Method and apparatus for displaying bitmap multi-color image data on dot matrix-type display screen on which three primary color lamps are dispersedly arrayed

10:

• A method of displaying image data on a display apparatus, said display apparatus having:
• (A) a display screen section provided with a plurality of first color lamps, a plurality of second color lamps, and a plurality of third color lamps, each pixel of said display screen section consisting of one of said first color lamps, said second color lamps, and said third color lamps, said plurality of first color lamps, said plurality of second color lamps, and said plurality of third color lamps being evenly dispersed at even intervals according to a regular pattern;
• (B) an activating circuit section for driving each of said lamps so that they emit light;
• and
• (C) an image data storing section for storing said image data, said image data being made of a plurality of pixel data sets, each said pixel data set including first color data, second color data, and third color data;
• said method comprising:
• (1) a correlating step of performing the steps of:
• correlating, to each said first color lamp, a first color group that is made up of a predetermined number of pixel data sets among said plurality of pixel data sets in said image data, the position of each said first color lamp corresponding to the position, in said image data, of the first color group correlated to that first color lamp;
• correlating, to each said second color lamp, a second color group that is made up of a predetermined number of pixel data sets among said plurality of pixel data sets in said image data, the position of each said second color lamp corresponding to the position, in said image data, of the second color group correlated to that second color lamp;
• and
• correlating, to each said third color lamp, a third color group that is made up of a predetermined number of pixel data sets among said plurality of pixel data sets in said image data, the position of each said third color lamp corresponding to the position, in said image data, of the third color group correlated to that third color lamp;
• and
• (2) a selecting and lighting-up step of performing, in synchronization with one another, the steps of:
• for each said first color lamp and each said first color group, sequentially selecting a pixel data set from among the pixel data sets of each said first color group, and, each time a pixel data set is selected, sequentially causing the first color lamp correlated to that first color group to light up based on the first color data of the selected pixel data set;
• for each said second color lamp and each said second color group, sequentially selecting a pixel data set from among the pixel data sets of each said second color group, and, each time a pixel data set is selected, sequentially causing the second color lamp correlated to that second color group to light up based on the second color data of the selected pixel data set;
• and
• for each said third color lamp and each said third color group, sequentially selecting a pixel data set from among the pixel data sets of each said third color group, and, each time a pixel data set is selected, sequentially causing the third color lamp correlated to that third color group to light up based on the third color data of the selected pixel data set;
• wherein, at each timing for causing said lamps to light up, each of said first, second, and third color lamps is caused to emit light based on a different pixel data set.

14:

• The method according to claim 10, wherein
• the first color group correlated to one first color lamp partially overlaps the first color group correlated to another first color lamp adjacent to said one first color lamp,
• the second color group correlated to one second color lamp partially overlaps the second color group correlated to another second color lamp adjacent to said one second color lamp, and
• the third color group correlated to one third color lamp partially overlaps the third color group correlated to another third color lamp adjacent to said one third color lamp.

18:

• A display apparatus for displaying image data, comprising:
• (A) a display screen section provided with a plurality of first color lamps, a plurality of second color lamps, and a plurality of third color lamps, each pixel of said display screen section consisting of one of said first color lamps, said second color lamps, and said third color lamps, said plurality of first color lamps, said plurality of second color lamps, and said plurality of third color lamps being evenly dispersed at even intervals according to a regular pattern;
• (B) an activating circuit section for driving each of said lamps so that they emit light;
• (C) an image data storing section for storing said image data, said image data being made of a plurality of pixel data sets, each said pixel data set including first color data, second color data, and third color data;
• and
• (D) a data distribution control section that is configured to carry out:
• (1) a correlating step of performing the steps of:
• correlating, to each said first color lamp, a first color group that is made up of a predetermined number of pixel data sets among said plurality of pixel data sets in said image data, the position of each said first color lamp corresponding to the position, in said image data, of the first color group correlated to that first color lamp;
• correlating, to each said second color lamp, a second color group that is made up of a predetermined number of pixel data sets among said plurality of pixel data sets in said image data, the position of each said second color lamp corresponding to the position, in said image data, of the second color group correlated to that second color lamp;
• and
• correlating, to each said third color lamp, a third color group that is made up of a predetermined number of pixel data sets among said plurality of pixel data sets in said image data, the position of each said third color lamp corresponding to the position, in said image data, of the third color group correlated to that third color lamp;
• and
• (2) a selecting and lighting-up step of performing, in synchronization with one another, the steps of:
• for each said first color lamp and each said first color group, sequentially selecting a pixel data set from among the pixel data sets of each said first color group, and, each time a pixel data set is selected, sequentially causing the first color lamp correlated to that first color group to light up based on the first color data of the selected pixel data set;
• for each said second color lamp and each said second color group, sequentially selecting a pixel data set from among the pixel data sets of each said second color group, and, each time a pixel data set is selected, sequentially causing the second color lamp correlated to that second color group to light up based on the second color data of the selected pixel data set;
• and
• for each said third color lamp and each said third color group, sequentially selecting a pixel data set from among the pixel data sets of each said third color group, and, each time a pixel data set is selected, sequentially causing the third color lamp correlated to that third color group to light up based on the third color data of the selected pixel data set;
• wherein, at each timing for causing said lamps to light up, each of said first, second, and third color lamps is caused to emit light based on a different pixel data set.