Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device
Reexamination Certificate
1993-06-22
2001-05-15
Kelley, Chris (Department: 2613)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232955
ABSTRACT:
(C) Copyright, Texas Instruments Incorporated, 1990. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
All of the following U.S. patent applications are cross-referenced to one another, and all have been assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated. These applications have been concurrently filed and are hereby incorporated into this patent application by reference.
Serial Number
Title
S.N. 544,779
Computer Graphics Systems,
Palette Devices and Methods
for Shift Clock Pulse
Insertion During Blanking
S.N. 884,263
Palette Devices, Computer
Graphics Systems and Methods
With Parallel Lookup and
Input Signal Splitting
filed May 8, 1992 a continuation
of S.N. 545,422 now abandoned
S.N. 545,421
Devices, Systems and Methods
for Palette Pass Through Mode
S.N. 935,115
Integrated Circuit Internal
Test Circuits and Methods
filed August 24, 1992 a
continuation of S.N. 544,771
S.N. 925,885
Controlled Delay Devices,
Systems, and Methods
filed August 6, 1992 a
continuation of S.N. 546,172
S.N. 544,775
Packed Bus Selection of
Multiple Pixel Depths in
Palette Devices, Systems and
Methods
S.N. 545,424
Graphics Systems, Palettes
and Methods with Combined
Video and Shift Clock Control
The following coassigned patents and patent applications and a nonpatent publication are hereby incorporated herein by reference as supporting information to the subject matter disclosed herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,053 filed Apr. 28, 1986, issued Jan. 17, 1989, “Color Palette Having Multiplexed Color Look Up Table Loading”;
Ser. No. 387,569, filed May 8, 1992 a continuation of Ser. No. 545,422 now abandoned, filed Jul. 28, 1989, “Graphics Display Split-Serial Register System”;
Ser. No. 933,865 filed Aug. 21, 1992, a continuation of Ser. No. 435,591, filed Nov. 17, 1989, “Multi-Processor with Crossbar Link of Processors and Memories and Method of Operation” now abandoned
TMS34070 User's Guide: Color Palette, Texas Instruments Incorporated, 1986.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Without limiting the general scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with computer graphics as an example only.
In computer graphics systems the low cost of dynamic random access memories (DRAM) has made it economical to provide a bit map or pixel map memory for the system. In such a bit map or pixel map memory a color code is stored in a memory location corresponding to each pixel to be displayed. A video system is provided which recalls the color codes for each pixel and generates a raster scan video signal corresponding to the recalled color codes. Thus, the data stored in the memory determines the display by determining the color generated for each pixel (picture element) of the display.
The requirement for a natural looking display and the minimization of required memory are conflicting. In order to have a natural looking display it is necessary to have a large number of available colors. This requires a large number of bits for each pixel in order to specify the particular color from among a large number of possibilities. However, the provision of a large number of bits per pixel requires a large amount of memory for storage. Since a number of bits must be provided for each pixel in the display, even a modest sized display would require a large memory. Thus, it is advantageous to provide some method to reduce the amount of memory needed to store the display while retaining the capability of choosing among a large number of colors.
The provision of a circuit called a color palette enables a compromise between these conflicting requirements. The color palette stores color data words that are longer in bit length than color codes that are stored in the pixel map memory instead of the actual color data words themselves. The color data words can specify colors to be displayed in a form that is ready for digital-to-analog conversion directly from the palette. The color codes stored in the memory for each pixel have a limited number of bits, thereby reducing the memory requirements. The color codes are employed to select one of a number of color registers or palette locations. Thus, the color codes do not themselves define colors but instead identify a selected palette location. These color registers or palette locations each store color data words which are longer than the color codes in the pixel map memory. The number of such color registers or palette locations provided in the color palette is equal to the number of selections provided by the color codes. For example a four-bit color code can be used to select 2-to-the-n or sixteen palette locations. The color data words can be redefined in the palette from frame to frame to provide many more colors in an ongoing sequence of frames than are present in any one frame.
Due to the advantages of the color palette devices, systems and methods, any improvements in their implementation are advantageous in computer color graphics technology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A palette device controllable by a digital computer with a video memory to produce signals representing color for a video monitor. The palette device includes a multiple-bit input latch for entry of color codes from the video memory, and a look-up table memory for supplying color data words in response to color codes from the input latch. A digital to analog converter responds to color data words to produce an analog color signal. Selection circuitry connected to the input latch and to the look-up table memory supplies the digital to analog converter either with a color data word supplied by the look-up table memory or with a color data word comprised of color codes from the input latch. Improved graphics computer systems, facsimile systems, printer systems and other systems and methods are also disclosed.
A technical advantage of the invention is increased flexibility in using palette devices and creation of more types of graphic displays.
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Guttag Karl M.
Killebrew, Jr. Carrell R.
Van Aken Jerry R.
Brady III W. James
Kelley Chris
Marshall, Jr. Robert D.
Telecky , Jr. Frederick J.
Texas Instruments Incorporated
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