Jagged-edge killer circuit for three-dimensional display

• US 5,157,385 A
• Filed: 10/23/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Araoka, Masahiro, Shibamoto, Takeshi, Nakao, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US07/601,869
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 364/522, 364/523, 340/723, 340/729
• US Class Current: 345/613
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/503 Blending, e.g. for anti-aliasing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/391 Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

A jagged-edge killer circuit for a three-dimensional display, comprises a frame buffer for storing data of each pixel on the display screen by a pixel unit; a Z-buffer for storing distance data in a depth direction of a picture by a sub-pixel unit into which the pixel as a storage unit of the frame buffer is subdivided in a predetermined number; a picture data buffer for storing picture data by the sub-pixel unit; an element for comparing the distance data stored in the Z-buffer with new distance data in the depth direction about each new sub-pixel into which new pixel is subdivided in the predetermined number when picture data of said new pixel are written in the picture data buffer; a first element for renewing storage contents of the picture data buffer about only sub-pixel having nearer distance in the depth direction within the sub-pixels subdivided from the new pixel into the predetermined number on the basis of a comparison result of the comparing element; a second element for renewing storage contents of the Z-buffer by the new distance data of the sub-pixels having the predetermined number corresponding to the new pixel; and an element for generating picture data of the pixel unit in the frame buffer by performing an arithmetical mean of the picture data of the sub-pixel unit having the predetermined number in the picture data buffer.

Claims

1. A jagged-edge killer circuit for a three-dimensional display, comprising:

a frame buffer for storing data of each pixel on the display screen by a pixel unit;

a Z-buffer for storing distance data in a depth direction of a picture by a sub-pixel unit into which said pixel as a storage unit of said frame buffer is subdivided in a predetermined number;

a picture data buffer for storing picture data by said sub-pixel unit;

means for comparing said data stored in said Z-buffer with new distance data in the depth direction with respect to each new sub-pixel into which a new pixel is subdivided in said predetermined number when picture data of said new pixel are written in said picture data buffer;

first means for renewing storage contents of said picture data buffer with respect to only sub-pixel having nearer distances in the depth direction within said sub-pixels subdivided rom said new pixel into said predetermined number on the basis of a comparison result of said means for comparing;

second means for renewing storage contents of said Z-buffer by said new distance data of said sub-pixels having said predetermined number corresponding to said new pixel; and

generating means for generating picture data of said pixel unit in said frame buffer by performing an arithmetical mean of said picture data of said sub-pixel unit having said predetermined number in said picture data buffer;

wherein said picture data buffer comprises a first buffer memory having a plurality of memories for storing picture data of each sub-pixel, a second buffer memory having a plurality of memories of each sub-pixel, first group selectors for selecting said memories outputting said picture data to said generating means, second group selectors for selecting said memories outputting flags for representing that said picture data have been written to said generating means, and third group selectors for selecting memories using several address signals.

2. A jagged-edge killer circuit of claim 1, wherein

said first and second means comprises a Z-comparison and renewal circuit for said Z-buffer and picture data buffer which receives old distance data of said sub-pixel unit from said Z-buffer, outputs various pixel address signal, new distance data of said sub-pixel unit and a write signal to said Z-buffer and said picture data buffer, and outputs said picture data to said picture data buffer.

3. A jagged-edge killer circuit of claim 1, wherein said means for generating picture data comprises an arithmetical mean circuit which receives a plurality of write flags of individual sub-pixels subdivided from said pixel, and a plurality of picture data of said subdivided sub-pixels, and which supplies various address signals to said picture data buffer and frame buffer, and an α

value to said frame buffer, said α

value representing the number of said write flags which have a true value for representing that said picture data have written to said generating means.

4. A jagged-edge killer circuit of claim 2, wherein said renewal circuit comprises

a timing control circuit for supplying said write signal and a first pixel address strobe signal;

a plurality of Z-comparison circuits each corresponding to said sub-pixels, and each having a first latch circuit for latching new distance data of each sub-pixel, a second latch circuit for latching old distance data of each sub-pixel, a comparator which compares said new distance data with said old distance data of each sub-pixel, and an AND circuit for operating a logical product of a comparison result of said comparator and said write signal from said timing control circuit;

a third latch circuit for latching an X axis value on the frame buffer of said pixel;

a fourth latch circuit for latching a Y axis value on the frame buffer of said pixel; and

a fifth latch circuit for latching luminance data of said pixels.

5. A jagged-edge killer circuit of claim 1, wherein said Z-buffer comprises a plurality of memories corresponding to said sub-pixels subdivided from said pixel into said predetermined number, each memory which outputs old data of the concerned sub-pixel, and receives new data, write signal, and various address signals of each sub-pixel.

6. A jagged-edge killer circuit of claim 2;

wherein said arithmetical mean circuit comprises

a plurality of full-adders which are constructed in a multi-stage, in which first stage adders receives any two data of said plurality of picture data corresponding to said sub-pixels, and succeeding stage adders receives any two outputs of said first stage adders or previous stage adders, and

a shift circuit for shifting data to a right direction for 4 bits on the basis of an output of final stage adders.

7. A jagged-edge killer circuit of claim 2, wherein said arithmetical mean circuit comprises:

a control circuit for outputting a pixel address signal, pixel address strobe signal and a pixel data strobe signal by sequentially generating entire pixel addresses of one scene of the picture data, thereby activating a pixel address strobe signal, and

an α

value calculating circuit for setting an value by counting the number of flags which have true value in a plurality of flags for representing that the picture data have been written, said α

value representing said number of flags counted.