Pick function implementation in a parallel processing system
First Claim
1. In a graphics system in which a predetermined number of pixels representing a fragment of a two-dimensional pixel image are generated in parallel for display by a raster scan device, a method of detecting the generation of pixels within a defined window having a boundary extending along a first dimension of said image, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) (1) generating a mask fragment comprising mask bits corresponding to contiguous pixels distributed along a portion of a second dimension of said image perpendicular to said first dimension on either side of said boundary, each of said mask bits indicating the side of said boundary on which the corresponding pixel lies;
(2) masking said image fragment with said mask fragment to produce a masked image fragment; and
(b) (1) partitioning said image into contiguous blocks distributed along said second dimension of said image, each of said blocks having a predetermined extent in said second dimension;
(2) associating said image fragment with one of said blocks in accordance with the position of said fragment in said image;
(3) trivially determining the location of said image fragment relative to said window in accordance with the position of said block relative to said window;
(c) logically combining said masked image fragment with said trivial determination of the location of said image fragment to generate a detection signal indicating the presence of an image fragment within said window.
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Abstract
A processing system for identifying operator selection of a graphics object in a system using parallel pixel generation. Parallel pixel generation results in a fragment comprising a series of M pixels being generated at each processing cycle. The image fragment must be tested against an operator defined selection area to determine whether the object being generated falls within the operator selection area. Fragments are initially classified as totally within or totally outside of the area. If a fragment intersects the operator selection area, mask is applied for each boundary of the operator defined area. Selection is signalled based upon the logical combination of the masked image fragments. Operator selection or picking occurs without the overhead of maintaining a pick RAM for the X and Y dimensions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a graphics system in which a predetermined number of pixels representing a fragment of a two-dimensional pixel image are generated in parallel for display by a raster scan device, a method of detecting the generation of pixels within a defined window having a boundary extending along a first dimension of said image, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) (1) generating a mask fragment comprising mask bits corresponding to contiguous pixels distributed along a portion of a second dimension of said image perpendicular to said first dimension on either side of said boundary, each of said mask bits indicating the side of said boundary on which the corresponding pixel lies; (2) masking said image fragment with said mask fragment to produce a masked image fragment; and (b) (1) partitioning said image into contiguous blocks distributed along said second dimension of said image, each of said blocks having a predetermined extent in said second dimension; (2) associating said image fragment with one of said blocks in accordance with the position of said fragment in said image; (3) trivially determining the location of said image fragment relative to said window in accordance with the position of said block relative to said window; (c) logically combining said masked image fragment with said trivial determination of the location of said image fragment to generate a detection signal indicating the presence of an image fragment within said window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a graphics system in which a predetermined number of pixels representing a fragment of a two-dimensional pixel image are generated in parallel for display by a raster scan device, apparatus for detecting the generation of pixels within a defined window having a boundary extending along a first dimension of said image, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) (1) means for generating a mask fragment comprising mask bits corresponding to contiguous pixels distributed along a portion of a second dimension of said image perpendicular to said first dimension on either side of said boundary, each of said mask bits indicating the side of said boundary on which the corresponding pixel lies; (2) means for masking said image fragment with said mask fragment to produce a masked image fragment; and (b) (1) means for partitioning said image into contiguous blocks distributed along said second dimension, each of said blocks having a predetermined extent in said second dimension; (2) means for associating said image fragment with one of said blocks in accordance with the position of said fragment in said image; (3) means for trivially determining the location of said image fragment relative to said window in accordance with the position of said block relative to said window; (c) means for logically combining said masked image fragment with said trivial determination of the location of said image fragment to generate a detection signal indicating the presence of an image fragment within said window. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification