Back to results
US 5,977,995 AGranted
Computer system for displaying video and graphical data
AssigneeVideologic Limited
InventorHossein Yassaie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer which is capable of displaying both video and graphical data is provided with a central processing unit (10), a memory controller (14), and a display system (4). These units are all connected to a bus (16). Modular functional units (2), e.g. video codecs, TV outputs, audio subsystems, are used to provide optional additional functions for the display system. A coupling means (6, 12) is provided to link the modular functional units to the display system (4) and to the memory controller (14).
Claims28
A computer for displaying both video and graphical data comprising:
- a central processing unit for generating display processing instructions;
- a system memory for holding said display processing instructions generated by said central processing unit;
- a memory controller for controlling access to said system memory;
- a display system;
- means for coupling at least one modular function unit to the memory controller and to the display system;
- wherein, said display system comprises:
- a video processing means for processing video image signals received from at least one modular function unit, said video processing means producing a set of processed video signals from said video image signals in response to said display processing instructions;
- a graphics sub-system for generating graphic image signals in response to said display processing instructions;
- and a single shared frame buffer connected directly to said video processing means and said graphics sub-system so that said video processing means and said graphics sub-system write said processed video signals and said graphic image signals directly to said shared frame buffer so that said shared frame buffer stores integrated video data and graphics data that define a combined video-and-graphics display;
- and
- a first bus connected between said central processing unit, said memory controller and said display system, wherein said display processing instructions are exchanged over said bus.
8 more elements
A digital data processing system for integrating video and graphic image signals, the video image signals being initially generated by at least one modular function unit, said system including:
- a video processor unit for receiving the video image signals from the at least one modular function unit and selectively processing said video image signals in response to a set of video processing instructions to produce a set of regenerated video image signals representative of a video image to be displayed;
- a graphics processor unit configured to receive graphics generation instructions that, in response to receiving said instructions, generates graphic image signals representative of a graphics image to be displayed;
- a single shared frame buffer having a first input port for receiving said regenerated video image signals directly from said video processor unit and a second input port for receiving said graphic image signals directly from said graphics processor unit, said frame buffer capable of storing said regenerated video image signals and said graphic image signals as a single set of signals representative of a single frame of an image to be displayed, said frame buffer further including an output port through which said frame image signals are outputted;
- and
- a central processing unit connected to said video processing unit and said graphics processor unit, said central processing unit being configured to generated said video processing instructions and said graphics generation instructions.
2 more elements
A digital data processing system for integrating video and graphical image signals, the video image systems being generated by at least one modular function unit in response to receiving a set of modular function unit control instructions, said system including:
- a video graphics system including:
- a video processor unit for receiving the video image signals from the at least one modular function unit and selectively processing said video image signals in response to a set of video processing instructions so as to produce a set of regenerated video image signals representative of a video image to be displayed;
- a graphics processor unit configured to receive graphics generation instructions, that in response to receiving said instructions, generates graphics image signals representative of a graphics image to be displayed;
- and
- a memory connected directly to said video processor unit and said graphics processor unit for receiving and storing said regenerated video image signals and said graphics image signals directly in a single shared frame buffer wherein said regenerated video image signals and said graphics image signals are integrated in said shared frame buffer to define a combined video-and-graphics image;
- a central processing unit for generating a set of control instructions to the at least one modular function unit, said video processing instructions and said graphics generation instructions;
- a memory bus connected to said central processing unit and said video graphics system wherein said video processing instructions and said graphics generation instructions are forwarded over said memory bus;
- a video bus connected between the at least one modular function unit and said video processor unit over which said video image signals are selectively forwarded to said video processor unit;
- and
- a modular function unit control link separate from said memory bus connected between the at least one modular function unit and said central processor unit over which said modular function unit control instructions are forwarded to the at least one modular function control unit.
7 more elements
A digital data processing system for integrating video and graphical image signals, the video image signals being generated by at least one modular function unit in response to a set of modular function unit control instructions, said system including:
- a video graphics system including:
- a video processor unit for receiving video image signals from the at least one modular function unit and selectively processing said video image signals in response to a set of video processing instructions so as to produce a set of regenerated video image signals representative of a video image to be displayed;
- a graphics processor unit configured to receive graphics generation instructions and in response to receiving said instructions to generate graphic image signals representative of a graphics image to be displayed;
- and
- a single shared frame buffer having a first input port for receiving said regenerated video image signals directly from said video processor unit and a second input port for receiving graphic image signals directly from said graphics processor unit, said buffer capable of storing said regenerated video image signals and said graphic image signals as a single set of signals representative of a single image frame, said shared frame buffer further including an output port through which the frame image signals are outputted;
- a central processing unit for generating the modular function unit control instructions to the at least one modular function unit, said control instructions controlling the video image signals forwarded to said video processor unit, said central processing unit further capable of generating said video processing instructions to said video processor unit and said graphics generation instructions for said graphics processor unit;
- a memory bus connected between said central processing unit and said video graphics system wherein, said video processing instructions and said graphics generation instructions are forwarded to said video processor unit and said graphics processor unit over said memory bus;
- a video bus connected between the at least one modular function unit and said video processor unit over which the video image signals are selectively forwarded to said video processor unit;
- and
- a modular function unit control link separate from said memory bus connected between the at least one modular function unit on said central processing unit over which said modular function unit control instructions are forwarded to the at least one modular function unit.
7 more elements
A computer for displaying both video and graphical image signals comprising:
- a central processing unit for generating display processing instructions;
- a system memory for holding display processing instructions generated by said central processing unit;
- a memory controller for controlling access to said system memory;
- a display system, said display system comprising:
- a video processing means for processing video image signals received from at least one modular functional unit, said video processing means producing a set of processed video signals from said video image signals in response to said display processing instructions;
- a graphics sub-system for generating graphic image signals in response to said display processing instructions;
- and
- a single shared frame buffer, wherein said video processing means and said graphics sub-system are coupled to said frame buffer so as to write said processed video signals and said graphic image signals directly to said shared frame buffer so that said processed video signals and said graphic image signals are integrated in said shared frame buffer to define a combined video-and-graphics display;
- and
- a first bus connected between said central processing unit, said memory controller and said display system, wherein said display processing instructions are exchanged over said bus;
- and
- means for coupling at least one modular functional unit to the memory controller and to the display system, wherein the means for coupling comprises a plurality of point-to-point connections coupling the memory controller to the modular functional unit.
9 more elements
A computer for displaying both video and graphical image signals comprising:
- a central processing unit for generating display processing instructions;
- a system memory for holding said display processing instructions generated by said central processing unit;
- a memory controller for controlling access to said system memory;
- a display system, said display system comprising:
- a video processing means for processing video image signals received from at least one modular functional unit, said video processing means producing a set of processed video signals from said video image signals in response to said display processing instructions;
- a graphics sub-system for generating graphic image signals in response to said display processing instructions;
- and
- a single shared frame buffer, wherein said video processing means and said graphics sub-system are coupled to said frame buffer so as to write said processed video signals and said graphic image signals directly to said shared frame buffer so that said processed video signals and said graphic image signals are integrated in said shared frame buffer to define a combined video-and-graphics display;
- and
- a first bus connected between the said central processing unit, said memory controller and said display system, wherein said display processing instructions are exchanged over said bus;
- and
- means for coupling at least one modular functional unit to the memory controller and to the display system wherein the means for coupling comprises a plurality of point-to-point connections for coupling the modular functional unit to the display system.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.