Patent
1993-08-13
1996-07-09
Herndon, Heather R.
395132, G06T 1160
Patent
active
055353150
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a graphic coloring system for displaying color images, stored in a main memory, on a display unit and more particularly, to a method of storing a large amount of image data in a minimum space in the main memory and displaying and coloring the images on the display unit, at high speed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Computer graphic display systems are used in various fields, such as graphics editing, child education, and interior design systems that require accurate combinations of colors. The graphic display systems basically employ a CPU serving as a control unit to provide various instructions, an image memory (VRAM) for temporarily storing image data, a main memory for storing tables indicating relationships between image data and color data, a CRT serving as a display unit, and input units such as a keyboard and a mouse.
The main memory stores color images which are displayed and colored on the display unit. The color images occupy a large space in the main memory. To reduce the size of the main memory, it is necessary to provide a system that is capable of storing various images in a small memory space and speedily displaying and coloring the images on the display unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a graphic coloring system for a graphic display system. The graphic display system at least has a display unit, a main memory for storing graphic data, and a controller for controlling the processing of data and the transfer of data between the display unit and the main memory.
The main memory stores a correspondence table of luminance and color resource IDs, image data based on color resource identifiers (IDs), luminance-position data of each pixel, luminance-color (RGB) data of each pixel, and combinational data of the luminance-position and luminance-color data.
The graphic coloring system changes combinations of the shapes and colors of images, according to combinational data, to speedily provide optional images having the same shape and different colors, or the same color and different shapes.
The luminance-position data of each pixel indicates the luminance of each position on a gray scale. The luminance-color data of each pixel involves linear functions that define relationships between color data R, G, and B and luminance levels. When a piece of luminance-position data is given, corresponding color data is obtainable according to one of the linear functions. For each level of luminance, values of colors R, G, and B are prepared in advance. If the correspondence table of luminance and color resource IDs does not contain proper color resource IDs, they are added to the table.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows essential parts of a standard graphic display system;
FIG. 2 shows essential parts of a controller and main memory according to a prior art;
FIG. 3 explains coordinates of image data on memory planes in the main memory of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of image data processing according to the prior art;
FIG. 5 shows essential parts of a controller and main memory according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processes according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of color changing processes;
FIG. 8A explains luminance-position data;
FIG. 8B explains luminance-color (RGB) data;
FIGS. 9A and 9B explain gray scale images of luminance-position data;
FIGS. 10A and 10B are correspondence tables of luminance and color resource IDs;
FIGS. 11A and 11B explain luminance-color data;
FIGS. 12 explain other luminance-color data; and
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of basic processes of preparing image data.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Before explaining embodiments of the present invention, a prior art and the problems thereof will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
FIG. 1 shows essential parts of a graphic display system. Numeral 1 is a keyboard and 2 is a mouse, which serve as input devices to be operated by an operator to enter instructions and data. Oth
REFERENCES:
patent: 5059955 (1991-10-01), Yamamura
patent: 5204664 (1993-04-01), Hamakawa
Foley, et al. "Computer Graphic Principles & Practices" ADDISON-WESLEY CO. 1990 pp. 584-595.
Buchel Rudolph J.
Herndon Heather R.
PFU Limited
LandOfFree
Graphic coloring system in a graphic-display system having separ does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Graphic coloring system in a graphic-display system having separ, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Graphic coloring system in a graphic-display system having separ will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1875126