Triple field buffer for television image storage and visualization on raster graphics display

A method of displaying an image signal expressive of an interlaced image with a non-interlaced image display means, the interlaced image being comprised of a plurality of separately provided image fields, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing in a first buffer means a first image field;
• storing in a second buffer means a second image field;
• reading the first and the second buffer means;
• displaying with non-interlaced image display means the first and the second image fields as a single image frame;
• and
• while performing the step of reading the method includes a step of storing in a third buffer means a third image field;
• wherein
• the first buffer means, the second buffer means, and the third buffer means are included within a buffer memory means that is comprised of a plurality of memory blocks, and wherein each of the plurality of memory blocks stores a portion of the first image field, the second image field, and the third image field.

Apparatus for coupling an image signal expressive of an interlaced television video image to a non-interlaced high resolution image display means for display during a high resolution display frame, the interlaced television video image being comprised of a first image field comprised of even numbered field lines and of a second image field comprised of odd numbered field lines, the apparatus comprising:

• means for providing the first and the second image fields in a digital form;
• frame buffer memory means having an input coupled to the providing means and an output coupled to the high resolution image display means, the frame buffer memory means comprising a sufficient number of storage locations for storing at least three image fields, said frame buffer memory means being organized as an (n) by (m) arrangement of memory blocks wherein both n and m are greater than one, and wherein each of said memory blocks stores a position of each of the three image fields;
• and
• means for reading out of the frame buffer memory means two previously stored image fields for display by a non-interlaced image display means while writing into the frame buffer memory means an image field currently being provided by the image field providing means.