Graphics display System with color look-up table loading mechanism
First Claim
1. A method of processing graphics data in a display engine that processes graphics images formatted in a plurality of formats including a color look up table (CLUT) format, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a plurality of common data structures, said common data structures comprising at least one data structure that describes graphics contents of a window and at least one data structure that provides an indicator to load a CLUT, said common data structures being in a sequence;
processing the common data structures to determine which ones of the common data structures describe graphics contents of a window and which ones of the common data structures provide an indicator to load the CLUT; and
loading conversion data into the CLUT in response to the indicator to load the CLUT, the CLUT-formatted data capable of being applied to the conversion data as an address to access graphics data having different data format, wherein the data structures for providing an indicator to load the CLUT can appear anywhere in the sequence, and a whole scan line time is allowed for loading the CLUT in consideration that it generally takes longer to load the CLUT than time available in a horizontal blanking interval.
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Abstract
A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, a graphics input and an audio input simultaneously. The chip includes a display engine that processes graphics images organized as windows. The display engine processes graphics images formatted in any one of a plurality of formats including a color look up table (CLUT) format. A color look-up (CLUT) table loading mechanism preferably facilitates the transfer of real-time CLUT table data during graphics composition. The loading mechanism may be triggered by a window descriptor that contains a color look-up table load command.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of processing graphics data in a display engine that processes graphics images formatted in a plurality of formats including a color look up table (CLUT) format, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a plurality of common data structures, said common data structures comprising at least one data structure that describes graphics contents of a window and at least one data structure that provides an indicator to load a CLUT, said common data structures being in a sequence;
processing the common data structures to determine which ones of the common data structures describe graphics contents of a window and which ones of the common data structures provide an indicator to load the CLUT; and
loading conversion data into the CLUT in response to the indicator to load the CLUT, the CLUT-formatted data capable of being applied to the conversion data as an address to access graphics data having different data format, wherein the data structures for providing an indicator to load the CLUT can appear anywhere in the sequence, and a whole scan line time is allowed for loading the CLUT in consideration that it generally takes longer to load the CLUT than time available in a horizontal blanking interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A CLUT loading mechanism for an integrated circuit graphics display system, said mechanism comprising:
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a window controller for sorting data, the data being formatted into data structures having a common structure and used to describe windows, according to the depth of the window on the display;
a CLUT for receiving conversion data from memory; and
a direct memory access module for transferring the conversion data from memory to the CLUT, wherein the data structures comprise at least one data structure that provides an indicator to load the CLUT, and wherein a whole scan line time is allowed for reloading the CLUT in consideration that it generally takes longer to load the CLUT than time available in a horizontal blanking interval. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification