Graphics system and process for blending graphics display layers

Claim 1

A graphics system, comprising: a format processor for receiving display data including pixel data and color-blending information, said format processor separating said pixel data for at least two (2) display layers, said pixel data including color information for said at least two (2) separate display layers, said color-blending information determining weighting factors and if the colors of said at least two (2) display layers are to be blended or if only a predetermined display layer is to be selected, said format processor outputting the separated pixel data for said at least two (2) display layers and said weighting factors; a color processor for each of said at least two (2) display layers, each color processor receiving pixel data from said format processor that corresponds to one of said at least two (2) display layers, each color processor assigning colors to said at least two (2) display layers according to the color information in the pixel data; a color-blender control responsive to said color blending information weighting factors, said color-blender control outputting a control signal indicating that the colors of said at least two (2) display layers are to be blended if the weighting factors are of a predetermined value or if a predetermined display layer is to be displayed if the weighting factors are outside said predetermined value; and a color blender for blending the colors assigned to the display layers according to said weighting factors, said color blender including a controller responsive to said control signal for either enabling said color blender to blend the colors of said at least two (2) display layers if the weighting factors are of said predetermined value or for selecting the predetermined display layer if said color blending information determines that only that particular display layer is to be displayed if the weighting factors are outside said predetermined value, and outputting either the blended colors or the predetermined display layer to a display device.

Claim 12

A device for displaying interacting graphical information on a display device, comprising: a serializer for receiving serial display data for at least two (2) display layers, the received serial data having a first width and a first data rate, said serializer converting the received serial data into serial data having a second width and a second data rate; a format processor for receiving and separating the converted serial display data, said display data including pixel data and color-blending information, said pixel data including color information for said at least two (2) display layers, said color-blending information determining weighting factors and if the colors of said at least two (2) display layers are to be blended or if only a predetermined display layer is to be selected, said format processor outputting the separated pixel data for said at least two (2) display layers and said weighting factors; a storage device for storing said weighting factors; a color processor for each of said at least two (2) display layers, each color processor receiving pixel data from said format processor that corresponds to one of said at least two (2) display layers, each color processor assigning colors to one of said at least two (2) display layers according to the color information in the pixel data; a color-blender control responsive to said color blending information weighting factors, said color-blender control outputting a control signal indicating that the colors of said at least two (2) display layers are to be blended if the weighting factors are of a predetermined value or if a predetermined display layer is to be displayed if the weighting factors are outside said predetermined value; a color blender for blending the colors assigned to the display layers according to said weighting factors to produce a predetermined color that is the weighted average of the colors of said at least two (2) display layers, said color blender having a controller responsive to said control signal for either enabling said color blender to blend the colors of said at least two (2) display layers if the weighting factors are of said predetermined value or for selecting the predetermined display layer if said color blending information determines that only that particular display layer is to be displayed if the weighting factors are outside said predetermined value; and means for converting the predetermined color produced by said color blender into signals representing primary colors and outputting either the blended colors or the predetermined display layer to the display device.

Claim 13

A device for displaying interacting graphical information on a display device, comprising: a serializer for receiving serial display data for at least two (2) display layers, the received serial data having a first width and a first data rate, said serializer converting the received serial data into serial data having a second width and a second data rate; a format processor for receiving and separating the converted serial display data, said display data including pixel data and color-blending information, said pixel data including color information for said at least two (2) display layers, said color-blending information determining weighting factors and if the colors of said at least two (2) display layers are to be blended or if only a predetermined display layer is to be selected, said format processor outputting the separated pixel data for said at least two (2) display layers and said weighting factors; a storage device for storing said weighting factors; a color processor for each of said at least two (2) display layers, each color processor receiving pixel data from said format processor that corresponds to one of said at least two (2) display layers, each color processor assigning colors to one of said at least two (2) display layers according to the color information in the pixel data; a color-blender control responsive to said color blending information weighting factors, said color-blender control outputting a control signal indicating that the colors of said at least two (2) display layers are to be blended if the weighting factors are of a predetermined value or if a predetermined display layer is to be displayed if the weighting factors are outside said predetermined value; a color blender for blending the colors assigned to the display layers according to said weighting factors to produce a predetermined color that is the weighted average of the colors of said at least two (2) display layers, said color blender having a controller responsive to said control signal for either enabling said color blender to blend the colors of said at least two (2) display layers if the weighting factors are of said predetermined value or for selecting the predetermined display layer if said color blending information determines that only that particular display layer is to be displayed if the weighting factors are outside said predetermined value; and means for converting the predetermined color produced by said color blender into signals representing primary colors and outputting either the blended colors or the predetermined display layer to the display device.