Method and apparatus for enhanced speed graphic image processing

A method of graphically displaying a line represented by a sequence of coordinate position values in a display device having a quantitization of display positions of a resolution greater than a resolution of the sequence of coordinate position values of the line, comprising the steps of

• determining a first and a second threshold between a first and second quantized display position, respectively;
• providing an output value equal to said first quantized display position when a coordinate position value of a segment of said line is greater than or equal to said first quantized position and less than said first threshold;
• providing an alternating output value when the coordinate position value of said segment of said line is equal to or greater than said first threshold and less than or equal to said second threshold;
• and
• providing an output value equal to said second quantized position when the coordinate position value of said segment of said line is greater than said second threshold, wherein
• said alternating output value comprises a signal representing an oblique line on the display device having quantized display positions, extending from one of said first and second quantized position to the other of said first and second quantized position for subsequent coordinate position values, and
• said alternating output continues for subsequent coordinate position values when said coordinate position values are between said first and second thresholds.

For use in a graphic processor wherein a graphic image is represented by a sequence of displacement delta signals having x and y direction, a method of generating a filled image comprising the steps of:

• providing a bit-mapped outline of an image;
• determining if a present displacement delta signal has a nonzero y component;
• determining if a present displacement delta signal y component differs from an immediately preceding displacement delta signal y component;
• storing an image data point if the present displacement delta signal has a nonzero y component and differs from the immediately preceding displacement delta signal y component, wherein said data point value provides a beginning point of each said displacement delta signal;
• and
• combining the stored image data point with the bit-mapped outline.