Method & apparatus for displaying pixels from a multi-format frame buffer
First Claim
1. An apparatus for displaying a plurality of pixels on a display monitor, said apparatus comprising:
- multi-format pixel storage means for storing said plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising one of a plurality of pixel format types;
first pixel map storage means for storing a format pixel map comprising a plurality of format identifiers, wherein said format identifiers specify a pixel format type for a corresponding pixel;
conversion means coupled to said multi-format pixel storage means for converting a pixel to a display compatible pixel for each format type to generate a plurality of display compatible pixels;
second pixel map storage means coupled to said first pixel map storage means for said format pixel map for rendering pixels for display on said display monitor; and
transferring means coupled to said first pixel map storage means and second pixel map storage means for transferring said format pixel map from said first pixel map storage means to said second pixel map storage means during a pre-determined interval, and for transferring a format identifier from said format pixel map to said second pixel map storage means for selection of said display compatible pixel; and
selection means coupled to said conversion means and said second pixel map storage means for selecting a display compatible pixel from said plurality of display compatible pixels based on a corresponding format identifier from said format pixel map such that said display compatible pixel selected is compatible for display on said display monitor.
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Abstract
A host processor system is capable of executing a plurality of application programs and generating multi-format pixels for display on a computer display monitor in accordance with the application programs. The host processor system also generates a format map comprising a plurality of format identifiers wherein each format identifier specifies a format type for at least one multi-format pixel. The host processor system transfers multiformat pixel data and the format map to a multi-format frame buffer corresponding to a display monitor. The multi-format frame buffer is coupled to random access memory (RAM) digital to analog converter (DAC). During a blanking period of the display monitor, the format map is transferred from the multi-format frame buffer to a memory in the RAM DAC. The RAM DAC converts the format of each multi-format pixel a format compatible with the display monitor. One of the display compatible formats is selected based on the format identifier specifying the format type for that particular multi-format pixel as described by the format map. The selected multi-format pixel is then converted to an analog signal to control the graphics of the display monitor.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for displaying a plurality of pixels on a display monitor, said apparatus comprising:
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multi-format pixel storage means for storing said plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising one of a plurality of pixel format types; first pixel map storage means for storing a format pixel map comprising a plurality of format identifiers, wherein said format identifiers specify a pixel format type for a corresponding pixel; conversion means coupled to said multi-format pixel storage means for converting a pixel to a display compatible pixel for each format type to generate a plurality of display compatible pixels; second pixel map storage means coupled to said first pixel map storage means for said format pixel map for rendering pixels for display on said display monitor; and transferring means coupled to said first pixel map storage means and second pixel map storage means for transferring said format pixel map from said first pixel map storage means to said second pixel map storage means during a pre-determined interval, and for transferring a format identifier from said format pixel map to said second pixel map storage means for selection of said display compatible pixel; and selection means coupled to said conversion means and said second pixel map storage means for selecting a display compatible pixel from said plurality of display compatible pixels based on a corresponding format identifier from said format pixel map such that said display compatible pixel selected is compatible for display on said display monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for displaying a plurality of pixels on a display monitor, said apparatus comprising:
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a multi-format frame buffer comprising; a first memory portion that stores said plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising one of a plurality of pixel format types; a second memory portion that stores a format pixel map comprising a plurality of format identifiers, wherein said format identifiers specify a pixel format type for a corresponding pixel; format converters coupled to said multi-format frame buffer to receive pixels that convert a pixel to a display compatible pixel for each format type to generate a plurality of display compatible pixels; a pixel map memory coupled to receive said plurality of format identifiers from said second memory portion of said multi-format frame buffer; and a multiplexing circuit coupled to select from said format converters a display compatible pixel from said plurality of display compatible pixels based on a corresponding format identifier from said pixel map memory. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for displaying a plurality of pixels on a display monitor, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing said plurality of pixels in a multi-format frame buffer, each pixel comprising one of a plurality of pixel format types; storing a format pixel map in a first memory element, the format pixel map comprising a plurality of format identifiers, wherein said format identifiers specify a pixel format type for a corresponding pixel; transferring at least one format identifier from said format pixel map to a second memory element during a pre-determined interval; converting, for each pixel format type, a pixel to generate a plurality of display compatible pixels; and selecting a display compatible pixel from said plurality of display compatible pixels based on a corresponding format identifier stored in said second memory element such that said display compatible pixel selected is compatible for display on said display monitor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer system comprising:
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a display monitor; a processor for generating a format map comprising a plurality of format identifiers, and for generating pixels for said display monitor, wherein each pixel comprises one of a plurality of pixel format types, and said format identifiers specify a pixel format type for a corresponding pixel; a multi-format frame buffer comprising; a first memory portion coupled to said processor that stores a plurality of pixels; a second memory portion coupled to said processor that stores a format pixel map; format converters coupled to said multi-format frame buffer to receive pixels, said format converters each convert a pixel to a display compatible pixel for each format type to generate a plurality of display compatible pixels; a pixel map memory coupled to receive said plurality of format identifiers from said second portion of said multi-format frame buffer; and a multiplexer, coupled to said format converters and to said pixel map memory, that selects a display compatible pixel from said plurality of display compatible pixels based on a corresponding format identifier from said format pixel map such that said display compatible pixel selected is compatible for display on said display monitor. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A computer display apparatus comprising:
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a frame buffer comprising; a RAM portion storing a frame comprising a plurality of pixels; an off screen memory portion storing a frame format map comprising a plurality of format identifiers successively stored and respectively identifying said plurality of pixels of said frame; conversion circuitry coupled to receive data representing a first pixel having a first respective format identifier from said frame buffer, said conversion circuitry also being coupled to receive a video blanking signal, said conversion circuitry comprising; a pixel map memory coupled to receive said frame format map responsive to said video blanking signal; a first format converter coupled to receive said data from said frame buffer; a second format converter coupled to receive said data from said frame buffer; a digital to analog converter having an input selected from either said first format converter or said second format converter depending on said first respective format identifier. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification