High resolution real time raster image processing system and method

• US 5,796,411 A
• Filed: 07/10/1995
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raster Printing Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Moore Business Forms Inc.
• Inventors: Mariani, Frank J., Armstrong, Carl F., Rocco, Frank J., Schimminger, Edward W., Cyman, Theodore F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Application Number:
  US08/500,011
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 395/101, 395/104, 395/109, 395/110, 395/114-116, 395/167, 395/171, 395/501, 395/502, 395/507, 395/509, 358/296, 358/448, 345/501, 345/502, 345/507, 345/509
• US Class Current: 345/502
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0002 Handling the output data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/405 Halftoning, i.e. converting the picture signal of a continuous-tone original into a corresponding signal showing only two levels

Abstract

A raster image processing system and method that can keep up with the fastest high resolution printers now available can process images "on the fly"--that is, generate images from compact input representations so rapidly that printing can occur substantially in the same real time as raster image processing of input data. This system is capable of automatically "screening" data relating to the images so that the various gray scales or color levels are correct for a contone printing process. Different print engine control modules can be replaceably plugged into and out of the system to allow it to be used with different types of print engines/intelligent imaging systems--including high speed, high resolution color printing engines. A high speed data cache and associated array disk drive provide high speed throughput of data into the system. The disk array may, for example, store a library of high resolution graphics that can be accessed "on the fly" as needed in response to the input data stream. A graphics accelerator can generate, on the fly, many "primitive" or simple graphics (e..g, angles, lines, boxes, etc.) at the same time that the remainder of the print image is being generated.

Claims

1. A raster image processor operable with any particular one of plural different incompatible print engines, said raster image processor comprising:

a processor portion of said raster image processor that receives a display list and performs image generation functions based thereon;

a processor bus connected to said processor portion;

a font image memory connected to said processor bus, said font image memory storing fonts for imaging; and

a bit image generator connected to said processor bus, said bit image generator forming a digital representation of an image based on said stored fonts and said display list and outputting said formed digital representation; and

a replaceable plug-in engine control module for providing said formed digital representation to said particular print engine at a timing and in a format required by at least one of said particular print engines.

2. A raster image processor comprising:

a processor portion of said raster image processor that receives a display list and performs image generation functions based thereon;

a processor bus connected to said processor portion;

a font image memory connected to said processor bus, said font image memory storing fonts for imaging;

a data cache coupled to said processor bus, said data cache storing and supplying predefined graphics; and

a bit image generator connected to said processor bus, said bit image generator forming a digital representation of an image based on said stored fonts, said supplied predefined graphics and said display list and outputting said formed digital representation.

3. A raster image processor comprising:

a processor portion of s aid raster image processor that receives a display list and performs image generation functions based thereon;

a processor bus connected to said processor portion;

a font image memory connected to said processor bus, said font image memory storing fonts for imaging;

a bit image generator connected to said processor bus, said bit image generator forming a digital representation of an image based on said stored fonts and said image generation functions and outputting said formed digital representation; and

means coupled to said bit image generator for providing output data to either of two difficult incompatible print engines, said providing means including;

a first engine control module for reading data from said bit image generator and outputting said read data to a first print engine,

a second engine control module for reading data from said bit image generator and outputting said read data to a second print engine different from said first print engine, and

a connector adapted to alternately receive said first engine control module and said second engine control module, and to couple the engine control module control module received by the connector to said bit image generator,

wherein said raster image processor can output said formed digital representation at a rate in excess of 300 million pixels per second.

4. A raster image processor comprising:

a processor portion of said raster image processor that receives a display list and performs image generation functions based thereon;

a processor bus connected to said processor portion;

a font image memory connected to said processor bus, said font image memory storing fonts for imaging;

a bit image generator connected to said processor bus, said bit image generator forming a digital representation of an image based on said stored fonts and said image generation functions and outputting said formed digital representation;

a data cache coupled to said processor bus, said data cache retrieving from a library of graphics and providing retrieved graphics data to said bit image generator; and

wherein said raster image processor can output said formed digital representation at a rate in excess of 300 million pixels per second.

5. A raster image processor comprising:

a processor portion of said raster image processor that receives a display list and performs image generation functions based thereon;

a processor bus connected to said processor portion;

a font image memory connected to said processor bus, said font image memory storing fonts for imaging;

a bit image generator connected to said processor bus, said bit image generator forming a digital representation of an image based on said stored fonts and said image generation functions and outputting said formed digital representation;

screening means coupled to said bit image generator for converting continuous tone input data to screened output data and for providing said screened output data to said bit image generator; and

wherein said raster image processor can output said formed digital representation at a rate in excess of 300 million pixels per second.

6. A raster image processor comprising:

a processor portion of said raster image processor that receives a display list and performs image generation functions based thereon;

a processor bus connected to said processor portion;

a font image memory connected to said processor bus, said font image memory storing fonts for imaging;

a bit image generator connected to said processor bus, said bit image generator forming a digital representation of an image based on said stored fonts and said image generation functions and outputting said formed digital representation;

means coupled to said bit image generator for providing output data to either of two different incompatible print engines; and

wherein said raster image processor can output said formed digital representation at a rate in excess of 300 million pixels per second.