US 5,629,719 AGranted

Displaying image signals using horizontal and vertical comparisons

AssigneeIntel Corporation

InventorBenjamin M. Cahill, III

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Abstract

Horizontal counter signals are generated and compared to a window left limit and a window right limit. Horizontal comparison signals are generated in accordance with that comparison. The horizontal counter signals are also compared to a horizontal limit and horizontal reset signals are generated in accordance with that comparison. Vertical counter signals are generated in accordance with the horizontal reset signals and compared to a window top limit and a window bottom limit. Vertical comparison signals are generated in accordance with that comparison. The vertical counter signals are also compared to a vertical limit and vertical reset signals are generated in accordance with that comparison. Image signals are displayed on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for displaying image signals, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating horizontal counter signals using a processor;
(b) comparing the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit using the processor;
(c) generating horizontal comparison signals in accordance with the comparison of step (b) using the processor;
(d) comparing the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit using the processor;
(e) generating horizontal reset signals in accordance with the comparison of step (d) using the processor;
(f) generating vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals using the processor;
(g) comparing the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit using the processor;
(h) generating vertical comparison signals in accordance with the comparison of step (g) using the processor;
(i) comparing the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit using the processor;
(j) generating vertical reset signals in accordance with the comparison of step (i) using the processor;
and
(k) displaying image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals and in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing, wherein step (k) comprises the steps of:
(1) incrementing a vertical digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals first fall outside of the window left and right limits;.
(2) resetting the vertical digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals first fall outside of the window top and bottom limits;
(3) incrementing a horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall within the window left and right limits and the vertical counter signals fall within the window top and bottom Limits;
(4) resetting the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(5) resetting the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

15 more elements

An apparatus for displaying image signals, comprising:

(a) means for generating horizontal counter signals;
means for comparing the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit;
(c) means for generating horizontal comparison signals in accordance with the comparison of means (b);
(d) means for comparing the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit;
(e) means for generating horizontal reset signals in accordance with the comparison of means (d);
(f) means for generating vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals;
(g) means for comparing the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit;
(h) means for generating vertical comparison signals in accordance with the comparison of means (g);
(i) means for comparing the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit;
(j means for generating vertical reset signals in accordance with the comparison of means (i);
and
(k) means for displaying image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals and in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing, wherein means (k):
(1) increments a vertical digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals first fall outside of the window left and right limits;
(2) resets the vertical digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals first fall outside of the window top and bottom limits;
(3) increments a horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall within the window left and right limits and the vertical counter signals fall within the window top and bottom limits;
(4) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(5) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

15 more elements

A raster generator for displaying image signals, comprising:

(a) a horizontal counter;
(b) a window left/right comparator;
(c) a horizontal total comparator;
(d) a vertical counter;
(e) a window top/bottom comparator;
(f) a vertical total comparator;
and
(g) display means for displaying image signals, wherein:
the horizontal counter generates horizontal counter signals;
the window left/right comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit and generates horizontal comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the horizontal total comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit and generates horizontal reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical counter generates vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals;
the window top/bottom comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit and generates vertical comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical total comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit and generates vertical reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
and
the display means displays image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals and in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing, wherein the display means:
(1) increments a vertical digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals first fall outside of the window left and right limits;
(2) resets the vertical digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals first fall outside of the window top and bottom limits;
(3) increments a horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall within the window left and right limits and the vertical counter signals fall within the window top and bottom limits;
(4) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(5) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

19 more elements

A subsystem for processing image signals, comprising:

(a) an external memory device;
and
(b) a raster generator, electrically connected to the external memory device, wherein the raster generator comprises:
(1) a horizontal counter;
(2) a window left/right comparator;
(3) a horizontal total comparator;
(4) a vertical counter;
(5) a window top/bottom comparator;
(6) a vertical total comparator;
and
(7) display means for displaying image signals, wherein:
the horizontal counter generates horizontal counter signals;
the window left/right comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit and generates horizontal comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the horizontal total comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit and generates horizontal reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical counter generates vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals;
the window top/bottom comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit and generates vertical comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical total comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit and generates vertical reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
and
the display means displays image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals and in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing, wherein the display means:
(1) increments a vertical digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals first fall outside of the window left and right limits;
(2) resets the vertical digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals first fall outside of the window top and bottom limits;
(3) increments a horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall within the window left and right limits and the vertical counter signals fall within the window top and bottom limits;
(4) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(5) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

22 more elements

A system for processing image signals, comprising:

(a) a host processor;
and
(b) an image processing subsystem, electrically connected to the host processor, wherein the image processing subsystem comprises:
(1) an external memory device;
and
(2) a raster generator, electrically connected to the external memory device, wherein the raster generator comprises:
(i) a horizontal counter;
(ii) a window left/right comparator;
(iii) a horizontal total comparator;
(iv) a vertical counter;
(v) a window top/bottom comparator;
(vi) a vertical total comparator;
and
(vii) display means for displaying image signals, wherein:
the horizontal counter generates horizontal counter signals;
the window left/right comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit and generates horizontal comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the horizontal total comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit and generates horizontal reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical counter generates vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals;
the window top/bottom comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit and generates vertical comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical total comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit and generates vertical reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
and
the display means displays image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals and in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing, wherein the display means:
(1) increments a vertical digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals first fall outside of the window left and right limits;
(2) resets the vertical digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals first fall outside of the window top and bottom limits;
(3) increments a horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall within the window left and right limits and the vertical counter signals fall within the window top and bottom limits;
(4) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(5) resets the horizontal digital differential accumulator value when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

25 more elements

A subsystem for processing image signals, comprising:

(a) an external memory device;
and
(b) a raster generator, electrically connected to the external memory device, wherein the raster generator comprises:
(1) a horizontal counter;
(2) a window left/right comparator;
(3) a horizontal total comparator;
(4) a vertical counter;
(5) a window top/bottom comparator;
(6) a vertical total comparator;
and
(7) display means for displaying image signals, wherein:
the horizontal counter generates horizontal counter signals;
the window left/right comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit and generates horizontal comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the horizontal total comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit and generates horizontal reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical counter generates vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals;
the window top/bottom comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit and generates vertical comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical total comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit and generates vertical reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
and
the display means displays image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals, wherein the display means displays image signals when:
the horizontal counter signals are within the window left and right limits;
and
the vertical counter signals are within the window top and bottom limits, wherein the display means:
(1) displays a default background color when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(2) displays a default background color when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

22 more elements

A system for processing image signals, comprising:

(a) a host processor;
and
(b) an image processing subsystem, electrically connected to the host processor, wherein the image processing subsystem comprises:
(1) an external memory device;
and
(2) a raster generator, electrically connected to the external memory device, wherein the raster generator comprises:
(i) a horizontal counter;
(ii) a window left/right comparator;
(iii) a horizontal total comparator;
(iv) a vertical counter;
(v) a window top/bottom comparator;
(vi) a vertical total comparator;
and
(vii) display means for displaying image signals, wherein:
the horizontal counter generates horizontal counter signals;
the window left/right comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a window left limit and a window right limit and generates horizontal comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the horizontal total comparator compares the horizontal counter signals to a horizontal limit and generates horizontal reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical counter generates vertical counter signals in accordance with the horizontal reset signals;
the window top/bottom comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a window top limit and a window bottom limit and generates vertical comparison signals in accordance with its comparison;
the vertical total comparator compares the vertical counter signals to a vertical limit and generates vertical reset signals in accordance with its comparison;
and
the display means displays image signals on a display monitor in accordance with the horizontal comparison signals and the vertical comparison signals, wherein the display means displays image signals when:
the horizontal counter signals are within the window left and right limits;
and
the vertical counter signals are within the window top and bottom limits, wherein the display means:
(1) displays a default background color when the horizontal counter signals fall outside of the window left and right limits;
and
(2) displays a default background color when the vertical counter signals fall outside of the window top and bottom limits.

25 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/253,377Filed 3 Jun 1994 · continuation
Priority: 1 Jul 1993
Granted: 13 May 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G06T 3/4007
Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting: based on interpolation, e.g. bilinear interpolation
G09G 5/14
Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators: display of multiple…
G09G 5/391
Control of the bit-mapped memory: resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats
G09G 5/393
Control of the bit-mapped memory: arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory