EP0314440A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Graphic display system with secondary pixel image storage
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1988-10-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An improved graphics display system includes a picture processor for processing display lists defining graphic designs, the display lists comprising pixel data and/or instructions for generating pixel data. The system further includes a display controller which stores pixel data in a frame buffer memory and controls a display of graphic designs in accordance therewith. When a display list defining a graphic design is changed but the design is not to be displayed, the display list is processed by the picture processor, but the output pixel data generated by the picture processor is routed not to the display controller but to a control processor which stores the generated pixel data in a second memory. When the design is thereafter to be displayed, the control processor generates a secondary display list including the pixel data stored in the second memory to the picture processor. The picture processor then forwards the pixel data included in the secondary display list to the display controller for storage in the frame buffer memory so as to initiate display of the graphic design.
Inventors
- 👤 John Charles Dalrymple
- 👤 Byron Gene Paul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:21
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/363; G09G5/14; G09G5/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An improved graphics display system of the type in which a display controller stores a primary pixel image, controls a display in accordance with the primary pixel image, and alters the primary pixel image in response to pixel data provided as input thereto, and in which a picture processor produces output pixel data in response to input display lists including instructions to the picture processor for generating the output pixel data wherein the improvement comprises: memory means for storing a secondary pixel image; control processor means for altering the secondary pixel image stored in said memory means in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto, and for producing a selection control signal; and routing means for conveying pixel data generated by the picture processor as input selectively to either the display controller or said control processor means, selection being controlled by the selection control signal provided by said control processor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An improved graphics display system of the type in which a display controller stores a primary pixel image, controls a display in accordance with the primary pixel image, and alters the primary pixel image in response to pixel data provided as input thereto, and in which a picture processor produces output pixel data in response to input display lists including instructions to the picture processor for generating the output pixel data wherein the improvement comprises: memory means for storing a secondary pixel image; control processor means for altering the secondary pixel image stored in said memory means in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto, and for producing a selection control signal; and routing means for conveying pixel data generated by the picture processor as input selectively to either the display controller or said control processor means, selection being controlled by the selection control signal provided by said control processor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
241 words
An improved graphics display system of the type in which a display controller stores a primary pixel image, controls a display in accordance with the primary pixel image, and alters the primary pixel image in response to pixel data provided as input thereto, and in which a picture processor produces output pixel data in response to input display lists, wherein some of the input display lists include instructions to the picture processor for generating output pixel data and others of the input display lists directly convey pixel data to be produced as output by the picture processor, wherein the improvement comprises: memory means for storing a primary display list including instructions for generating pixel data, and for storing a secondary pixel image comprising pixel data; control processor means for altering the secondary pixel image stored in said memory means in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto, for generating a secondary display list including pixel data of the secondary pixel image, and for producing a selection control signal; means for conveying the primary display list stored in the memory means and the secondary display list generated by said control processor means as input to the picture processor; and routing means for routing output pixel data produced by the picture processor as input selectively either to the display controller or to said control processor means, selection being controlled in accordance with the selection control signal produced by said control processor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
241 words
An improved graphics display system of the type in which a display controller stores a primary pixel image, controls a display in accordance with the primary pixel image, and alters the primary pixel image in response to pixel data provided as input thereto, and in which a picture processor produces output pixel data in response to input display lists, wherein some of the input display lists include instructions to the picture processor for generating output pixel data and others of the input display lists directly convey pixel data to be produced as output by the picture processor, wherein the improvement comprises: memory means for storing a primary display list including instructions for generating pixel data, and for storing a secondary pixel image comprising pixel data; control processor means for altering the secondary pixel image stored in said memory means in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto, for generating a secondary display list including pixel data of the secondary pixel image, and for producing a selection control signal; means for conveying the primary display list stored in the memory means and the secondary display list generated by said control processor means as input to the picture processor; and routing means for routing output pixel data produced by the picture processor as input selectively either to the display controller or to said control processor means, selection being controlled in accordance with the selection control signal produced by said control processor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
252 words
A graphics display system for providing a display of a graphics design in accordance with instructions from a user comprising: a display controller for storing a primary pixel image defining a graphics design, for controlling a graphics display in accordance with the primary pixel image, and for altering the primary pixel image in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto; a picture processor for producing output pixel data in response to an input primary display list, the primary display list comprising instructions to the picture processor for generating the pixel data, and in response to an input secondary display list directly including pixel data; memory means for storing the primary display list and for storing a secondary pixel image comprising pixel data and defining a graphics design; control processor means for altering the primary display list stored in the memory means in accordance with the instructions from the user, for altering the secondary pixel image stored in the memory means in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto, for generating the secondary display list including pixel data of the secondary pixel image, for producing a selection control signal, and for selectively providing the primary display list stored in the memory means and the secondary display list as inputs to the picture processor; and means for conveying output pixel data produced by the picture processor as input selectively to the display controller or said control processor means, selection being controlled by the selection control signal produced by said control processor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
252 words
A graphics display system for providing a display of a graphics design in accordance with instructions from a user comprising: a display controller for storing a primary pixel image defining a graphics design, for controlling a graphics display in accordance with the primary pixel image, and for altering the primary pixel image in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto; a picture processor for producing output pixel data in response to an input primary display list, the primary display list comprising instructions to the picture processor for generating the pixel data, and in response to an input secondary display list directly including pixel data; memory means for storing the primary display list and for storing a secondary pixel image comprising pixel data and defining a graphics design; control processor means for altering the primary display list stored in the memory means in accordance with the instructions from the user, for altering the secondary pixel image stored in the memory means in accordance with pixel data provided as input thereto, for generating the secondary display list including pixel data of the secondary pixel image, for producing a selection control signal, and for selectively providing the primary display list stored in the memory means and the secondary display list as inputs to the picture processor; and means for conveying output pixel data produced by the picture processor as input selectively to the display controller or said control processor means, selection being controlled by the selection control signal produced by said control processor means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of operation of a graphics display system of the type comprising a picture processor for producing output pixel data in response to input display lists defining graphic designs, some of the display lists comprising instructions to the picture processor for generating pixel data for transmission to a display controller and others of the display lists directly including pixel data to be forwarded by the picture processor to the display controller, the display controller storing pixel data received in a frame buffer memory and controlling a display of graphic designs in accordance with the pixel data stored in the frame buffer memory, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a primary display list comprising instructions for producing pixel data to the picture processor when the primary display list is changed, such that the picture processor generates output pixel data in accordance with instructions of the primary display list; transmitting pixel data generated by the picture processor in response to the primary display list to the display controller when a graphic design defined by the primary display list is to be displayed so that the display controller stores the output pixel data in the frame buffer memory; and storing output pixel data generated by the picture processor in response to the primary display list in a second memory, instead of transmitting the pixel data to the display controller, when the design defined by the primary display list is not to be displayed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of operation of a graphics display system of the type comprising a picture processor for producing output pixel data in response to input display lists defining graphic designs, some of the display lists comprising instructions to the picture processor for generating pixel data for transmission to a display controller and others of the display lists directly including pixel data to be forwarded by the picture processor to the display controller, the display controller storing pixel data received in a frame buffer memory and controlling a display of graphic designs in accordance with the pixel data stored in the frame buffer memory, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a primary display list comprising instructions for producing pixel data to the picture processor when the primary display list is changed, such that the picture processor generates output pixel data in accordance with instructions of the primary display list; transmitting pixel data generated by the picture processor in response to the primary display list to the display controller when a graphic design defined by the primary display list is to be displayed so that the display controller stores the output pixel data in the frame buffer memory; and storing output pixel data generated by the picture processor in response to the primary display list in a second memory, instead of transmitting the pixel data to the display controller, when the design defined by the primary display list is not to be displayed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the steps of: reading out pixel data stored in the second memory; and transmitting the read out pixel data to the display controller such that the display controller stores the read out pixel data in the frame buffer memory for controlling the display in accordance with the read out pixel data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the steps of: generating a secondary display list including pixel data stored in said second memory; and transmitting the secondary display list to the picture processor such that the picture processor forwards pixel data included in the secondary display list to the display controller and such that the display controller stores the forwarded pixel data in the frame buffer memory.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for providing a graphics display comprising the steps of: storing a primary display list comprising instructions for generating pixel data representing a graphic design; transmitting the primary display list to picture processor means for executing instructions in display lists to produce output pixel data and for extracting pixel data included in display lists to produce output pixel data, such that the picture processor means generates output pixel data in response to the instructions in the primary display list; storing in memory means a secondary pixel image comprising the output pixel data generated by the picture processor means in response to said primary display list; reading the secondary pixel image out of the memory means and generating a secondary display list including pixel data of said secondary pixel image; transmitting the secondary display list to the picture processor means such that the picture processor produces as output pixel data included in said secondary display list; storing a primary pixel image representing the graphic design in a frame buffer memory, the primary pixel image comprising the pixel data provided as output by the picture processor means in response to said secondary display list; and displaying a graphic design in accordance with the primary pixel image stored in the frame buffer memory.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for providing a graphics display comprising the steps of: storing a primary display list comprising instructions for generating pixel data representing a graphic design; transmitting the primary display list to picture processor means for executing instructions in display lists to produce output pixel data and for extracting pixel data included in display lists to produce output pixel data, such that the picture processor means generates output pixel data in response to the instructions in the primary display list; storing in memory means a secondary pixel image comprising the output pixel data generated by the picture processor means in response to said primary display list; reading the secondary pixel image out of the memory means and generating a secondary display list including pixel data of said secondary pixel image; transmitting the secondary display list to the picture processor means such that the picture processor produces as output pixel data included in said secondary display list; storing a primary pixel image representing the graphic design in a frame buffer memory, the primary pixel image comprising the pixel data provided as output by the picture processor means in response to said secondary display list; and displaying a graphic design in accordance with the primary pixel image stored in the frame buffer memory.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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