JPH0232896B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention a. Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of displaying an image gradation setting curve in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

b. Background of the Technology In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, in order to highlight a specific part of the displayed image, the gradation characteristics (image signal input value - display brightness) of the displayed image are changed and displayed. . That is, normally the brightness increases in a linear function as the image signal input value increases, but the gradation characteristics are changed so that only a specific range of the image signal input value has particularly high brightness. It is something. In order to arbitrarily set the lower and upper end values of the specific range using cursor keys, etc., a "gradation setting curve" representing the characteristics of image signal input value versus brightness is displayed simultaneously with the display image, and the display image and gradation settings A method is adopted in which two setting values (lower end and upper end of a specific range) are set while looking at the curve. In this method, when gradation processing of an image is specified by a specific key operation, the gradation setting curve is displayed, and the two setting values for the lower and upper ends of the specific range for changing the gradation characteristics can be selected using the cursor keys. It is now possible to set it by using . When these two setting values are changed using the cursor keys, the two setting values may overlap, but the display of the gradation setting curve in conventional devices shows whether there is only one setting value or two setting values. It was not possible to clearly distinguish whether the setting values overlapped or not, and improvements were desired.

c. Prior art and problems In current ultrasound diagnostic equipment, when gradation processing is determined by key operation, a gradation setting curve is displayed on the TV monitor screen, but cursor keys cannot be used at this time. The setting value can only be changed using the cursor key, but even if two different setting values are changed using the cursor keys and they overlap, there is a problem that it is not possible to distinguish between them.

d. Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a method for changing two different set values using cursor keys and clearly distinguishing and displaying overlapping set values. The purpose is to

e.Structure of the Invention The object of the invention is to provide a setting value comparison circuit that compares the lower end setting value and the upper end setting value, and a coincidence detection output of the setting value comparison circuit to visually distinguish the setting value display of the gradation setting curve. and display control means for controlling the display so that the two set values overlap when setting the two set values, the overlap is recognized in the set value display on the gradation setting curve. This can be achieved by configuring the display to undergo changes such as flickering.

f Examples of the Invention The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of displaying a gradation setting curve.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a cursor key, 11 is an upward movement key, 12 is a downward movement key, 2 is an up/down counter (U/D), 3 is a set value comparison circuit (c), and 4 is a write control circuit. , 5 is a write address generation circuit, 6 is a graphic memory, 7
8 is a readout control circuit, and 8 is a TV monitor.

Use one cursor key 1 (indicated by A) to set the gradation characteristic change position (indicated by point A in Figure 2) with the smaller input, and then press the other cursor key 1 (indicated by B).
Assume that the gradation characteristic change position (indicated by point B in FIG. 2) with the larger input is set.

By pressing the upward direction movement key 11 of the cursor key A, the up-down counter (U/
D) 2 counts up and the set value A moves upward, and by pressing the downward movement key 12, the up-down counter (U/D) 2 counts down and the set value A moves downward. .
The same applies to cursor key B.

If the set values of cursor keys A and B do not overlap, the respective up/down counters (U/
D) Considering a gradation setting curve in which the maximum luminance is the gradation corresponding to the output signal value shown by 2, the gradation setting curve shown by A in FIG. 2 is obtained. That is, the gradation setting curve, which had been changing linearly up to point A on the X-axis, which indicates the input level of the image signal, shows maximum brightness at point A, returns to the original linear curve at point B, and thereafter changes as a linear curve. It turns out.

When such a graph display is performed using the circuit shown in Fig. 1, the output signal values indicated by the up/down counters (U/D) 2 corresponding to cursor keys A and B pass through the set value comparison circuit 3 (in this case, the Since the values A and B are not the same, no match output signal is output) and is sent to the write control circuit 4, as well as to the write address generation circuit 5, which generates an address for the graphics memory and performs up-down processing. Corresponding to the output signal value of the counter (U/D) 2, data is written to each address of the graphic memory 6 so that the gradation setting curve shown in FIG. The content is read out by the readout circuit 7 according to the standard television system, and the desired gradation setting curve is obtained.
displayed on the TV monitor screen.

Next, the upper direction movement key 11 of cursor key A
Press the up/down counter (U/D) 2
is counted up and the set value A is moved upward so that the value of the up-down counter (U/D) 2 indicated by the cursor key B overlaps with the set value B indicated by the set value comparison circuit (c Since the input signals of )3 show the same value, a matching output of the set value comparison circuit (c)3 is obtained, and this signal activates the write control circuit 4, and the write address generation circuit 5 also performs the up-down An address for the graphic memory 6 is generated corresponding to the value of the counter (U/D) 2, and data is generated corresponding to each address of the graphic memory 6 so as to form the gradation setting curve shown in FIG. The content of the graphic memory 6 is read out by the readout circuit 7 according to the standard television system, and the desired gradation setting curve is displayed on the TV monitor screen.

In this graph display, it is not possible to distinguish whether cursor keys A and B are overlapped or whether there was originally only one set value using the cursor keys.

Therefore, in the present invention, the coincidence output signal of the set value comparison circuit (c) 3 is used to activate the write control circuit 4, and the data is stored in the graphic memory corresponding to the address generated by the write address generation circuit 5 at a constant cycle. By repeating the writing/deleting of , the gradation display for the set values (A, B) is made to blink, allowing the operator to recognize that the set values overlap. That is, the write control circuit 4 serves as a display control means.

Also, at this time, the coincidence signal of the set value comparison circuit (c) 3 is returned to the up-down counter (U/D) 2, and the operation of the up-down counter (U/D) 2 is controlled to be stopped. Even if the operator continues to press the cursor key, the set value A can be prevented from moving further upward.

g. Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, image gradation processing is specified by key operation, and two different types of gradation characteristics are changed by cursor keys. By changing the setting values of the inputs to be set, and only when the two setting values overlap, the gradation display image blinks, and distinguishing it from the gradation display when they do not overlap, it is possible to determine the setting at which point. This has the effect of making the operator aware of whether the values overlap, and since the position of the set value does not change even if the cursor key is continued to be pressed in the same direction, it also serves as a warning to the operator.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a gradation setting curve. In the figure, 1... Cursor key, 2... Up-down counter (U/D), 3... Set value comparison circuit (c), 4... Write control circuit, 5... Write address generation circuit, 6... Graphic memory, 7...readout control circuit, 8...TV monitor, 11...upward movement key, 12...downward movement key.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When gradation processing is instructed by key operation,
A gradation setting curve indicating the characteristics of display brightness with respect to the image signal input value is displayed on the display screen, and two setting values at the lower end and upper end of a specific range for changing the characteristics of the display brightness gradation are set using cursor keys etc. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a setting value comparison circuit that compares the lower end setting value and the upper end setting value, and a coincidence detection output of the setting value comparison circuit visually distinguish the setting value display of the gradation setting curve. and a display control means for controlling display such that when the two setting values overlap when setting the two setting values, the overlap is recognized in the setting value display on the gradation setting curve. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by being configured to cause a display to change such as flickering.