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Image processing apparatus having improved frame buffer with Z buffer and SAM port

  • US 5,621,866 A
  • Filed: 07/22/1993
  • Issued: 04/15/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

  • a frame buffer for storing image information and depth information per pixel, said frame buffer comprising a single device with a SAM port;

    said frame buffer includingan image buffer for simultaneously storing image information of a predetermined number of pixels arranged in a horizontal direction in response to write permit signals corresponding to said pixels, respectively; and

    a Z buffer for simultaneously outputting stored depth information of said predetermined number of pixels and simultaneously storing new depth information of said predetermined number of pixels in response to said write permit signals;

    identifying means for identifying whether a condition indicating that an image to be plotted is a horizontal line is satisfied or not; and

    a plurality of as many write permit signal output means as said predetermined number, for simultaneously calculating respective items of new depth information of said predetermined number of pixels when said condition is satisfied as identified by said identifying means, comparing the depth information read from said Z buffer with the calculated depth information, and simultaneously outputting the write permit signals of said predetermined number of pixels to said image buffer and said Z buffer in response to the comparison.

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