Graphics data processing apparatus having image operations with transparent color having selectable number of bits

A graphics image processing apparatus comprising:

• a pixel size register for storing a number indicative of the number of bits per pixel;
• a memory including a data portion for storing a source image represented by a first array of pixels, each pixel represented by a data code having the number of bits indicated by said pixel size register, one of said data codes corresponding to a transparent data code, and including a display portion for storing a display image represented by a second array of pixels, each pixel represented by data code;
• a transparent data code detector connected to said memory for detecting a transparent data code stored by a pixel of said source image;
• and
• an array image operator connected to said memory and said transparent [color] data code detector for performing an image operation to generate a third array of pixels, each pixel of said third array represented by a combination of the data codes representing corresponding pixels of said first and second arrays of pixels, wherein, for each pixel of said first array containing said transparent data code, the corresponding pixel of said third array of pixels is represented by the data code of the corresponding pixel in said second array of pixels.

A graphics image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory including a first data portion for storing a first image represented by a first array of pixels, each pixel represented by a data code, and including a second data portion for storing a second image represented by a second array of pixels, each pixel represented by a data code and at least one of said data codes corresponding to a transparency data code;
• a transparency data code detector coupled to said memory for detecting said transparency data code;
• and
• an array image operator coupled to said memory and connected to said transparency data code detector for performing an image operation to generate a third array of pixels, each pixel of said third array represented by data codes of a combined array of pixels formed by a combination of the data codes representing corresponding pixels of said first and second arrays and, for each pixel containing said transparency data code, the corresponding pixel of said third array of pixels is represented by the data code of the corresponding pixel of one of said
• arrays of pixels other than said combined array.

The graphics image processing apparatus of claim 48 in which said transparency select logic generates said third array of pixels by selecting bits from said combined pixel data and said second array of pixels. 1. A graphics image processing apparatus comprising:

• a. memory circuits storing graphics data and program instruction, the graphics data including a first data portion for storing a first image represented by a first array of pixels, each pixel represented by a data code, and including a second data portion for storing a second image represented by a second array of pixels, each pixel represented by a data code and at least one of said data codes corresponding to a transparency data code;
• and
• b. graphics processor circuits including:
• i. memory interface circuits connected to the memory circuits for accessing the graphics data and program instructions stored in the memory circuits;
• ii. a central processing unit connected to the memory interface circuits for executing accessed program instructions to perform arithmetic and logic functions and graphics processing operations on the graphics data accessed by the memory interface circuits;
• and
• iii. graphics circuits connected to the memory interface circuits and the central processing unit for operating in conjunction with and under control of the central processing unit to perform graphics processing operations, the graphics circuits including an image operator connected to the memory interface circuits for performing an image operation to generate a third array of pixels, each pixel of the third array represented by data codes of a combined array of pixels formed by a combination of the data codes representing corresponding pixels of the first and second arrays and, for each pixel containing the transparency data code, each corresponding pixel of the third array of pixels is represented by the data code of the corresponding pixel of one of the arrays of pixels other than the combined array of pixels. 2. The graphics image processing apparatus of claim 51 in which said first array is a source array, said second array is a destination array, said transparency data code is contained in said first array and, for each pixel in said first array containing said transparency data code, each corresponding pixel of said third array of pixels is represented by the data code of the corresponding pixel of said second array of pixels.