Patent EP0328356A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0328356A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Image pixel processing
Assignee: 3DLabs Ltd
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Filing: 1989-02-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of merging and manipulating pixel information for display on a raster scan monitor is disclosed. The invention operates at speeds imperceptible to the viewer by collecting, in each memory access cycle, the data representing multiple pixels and by performing merge and manipulation functions on pixel groups at video rate under control of control data from a state machine. The state machine allows for unique processing decisions to be made for every pixel group displayed on the monitor.
Inventors
- 👤 Neil Francis Trevett
- 👤 Malcolm Eric Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:40
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/395; G09G5/397; G09G5/14; G09G5/34; G09G5/346; G09G5/363; G09G5/391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: memory means for storing pixel data relating to an image; reading means for reading pixel data from the memory means in a predetermined order and providing the read pixel data distributed in pixel groups of predetermined size; and processing means for receiving the pixel groups and modifying the distribution of the pixel data among the pixel groups so as to vary the combination of pixel data in an output pixel group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: memory means for storing pixel data relating to an image; reading means for reading pixel data from the memory means in a predetermined order and providing the read pixel data distributed in pixel groups of predetermined size; and processing means for receiving the pixel groups and modifying the distribution of the pixel data among the pixel groups so as to vary the combination of pixel data in an output pixel group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory means comprises a video RAM and the reading means includes a shift register for reading a line of pixel data from the video RAM.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising output means for producing an image from the processed pixel groups.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the output means includes a bit-mapped display device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processed pixel groups have the same format as the received pixel groups.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is selectably operable to shift the locations of pixel data in the pixel groups.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is selectably operable to repeat at least some of the pixel data in the pixel groups and to shift the pixel data in and amongst the pixel groups to accommodate the repeated pixel data.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising second such memory means for storing pixel data relating to another image; and second such reading means for reading pixel data from the second memory means; the processing means being selectably operable to form at least one of the processed pixel groups from a mixture of pixel data from the first-mentioned reading means and from the second reading means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second memory means comprises a video RAM and the second reading means includes a shift register for reading a line of pixel data froimt he video RAM.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processing means comprises means for receiving pixel data in the form of a pixel group, means for outputting pixel data in the form of a pixel group, and distributing means for causing each pixel data in the output pixel group to be derived from any selected respective one of the pixel data in the received pixel group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the distributing means is selectably operable to derive at least two of the pixel data for adjacent pixels in an output pixel group from the same pixel data in the received pixel group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the pixel data receiving means is operable to receive two pixel groups, the distributing means being selectably operable to derive each pixel data in an output pixel group from any respective selected one of the pixel data in the two received pixel groups.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the received pixel groups are two successive pixel groups for the same image, the distributing means including means to store temporarily the earlier of the two received pixel groups.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the received pixel groups relate to different images.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in any previous claim, further comprising control means for supplying control data, the processing means being responsive to the control data once for each modified pixel group which is formed and being operable to modify the distribution of pixel data in accordance with the control data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control means includes a state machine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the state machine comprises a random access memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: clock means; first register means responsive to the clock means to load and hold a pixel group of pixel data; second register means responsive to the clock means to load and hold the pixel group of pixel data held in the first register means; output register means to hold a group of pixel data; and distribution means operable to supply to each pixel location in the output register means the pixel data in any respective selected one of the pixel locations in the first and second register means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image processing apparatus, comprising: clock means; first register means responsive to the clock means to load and hold a pixel group of pixel data; second register means responsive to the clock means to load and hold the pixel group of pixel data held in the first register means; output register means to hold a group of pixel data; and distribution means operable to supply to each pixel location in the output register means the pixel data in any respective selected one of the pixel locations in the first and second register means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a state machine for controlling the selection of the pixel locations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the processing means is provided by an apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or 19.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for merging and manipulating image data accessed in pixel groups each representing a plurality of pixels comprising the steps of: a) accessing a first pixel group of pixel data; b) accessing a second pixel group of pixel data; c) receiving control data; d) selecting from among the pixel data in the first and second pixel groups, responsive to the control data; and e) forming an output pixel group of pixel data by merging and manipulating the data selected from the first and second pixel groups.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for merging and manipulating image data accessed in pixel groups each representing a plurality of pixels comprising the steps of: a) accessing a first pixel group of pixel data; b) accessing a second pixel group of pixel data; c) receiving control data; d) selecting from among the pixel data in the first and second pixel groups, responsive to the control data; and e) forming an output pixel group of pixel data by merging and manipulating the data selected from the first and second pixel groups.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of panning an image on a display monitor by a predetermined number of pixel positions, which method comprises performing the method of claim 21, and in step (e) causing each selected pixel data to appear in a single output pixel group so as to be shifted within the output pixel group by the predetermined number of pixel positions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of providing an image window on a display monitor, which method comprises performing the method of claim 21 or 22, and in which the first and second pixel groups relate to different images.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of magnifying an image on a display monitor by predetermined horizontal and vertical magnification factors, which method comprises performing the method of any of claims 21 to 23, in step (e) causing at least one of the selected pixel data to appear in a predetermined number of consecutive positions in the output pixel group, and repeating steps a to e for a number of horizontal scan lines of the display monitor.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for merging and manipulating pixel groups of image data each representing a plurality of pixels comprising; input means for storing at least one pixel group of image data; multiplexer means responsive to control data for selecting among the pixel data represented in the stored pixel group(s); and, a state machine for providing control data to the multiplexer means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for merging and manipulating pixel groups of image data each representing a plurality of pixels comprising; input means for storing at least one pixel group of image data; multiplexer means responsive to control data for selecting among the pixel data represented in the stored pixel group(s); and, a state machine for providing control data to the multiplexer means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the state machine is a random access memory.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the control data is stored in the form of control words within a plurality of tables.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein each of the control words contains control data for one pixel group to be displayed along the horizontal scan line of a display monitor.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of any of claims 25 to 28 wherein the input means is a register.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of any claims 25 to 29 further comprising a second input means for storing a second pixel group, the multiplexer means being operable to select from pixel data in both input means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a plurality of frame memories which provide pixel group data responsive to an output clock.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising means for disabling the output clock of the frame memories in response to the control data..
Claim 37
Independent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of any of claims 25 to 32 further comprising; pipeline means for pipelining the control data from the state machine to the multiplexer means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the pipeline means comprises primary and secondary control registers.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
26 words
An apparatus or method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each group of pixel data relates to a one-dimensional array of pixels in an image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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