Banded vector to raster converter

• US 4,458,330 A
• Filed: 05/13/1981
• Issued: 07/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intergraph Corporation (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Imsand, Bruce E., Dorfmueller, David D., Thomas, Chris L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US06/263,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 364/900 MS File, 364/200 MS File, 364/521, 340/744, 340/747, 340/739
• US Class Current: 345/501
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/22 using plotters
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0065 Page or partial page composition
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/42 characterised by the display of patterns using a display memory without fixed position correspondence between the display memory contents and the display position on the screen

Abstract

A vector to raster converter system in which vectors are delivered to the system and stored in a vector memory in groups. Each group includes all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of the output plot called a vector band. Vectors are serially read out of the vector memory and converted into a series of coordinates of points along the vector. The coordinates of each point are analyzed to determine if the point lies in a second particular area within the vector band called a raster band. The coordinates in the raster band are stored in a raster memory. After the entire vector band has been rasterized the contents of the raster memory are output to a plotter. The contents of the vector memory is then rasterized again and a determination is made as to whether each pair of coordinates is in the next raster band. This process continues until all of the raster bands in the vector band have been processed. All of the vectors in the next vector band are then loaded into the vector memory and the process continues.

Claims

1. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) for any one of said vectors, determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said vector;

(b) determining whether each of said coordinates is within said space;

(c) retaining the coordinates favorably determined in step (b); and

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for other vectors until all of said vectors have been processed.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein step (a) includes the steps of:

for each of said vectors, determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

loading a representation of said one vector origin first and second dimension coordinates into first and second counters, respectively; and

incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said step (b) includes the step of comparing selected higher order bits of a representation of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said space.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said steps (a) and (b) include the steps of:

determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

loading a representation of first and second dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector; and

for each of said coordinates, comparing at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said space.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said comparing step further comprises the step of comparing selected higher order bits of at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number.

9. A method as in claim 1 or 6 wherein said step (a) includes the step of determining said coordinates in accordance with the Bresenham method.

21. A method as in claim 1, 11 or 20 wherein:

said method further comprises the step of storing said vectors in a first memory prior to said step (a); and

said retaining step further comprises the step of storing said coordinates in a second memory.

6. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) for any one of said vectors, determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said one vector;

(b) determining whether each of said coordinates is within a particular area;

(c) retaining the coordinates favorably determined in said step (b);

(d) repeating said steps (a)-(c) for other vectors until all of said vectors have been processed;

(e) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (c); and

(f) repeating said steps (a)-(e) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said steps (a) and (b) include the steps of:

determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

loading a representation of first and second dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector; and

for each of said coordinates, comparing at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said particular area.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said comparing step further comprises the step of comparing selected higher order bits of at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number.

10. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) storing representations of said vectors in a first memory;

(b) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (a), determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said vector;

(c) determining whether each of said coordinates is within a particular area;

(d) storing the coordinates favorably determined in said step (c) in a second memory;

(e) repeating said steps (b)-(d) for other vectors until all of said vectors have been processed;

(f) outputting said coordinates stored in said step (d); and

(g) repeating said steps (b)-(f) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

34. A method as in claim 10 or 33 further comprising the steps of:

loading vectors into a first portion of said first memory while vectors are being read out from a second portion of said first memory until said first memory first portion is completely loaded with vectors and all of the vectors in said first memory second portion have been read out and then loading vectors into said first memory second portion while vectors are being read out of said first memory first portion; and

loading coordinates into a first portion of said second memory while reading out coordinates from a second portion of said second memory until said second memory first portion is entirely loaded with coordinates and all of said coordinates in said second memory second portion are read out, and then loading coordinates into said second memory second portion while reading out coordinates from said second memory first portion.

11. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) for any one of said vectors, determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said vector;

(b) comparing selected higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of each of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether said coordinates are within a particular area;

(c) retaining the coordinates favorably compared in said step (b);

(d) repeating said steps (a)-(c) for other vectors until all of said vectors have been processed;

(e) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (c); and

(f) repeating said steps (a)-(e) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

12. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) for any one of said vectors, determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(b) loading a representation of two dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(c) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(d) determining whether each of said coordinates representations is within a particular area;

(e) retaining said coordinates which are favorably determined in said step (d);

(f) repeating said steps (a)-(e) for other vectors until all of said vectors have been processed;

(g) transferring all data retained in said step (e) to an output device;

(h) repeating said steps (a)-(g) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

13. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) storing representations of said vectors in a first memory;

(b) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (a), determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(c) loading a representation of two dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(d) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(e) for each of said coordinates, comparing at least one of said dimensions of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within a particular area;

(f) storing bits in a second memory at locations related to said coordinates which compared favorably in said step (e);

(g) repeating said steps (b)-(f) for other vectors stored in said step (a) until all of said vectors stored in said step (a) have been processed;

(h) transferring all data stored in said step (f) to an output device; and

(i) repeating said steps (b)-(h) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

14. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of said space;

(b) for any one of the vectors determined in said step (a) determining the coordinates of a plurality of points of said vector;

(c) determining whether each of said coordinates is within said particular area;

(d) retaining the coordinates favorably determined in said step (c);

(e) repeating said steps (b)-(d) for other vectors until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(f) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (d); and

(g) repeating said steps (a)-(f) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said steps (b) and (c) include the steps of:

determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

loading a representation of said first and second dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector; and

for each of said coordinates, comparing at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said particular area.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein said comparing step further comprises the step of comparing selected higher order bits of at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number.

17. A method as in claim 6 or 14 wherein said particular areas extend the entire distance of one dimension of said space.

18. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory;

(c) for any one of the vectors stored in said step (b), determining the coordinates of a plurality of points of said vector;

(d) determining whether each of said coordinates is within said particular area;

(e) storing the coordinates favorably determined in said step (d) in a second memory;

(f) repeating said steps (c)-(e) for other vectors until all of said vectors stored in said step (b) have been processed;

(g) outputting said coordinates stored in said step (e); and

(h) repeating said steps (a)-(g) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said step (d) includes the step of comparing selected higher order bits of a representation of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said particular area.

20. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of said space;

(b) for any one of the vectors determined in said step (a), determining the coordinates of a plurality of points of said vector;

(c) comparing selected higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of each of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether said coordinates are within said particular area;

(d) retaining the coordinates favorably compared in said step (c);

(e) repeating said steps (b)-(d) for other vectors until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(f) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (d); and

(g) repeating said steps (a)-(f) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

22. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of said space;

(b) for any one of said vectors determined in said step (a), determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(c) loading a representation of two dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(d) repeatedyl incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(e) determining whether each of said coordinates representations is within said particular area;

(f) retaining said coordinates which are favorably determined in said step (e);

(g) repeating said steps (b)-(f) for other vectors determined in said step (a) until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(h) transferring all data retained in said step (f) to an output device; and

(i) repeating said steps (a)-(h) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

23. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory;

(c) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (b), determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(d) loading a representation of two dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(e) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(f) comparing at least one dimension of each of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said particular area;

(g) storing bits in a second memory at locations related to said coordinates which compared favorably in said step (f);

(h) repeating said steps (c)-(g) for other vectors stored in said step (b) until all of said vectors stored in said step (b) have been processed;

(i) transferring all data stored in said step (g) to an output device; and

(j) repeating said steps (a)-(i) for other said particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

24. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) for any one of the vectors determined in said step (a), determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said vector;

(c) determining whether each of said coordinates is within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(d) retaining the coordinates favorably determined in said step (c);

(e) repeating said steps (b)-(d) for other vectors until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(f) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (d);

(g) repeating said steps (b)-(f) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(h) repeating said steps (a)-(g) for other said first particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

25. A method as in claim 24 wherein said steps (b) and (c) include the steps of:

determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

loading a representation of first and second dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector; and

for each of said coordinates, comparing at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said second particular area.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said comparing step further comprises the step of comparing selected higher order bits of at least one dimension of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number.

27. A method as in claim 24 wherein said step (b) includes the step of determining said coordinates in accordance with the Bresenham method.

37. A method as in claim 24 or 36 wherein said first particular areas and said second particular areas extend the entire distance of one dimension of said space.

28. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory;

(c) for any one of the vectors determined in said step (a), determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said vector;

(d) determining whether each of said coordinates are within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(e) storing the coordinates favorably determined in said step (d) in a second memory;

(f) repeating said steps (c)-(e) for other vectors until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(g) outputting said coordinates stored in said step (e);

(h) repeating said steps (c)-(g) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(i) repeating said steps (a)-(h) for other said first particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

29. A method as in claim 28 wherein said step (d) includes the step of comparing selected higher order bits of a representation of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within said second particular area.

30. A method as in claim 28 wherein:

said first and second memories each includes first and second portions; and

said method further comprises the steps of;

loading vectors into said first memory first portion while vectors are being read out from said first memory second portion until said first memory first portion is completely loaded with vectors and all of the vectors in said first memory second portion have been read out and then loading vectors into said first memory second portion while vectors are being read out of said first memory first portion, and

loading coordinates into said second memory first portion while reading out coordinates from said second memory second portion until said second memory first portion is entirely loaded with coordinates and all of said coordinates in said second memory second portion are read out, and then loading coordinates into said second memory second portion while reading out coordinates from said second memory first portion.

31. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) for any one of the vectors determined in said step (a), determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in said vector;

(c) comparing selected higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of each of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether said coordinates are within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(d) retaining the coordinates favorably determined in said step (c);

(e) repeating said steps (b)-(d) for other vectors until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(f) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (d);

(g) repeating said steps (b)-(f) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(h) repeating said steps (a)-(g) for other said first predetermined areas until the entire said space has been covered.

32. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) for any one of the vectors determined in said step (a), determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(c) loading representations of first and second dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(d) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said fist and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(e) determining whether each of said coordinates is within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(f) retaining the coordinates favorably determined in said step (e);

(g) repeating said steps (b)-(f) for other vectors until all of said vectors determined in said step (a) have been processed;

(h) outputting said coordinates retained in said step (f);

(i) repeating said steps (b)-(h) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(j) repeating said steps (a)-(i) for other said first particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

33. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory;

(c) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (b), determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(d) loading a representation of said one vector origin first and second dimension coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(e) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(f) determining whether each of said coordinates is within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(g) storing bits in a second memory at locations related to said coordinates which were favorably determined in said step (f);

(h) repeating said steps (c)-(g) for other vectors stored in said step (b) until all of said vectors stored in said step (b) have been processed;

(i) transferring all data stored in said step (g) to an output device;

(j) repeating said steps (c)-(i) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(k) repeating said steps (a)-(j) for other said first particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

35. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory;

(c) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (b), determining the coordinates of the origin of said one vector;

(d) loading a representation of two dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters, respectively;

(e) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(f) comparing at least one dimension of each of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(g) storing bits in a second memory at locations related to said coordinates which compared favorably in said step (f);

(h) repeating said steps (c)-(g) for other vectors stored in said step (b) until all of said vectors stored in said step (b) have been processed;

(i) transferring all data stored in said step (g) to an output device;

(j) repeating said steps (c)-(i) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(k) repeating said steps (a)-(j) for other said first particular areas until the entire said space has been covered.

36. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory;

(c) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (b), determining the coordinates of the origin of and the change in two dimensions from the origin to the end point of said one vector;

(d) loading a representation of said one vector origin coordinates into said first and second counters corresponding to said two dimensions, respectively;

(e) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters in accordance with the Bresenham method, so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(f) comparing selected higher order bits of at least one dimension of each of said coordinates representations with a particular number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(g) storing bits in a second memory at locations related to said coordinates which compared favorably in said step (f);

(h) repeating said steps (c)-(g) for other vectors stored in said step (b) until all of said vectors stored in said step (b) have been processed;

(i) transferring all data stored in said step (g) to an output device;

(j) repeating said steps (c)-(i) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered; and

(k) repeating said steps (a)-(j) for other said first predetermined areas until the entire said space has been covered.

38. A method of rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising the steps of:

(a) determining all vectors which have at least a portion in a first particular area of said space;

(b) storing representations of said vectors determined in said step (a) in a first memory, said first memory having two portions;

(c) for any one of said vectors stored in said step (b), determining the coordinates of the origin of and the change in two dimensions from the origin to the end point of said one vector;

(d) loading a representation of two dimensions of said one vector origin coordinates into first and second counters corresponding to said two dimensions;

(e) repeatedly incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters in accordance with the Bresenham method, so that after each said incrementation, said counters store a representation of coordinates of a point in said one vector;

(f) comparing selected higher order bits of at least one dimension of each of said coordinates representations with a predetermined number to determine whether each of said coordinates is within a second particular area within said first particular area;

(g) storing bits in a second memory at locations related to said coordinates which compared favorably in said step (f), said second memory having two portions;

(h) repeating said steps (c)-(g) for other vectors stored in said step (b) until all of said vectors stored in said step (b) have been processed;

(i) transferring all data stored in said step (g) to an output device;

(j) repeating said steps (c)-(h) simultaneously with said step (i) for other said second particular areas until the entire said first particular area has been covered, said step (g) occurring in one said second memory portion while said step (i) occurs in another said second memory portion, said steps (g) and (i) reversing with respect to said portions upon each completion of said steps (h) and (i); and

(k) repeating said steps (a)-(b) simultaneously with said steps (c)-(j) for other said first particular areas until the entire said space has been covered, said step (b) occurring in one said first memory portion while data for said step (c) is obtained in another said first memory portion, said steps (b) and (c) reversing with respect to said first memory portions upon each completion of said step (b) and said steps (c)-(j).

39. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for serially selecting each of said vectors until all of said vectors have been selected;

first means, coupled to said selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first determining means, for determining whether each of said coordinates is within said space; and

means, coupled to said second determining means, for retaining said coordinates favorably determined by said second determining means.

40. Apparatus as in claim 39 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises vector memory means for storing said vectors, said selecting means being coupled to said vector memory means; and

said means for retaining includes raster memory means for storing said coordinates favorably determined in said second determining means.

41. Apparatus as in claim 39 wherein said first determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter; and

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters after each incrementation represents the coordinates of a point in said selected vector.

42. Apparatus as in claim 39 wherein said first and second determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector; and

means, coupled to at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing at least one of said first and second counter outputs with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said space.

43. Apparatus as in claim 39 wherein said first and second determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of a selected vector selected by said selecting means into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector; and

means, coupled to at least one of said first and and second counters, for comparing selected higher order bits of at least one of said first and second counter outputs with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said space.

63. Apparatus as in claim 39, 44 or 60 wherein said first determining means includes means for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors in accordance with the Bresenham method.

64. Apparatus as in claim 63 wherein said first determining means further comprises:

a first multiplexer having a first input responsive to the change in one dimension between ends of said selected vector;

a second multiplexer having a first input responsive to the change in another dimension between ends of said selected vector;

a first register coupled to an output of said first multiplexer;

a second register coupled to an output of said second multiplexer;

means, coupled to said first register and said second multiplexer, for transmitting the output of said first register to a second input of said second multiplexer;

means, coupled to said second register and said first multiplexer, for transmitting the output of said second register to a second input of said first multiplexer;

an AND gate having a first input coupled to the output of said second register and a second input;

first arithmetic means having a first input coupled to the output of said first register and a second input coupled to the output of said AND gate, said arithmetic means producing an output related to the difference between said first input and said second input, the most significant bit of an output of said arithmetic means controlling said first and second multiplexers;

second arithmetic means having a first input coupled to said first arithmetic means output and a second input, said second arithmetic means producing an output related to the sum of said first and second inputs, said second input of said AND gate and said second determining means being coupled to said second arithmetic means output; and

an accumulator coupled to the output of said second arithmetic means, said second arithmetic means second input being coupled to the output of said accumulator.

44. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

second means for serially selecting each of said vectors until all of said vectors have been selected for each of said particular areas;

first means, coupled to said second selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first selecting means and said first determining means, for determining whether each of said coordinates is within said selected particular area;

means, coupled to said second determining means, for retaining said coordinates favorably determined by said second determining means; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after said second selecting means has selected all of said vectors for one of said particular areas.

51. Apparatus as in claim 44 or 50 wherein said particular areas have one dimension the same as one dimension of said space.

52. Apparatus as in claim 44 or 50 wherein said first and second determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector; and

means, coupled to at least one of said counters, for comparing at least one of said first and second counter outputs with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected particular area.

53. Apparatus as in claim 44 or 50 wherein said first and second determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of a selected vector selected by said vector selecting means into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector; and

means, coupled to at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing selected higher order bits of at least one of said first and second counter outputs with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected particular area.

45. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

vector memory means for storing representations of said vectors;

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

second means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors have been selected for each of said particular areas;

first means, coupled to said second selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first selecting means and said first determining means, for determining whether each of said coordinates are within said selected particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said second determining means, for storing said coordinates favorably determined by said second determining means; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting said coordinates stored in said raster memory means after said second selecting means has selected all of said vectors for one of said particular areas.

46. Apparatus as in claim 45 wherein:

said raster memory means includes first and second portions; and

said apparatus further comprises means, coupled to said raster memory means, for first directing coordinates from said first determining means in response to a favorable determination to said raster memory means first portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means second portion until all vectors in said vector memory means have been processed by said second selecting means and said first determining means and said outputting means has output all of said vectors in said raster memory means second portion, and then directing coordinates from said first determining means in response to a favorable determination to said raster memory means second portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means first portion.

55. Apparatus as in claim 45 or 54 wherein said second determining means includes means for comparing higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates are within said selected particular area.

47. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

second means for serially selecting each of said vectors until all of said vectors have been selected for each of said particular areas;

means, coupled to said second selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

means, coupled to said first selecting means and said determining means, for comparing higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether said coordinates are within said selected particular area;

means, coupled to said comparing means, for retaining said coordinates favorably compared by said comparing means; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after said second selecting means has selected all of said vectors for one of said particular areas.

48. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

second means for serially selecting each of said vectors until all of said vectors have been selected for each of said particular areas;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said first selecting means and said first and second counters, for determining whether said coordinates at outputs of said first and second counters are within said selected particular area;

means, coupled to said determining means and said first and second counters, for retaining said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable determination; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after all of said vectors have been selected for one of said particular areas.

49. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

vector memory means for storing said vectors;

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

second means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors have been selected for each of said particular areas;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said first selecting means and said at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing outputs of at least one of said first and second counters with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said comparing means and said first and second counters, for storing said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable comparison; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting the contents of said raster memory means after all vectors stored in said vector memory means have been selected for one of said particular areas.

50. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of particular areas within said space and for serially selecting each of said particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

means, coupled to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of said vectors identified by said identifying and selecting means until all of said vectors in said selected particular area have been selected;

first means, coupled to said selecting means for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first determining means, for determining whether each of said coordinates is within said selected particular area;

means, coupled to said second determining means, for retaining said coordinates favorably determined in said second determining means; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after said second selecting means has selected all of said identified vectors for one of said particular areas.

54. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said particular areas have been stored;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors identified by said identifying means and stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in each of said selected particular areas have been selected;

first means, coupled to said selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first determining means, for determining whether each of said coordinates is within said selected particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said second determining means, for storing said coordinates favorably determined by said second determining means; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting said coordinates stored in said raster memory means after said second selecting means has selected all of said identified vectors for one of said particular areas.

66. Apparatus as in claim 54 or 65 wherein said second determining means includes means for comparing higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates are within said selected second particular area.

56. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of particular areas within said space and for serially selecting each of said particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

means, responsive to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of said vectors identified by said identifying and selecting means until all of said vectors in said selected particular area have been selected;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

means, coupled to said determining means, for comparing higher order bits of a binary representation of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether said coordinates are within said selected particular area;

means, coupled to said comparing means, for retaining said coordinates favorably compared in said comparing means; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after said second selecting means has selected all of said identified vectors for one of said particular areas.

57. Apparatus as in claim 56 further comprising:

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing all of said vectors in each of said particular areas, said vector selecting means being responsive to said vector memory means; and

said means for retaining includes raster memory means for storing said coordinates retained by said retaining means.

58. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying all vectors which have at least a portion in a corresponding one of a plurality of particular areas within said space and for serially selecting each of said particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

means, coupled to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of said vectors in said selected predetermined area until all of said vectors have been selected;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for determining whether said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected particular area;

means, coupled to said determining means and said first and second counters, for retaining said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable determination; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained in said retaining means after said second selecting means has selected all of said vectors for one of said particular areas.

59. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said particular areas have been stored;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in said selected particular area have been selected;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing outputs of at least one of said first and second counters with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said comparing means and said first and second counters, for storing said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable comparison; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting the contents of said raster memory means after all vectors stored in said vector memory means have been selected for one of said particular areas.

60. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space and for serially selecting each of said first particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of second particular areas within said selected first particular area until the entire said selected first particular area has been covered;

second means for serially selecting each of said vectors identified by said identifying and selecting means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each second particular area;

first means, coupled to said second selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first determining means, for determining whether each of said coordinates is within said selected second particular area;

means, coupled to said second determining means, for retaining said coordinates favorably determined by said second determining means; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after said third selecting means has selected all of said identified vectors for one of said second particular areas.

61. Apparatus as in claim 60 wherein said first and second determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector; and

means, coupled to at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing at least one of said first and second counter outputs with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area.

62. Apparatus as in claim 60 wherein said first and second determining means further comprises:

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of a selected vector selected by said first selecting means into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector; and

means, coupled to at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing selected higher order bits of at least one of said first and second counter outputs with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area.

75. Apparatus as in claim 60 or 74 wherein said first and second particular areas have one dimension the same as one dimension of said space.

65. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said first particular areas have been stored;

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of second particular areas within said selected first particular area until the entire said selected first particular area has been covered;

second means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each said second particular area;

first means, coupled to said second selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

second means, coupled to said first determining means and said first selecting means, for determining whether each of said coordinates are within said selected second particular areas;

raster memory means, coupled to said second determining means, for storing representations of said coordinates favorably determined in said second determining means; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting said coordinates stored in said raster memory means after said second selecting means has selected all of said identified vectors for one of said second particular areas.

67. Apparatus as in claim 65 wherein:

said raster memory means and said vector memory means each includes first and second portions; and

said apparatus further comprises;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for first directing vectors from said identifying means to said vector memory means first portion while said first selecting means selects vectors from said vector memory means second portion until said identifying means has identified all vectors in one of said first particular areas and said first selecting means has selected all of said vectors in said vector memory means second portion, and then directing vectors from said identifying means to said vector memory means second portion while said first selecting means selects vectors from said vector memory means first portion, and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for first directing coordinates from said first determining means in response to a favorable determination to said raster memory means first portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from aid raster memory means second portion until all vectors in said vector memory means have been processed by said second selecting means and said first determining means and said outputting means has output all of said coordinates in said raster memory means second portion, and then directing coordinates from said first determining means in response to a favorable determination to said raster memory means second portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means first portion.

68. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space and for serially selecting each of said first particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

first means, coupled to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of a plurality of second particular areas within said selected first particular area until the entire said selected first particular area has been covered;

second means, coupled to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of said vectors identified by said identifying and selecting means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each second particular area;

means, coupled to said second selecting means, for determining the coordinates of a plurality of points in each of said selected vectors;

means, coupled to said determining means, for comparing higher order bits of binary representations of at least one dimension of said coordinates with a predetermined number to determine whether said coordinates are within said selected second particular area;

means, coupled to said comparing means, for retaining said coordinates favorably compared by said comparing means; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said coordinates retained by said retaining means after said third selecting means has selected all of said identified vectors for one of said second particular areas.

69. Apparatus as in claim 68 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing all of said vectors in each of said first particular areas, said second selecting means being coupled to said vector memory means; and

said means for retaining includes raster memory means for storing said coordinates retained by said retaining means.

70. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying all vectors which have at least a portion in a corresponding one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space and for serially selecting one of said first particular areas until all of said space has been covered;

first means, coupled to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of a plurality of second particular areas within said selected first particular area until all of said selected first particular area has been covered;

second means, coupled to said identifying and selecting means, for serially selecting each of said vectors in said selected first particular area until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each second particular area;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said second selecting means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for determining whether said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area;

means, coupled to said determining means and said first and second counters, for retaining said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable determination; and

means, coupled to said retaining means, for outputting said retained coordinates after said third selecting means has selected all of said vectors for one of said second particular areas.

71. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said particular areas have been stored;

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of second particular areas within each said first particular area;

second means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors identified by said identifying means and stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each second particular area;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters;

for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, and said first selecting means, for determining whether said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said determining means and said first and second counters, for storing said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable determination; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting the contents of said raster memory means after all vectors in said selected first particular area and stored in said vector memory means have been selected for one of said second particular areas.

72. Apparatus as in claim 71 wherein:

said raster memory means and said vector memory means each includes first and second portions; and

said apparatus further comprises;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for first directing vectors from said identifying means to said vector memory means first portion while said second selecting means selects vectors from said vector memory means second portion until said identifying means has identified all vectors in one of said first particular areas and said second selecting means has selected all of said vectors in said vector memory means second portion, and then directing vectors from said identifying means to said vector memory means second portion while said second selecting means selects vectors from said vector memory means first portion, and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for first directing coordinates from said first and second counters in response to a favorable determination to said raster memory means first portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means second portion until all vectors in said vector memory means have been processed by the plurality of said loading means and said incrementing means and said outputting means has output all of said vectors in said raster memory means second portion, and then directing coordinates from said first and second counters in response to a favorable determination to said raster memory means second portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means first portion.

73. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said first particular areas have been stored;

first means for serially selecting each of a plurality of second particular areas within each said first particular area;

second means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each said second particular area;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

means, coupled to said first and second counters, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters so that the output of said first and second counters represents coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said first selecting means and at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing outputs of at least one of said first and second counters with a predetermined number to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said comparing means and said first and second counters, for storing said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable comparison; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting the contents of said raster memory means after all vectors in said selected first particular area and stored in said vector memory means have been selected for one of said second particular areas.

74. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said first particular areas have been stored;

means for serially storing raster band numbers, each representative of a selected second particular area within each said first particular area;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each second particular area corresponding to a number stored in said raster band storing means;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

a first register;

a second register;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said first register, for loading the change in said first dimension between the origin and end of said selected vector in said first register;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said second register, for loading the change in said second dimension between the origin and end of said selected vector in said second register;

means, coupled to said first and second counters and said first and second registers, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters in accordance with the Bresenham method, the output of said first and second counters representing coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said storing means and at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing higher order bits of at least one of said first and second counter outputs with one of said raster band numbers to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said comparing means and said first and second counters, for storing said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable comparison; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting the contents of said raster memory means after all vectors in said selected first particular area and stored in said vector memory means have been selected for one of said second particular areas.

76. Apparatus as in claim 74 wherein said incremental changing means further comprises:

a first multiplexer having a first input coupled to said first register;

a second multiplexer having a first input coupled to said second register;

a third register coupled to an output of said first multiplexer;

a fourth register coupled to an output of said second multiplexer;

means, coupled to said third register and said second multiplexer, for transmitting the output of said third register to a second input of said second multiplexer;

means, coupled to said fourth register and said first multiplexer, for transmitting the output of said fourth register to a second input of said first multiplexer;

an AND gate having one input coupled to the output of said fourth register;

first arithmetic means having a first input coupled to the output of said third register and a second input coupled to the output of said AND gate, said arithmetic means producing an output related to the difference between said first input and said second input, the most significant bit of an output of said arithmetic means controlling said first and second multiplexers;

second arithmetic means having a first input coupled to said first arithmetic means output and a second input, said second arithmetic means producing an output related to the sum of said first and second inputs, another input of said AND gate and said first and second counters being coupled to said second arithmetic means output; and

an accumulator coupled to the output of said second arithmetic means, said second arithmetic means second input being coupled to the output of said accumulator.

77. Apparatus for rasterizing vectors in a predetermined space comprising:

means for identifying groups of vectors, each of said groups including all vectors which have at least a portion in a selected one of a plurality of first particular areas within said space;

vector memory means, coupled to said identifying means, for serially storing representations of each of said groups of vectors until said vectors in all of said first predetermined particular areas have been stored, said vector memory means having first and second portions;

means for serially storing raster band numbers, each representative of a selected second particular area within each said first particular area;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for serially selecting each of said vectors stored in said vector memory means until all of said vectors in said selected first particular area have been selected for each second particular area corresponding to a number stored in said raster band number storing means;

means, coupled to said vector memory means, for first directing vectors from said identifying means to said vector memory means first portion while said selecting means selects vectors from said vector memory means second portion until said identifying means has identified all vectors in one of said first particular areas and said selecting means has selected all of said vectors in said vector memory means second portion, and then directing vectors from said identifying means to said vector memory means second portion while said selecting means selects vectors from said vector memory means first portion;

a first counter;

a second counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said first counter, for loading a first dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said first counter;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said second counter, for loading a second dimension coordinate of the origin of said selected vector into said second counter;

a first register;

a second register;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said first register, for loading the change in said first dimension between the origin and end of said selected vector in said first register;

means, coupled to said vector memory means and said second register, for loading the change in said second dimension between the origin and end of said selected vector in said second register;

means, coupled to said first and second counters and said first and second registers, for incrementally changing at least one of said first and second counters in accordance with the Bresenham method, the output of said first and second counters representing coordinates of points in said selected vector;

means, coupled to said storing means and at least one of said first and second counters, for comparing higher order bits of at least one of said first and second counters outputs with one of said raster band numbers to determine if said coordinates at said first and second counter outputs are within said selected second particular area;

raster memory means, coupled to said comparing means and said first and second counters, for storing said first and second counter outputs in response to a favorable comparison, said raster memory means including first and second portions;

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for outputting the contents of said raster memory means after all vectors stored in said vector memory means have been selected for one of said second particular areas; and

means, coupled to said raster memory means, for first directing coordinates from said first and second counters, in response to a favorable comparison, to said raster memory means first portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means second portion until all vectors in one of said first and second portions of said vector memory means have been processed by the plurality of said loading means and said incrementing means and said outputting means has output all of said vectors in said raster memory means second portion, and then directing coordinates from said first and second counters, in response to a favorable comparison, to said raster memory means second portion while said outputting means obtains coordinates from said raster memory means first portion.