Graphic pattern processing apparatus

Claim 2

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; memory means for storing pixels of graphic data to be provided to said information output means; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storage means, each of the data storage means storing pixel data having at least one bit, means for selecting one of said data storage means depending upon a value of said at least one bit per of said graphic data and means for writing the pixel data in said selected storage means as graphic data into an address of said memory means.

Claim 3

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; memory means for storing pixels of graphic data; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storage means, each of the data storage means storing at least one pixel of data having at least one bit, means for selecting one of said data storage means depending on a value of said at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data, means for reading a plurality of pixels of data from an address of said memory means, each of the pixels having at least one bit, means for logically operating on at least one pixel of graphic data at a specified pixel address defining a position within said plurality of pixels of data and the content of said selected data storage means, and means for writing the result of the logical operation on said at least one pixel of data as graphic data into an address of said memory means.

Claim 4

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; memory means for storing pixels of graphic data; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storage means, each of the data storage means storing at least one pixel of data having at least one bit, means for selecting one of said data storage means depending on a value of said at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data, means for reading a plurality of pixels of data from an address of said memory means, each of the pixels having at least one bit, means for logically operating on at least one pixel of graphic data at a specified pixel address defining a position within said plurality of pixels of data and the content of said selected data storage means, and means for writing the result of the logical operation on said at least one pixel of data as graphic data into an address of said memory means.

Claim 5

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: an information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; a memory means for storing pixels of graphic data to be provided to the information output means; and a graphic data processing apparatus including; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel; a plurality of data storage means with each of the data storage means storing at least one pixel of data having at leas one bit; selecting means for selecting one of said data storage means depending on a value of said at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; and writing means for writing said selected at least one pixel of data into an address of said memory means.

Claim 6

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: an information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; a memory means for storing pixels of graphic data to be provided to the information output means; and a graphic data processing apparatus including; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel; a plurality of data storage means with each of the data storage means storing at least one pixel of data having at leas one bit; selecting means for selecting one of said data storage means depending on a value of said at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; and writing means for writing said selected at least one pixel of data into an address of said memory means.

Claim 7

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; memory means for storing pixels of graphic data to be provided to said information output means; and a graphic data processing apparatus including; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel; a plurality of data storage means with each of the data storage means storing at least one pixel of data having at least one bit; selecting means for selecting one of said data storage means depending on a value of said at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; reading means for reading a plurality of pixels of graphic data from an address of said memory means, each of the pixels having a plurality of bits; modifying means for logically operating on at least one pixel of graphic data in said plurality of pixels of data, which is located at a specified pixel address defining a position of said at least one pixel of data within a word of the memory means, and the content of the selected data storage means; and a writing means for writing said at least one pixel of data modified by said modifying means as graphic data into the pixel address of the word within said memory means.

Claim 8

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: information output means for outputting an image of graphic data; memory means for storing pixels of graphic data to be provided to said information output means; and a graphic data processing apparatus including; a pattern memory for storing pattern data having at least one bit per pixel; a plurality of data storage means with each of the data storage means storing at least one pixel of data having at least one bit; selecting means for selecting one of said data storage means depending on a value of said at least one bit per pixel of said graphic data; reading means for reading a plurality of pixels of graphic data from an address of said memory means, each of the pixels having a plurality of bits; modifying means for logically operating on at least one pixel of graphic data in said plurality of pixels of data, which is located at a specified pixel address defining a position of said at least one pixel of data within a word of the memory means, and the content of the selected data storage means; and a writing means for writing said at least one pixel of data modified by said modifying means as graphic data into the pixel address of the word within said memory means.

Claim 9

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of pixel data; means for selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and means for writing said selected pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 10

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of pixel data; means for selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and means for writing said selected pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 11

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for: (1) storing a plurality of pixel data; (2) selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and (3) writing said pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory means specified by an address.

Claim 12

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for: (1) storing a plurality of pixel data; (2) selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and (3) writing said pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory means specified by an address.

Claim 13

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: a plurality of data storages for storing a plurality of pixel data; a selector for selecting at least one pixel data in one of said data storages depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and an output port for writing said selected pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 14

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: a plurality of data storages for storing a plurality of pixel data; a selector for selecting at least one pixel data in one of said data storages depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and an output port for writing said selected pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 15

A graphic data processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said input port and said output port operate through a common I/O buffer.

Claim 16

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of pixel data; means for selecting one of said pixel data in said storing means depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; means for reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; means for logically operating on said at least one pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data selected in said storing means; and means for writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 17

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of pixel data; means for selecting one of said pixel data in said storing means depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; means for reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; means for logically operating on said at least one pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data selected in said storing means; and means for writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 18

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for: (1) storing a plurality of pixel data; (2) selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; (3) reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; (4) logically operating on said at least one pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data selected in said storing means; and (5) writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 19

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for: (1) storing a plurality of pixel data; (2) selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; (3) reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; (4) logically operating on said at least one pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data selected in said storing means; and (5) writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 20

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: a plurality of data storages for storing a plurality of pixel data; a selector for selecting at least one pixel data in one of said data storages depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; an input port for reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; a logic operation unit for logically operating on at least one pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data selected in said one of said data storages; and an output port for writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 21

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: a plurality of data storages for storing a plurality of pixel data; a selector for selecting at least one pixel data in one of said data storages depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; an input port for reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; a logic operation unit for logically operating on at least one pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data selected in said one of said data storages; and an output port for writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 22

A graphic data processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said input port and said output port operate through a common I/O buffer.

Claim 23

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data, comprising: two color registers for storing a color 1 value and a color 0 value, respectively, wherein said color 1 value and color 0 value correspond to the 1s and 0s in a bit map defining a shape of a graphic image; and means for expanding the 1s and 0s of the bit map to said color 1 value and color 0 value specified in said two color registers by selecting the color 1 value for a 1 and a color 0 value for a 0 in said bit map.

Claim 24

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data, comprising: two color registers for storing a color 1 value and a color 0 value, respectively, wherein said color 1 value and color 0 value correspond to the 1s and 0s in a bit map defining a shape of a graphic image; and means for expanding the 1s and 0s of the bit map to said color 1 value and color 0 value specified in said two color registers by selecting the color 1 value for a 1 and a color 0 value for a 0 in said bit map.

Claim 25

A graphic data processor apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said color 1 value and color 0 value are defined by two or more bits per pixel.

Claim 26

A graphic data processor apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said two registers include a plurality of pixels.

Claim 27

A graphic data processor apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said means for expanding expands a plurality of bits in the bit map to an expanded image of a plurality of pixels in parallel.

Claim 28

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of words of pixel data; means for selecting one of said words of pixel data in said storing means depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; means for reading out at least one word of pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; means for logically operating on at least one pixel of a word of pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel of a word of pixel data selected in said storing means as specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position within said memory; and means for writing a result of said logical operation into a data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 29

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of words of pixel data; means for selecting one of said words of pixel data in said storing means depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; means for reading out at least one word of pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; means for logically operating on at least one pixel of a word of pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel of a word of pixel data selected in said storing means as specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position within said memory; and means for writing a result of said logical operation into a data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 30

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for: (1) storing a plurality of words of pixel data; (2) selecting one of said words of pixel data in said storing means depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; (3) reading out at least one word of pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; (4) logically operating on at least one pixel of a word of pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel of a word of pixel data selected in said storing means as specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position within said memory; and (5) writing a result of said logical operation into a data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 31

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for: (1) storing a plurality of words of pixel data; (2) selecting one of said words of pixel data in said storing means depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; (3) reading out at least one word of pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; (4) logically operating on at least one pixel of a word of pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel of a word of pixel data selected in said storing means as specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position within said memory; and (5) writing a result of said logical operation into a data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 32

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: a plurality of data storages each for storing at least one word of pixel data; a selector for selecting at least one pixel data in one of said data storages depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; an input port for reading out at least one word of pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; a logic operation unit for logically operating on at least one pixel of a word of pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data of a word of pixel data selected in said one of said storages as specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position within said memory; and an output port for writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 33

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: a plurality of data storages each for storing at least one word of pixel data; a selector for selecting at least one pixel data in one of said data storages depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; an input port for reading out at least one word of pixel data from a position of said memory specified by a memory address; a logic operation unit for logically operating on at least one pixel of a word of pixel data read out from said memory with said at least one pixel data of a word of pixel data selected in said one of said storages as specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position within said memory; and an output port for writing a result of said logical operation into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 34

A graphic data processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said input port and said output port operate through a common I/O buffer.

Claim 35

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of pixel data; means for designating the number of bits per pixel of pixel data; means for selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and means for writing said selected pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 36

A graphic data processing apparatus for generating graphic data and for storing a plurality of pixel data as said graphic data in one word of a memory from which said pixel data may be accessed, comprising: means for storing a plurality of pixel data; means for designating the number of bits per pixel of pixel data; means for selecting one of said pixel data depending upon a value of a part of pattern data, which pattern data defines a shape of a graphic image, each part of said pattern data having at least one bit; and means for writing said selected pixel data into a pixel data position of said memory specified by an address.

Claim 37

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory, connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image, each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storages, each of said data storages storing at least one pixel data, and means responsive to the value of respective bits of pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image, for respectively selecting one of said data storages and for writing pixel data in each selected data storage into a respective pixel data position of said display memory specified by an address.

Claim 38

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory, connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image, each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storages, each of said data storages storing at least one pixel data, and means responsive to the value of respective bits of pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image, for respectively selecting one of said data storages and for writing pixel data in each selected data storage into a respective pixel data position of said display memory specified by an address.

Claim 39

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image, each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storages, each of the data storages storing at least one pixel data, and means responsive to the value of respective bits of pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image, for respectively selecting one of said data storages and for reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said display memory specified by a memory address, logically operating on at least one pixel data readout from said display memory with at least one pixel data in a selected data storage, with pixel data to be logically operated on being specified by a pixel address defining a position thereof within said display memory, and writing the result of the logical operation into a position of said display memory specified by the memory address.

Claim 40

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image, each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a plurality of data storages, each of the data storages storing at least one pixel data, and means responsive to the value of respective bits of pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image, for respectively selecting one of said data storages and for reading out at least one pixel data from a position of said display memory specified by a memory address, logically operating on at least one pixel data readout from said display memory with at least one pixel data in a selected data storage, with pixel data to be logically operated on being specified by a pixel address defining a position thereof within said display memory, and writing the result of the logical operation into a position of said display memory specified by the memory address.

Claim 41

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory, connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image for each of the pixels with each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a pattern storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image with each of said pattern data having at least one bit per pixel, a plurality of data storages with each of the data storages storing at least one pixel data, a selector for selecting one of said data storages depending on the value of a bit of pattern data stored in the pattern storage, and means for writing one of said at least one pixel data in said selected data storage into a pixel data position of said display memory specified by an address.

Claim 42

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory, connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image for each of the pixels with each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a pattern storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image with each of said pattern data having at least one bit per pixel, a plurality of data storages with each of the data storages storing at least one pixel data, a selector for selecting one of said data storages depending on the value of a bit of pattern data stored in the pattern storage, and means for writing one of said at least one pixel data in said selected data storage into a pixel data position of said display memory specified by an address.

Claim 43

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory, connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image for each of the pixels with each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a pattern storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image with each of said pattern data having at least one bit per pixel, a plurality of data storages with each of the data storages storing at least one pixel data, a selector for respectively selecting one of said data storages in response to respective bits of pattern data stored in the pattern storage means, means for reading out at least one pixel data from a word position of said display memory specified by a memory address, means for logically operating on said at least one pixel data readout from said display memory with at least one pixel data in a selected data storage, with pixel data to be logically operated on being specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position thereof within the word of said display memory specified by the memory address, and means for writing said obtained at least one pixel data modified by said means for logically operating into a word position of said display memory.

Claim 44

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: means for outputting a graphic image defined by a plurality of pixels; a display memory, connected to said outputting means, for storing pixel data defining said graphic image for each of the pixels with each of said pixel data having a plurality of bits; and a graphic data processing apparatus including a pattern storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of said graphic image with each of said pattern data having at least one bit per pixel, a plurality of data storages with each of the data storages storing at least one pixel data, a selector for respectively selecting one of said data storages in response to respective bits of pattern data stored in the pattern storage means, means for reading out at least one pixel data from a word position of said display memory specified by a memory address, means for logically operating on said at least one pixel data readout from said display memory with at least one pixel data in a selected data storage, with pixel data to be logically operated on being specified by a pixel address defining a pixel position thereof within the word of said display memory specified by the memory address, and means for writing said obtained at least one pixel data modified by said means for logically operating into a word position of said display memory.

Claim 45

A graphic data generating apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said graphic data processing apparatus further includes: means for performing a masking operation on said at least one pixel data in said selected data storage to extract said one pixel specified by the pixel address.

Claim 46

A graphic data generating apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein: said pattern storage is a data buffer.

Claim 47

A graphic data generating apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein: said pattern storage is addressable memory incorporated in said graphic data processing apparatus.

Claim 48

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: a pattern data storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of a graphic image formed by a plurality of pixels; means for reading at least one bit of the pattern data corresponding to a pixel from said pattern data storage; a plurality of registers each thereof holding pixel data defining an attribute of said graphic image at a pixel corresponding to said at least one bit; means, responsive to said at least one bit, for selecting one of the registers to obtain pixel data defining the attribute of said image at the pixel corresponding to said at least one bit; and means for outputting the pixel data obtained from the selected register to a display memory for storage therein.

Claim 49

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: a pattern data storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of a graphic image formed by a plurality of pixels; means for reading at least one bit of the pattern data corresponding to a pixel from said pattern data storage; a plurality of registers each thereof holding pixel data defining an attribute of said graphic image at a pixel corresponding to said at least one bit; means, responsive to said at least one bit, for selecting one of the registers to obtain pixel data defining the attribute of said image at the pixel corresponding to said at least one bit; and means for outputting the pixel data obtained from the selected register to a display memory for storage therein.

Claim 50

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 29 wherein: said pattern data storage is a data buffer for receiving pattern data inputted to said graphic data generating apparatus.

Claim 51

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 29 wherein: said pattern data storage is an addressable memory for storing the pattern data transferred from another memory to said graphic data generating apparatus.

Claim 52

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 29 wherein: said at least one bit is one bit defining a pixel of 1 or 0 in said graphic image.

Claim 53

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 32 wherein: said pixel data held in each of the registers is defined by a plurality of bits used for performing a single-to-multiple bit conversion of said at least one bit of pattern data.

Claim 54

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 33 wherein: said pixel data held in each of the registers is defined by a plurality of bits representative of either one color or another color of said graphic image at the pixel corresponding to said at least one bit.

Claim 55

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 29 wherein: said pattern data is binary data.

Claim 56

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: a pattern data storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of a graphic image formed by a plurality of pixels; means for successively reading at least one bit of pattern data at a time from said pattern data storage, said at least one bit corresponding to one of the pixels of said graphic image; a plurality of registers each thereof holding at least one pixel data defining said graphic image at a pixel corresponding to said at least one bit, said pixel data being comprises of a plurality of bits the number of which is larger than that of said at least one bit; means, responsive to said at least one bit of pattern data, for selecting one of the registers to determine pixel data corresponding to said at least one bit; and means for outputting pixel data in a selected register to a display memory for storage therein.

Claim 57

A graphic data generating apparatus comprising: a pattern data storage for storing pattern data, which defines a shape of a graphic image formed by a plurality of pixels; means for successively reading at least one bit of pattern data at a time from said pattern data storage, said at least one bit corresponding to one of the pixels of said graphic image; a plurality of registers each thereof holding at least one pixel data defining said graphic image at a pixel corresponding to said at least one bit, said pixel data being comprises of a plurality of bits the number of which is larger than that of said at least one bit; means, responsive to said at least one bit of pattern data, for selecting one of the registers to determine pixel data corresponding to said at least one bit; and means for outputting pixel data in a selected register to a display memory for storage therein.

Claim 58

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said outputting means comprises: means for successively outputting pixel data in selected registers to said display memory.

Claim 59

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 37 wherein: the display memory stores pixel data for a plurality of pixels in a word specified by one memory address.

Claim 60

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 38 wherein: each of the registers holds pixel data for a plurality of pixels of said graphic image; and said outputting means includes means for specifying one of the pixel data in the selected register with a pixel address, means connected to said registers and responsive to said specifying means for extracting said one of the pixel data in the selected register, and means for outputting the extracted pixel data to a corresponding pixel position of the word in said display memory.

Claim 61

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 39 further including: means for performing a logic operation on the extracted pixel data before outputting it in said display memory means.

Claim 62

A graphic data generating apparatus according to claim 36 wherein: the number of pixel data stored in each of said registers is variable.

Claim 65

A method according to claim 42 further comprising the steps: storing pixel data for each of the pixels of said graphic image in a display memory; and writing at least one pixel data in a selected register to said display memory.

Claim 66

A method according to claim 43 wherein: said display memory stores the pixel data for a plurality of pixels in a word specified by one memory address.

Claim 67

A method according to claim 43 wherein: each of the registers holds pixel data for a plurality of pixels of said graphic image; and said writing step includes the substeps of specifying one of the pixel data in the selected register with a pixel address in response to said pixel address extracting said one of the pixel data in the selected register, and storing the extracted pixel data in a corresponding pixel position of the word in said display memory.

Claim 68

A method according to claim 45 further including: a step of performing a logic operation on the extracted pixel data before storage in said display memory.

Claim 69

A method according to claim 42 wherein: the number of pixel data stored in each of said registers is variable.

Claim 70

A method according to claim 42 wherein: the pattern data is stored in a data buffer during said pattern data storing step.

Claim 71

A method according to claim 42 wherein: the pattern data is stored in an addressable memory for storing the pattern data transferred from another pattern data memory means during said pattern data storing step.

Claim 72

A method according to claim 42 wherein: said at least one bit is one bit defining a pixel of 1 or 0 in said graphic image.

Claim 73

A method according to claim 49 wherein: said pixel data held in each of the registers is defined by a plurality of bits used for performing a single-to-multiple bit conversion of said at least one bit of pattern data.

Claim 74

A method according to claim 50 wherein: said pixel data held in each of the registers is defined by a plurality of bits representative of either one color or another color of said graphic image at the pixel corresponding to said at least one bit.

Claim 75

A method according to claim 42 wherein: said pattern data is binary data.