Dual resolution output system for image generators

• US 5,488,687 A
• Filed: 09/17/1992
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STAr Technologies, Inc. (Innotech Corp.)
• Original Assignee: STAr Technologies, Inc. (Innotech Corp.)
• Inventors: Rich, Henry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US07/946,082
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 395/123, 395/132, 395/152, 395/164, 395/135
• US Class Current: 345/563
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/06 using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/395 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of the bit-mapped memory to the screen G09G5/399 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/397 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of two or more bit-mapped memories to the screen simultaneously, e.g. for mixing or overlay G09G5/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An image generator with a system to affix a flag for identifying high resolution pixel data in a signal of both high and low resolution pixel data, so that high resolution pixel data is divided readily for separate treatment in a high resolution frame buffer. The low resolution pixel data is connected to a low resolution frame buffer where it is treated with an occlusion mask in accordance with occlusion fractional coverage computed separately. The pixel data is combined again in a mixer before it is converted for visual display.

Claims

1. In an image generator for producing pixel data with occluded and unoccluded portions having pixel color components and to produce target pixels with a high resolution flag and a color number, a real time output system of said image generator comprising:

occulting logic means for receiving pixel data with unoccluded portions and with color components and with high resolution flag means and with color identifying numbers for generating output occluded pixels and pixel fragments;

high resolution frame buffer means and low resolution frame buffer means connected to receive said output pixels and pixel fragments of said occulting logic means and

mixer circuit means for performing color table, weighting and delay logic functions, and connected to receive output data of said high and low resolution frame buffer means for combining said output data for developing data for display;

wherein output pixels and pixel fragments from the occulting logic means are selectively provided to either the high resolution frame buffer means or the low resolution frame buffer means in response to said flag means.

2. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 1 wherein said occulting logic means includes means for producing, for said low resolution pixel data, an occlusion mask indicative of fractional coverage of said pixel data for use by said mixer circuit means.

3. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 2 wherein said occulting logic means includes means for producing, for said low resolution pixel data, a fractional coverage portion for each color component according to an amount of occlusion involved with each of said low resolution pixel data for use by said mixer circuit means.

4. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 1 wherein said occulting logic means includes buffer means for said unoccluded portions of said pixel data.

5. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 1 including read-out control logic means connected to receive output pixel data from both of said frame buffer means.

6. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 1 including address and control means connected to receive said output of said occulting logic means for connecting said output of said occulting logic means to said high resolution frame buffer means and to said low resolution frame buffer means.

7. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 6 wherein said mixer circuit means combines said high resolution pixel data and said low resolution pixel data to form a high resolution output signal.

8. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 7 including digital-to-analog conversion logic means connected to receive said output signal from said mixer circuit means to generate a video signal for a visual display.

9. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 1 wherein said occulting logic means includes means for producing an occlusion mask indicative of fractional occlusion of said low resolution pixel data, means for producing a fractional color component indicative upon an occlusion fraction of said low resolution pixel data, buffer means for said unoccluded pixel data, and address and control means connected to receive pixel data from said occulting logic means.

10. An image generator with an output system as defined by claim 9 including circuit means to compute a color fraction for each color component in said high resolution data input signals in accordance with the relationship:

color_-- lores+g×

(color_-- hires--color_-- lores)

where;

color_-- lores=a fraction of low resolution color component for a pixel;

color_-- hires=a fraction of high resolution color component for a pixel;

g=an occlusion fraction for a pixel of high resolution data.