US 5,594,473 AGranted

Personal computer apparatus for holding and modifying video output signals

AssigneeEscom AG

InventorsJay G. Miner, Dave Dean, Joseph C. Decuir, Ronald H. Nicholson, Akio Tanaka

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A computer that provides data to a video display using a bitmap display memory organization and bitplane addressing. Separate control is provided for two bitplane backgrounds and for eight reusable and easily movable sprites. Additional logic allows for dynamically-controllable interobject priority and collision detection among data in each of the bitplane backgrounds and sprites. A coprocessor provides for video beam-synchronized changes to data in registers, freeing the main processor for general purpose computing tasks. A block image transferer is provided to rapidly copy data in large blocks from one memory location to another. In hold-and-modify mode, color output circuitry holds the values for a previously displayed pixel while bitplane data modifies those values, allowing for simultaneous display of a greatly increased number of colors.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A personal computer system to provide color video output signals to a display, wherein an image including a plurality of pixels is formed on the display by scanning the display, and wherein the visual characteristics of a pixel being scanned are determined by the video output signals provided by the personal computer system when the pixel is being scanned, and wherein the personal computer system comprises:

means for providing image data for defining the visual characteristics of a pixel;
palette means for providing a plurality of different intensity data codes corresponding to a plurality of available intensity levels which correspond to a plurality of available colors;
means for designating a hold-and-modify mode to increase the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data;
means for selecting one of the plurality of different intensity data codes from the palette means in accordance with the image data at times when hold-and-modify is not designated;
means for providing a video output signal corresponding to the a selected intensity data code at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated;
and
hold- and-modify means for providing a video output signal corresponding to a previously selected intensity data code modified in accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is designated including means for modifying the previously selected intensity data code by retaining a portion of the previously selected intensity data code, and by replacing a portion of the previously selected intensity data code with at least a portion of the image data thereby increasing the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data.

4 more elements

A method for providing color video output signals to a display from a personal computer system, in which an image including a plurality of pixels is formed on the display, and in which the visual characteristics of a pixel being scanned are determined by the video output signals provided by the personal computer system when the pixel is being scanned, comprising:

providing image data for defining the visual characteristics of a pixel;
providing a plurality of different intensity data codes corresponding to a plurality of available intensity levels which correspond to a plurality of available colors;
designating a hold-and-modify mode to increase the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data;
selecting one of the plurality of different intensity data codes in is accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated;
providing a video output signal corresponding to the selected intensity data code at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated;
and
providing a video output signal corresponding to a previously selected intensity data code modified in accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is designated including the step of modifying the previously selected intensity data code by retaining a portion of the previously selected intensity data code, and by replacing a portion of the previously selected intensity data code with at least a portion of the image data thereby increasing the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/029,306Filed 8 Mar 1993 · continuation
Priority: 18 Jul 1986
Granted: 14 Jan 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A63F 13/00
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or
G09G 5/024
Characterised by the way in which colour is displayed: using colour registers, e.g. to control background, foreground, surface filling
G09G 5/24
Characterised by the display of characters or indicia using display control signals derived from coded signals representing the characters or…:…
G09G 5/363
Characterised by the display of a graphic pattern, e.g. using an all-points-addressable [APA] memory: graphics controllers

Family

Serial886,796Parent of this division · filed 18 Jul 1986
Serial422,022Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Oct 1989
Serial863,874Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Apr 1992
US 5,103,499 AParent of this continuation
US 4,874,164 AParent of this division
US 5,594,473 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.