Optimized scan conversion of outlines for generating raster images

A method for minimizing scan conversion processing in displaying an outline image on a display device from a refresh buffer containing a resulting bitmap of a graphic display system, comprising the steps of:

• approximating said outline image with recursive subdivision to represent said outline image as a plurality of segments using a reformulated equation, wherein said reformulated equation is expressed in terms of a number of intervals;
• fitting each segment of said plurality of segments of said outline image with forward differencing within an error threshold, said forward differencing producing a said number of said intervals, wherein said error threshold includes a distance between a point on each of said number of intervals and a point representing said outline image;
• comparing said error threshold with a predetermined maximum error threshold, said maximum error threshold relating to a size of said resulting bitmap;
• determining an optimum number of said number of said intervals required to ensure that said error threshold is less than said maximum error threshold;
• and
• generating said optimum number of said number of said intervals to store data representative of said resulting bitmap in said refresh buffer of said graphic display system, said refresh buffer thereby being used to activate pixels on said display of said system from said resulting bitmap of said graphic display system.

A method for minimizing the scan conversion processing to display an outline of an image on a resulting bitmap of a graphic display system, said graphic display system including a display, and a refresh buffer for storing said resulting bitmap and controlling said display, comprising the steps of:

• determining an optimum number of intervals required to satisfy an error threshold for performing forward differencing to approximate said outline wherein said error threshold includes a distance between a point on each of said plurality of intervals and a point representing said outline image;
• approximating said outline with recursive subdivision to represent said outline image as a plurality of segments;
• fitting each segment of said plurality of segments of said outline with forward differencing, said forward differencing producing said optimum number of intervals;
• and
• using said optimum number of intervals to store data representative of said resulting bitmap in said refresh buffer in order to activate pixels on said display according to said resulting bitmap of said graphic display system.

A method of displaying an outline of an image on a resulting bitmap stored in a refresh buffer and used for controlling a display of a graphic display system which minimizes scan conversion processing comprising the steps of:

• determining a first number of segments required to approximate said outline using recursive subdivision in order for forward differencing to converge upon a result within a first error threshold, wherein said first error threshold includes a distance between a point on each of said plurality of intervals and a point representing said outline image;
• approximating said outline with recursive subdivision to represent said outline as said first number of segments;
• and
• fitting each of said first number of segments of said outline with forward differencing in order to store data representative of said resulting bitmap in said refresh buffer, said resulting bitmap in said refresh buffer then being used to display said outline on said display of said graphic display system.

A method for minimizing scan conversion processing in displaying an outline image on a display device from a resulting bitmap of a graphic display system, comprising the steps of:

• approximating said outline image with recursive subdivision to represent said outline image as a plurality of segments wherein said recursive subdivision switches to forward differencing when said each segment of said plurality of segments is within a size of said resulting bitmap;
• fitting each segment of said plurality of segments of said outline image with said forward differencing within an error threshold, said forward differencing producing a plurality of intervals;
• comparing said error threshold with a predetermined maximum error threshold, said maximum error threshold relating to a size of said resulting bitmap;
• determining an optimum number of said plurality of intervals required to ensure that said error threshold is less than said maximum error threshold;
• and
• generating said optimum number of said plurality of intervals to store data representative of pixels in a refresh buffer to thereby provide said resulting bitmap to activate pixels on said display device according to said resulting bitmap of said graphic display system.

A method for minimizing scan conversion processing in displaying an outline image on a display device from a resulting bitmap of a graphic display system, comprising the steps of:

• approximating said outline image with recursive subdivision to represent said outline image as a plurality of segments;
• fitting each segment of said plurality of segments of said outline image with forward differencing within an error threshold, said forward differencing producing a plurality of intervals, wherein said error threshold is directly proportional to a second order coefficient of said forward differencing;
• comparing said error threshold with a predetermined maximum error threshold, said maximum error threshold relating to a size of said resulting bitmap;
• determining an optimum number of said plurality of intervals required to ensure that said error threshold is less than said maximum error threshold;
• and
• generating said optimum number of said plurality of intervals to store data representative of pixels in a refresh buffer to thereby provide said resulting bitmap to activate pixels on said display device according to said resulting bitmap of said graphic display system.

A method for minimizing the scan conversion processing to display an outline of an image on a resulting bitmap of a graphic display system, said graphic display system including a display, and a refresh buffer for storing said resulting bitmap and controlling said display, comprising the steps of:

• determining an optimum number of intervals required to satisfy an error threshold for performing forward differencing to approximate said outline;
• approximating said outline with recursive subdivision to represent said outline image as a plurality of segments, wherein said recursive subdivision switches to said forward differencing when said each segment of said plurality of segments is within a second error threshold;
• fitting each segment of said plurality of segments of said outline with said forward differencing, said forward differencing producing said optimum number of intervals;
• and
• using said optimum number of intervals to store data representative of said resulting bitmap in said refresh buffer in order to activate pixels on said display according to said resulting bitmap of said graphic display system.