Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graph generating
Patent
1997-06-20
2000-04-25
Powell, Mark R.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graph generating
345440, G06T 1100
Patent
active
060549947
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a procedure for displaying objects using an image reproduction device.
Image reproduction devices are increasingly being used for displaying information which exists in the form of data and which is made visible as two-dimensional objects using the resources of what is termed computer graphics. Thus display devices for aircraft have become known, for example, in which various symbols are displayed on a screen and indicate the most important information to the pilot in a clear manner. A display of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,582, for example.
In the known procedures for the display of two-dimensional objects using an image reproduction device, the contour of an object is first calculated in each case. Thereafter, all the image elements which are situated inside the calculated contour are written to an image memory with the requisite information for the respective color of the object. In order to obtain the signals required for the image reproduction device (video signals), the image memory is then read line by line. Depending on the desired local resolution and the resolution in the plane of colour, image memories of considerable capacity are necessary for such procedures. Moreover, a relatively large amount of data has to be processed when writing to and reading from memory, which either necessitates very fast circuits or results in a restriction of the display of rapidly moving objects.
Particularly when displaying information by means of objects which are situated in different planes and which may be both two-dimensional or linear, considerable computational effort is necessary for preparing the graphic data before writing them to the image memories. Thus, for example, all the objects involved have to be recalculated if an object moves over the boundaries of one or more other objects. For this purpose, a computational capacity has to be made available which is higher the more rapidly the modifications are to be made.
The object of the present invention is to provide a procedure for displaying objects using an image reproduction device in which a multiplicity of displays which is as large as possible and a high rate of modification can be achieved with a given computer output.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that data which describe the shape and position of the objects are fed in and are stored in at least one image memory, that the data are read out line by line and are processed with further data which are fed in and which describe further properties of the objects to form video signals which are fed to the image reproduction device.
Processing to form image signals is preferably effected in that the further data which describe further properties of the objects are written to at least one further memory, that the data which describe the shape and position and which are read out are fed as addresses to the at least one further memory, and that the further data are read out as digital video signals under the addresses from the at least one further memory.
By means of the procedure according to the invention, a plurality of objects can be moved rapidly and independently of each other on the screen of the image reproduction device, without a complete recalculation of the image being necessary in each phase of movement. For example, in order to produce an artificial horizon on a screen, a multiplicity of scales and markings are necessary on the screen in addition to the blue area of the sky and the mainly brown area of the earth. In this respect, for example, the brown area of the earth represents an object which is situated inside the oval visible region in front of the blue area of the sky. If it is only the artificial horizon which alters, due to a rolling or pitching movement of the aircraft for example, a graphic processor connected upstream merely has to recalculate the new form or position of the "brown area" object. All the other data which possibly influence the display of this object can be left unchanged.
The procedure according to
REFERENCES:
patent: 5299301 (1994-03-01), Nohmi et al.
patent: 5594850 (1997-01-01), Noyama et al.
patent: 5798766 (1998-08-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 5808627 (1998-09-01), Kelley et al.
Becker Klaus
Haase Detlef
Cao Huedung X.
Powell Mark R.
VDO Luftfahrtgeraete Werk GmbH
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