US 4,364,037 AGranted

Transition data image processor

AssigneeCromemco Inc.

InventorJames T. Walker

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Abstract

Edge data codes forming an image to be displayed are entered into a random access memory map at addresses corresponding to the scanline number and pixel number of the edge in the display of the image. The edge codes may be entered into the memory map in any sequence (i.e. the sequence of availability, the sequence of generation, or the sequence of display). The addresses in the map which do not receive edge codes, are filled with zeros. The edge codes are retrieved form the map in display order to form a pixel data stream which in sequentially decoded by a look-up table and advanced through a pipeline latch for providing color and intensity control voltages to a D/A converter. Clocked pulses through a timing gate advance each new decoded edge code into the latch. The zeros between the edge codes are detected and disable the timing gate during the non-transition period between edge codes. Each edge code remains latched during the non-transition period between transitions causing the continuous display thereof during the non-transition period. Predetermined non-zero codes may be separately detected to provide formating control voltages which control other display features such as resolution and color scales. The subject matter of this application relates to the subject matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 148,964, entitled Composite Display Device for Combining Image Data and Method, filed May 12, 1980 by the present assignee.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An image processor for providing control signals to a raster type display device in response to input transition data, each unit of transition data corresponding to a transition in the image to be processed and displayed, each unit of transition data including a display portion defining the change in display caused by that transition and a position portion defining the position of that transition within the display relative to the other transitions in the image, comprising:

position decoder responsive to the position portion of each unit of transition data for receiving the display portion thereof and providing a data stream of transition display codes in display sequence spaced by non-transition codes which define the non-transition period between sequencial transition display codes;
transition decoder responsive to the transition display codes in the data stream for providing a sequence of decoded control signals;
maintenance means for receiving each decoded control signal from the transition decoder and holding the control signal during the non-transition period between sequential transition display codes for maintaining the display of the current transition on the display device during the non-transition period;
detector responsive to the non-transition codes between sequential transition display codes in the data stream from the position decoder for providing a non-transition signal during the non-transition period between the sequential transition display codes;
and
advancing means responsive to the termination of the non-transition signal from the detector at the end of the non-transition period for causing the next decoded control signal from the transition decoder to advance into the maintenance means for controlling the display device until the next transition display code is decoded.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.