Scrolling image memory for high speed avionics moving map display

• US 4,845,631 A
• Filed: 03/31/1987
• Issued: 07/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Bottorf, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Application Number:
  US07/033,299
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 364/521, 364/518, 364/449, 364/433, 364/460, 364/200, 364/900, 340/727, 340/731, 340/745, 340/798, 340/799, 340/990, 340/995, 340/988
• US Class Current: 345/554
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/346 for systems having a bit-mapped display memory

Abstract

A multichannel moving map display for high speed aircraft which utilizes a scrolling image memory which is arranged logically in an N+1×N+1 geometric array of memory cells and having an N×N active area for scanning by an image processor and a 2N+1 memory cell buffer area for loading updating information into the image memory and later redefining the active and buffer areas in order to allow for updating to occur.

Claims

1. An image memory for avionics moving map displays, of the type having a system CPU, a mass storage device, and an image processor;

the memory comprising;

a. a plurality of cells, each operatively coupled with the system CPU, the mass storage device and the image processor, and each cell being individually addressable and either receiving or outputting data irrespective of whether, simultaneously, any other cell is either outputting or receiving data;

b. a first portion of said plurality of cells for receiving input of data from the system CPU and the mass storage device;

c. a second portion of said plurality of cells for outputting data for scanning by the image processor.

2. An image memory as recited in claim 1 further comprising said first portion of said plurality of cells and said second portion of said plurality of cells each being individually addressable for either input or output, irrespective of the operation of the remainder of said plurality of cells for allowing redefinition in order to facilitate an exchange of a portion of said first portion of said plurality of cells with a portion of said second portion of said plurality of cells.

3. An image memory as recited in claim 2 further comprising said plurality of memory cells comprising an N+1 by N+1 rectangular array of memory cells.

4. An image memory as recited in claim 3 further comprising said first portion of said plurality of memory cells comprising an N by N rectangular array of memory cells.

5. An image memory as recited in claim 4 further comprising said second portion of said plurality of memory cells comprising 2N+1 memory cells.

6. A scrolling image memory for high speed avionics moving map displays comprising:

a. a plurality of individually addressable cells, which are each simultaneously operable with any other cell of the plurality of cells;

b. a data input into each of said plurality of cells;

c. a data output from each of said plurality of cells;

d. a write enable switch for each of said plurality of cells.

e. a chip select switch for each of said plurality of cells;

f. an active area address for each of said plurality of cells;

g. a buffer area address for each of said plurality of cells; and

h. an address select for each of said plurality of cells.

7. A scrolling image memory of claim 6 further comprising said plurality of memory cells being geometrically arranged in a rectangular array.

8. A scrolling image memory of claim 7 further comprising said plurality of memory cells having a first portion and a second portion.

9. A scrolling image memory of claim 8 further comprising said first portion of said plurality of memory cells being arranged in a N+N rectangular geometric array when said plurality of memory cells are arranged in an N+1 by N+1 rectangular geometric array, and said second portion of said plurality of memory cells comprising 2N+1 memory cells.