Point addressable cursor for stereo raster display
First Claim
1. Apparatus for generating a cursor for use with a visual image that is displayed to a viewer so as to give an illusion of having a width along an x-axis, a height along a y-axis, and a depth along a z-axis, comprising:
- first means for storing a first x-axis position of the cursor;
second means for storing a second x-axis position of the cursor, the first x-axis position and the second x-axis position being offset from one another by an amount that is a function of a position of the cursor along the z-axis;
means, having a first input coupled to an output of the first storing means and a second input coupled to an output of the second storing means, for selecting on alternate displayed image frames the first input or the second input to be provided to an output;
third means for storing a y-axis position of the cursor;
fourth means for storing a value that specifies a cursor pattern; and
fifth means for storing, at addressable locations, values that correspond to pixels that represent the selected cursor pattern, the fifth storing means having address inputs coupled to the output signals of the selecting means, to output signals of the third storing means, and to output signals of the fourth storing means for providing to an output a pixel value, the pixel value being read from one of the addressable locations that is specified by a combination of the output signals.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stereoscopic sursor for high-resolution stereoscopic raster display is addressable to any arbitrary point on the display and simulates depth by alternately displaying left and right patterns that are offset from one another in a horizontal (x-axis) direction. Left and right views of the cursor are alternately displayed at the display frame rate, while a shutter mechanism presents the appropriate views to the viewer'"'"'s eyes. To further enhance the perception of depth, monoscopic depth cues are provided by varying the cursor'"'"'s color, size, transparency and/or pattern as the cursor moves in depth.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for generating a cursor for use with a visual image that is displayed to a viewer so as to give an illusion of having a width along an x-axis, a height along a y-axis, and a depth along a z-axis, comprising:
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first means for storing a first x-axis position of the cursor; second means for storing a second x-axis position of the cursor, the first x-axis position and the second x-axis position being offset from one another by an amount that is a function of a position of the cursor along the z-axis; means, having a first input coupled to an output of the first storing means and a second input coupled to an output of the second storing means, for selecting on alternate displayed image frames the first input or the second input to be provided to an output; third means for storing a y-axis position of the cursor; fourth means for storing a value that specifies a cursor pattern; and
fifth means for storing, at addressable locations, values that correspond to pixels that represent the selected cursor pattern, the fifth storing means having address inputs coupled to the output signals of the selecting means, to output signals of the third storing means, and to output signals of the fourth storing means for providing to an output a pixel value, the pixel value being read from one of the addressable locations that is specified by a combination of the output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating a cursor for use with a visual image that is displayed to a viewer so as to give an illusion of having a width along an x-axis, a height along a y-axis, and a depth along a z-axis, comprising the initial steps of:
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storing a first x-axis position of the cursor; storing a second x-axis position of the cursor, the first x-axis position and the second x-axis position being offset from one another by an amount that is a function of a position of the cursor along a z-axis; storing a y-axis position of the cursor; storing a value that specifies a cursor pattern; and storing within a memory means, at addressable locations, values that correspond to pixels that represent at least one specified cursor pattern; the method further comprising the steps of; selecting, for a first displayed image frame, the first stored x-axis position and for a second, immediately subsequent image frame, the second x-axis position; generating a first plurality of address bits when the display means is displaying a pixel at a location that coincides with the selected x-axis position and the stored y-axis position; and addressing the memory means with the first plurality of address bits and with a second plurality of address bits that are provided by the stored cursor pattern value so as to read out a pixel value that corresponds to a portion of the specified cursor pattern. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification