel 10, and for each pixel arranged in the upward direction from the reference position 22, 1 in the order closer to the reference position 22. Assign a number of ~ n. Similarly, it is assumed that m pixels are arranged downward from the reference position 22 to the lower end of the display area of the curved display panel 10, and the reference position 22 is set for each pixel arranged downward from the reference position 22. Assume that numbers 1 to m are assigned in ascending order. In this example, since the reference position 22 is the central portion in the vertical direction of the curved display panel 10, n = m.

The height of each pixel of the curved display panel 10 is equal. The height of each pixel aligned upward from the reference position 22 is set to a _k, and the height of each pixel aligned downward from the reference position 22 is set to b _k . Here, k is the number of each pixel lined up and down from the reference position 22. Also, each pixel is curved in accordance with the shape of the transparent substrates 11 and 12. The height _a 1 ~a _n and _b 1 ~b _m in each pixel is the length along the curve of each pixel. In other words, the arc length of each pixel curved in an arc shape. Since the height of each pixel is equal, a ₁ = a ₂ =... = A _n = b ₁ = b ₂ = ... = b _m . Also, let c be the height common to each pixel. That is, a ₁ = a ₂ =... = A _n = b ₁ = b ₂ =... = B _m = c.

In each pixel lined up from the reference position 22, an interval (distance) between an orthogonal projection of the upper end of the pixel onto the plane T and an orthogonal projection of the lower end of the pixel onto the plane T is _{defined as Ak} . Here, k is the number of each pixel lined up from the reference position 22.

Similarly, in each of pixels arranged in a downward direction from the reference position 22, and B _k intervals (distance) between the orthogonal projection onto the plane T of the orthogonal projection and the lower end of the pixels of the plane T of the top end of the pixel. Here, k is the number of each pixel lined down from the reference position 22.

  The plane T is a plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the observer's viewpoint 21 to the reference position 22.

In k-th pixels arranged upward from the reference position 22, the spacing A _k of the orthogonal projection onto the plane T of the orthogonal projection and the lower end of the pixels of the plane T of the top end of the pixel is obtained by the following equation.

A _k = 2 · r · sin {c / (2 · r)} · sin {(k · c) / (2 · r)} (Formula 1)

Similarly, in the k-th pixels arranged downward from the reference position 22, the interval B _k between the orthogonal projection onto the plane T of the orthogonal projection and the lower end of the pixels of the plane T of the top end of the pixel, by the following equation Desired.

B _k = 2 · r · sin {c / (2 · r)} · sin {(k · c) / (2 · r)} (Formula 2)

In the vertical cross section of the curved display panel 10 shown in FIG. 3, a line connecting the arcuate center position 23 formed by the curved display panel 10 and the reference position 22 is referred to as a reference line. Each angle θ _k shown in FIG. 3 is _defined by the line connecting the arc-shaped center position 23 and the end of the kth pixel from the reference position 22 (end far from the reference position 22) to the reference line. It is an angle to make.

Next, the operation will be described.
First, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 receives image data for one screen for a flat panel in which pixels are arranged with the same number of rows and columns as the curved display panel. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 stores the input image data for one screen in the first frame memory 2. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 reads the image data stored in the first frame memory 2 and corrects the image data.

Here, 64 rows and 64 columns of pixels are arranged on the curved display panel, and the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 indicates the state of each pixel arranged in 64 rows and 64 columns (either white display or black display). A case where designated image data is input will be described as an example. Further, an example will be described in which 32 rows of pixels are arranged upward from the reference position 22 (see FIG. 3) and 32 rows of pixels are arranged downward from the reference position 22. Further, the heights a _k and b _k of the pixels of the curved display panel are both 100 (units will be omitted), and the common width W of the pixels is also 100.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed based on input image data when it is assumed that the display area of the curved display panel is not curved. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of pixel heights in each row.

  When the image data stored in the first frame memory 2 is read, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 corrects the image data so as to reduce the column data. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs correction for reducing column data as follows.

  First, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates the height V of the display area when it is assumed that the display area of the curved display panel is not curved. V can be calculated as the sum of the pixel heights in each row. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate V as the sum of the heights in each row. That is, V may be calculated by multiplying the common height c of each pixel by the number of rows. In this example, since the common height c of each pixel is c = 100, the value of V is calculated as 6400 (= 100 · 64). Since the value of V is a value determined by the number of rows of pixels arranged on the curved display panel and the height of the pixels, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may store the value of V in advance.

Subsequently, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates an interval v (see FIG. 1) between the orthogonal projection 71 onto the plane T at the upper end of the display area and the orthogonal projection 72 onto the plane T at the lower end of the display area. v is an interval A _k (in this example, 1 ≦ k ≦ in this example) between the orthogonal projection of the upper end of the pixel to the plane T and the orthogonal projection of the lower end of the pixel to the plane T in each row of pixels aligned upward from the reference position 22. 32), and the interval B _k between the orthogonal projection of the upper end of the pixel on the plane T and the orthogonal projection of the lower end of the pixel on the plane T in each row of pixels aligned downward from the reference position 22 (1 ≦ k in this example) V can be calculated as the sum of ≦ 32). The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates v by Equation 3 shown below.

That is, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates each A _k according to Equation 1, further calculates each B _k according to Equation 2, and calculates v as the sum thereof. In this example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates A _{1 to} A ₃₂ according to Equation 1, calculates B _{1 to} B ₃₂ according to Equation 2, and sets v ₁ as the sum of A _{1 to} A ₃₂ and B _{1 to} B _32. Is calculated. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of values of the distances A _k and B _k between the orthogonal projection of the pixels in each row onto the plane T at the upper end and the orthographic projection onto the plane T at the lower end of the pixels in each row. In this example, it is assumed that the value of v is calculated as 5200.43 as the sum of A _{1 to} A ₃₂ and B _{1 to} B ₃₂ .

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image recognized when an image is displayed on the curved display panel using the image data for the flat panel as it is without using the image data generating apparatus of the present invention. is there. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 7 and FIG. 4, when it is assumed that the curved display panel is a flat panel that is not curved, the image is recognized as an image having a height V. Recognized as

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates the number D of column data to be reduced when the intervals V and v are calculated. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate the number D of column data to be reduced according to Equation 4 shown below. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates D as an integer by rounding off after the decimal point.

  D = (V−v) / W (Formula 4)

  In this example, V = 6400, v = 5200.43, and the width W = 100 common to the pixels, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates D = 12.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 groups P column data included in image data into D groups, and reduces one column of column data from each group. For example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 sequentially stores column data as a group of consecutive columns such as a group in the first to fifth columns and a group in the sixth to eleventh columns in order from the left (or right) column of the image. Divide into groups. The left side (or right side) means the left side (or right side) of the image when viewed from the viewer side.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate the number of column data belonging to one group by P / D, but P / D is not necessarily an integer. When the P / D is not an integer, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 sets the number of column data belonging to the group to a value obtained by rounding up the decimal point of the P / D or a value obtained by rounding down the decimal part of the P / D. Are grouped so that the sum of the number of column data belonging to the number of column data matches the number of column data P included in the original image data.

  In this example, since P = 64 and D = 12, and P / D = 5.33, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 has 5 or 6 column data belonging to each group, and the sum total thereof is Group into 64. In this example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 groups the column data in the order of 5 columns, 5 columns, 6 columns, 5 columns, 5 columns, 6 columns,. That is, from the left to the front plate, a group of column data from the first column to the fifth column, a group of column data from the sixth column to the tenth column, a group of column data from the eleventh column to the sixteenth column, Column data group from column 17 to column 21, column data group from column 22 to column 26, column data group from column 27 to column 32, column 33 to column 37 Are grouped into groups of column data.

  The P / (2 · D) -th column from the end column in each group (if P / (2 · D) is not an integer, it may be rounded up after the decimal point) is the almost central column in each group. . The “end column in each group” is the leftmost (or rightmost) column in each group. In this example, the leftmost column in each group is the end column in each group. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 identifies column data of the P / (2 · D) -th column and the adjacent column from the leftmost column in each group. In this example, since P / (2 · D) = 2.7, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 rounds up this value and specifies the column data of the third column and the fourth column from the end in each group. To do.

  For example, in the group of column data from the first column to the fifth column, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 specifies the third column from the first column to the third column and the column data of the fourth column adjacent to the column. . For example, in the group of column data from the 11th column to the 16th column, the 13th column and the 14th column data adjacent to the 13th column are specified.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 superimposes the specified two columns of column data for each group and reduces the column data to one column. Here, “superimpose two specified columns of column data” specifically means the following operation. The specified column data for two columns includes a set of image data of two adjacent pixels for each row. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 refers to a set of image data of two adjacent pixels for each row. Then, if both of the image data of the two pixels indicate white display, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the set of image data of the two pixels with one image data indicating white display. . Further, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 displays a set of image data of two pixels as black if at least one of the image data of the two pixels indicates black display. Is replaced with one piece of image data.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of superimposing two columns of column data by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. FIG. 8A shows column data for two columns, and FIG. 8B shows column data for one column after superposition. “1” indicates black display, and “0” indicates white display. Since the image data of the two pixels in the first row shown in FIG. 8A are both image data (“0”) indicating white display, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 The image data is replaced with one image data (“0”) representing white display (see FIG. 8B). Further, since the image data of the two pixels in the second row shown in FIG. 8A is “1”, one of which indicates black display, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs the image data of the two pixels. Is replaced with one piece of image data (“1”) representing black display (see FIG. 8B). In addition, since the image data of the two pixels in the third row shown in FIG. 8A are both “1” indicating black display, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs the image data of the two pixels. Is replaced with one piece of image data (“1”) representing black display (see FIG. 8B). The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs such replacement for each row. As a result, column data for one column after superposition exemplified in FIG. 8B is obtained, and column data for two columns is reduced to column data for one column. In this example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may obtain a logical sum (OR) for each set of image data of two pixels.

  The above description has been described by way of example on the assumption that the background is white and black characters, symbols, and figures are represented. When it is assumed that the background is black and white characters, symbols, and figures are represented, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 can display the two pixels if the image data of the two pixels shows black display. If a set of image data of pixels is replaced with one image data indicating black display, and if at least one of the image data of two pixels indicates white display, then the two A set of pixel image data may be replaced with one image data indicating white display.

  After correcting the column data, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 corrects the row data. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram regarding correction of row data. The decimal numbers shown in FIG. 9 are values obtained by rounding off the third decimal place. First, FIG. 9 will be described.

  The “number indicating the order from the reference position” shown in FIG. 9 indicates how many pixels from the reference position 22 (see FIG. 3) belong to the row data.

The “cumulative value L of A _k or B _k from the edge of the display area” shown in FIG. 9 is the cumulative value of A _k or B _k from the edge of the display area up to the pixel “number indicating the order from the reference position”. Value. The edge of the display area means the pixel at the upper end of the display area when performing calculations related to pixels above the reference position 22, and the pixel at the lower end of the display area is calculated when performing calculations regarding pixels below the reference position 22. means. For example, in this example, for the 31st pixel lined up from the reference position 22, the cumulative value L is A ₃₂ + A ₃₁ = 99.48. The cumulative value L corresponding to other pixels can be calculated in the same manner.

  The “number of pixels in the replacement target row” shown in FIG. 9 is a number assigned to the pixel in the row that is used to newly replace the row data. The “replacement target line” is a line used for newly replacing the line data. For example, when replacing the e-th row data lined up from the reference position 22 with the f-th row data lined up from the reference position 22, “f” is “the pixel of the row to be replaced”. Corresponds to "number".

  The “cumulative value M corresponding to the replacement target row” illustrated in FIG. 9 will be described. Consider a flat panel in which the height of the display area is v, the number of columns and rows of pixels is equal to the number of columns and rows of pixels of the curved display panel, and the height of each pixel is common. If the common height of each pixel in the flat panel is c ′, c ′ = c · (v / V). In this example, c = 100 and v / V = (5200.43 / 6400) = 81.26. In addition, the value when the number of the replacement target line is counted from 1 in order from the line at the end of the display area is set to h. The “cumulative value M according to the replacement target row” is a cumulative value of the pixel heights of each row from the row at the edge of the display area to the replacement target row, and is a product of c ′ and h. For example, if the replacement target line is the uppermost line of the display area (in this example, the 32nd line aligned upward from the reference position 22), that line corresponds to the first line from the end of the display area. Therefore, the cumulative value M is 81.26. Similarly, if the replacement target row is the second row from the upper end of the display area (in this example, the 31st row aligned upward from the reference position 22), the cumulative value M is c ′ · 2 = 162.51. Even if the replacement target line is another line, the same calculation is performed.

  The ratio of L and M is L / M if L <M, and M / L if L> M.

When correcting the row data, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 first calculates the cumulative value L of A _k and B _k from the end of the display area for each row.

  Subsequently, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 changes the “pixel number of the replacement target row” for each row, and specifies the “pixel number of the replacement target row” in which the ratio of L and M is closest to 1. . For example, in the 32nd row lined upward from the reference position 22, the cumulative value L is “48.30” (see FIG. 9). The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 sets each line arranged above the reference position 22 as a candidate as a candidate for replacing the line data of the 32nd line. That is, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 sets each row number (in this example, each number from “1” to “32”) to “a pixel number of a replacement target row”. Then, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates a cumulative value M corresponding to the “number of pixels in the replacement target row” for each number designated as “the number of pixels in the replacement target row”, Calculate the ratio. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate the cumulative value M as the product of the above c ′ and h. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the row data of the 32nd row with a number in which the ratio of L and M is closest to 1 among the numbers designated as “pixel numbers of the row to be replaced”. Identifies as a line number. In this example, when the pixel number of the replacement target row is “32”, M = 81.26, and the ratio of L and M is closest to 1. Accordingly, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 determines to replace the 32nd row data arranged upward from the reference position 22 with the row data of the same row.

  Similarly, for the row data of other rows, the “pixel number of the replacement target row” is specified. For example, in the 31st row aligned upward from the reference position 22, the cumulative value L is “99.48” (see FIG. 9). The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates the cumulative value M for each number, with each row number “1” to “32” being the “pixel number of the replacement target row”, and the ratio of L to M is calculated. calculate. When the cumulative value L is “99.48”, when “the pixel number of the replacement target row” is “32”, M = 81.26, and the ratio of L and M is closest to 1. Accordingly, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 determines to replace the 31st row data arranged upward from the reference position 22 with the 32nd row data arranged upward from the reference position 22.

  FIG. 9 shows the “number of pixels in the replacement target row” finally determined by performing such determination for each row.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 specifies the “pixel number of the replacement target row” for each row, and then converts the row data corresponding to the “number indicating the order from the reference position” to the “pixel number of the replacement target row”. Replace with line data corresponding to. For example, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the row data of the 31st row lined upward from the reference position 22 with the 32nd line lined upward from the reference position 22.

  However, if the specified “number of pixels in the replacement target row” matches the “number indicating the order from the reference position”, it is replaced with the row data of the same row, so that the row is replaced. It is not necessary.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 also superimposes the row data of the row not selected as the “pixel number of the replacement target row” with the row data of the row adjacent to the outside of the row. Generate data. Then, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the row data of the adjacent row with the generated row data for one row.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, “17” is not selected as the “pixel number of the replacement target row”. Accordingly, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 generates line data for one line by superimposing the line data of the 17th line arranged upward from the reference position 22 and the 18th line data adjacent to the outside. To do. Then, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the row data of the 18th row arranged upward from the reference position 22 with the generated row data of one row.

  The operation of superimposing two adjacent rows of row data is the same as the operation of superimposing two columns of column data (see FIG. 8). That is, the adjacent two rows of row data include a set of two adjacent image data for each column. The horizontal / vertical candidate unit 1 refers to a set of image data of two adjacent pixels for each column. Then, if both of the image data of the two pixels indicate white display, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the set of image data of the two pixels with one image data indicating white display. . Further, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 displays a set of image data of two pixels as black if at least one of the image data of the two pixels indicates black display. Is replaced with one piece of image data.

  As described above, when it is assumed that the background is black and white characters, symbols, and figures are represented, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 indicates that the image data of the two pixels is black. If so, the set of image data of the two pixels is replaced with one image data indicating black display, and at least one of the image data of the two pixels indicates white display. If so, the set of image data of the two pixels may be replaced with one image data indicating white display.

  The row data corresponding to the “number indicating the order from the reference position” is replaced with the row data corresponding to the “pixel number of the replacement target row”, and the row not selected as the “pixel number of the replacement target row” If the above processing relating to the row data is performed, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 ends the correction relating to the row data.

  Here, the case where the row data of the row not selected as the “pixel number of the replacement target row” and the row data of the adjacent row are overlaid has been described, but the row data is not overlaid. In addition, the correction of the row data may be completed simply by replacing the row data corresponding to the “number indicating the order from the reference position” with the row data corresponding to the “pixel number of the replacement target row”. In this case, the row data of the row not selected as “the pixel number of the replacement target row” is deleted.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image based on image data after correction of row data. The original image data input to the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 includes column data for P columns (P = 64 in this example), but the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 reduces the column data. The number of columns decreases. As shown in FIG. 10, the column data for the P columns that were initially included in the image data are reduced to 52 columns of column data in this example. The portions on both sides shown in FIG. 10 indicate that the column data is insufficient with respect to the number of pixel columns of the curved display panel 10 due to the deletion of the column data. In addition, since the line data for one line included in the original image data is replaced with the line data for another line, the line data included in the image data after correction by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 is also performed. The number of remains unchanged.

  After completing the correction of the row data, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 outputs the corrected image data to the scaling unit 3. The scaling unit 3 stores the image data input from the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 in the second frame memory 4. The scaling unit 4 reads the image data stored in the second frame memory and corrects the image data.

  The scaling unit 3 performs correction for adding the column data for the number of columns (column data for D columns) reduced by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. Note that D corresponds to the aforementioned Pp.

  The scaling unit 3 adds column data indicating that the entire column is white (or may be black) as image data of a region outside (both left and right sides) of the image represented by the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. That is, the scaling unit 3 is arranged so that the image represented by the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 is arranged at the center of the display area, and only white (or only black) may be displayed on both sides thereof. Add data. Specifically, column data indicating only white for the D / 2 column is added as image data of the left column in the display area, and column data indicating only white for the D / 2 column is added to the right side in the display area. To be added as image data in the column.

  By this correction, the column data of the columns on both the left and right sides in the display area that is insufficient in FIG. 10 is added. As already described, when D (= P−p) is an odd number, the number of columns added as left column data in the display area is equal to the number of columns added as right column data in the display area. You don't have to.

  If correction for adding column data to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 is performed, generation of image data for the curved display panel is completed by the correction. The scaling unit 3 performs correction for adding column data to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1, and then uses the corrected image data as a driving device (not shown) for the curved display panel 10. Output to. The drive device supplies the image data of each row to a source driver or a signal electrode driver provided in the drive device itself, and the drive device causes the curved display panel 10 to display an image.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed using the image data corrected by the scaling unit 3 when it is assumed that the curved display panel 10 is a flat panel that is not curved. As shown in FIG. 11, if an image is displayed on the flat panel using the image data corrected by the scaling unit 3, a part of characters and the like displayed at a position away from the reference position 22 is vertically long. To be displayed. As described above, when an image is displayed on the flat panel, image data such that a part of characters and the like is vertically long is generated at a position away from the reference position 22, and the curved display panel 10 is generated based on the image data. Display an image on. Therefore, the image displayed on the curved display panel 10 is not distorted and recognized by the observer. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an image observed from the observer's viewpoint 21 (see FIG. 3) from being distorted and recognized.

  In the above embodiment, the image data generation device that generates the image data for the curved display panel 10 curved in the vertical direction has been described. However, the image data generation device of the present invention is for a curved display panel that is curved in the horizontal direction. The image data generation apparatus may be used. It is assumed that the curved display panel curved in the horizontal direction is also curved in an arc shape with a certain curvature radius r. In addition, the width of each pixel (the length along the curve) is equal, and the height of each pixel is also equal. Furthermore, it is assumed that the image is observed from a predetermined direction.

  When generating image data for a curved display panel curved in the horizontal direction, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 and the scaling unit 3 are arranged when generating image data for the curved display panel 10 curved in the vertical direction. A process similar to the process performed on data is performed on the row data, and the process similar to the process performed on the row data when generating image data for the curved display panel 10 curved in the vertical direction is column data. Can be done. That is, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may perform correction for reducing row data in the same manner as the correction for reducing column data already described, and correct column data in the same manner as the correction for row data already described. Further, the scaling unit 3 may perform correction by adding row data corresponding to the number of rows corresponding to the row data reduced by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. The correction that the scaling unit 3 adds row data may be performed in the same manner as the correction that already adds column data.

  This will be specifically described below. As in the case described above, the case where the display surface on which the curved display panel displays an image (the surface on the side where the image is observed by the observer) is a concave curved surface will be described as an example. In the following description, V represents the width of the display area (the length along the curvature of the display area) when it is assumed that the display area of the curved display panel is not curved. Also, let v be the interval (distance) between the orthogonal projection of the curved display panel curved in the horizontal direction onto the rightmost plane T of the display area and the orthogonal projection onto the leftmost plane T of the display area. In the following description, it is assumed that the number of rows of pixels in the curved display panel is P rows, and the image data for one screen includes row data for P rows.

Further, in the following description, FIG. 3 will be described on the assumption that a horizontal section of a curved display panel is shown. The widths of the pixels arranged in the right direction from the reference position 22 are a ₁ , a ₂ ,..., _An, and the widths of the pixels arranged in the left direction from the reference position 22 are b ₁ , b _2. , ..., b _m . The width of each pixel is common, and when the value of the width is c, a ₁ = a ₂ =... = A _n = b ₁ = b ₂ = ... = b _m = c. Note that numbers are assigned in order from 1 to each pixel arranged in the right direction and the left direction from the reference position 22.

In each pixel arranged in the right direction from the reference position 22, an interval (distance) between an orthogonal projection of the pixel on the plane T at the right end and an orthogonal projection on the plane T at the left end of the pixel is _denoted by _Ak . Here, k is the number of each pixel arranged in the right direction from the reference position 22.

Similarly, in each of pixels arranged in the left direction from the reference position 22, and B _k intervals (distance) between the orthogonal projection onto the plane T orthogonal projection and leftmost pixel of the plane T of the rightmost pixel. Here, k is the number of each pixel arranged in the left direction from the reference position 22.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 receives image data for one screen for a flat panel in which pixels are arranged with the same number of rows and columns as the curved display panel. The input image data for one screen is stored in the first frame memory 2. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 reads the image data stored in the first frame memory 2 and corrects the image data.

  First, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 performs correction for reducing the row data for P rows included in the image data for one screen to the row data for p rows in accordance with the scale ratio v / V. Here, the number of row data after reduction is set to p. However, strictly speaking, p / P = v / V may not be established.

  When reducing the row data, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 first calculates the width V when it is assumed that the display area of the curved display panel is not curved. V can be calculated as the sum of the widths of the pixels in each column, and the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate V by multiplying the common width c of each pixel by the number of columns. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may store a value of V in advance.

Subsequently, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 determines v (the interval between the orthogonal projection of the display area of the curved display panel curved in the horizontal direction onto the rightmost plane T and the orthogonal projection onto the leftmost plane T of the display area). Is calculated. At this time, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate each _Ak according to Equation 1, further calculate each B _k according to Equation 2, and calculate v as the sum thereof.

  When the horizontal and vertical correction units 1 calculate the intervals V and v, respectively, the number of row data to be reduced (denoted as D) is calculated by D = (V−v) / H. However, H is a common height of each pixel of the curved display panel. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates D as an integer by rounding off after the decimal point.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 groups the row data for P rows included in the image data into D groups, and reduces the row data for one row from each group. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 may calculate the number of row data belonging to one group by P / D, but P / D is not necessarily an integer. When the P / D is not an integer, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 sets the number of row data belonging to the group to a value obtained by rounding up the decimal point of the P / D or a value obtained by rounding down the decimal part of the P / D. Are grouped so that the total sum of the number of row data belonging to is equal to P.

  Subsequently, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 specifies the row data of the P / (2 · D) -th row from the uppermost row in each group and the row adjacent thereto. At this time, if P / (2 · D) is not an integer, the fractional part may be rounded up. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 superimposes the specified two rows of row data for each group and reduces the row data to one row. The superimposition of the line data for two lines is the same as the operation already described.

After performing the correction to reduce the row data, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 corrects the column data. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates a cumulative value of A _k and B _k from the display region end of the curved display panel for each column. Here, the display region end means the pixel on the right end of the display region when performing calculation regarding the pixel on the right side from the reference position 22, and the left end of the display region when performing calculation regarding the pixel on the left side from the reference position 22. Means a pixel. As in the case shown in FIG. 9, this cumulative value is denoted as L.

  In addition, a number assigned to a pixel in a column used for newly replacing column data is referred to as a “pixel number in a column to be replaced”. The “replacement target column” is a column employed for newly replacing column data.

  Similarly to “cumulative value M corresponding to replacement target row” shown in FIG. 9, “cumulative value corresponding to replacement target column” is used for column data correction. Consider a flat panel in which the width of the display area is v, the number of columns and rows of pixels is equal to the number of columns and rows of pixels of the curved display panel, and the width of each pixel is common. If the common width of each pixel in this flat panel is c ′, c ′ = c · (v / V). In addition, the value when the number of the replacement target column is counted from 1 in order from the column at the end of the display area is set to h. The “cumulative value corresponding to the replacement target column” is a cumulative value of the pixel width of each column from the column at the end of the display area to the replacement target column, and is a product of c ′ and h. Hereinafter, this cumulative value is assumed to be M. Then, as in the case described above, “ratio of L and M” is defined as L / M if L <M and M / L if L> M.

The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 calculates the cumulative value L of A _k and B _k from the edge of the display area for each column, and then changes the “pixel number of the column to be replaced” for each column. The “number of pixels in the replacement target column” in which the ratio of L and M is closest to 1 is specified.

  Subsequently, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the column data with column data corresponding to the “pixel number of the column to be replaced” for each column. However, if the column data corresponding to the “pixel number of the column to be replaced” is the same as the column data before the replacement, the replacement is not necessary.

  In addition, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 adds one column of column data that is not selected as the “pixel number of the column to be replaced” by superimposing the column data of the column adjacent to the outside of the column. Generate data. The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 replaces the column data of the adjacent columns with the generated column data for one column. The overlapping of the column data for two columns is the same as the operation already described.

  With the above processing, the correction for the column data is completed. Note that the correction of the column data may be completed simply by replacing the column data with the column data corresponding to the “pixel number of the column to be replaced”.

  After completing the correction of the column data, the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 outputs the corrected image data to the scaling unit 3. The scaling unit 3 stores the image data input from the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 in the second frame memory 4. The scaling unit 4 reads the image data stored in the second frame memory and corrects the image data.

  The scaling unit 3 performs correction for adding the row data for the number of rows reduced by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 (row data for D rows) to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1.

  The scaling unit 3 adds row data indicating that the entire row is white (may be black) as image data of an area outside (upper and lower both sides) of the image represented by the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1. That is, the scaling unit 3 is arranged so that the image represented by the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 is arranged at the center of the display area, and only white (or only black) is displayed on both sides thereof. Add data. Specifically, line data indicating only white for D / 2 lines is added as image data of the upper line in the display area, and line data indicating only white for D / 2 lines is added to the bottom of the display area. It adds as the image data of the side column.

  If correction for adding row data to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 is performed, generation of image data for a curved display panel curved in the horizontal direction is completed by the correction. The scaling unit 3 performs correction by adding row data to the image data corrected by the horizontal / vertical correction unit 1, and then the corrected image data is supplied to a driving device (not shown) of the curved display panel. Output. The drive device supplies the image data of each row to a source driver or a signal electrode driver provided in the drive device itself, and the drive device displays an image on the curved display panel.

  If an image is displayed on the flat panel using the image data corrected by the scaling unit 3, a part of characters and the like displayed at a position away from the reference position 22 are displayed in a horizontally long manner. Since such image data is generated and displayed on the curved display panel, the present invention can prevent the image from being distorted and recognized.

  In the above description, the case where the display surface of the curved display panel curved in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction is a concave curved surface, but the display surface of the curved display panel may be a convex curved surface.

  Moreover, although the case where the observer's viewpoint 21 exists in the front direction of the curved display panel has been described as an example, the viewpoint 21 is not limited to the front direction. For example, it may be assumed that the viewpoint 21 exists in a diagonally downward direction of the curved display panel (that is, the observer observes the curved display panel from the diagonally downward direction).

  The curved display panel may be curved in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, or may be curved in other manners.

  The horizontal / vertical correction unit 1 and the scaling unit 3 may be realized by the same device.

  The present invention is preferably applied to image data generation for a curved display panel. For example, it is suitably applied to the generation of image data for a curved display panel used for an automobile instrument panel or the like.

The schematic diagram which shows the example of a curved-surface display panel. Explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the image data generation apparatus for curved surface display panels by this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the condition which observes the curved-surface display panel. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed based on input image data when it is assumed that the display area of the curved display panel is not curved. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the height of the pixel in each row Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the value of _Ak , _Bk . Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image recognized when an image is displayed on a curved-surface display panel using the image data for flat panels as it is. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the superimposition of the column data for 2 columns. Explanatory drawing regarding correction | amendment of line data. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image based on the image data after correction | amendment of line data. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed using image data after correction by a scaling unit when it is assumed that the curved display panel is a flat panel that is not curved. Explanatory drawing showing the condition which displays the character "A" on the flat panel by which the pixel is arrange | positioned at the matrix form. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a curved-surface display panel. Explanatory drawing which shows the apparent height of each pixel of a curved-surface display panel. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the visual recognition state of an image when an image is displayed on the conventional curved-surface display panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Horizontal / vertical correction | amendment part 2 1st frame memory 3 Scaling part 4 2nd frame memory 10 Curved surface display panel 21 View point 22 Reference position

Claims (4)

A curved display panel in which a plurality of pixels having the same size are arranged in a matrix and curved in the vertical direction, and separated from the curved display panel to the extent that the line of sight to each position of the curved display panel can be approximated to be parallel Pixels are arranged with the same number of rows and columns as the curved display panel for displaying the image on the curved display panel where the position perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint determined as the position is defined as the reference position An image data generation device for a curved display panel that is generated by correcting image data for a flat panel that has been made,
The length along the curve of the display area in which the pixels are arranged is V, and the orthogonal projection of the upper end of the display area onto the plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint to the reference position, and the viewpoint of the lower end of the display area The plane is set so that the number of column data included in the image data for the flat panel is approximately v / V times, where v is the interval from the orthogonal projection to the plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the reference position to the reference position. Data reduction means for reducing column data included in panel image data;
Row correction means for correcting the image data by replacing the row data included in the image data with reduced column data with the row data of the replacement target row;
Data addition means for adding column data representing a single display of the same number as the reduced column data to the image data corrected by the row correction means;
The row correction unit is configured to display, for each row arranged from the reference position to the end of the display region, an interval between an orthogonal projection of the upper end of the pixel of each row to the plane and an orthogonal projection of the lower end of the pixel of each row to the plane. Calculate the cumulative value L from the end,
The height of the display area is v, the number of columns and rows of pixels are equal to the number of columns and rows of pixels of the curved display panel, and the height of each pixel is from the end of the display area in the common flat panel. A cumulative value M of the pixel height is obtained for each row,
For each row lined up from the reference position to the edge of the display area, a row that obtains a cumulative value M whose ratio to the cumulative value L is closest to 1 is specified as a replacement target row. apparatus. The data reduction means divides the column data included in the image data for the flat panel into an integer group closest to a value obtained by dividing vV by the pixel width of the curved display panel, and for each group, If at least one of the image data of two adjacent pixels in the two adjacent column data indicates a specific color, the image data of the two pixels is converted into one pixel indicating the specific color. If the image data of two adjacent pixels in two column data adjacent to each other in the group indicates non-specific color, the image data of the two pixels is represented as 1 indicating non-specific color. The image data generation device for a curved display panel according to claim 1, wherein the column data is reduced by replacing with image data of individual pixels. A curved display panel in which a plurality of pixels having the same size are arranged in a matrix and curved in the horizontal direction, and is separated from the curved display panel to the extent that the line of sight to each position of the curved display panel can be approximated to be parallel Image data for displaying an image on a curved display panel in which the position perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint determined as the reference position is defined as a reference position, the pixels with the same number of rows and columns as the curved display panel. An image data generation device for a curved display panel that is generated by correcting image data for a flat panel arranged,
The length along the curve of the display area in which the pixels are arranged is V, and the orthogonal projection of the right end of the display area onto the plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint to the reference position, and the viewpoint of the left end of the display area When the interval from the orthogonal projection to the plane perpendicular to the line of sight from the reference position to v is v, the plane data is included so that the number of row data included in the image data for the flat panel is approximately v / V times. Data reduction means for reducing row data included in panel image data;
Column correction means for correcting the image data by replacing the column data included in the image data with reduced row data with the column data of the column to be replaced;
Data addition means for adding row data representing the same number of single displays as the reduced row data to the image data corrected by the column correction means;
The column correction means, for each column aligned from the reference position to the edge of the display area, an interval between the orthogonal projection of the pixels in each column to the plane at the right end and the orthogonal projection to the plane at the left end of the pixels in each column The cumulative value L from the edge of the display area of
The display area width is v, the number of columns and rows of pixels are equal to the number of columns and rows of pixels of the curved display panel, and the width of each pixel is from the edge of the display area in the common flat panel For each column, the cumulative value M of the width of
Curved display panel image data, characterized in that, for each column arranged from the reference position to the edge of the display area, a column that obtains a cumulative value M whose ratio to cumulative value L is closest to 1 is specified as a replacement target column. Generator. The data reduction means groups the row data included in the image data for the flat panel into an integer group closest to a value obtained by dividing vV by the height of the pixel of the curved display panel, and for each group, If at least one of the image data of two adjacent pixels in two adjacent row data in the group indicates a specific color, the image data of the two pixels is converted into one pixel indicating the specific color. If the image data of two adjacent pixels in two adjacent row data in the group indicate non-specific colors, the image data of the two pixels indicate non-specific colors. The curved display panel image data generation device according to claim 3, wherein the row data is reduced by replacing with image data of one pixel.

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