Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Patent
1997-01-30
1999-06-08
Luu, Matthew
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
345509, G09G 534
Patent
active
059107944
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for storing and rotating bit patterns. The bit patterns can be written into and in turn read out from matrix cells of a memory matrix. A bit pattern represents image information resolved into its individual pixels. Such image information that has been are processed, for example, in picture screen devices and other display units and in copier and printer devices for reproducing the image information on a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,434 discloses an electrographic printer that receives image information to be printed from a data processing device. This encoded image information is converted into a bit pattern by a printer controller and potentially rotated. The bit pattern is read out to a following reproduction means that transfers the bit pattern and, thus, the image information onto a recording medium.
Memory matrices are usually employed for rotating the bit patterns, the matrix cells of the memory matrices being capable of being randomly accessed with the assistance of peripheral selection elements. For example, it is thus possible to write or read entire rows or entire columns into and out of the memory matrix in parallel. To that end, each matrix cell comprises exactly one memory cell in which one pixel can be deposited in the form of a logical zero or one. Each matrix cell is respectively connected via a first line to a row multiplexer and via a second line to a column multiplexer. The column multiplexers and row multiplexers thereby serve as peripheral selection elements. Dependent on the size of the memory matrix, a plurality of lines is therefore required from the matrix cells to the matrix periphery. The size of a realizable matrix is limited as a result thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,897 discloses a memory unit for use in a printer. The memory unit can be employed as a buffer memory for image data. A picture element can thereby be stored at each matrix point of the memory unit. Picture elements can be read out by designational control with a row decoder and a column decoder such that an image rotation thus ensues.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,190 discloses a two-dimensional memory unit that contains memory modules arranged in a matrix form. Each memory module itself is a two-dimensional memory capable of random access and organized in a matrix form. All memory modules are identical and are addressed with an address bus that is nine bits wide, as a result whereof a specific matrix cell that is the same in all memory modules can always be simultaneously selected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an apparatus and a method for storing and rotating bit patterns, whereby the number of connecting lines between the matrix cells and the matrix periphery is reduced without modification of the matrix size.
This and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by a method for storing and rotating bit patterns in a raster module that comprises a memory matrix that contains a plurality of matrix cells and can be coupled to a reproduction means via peripheral selection elements, including the method steps of storing a bit pattern present in the form of pixels of an original matrix such that at least one pixel of the original matrix is stored in each matrix cell of the memory matrix; and reading the bit pattern out from the memory matrix, whereby specific matrix cells are selected dependent on a rotation information and respectively one pixel within these matrix cells is selected with an internal selection element and read out to the reproduction means.
A further advantage is provided by the pixels of the original matrix being stored in the matrix cells of the memory matrix such that each matrix cell contains the pixels that are congruent with one another after folding the original matrix over at least one of its diagonals.
In a preferred embodiment, a raster module is provided that is allocated to
REFERENCES:
patent: 4875190 (1989-10-01), Sakano
patent: 4935897 (1990-06-01), Kurihara et al.
patent: 5396236 (1995-03-01), Ueda
Luu Matthew
Oce Printing Systems GmbH
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