Apparatus and method for processing digital images
First Claim
1. An improved computer graphics digital image comparison apparatus for processing and comparing at least two digitally stored images provided from a host computer and displaying on a raster-scan display means, a visible image of the result of said comparison, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least two image memory refresh buffer means for digitally storing said images in respective pixel matrices, each said matrix having at least two bits per pixel;
(b) zoom and roam logic means for each of said image memory refresh buffer means for independently providing on said raster-scan display means, apparent magnification of a region of each digitally stored image, said apparent magnification including the selection of a pixel in each of said image memory refresh buffer means, which corresponds to a specific pixel correlated with said images being displayed on said raster-scan display means, said region having a selected size and position within the image memory refresh buffer means;
(c) lookup table means for each of said image memory refresh buffer means, each said lookup table means independently transforming into a programmed pixel value, each said pixel stored in said image memory refresh buffer means, and selected by the zoom and roam logic means;
(d) function processing logic means for processing said programmed pixel values from all of said lookup table means and generating new programmed pixel values;
(e) digital-to-analog conversion means for converting said new programmed pixel values generated by said function processing logic means, into an analog signal; and
,(f) raster-scan display means for using said analog signal to produce a visible image.
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Abstract
A computer graphics apparatus and a method for allowing the comparison of two or more digitally-stored images on a raster-scan display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), by use of arithmetic or Boolean logic operations performed on the picture elements (pixels) in each image which are to be superimposed at a given display pixel on the CRT. The invention provides the features of color lookup tables, continuous zoom and roam logic and high-speed processing in a computer graphics apparatus for digital image comparison.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An improved computer graphics digital image comparison apparatus for processing and comparing at least two digitally stored images provided from a host computer and displaying on a raster-scan display means, a visible image of the result of said comparison, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least two image memory refresh buffer means for digitally storing said images in respective pixel matrices, each said matrix having at least two bits per pixel; (b) zoom and roam logic means for each of said image memory refresh buffer means for independently providing on said raster-scan display means, apparent magnification of a region of each digitally stored image, said apparent magnification including the selection of a pixel in each of said image memory refresh buffer means, which corresponds to a specific pixel correlated with said images being displayed on said raster-scan display means, said region having a selected size and position within the image memory refresh buffer means; (c) lookup table means for each of said image memory refresh buffer means, each said lookup table means independently transforming into a programmed pixel value, each said pixel stored in said image memory refresh buffer means, and selected by the zoom and roam logic means; (d) function processing logic means for processing said programmed pixel values from all of said lookup table means and generating new programmed pixel values; (e) digital-to-analog conversion means for converting said new programmed pixel values generated by said function processing logic means, into an analog signal; and
,(f) raster-scan display means for using said analog signal to produce a visible image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An improved zoom and logic means for a digital computer graphics apparatus, of the type using an image memory refresh buffer, for providing on a raster-scan display, apparent magnification of a region of a digitally stored image stored in a pixel matrix, said region having a selected size and position within said image memory refresh buffer means, where said provision of continuous magnification includes interactively selecting a pixel in said image memory refresh buffer means which corresponds to a specific pixel on the raster-scan display means, and selecting a zoom factor number from 0 to 2N -1 where N equals the binary bit length of said zoom factor number, wherein the improvement comprises:
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(a) roam means for setting the position of the region of said image displayed on said raster-scan display means, said region corresponding to a region of said pixel matrix stored within the image memory refresh buffer means; and
,(b) zoom means for providing apparent magnification of said image, and having non-uniform image magnification step increments wherein said image magnification step increments are small near unity image magnification, the apparent magnification of said image extending over the image magnification range of 1 to 2N, and said magnification step increments becoming progressively larger at magnifications away from unity image magnification. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An improved computer graphics digital image comparison method for processing and comparing at least two digitally stored images and displaying a visible image of the result on a raster-scan display means, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing at least two digital images from a host computer in at least two image memory refresh buffer means in a pixel matrix having at least two bits per pixel; (b) selecting a pixel in each of said image memory refresh buffer means which corresponds to a specific pixel on the raster-scan display means, said selection step using a zoom and roam logic means for each of the image memory refresh buffer means for independently providing on the raster-scan display means, apparent magnification of a region of the digitially stored image having a selected size and position within each of the memory refresh buffer means; (c) transforming into programmed pixel value, each said pixel value stored in said image memory refresh buffer means selected by the zoom and roam logic means, said transformation being carried out using an independent lookup table means for each of the image memory refresh buffer means; (d) processing said programmed pixel values from all of said lookup table means and generating new programmed pixel values, using a function processing logic means; (e) converting said new programmed pixel values generated by the function processing logic means, into an analog signal by using a digital-to-analog conversion means; and
,(f) producing a visible image by displaying the analog signal on a raster-scan display means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for providing zoom and roam capability for an image memory refresh buffer means of a digital computer graphics apparatus, to provide on a raster-scan display, apparent magnification of a region of a digitally stored image stored in a pixel matrix, said region having a selected size and position within image memory refresh buffer means, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting said position of said region within the image memory refresh buffer means by using a roam means; and
,(b) selecting said size of said region, by (i) storing a zoom factor number ranging from 0 to 2N -1 in 2N integer steps in an N-bit storage register means, (ii) dividing a pixel clock signal by means of a first variable rate N-bit binary rate multiplier means controlled by said stored zoom factor number in the N-bit storage register means, wherein for every 2N pixel clock pulses which enter said first multiplier means, a number of pulses, which is a function of the stored zoom factor number, leaves said first multiplier means; (iii) dividing a line clock signal by means of a second variable rate N-bit binary rate multiplier means controlled by said stored zoom factor number in the N-bit storage register means wherein for every 2N line clock pulses which enter said second multiplier means, a number of pulses, which is a function of the stored zoom factor number, leaves said second multiplier means; and
,(iv) comparing the zoom factor number to zero and if the zoom factor number is equal to zero, causing the number of pulses leaving each of said multiplier means, respectively, to be equal to the number of pulses entering each multiplier means, respectively, by using a zero detection means.
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20. An improved computer graphics digital image processing apparatus for processing at least two digitally stored images provided from a host computer and displaying a visible image of the result on a raster-scan display means, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) at leat two image memory refresh buffer means for digitally storing said images in respective pixel matrices, each said matrix having at least two bits per pixel; (b) zoom and roam logic means for each of said image memory refresh buffer means for independently providing on said raster-scan display means, apparent magnification of a region of each digitally stored image; (c) lookup table means for each of said image memory refresh buffer means, each said lookup table means independently transforming into a programmed pixel value, each said pixel of said image memory refresh buffer means, selected by the zoom and roam logic means; (d) function processing logic means for processing said programmed pixel values from all of said lookup table means and generating new programmed pixel values therefrom; (e) digital-to-analog conversion means for converting said new programmed pixel values into an analog signal; and (f) raster-scan display means for using said analog signal to produce a visible image. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification