Programmable graphics processor having pixel to character conver

Details Programmable graphics processor having pixel to character conver Programmable graphics processor having pixel to character conver

1994-11-10

1998-03-03

Nguyen, Phu K.

G06F 1500

Patent

active

057244979

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to an information processing apparatus including a unique, external memory unit having a programmable processor embodied therein. More particularly, the invention relates to a removable, external memory unit having a program memory storing a program to be executed in part by a host processing system, e.g., a video game system, and in part by a programmable microprocessor designed to enhance the high speed graphics processing capabilities of the host system. The programmable microprocessor includes hardware for converting from a pixel based format to character based format.


CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the concurrently filed application Ser. No. 0-827,098) by San et al, entitled "External Memory System Having Programmable Graphics Processor For Use In a Video Game System Or The Like" and concurrently filed application Ser. No 07/828,459 by San et al, entitled "Graphics Processor with Enhanced Memory Control Circuitry For Use In A Video Game System Or The Like".


BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Prior art video game machines having an 8-bit microprocessor and an associated display processing subsystem embodied in a video game control deck typically generate graphics by prestoring characters in a game cartridge in the form of 8-bit by 8-bit matrices and by building a screen display using various programmable combinations of these prestored characters. Such prior art video game systems typically have the capability of moving the entire display background as well as a number of player-controlled "moving objects" or "sprites".
Such prior art systems do not have the capability of practically implementing video games which include moving objects made up of combinations of polygons which must be manipulated, e.g., rotated, and "redrawn" for each frame. The prior art 8-bit processor and associated display processing circuitry in such systems are not capable, for example, of performing the calculations required to effectively rotate three-dimensional, polygon-based objects or to appropriately scale such rotating objects to generate 3-D type special effects. The present inventors have recognized that sophisticated graphics require updating the screen on a pixel-by-pixel basis and performing complex mathematics on a real time basis. Such prior art character based video game machines are not capable of performing such tasks.
The prior art 8-bit video game machines also can not effectively perform other graphics techniques which require rapidly updating the screen on a pixel-by-pixel basis. For example, such systems can not effectively map an object onto a displayed polygon which is part of yet another displayed object (hereinafter referred to as "texture mapping") in three-dimensional space.
In an effort to improve the graphics capabilities over prior art 8-bit machines, video game systems have been designed using more powerful 16-bit processors. Such 16-bit processors provide the video game system with a mechanism for performing the mathematics required for more sophisticated graphics. Such systems, for example, permit more sophisticated color generation and better graphics resolution. Such 16-bit video game machines are character-based systems which permit the implementation of a wide range of video games that can be pre-drawn into character-based or sprite graphics. Such 16-bit video game systems also permit the movement of multiple colored background planes at high speeds with moving objects disposed in back, or in front, of such planes.
However, such prior art 16-bit video game machines do not permit the practical implementation of advanced video games having 3-D type special effects which display sophisticated objects made up of polygons that must change during each frame. For example, games which require many fully rotating objects or sprites that must be enlarged and/or reduced on a frame-by-frame basis are not practically realizable in such prior art character-based 16-bit machines. The inventors have r

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