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EP0352012A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Multiplane image mixing in a display window environment
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-07-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A graphics display system is provided with the ability to use multiple memory buffers to produce images with a wide range of colours through bit plane encoding or to present indeplendent applications displays or combine display images through the use of lateral bit encoding. When operated in the lateral bit encoded state, application programs can be associated with independent memory buffers or an application can use the separate buffers to create a display with animation or apparent movement. Each memory buffer can be independently associated with the display device or the images contained in the memory buffers can be mixed through the use of hardware of software image mixing to create a composite display. The combined image is used to directly control the display device and does not require the creation of an intermediate frame buffer image. This display system provides the capability for animation or image movement through the designation of one or more planes to contain the objects and the designation of display priority among the memory buffers. The image mixer combines the images according to the established display priority so that portions of the highest priority image are always displayed. the images in the memory buffers may, alternatively, be linked to create a single large image which can be scrolled across the display monitor. A method for image mixing and for displaying objects with apparent motion is provided through the use of the multiple memory buffers and display priority assignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul David Dinicola
- 👤 Francois Normand Dumas
- 👤 John Joseph Lawless
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:16
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/02; G09G5/022; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/395
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for displaying graphics images on a display device, said system comprising: memory means for storing graphics images represented by a plurality of picture elements, said memory means organised into a plurality of memory buffers and operable in a first display system state wherein each of said picture elements is encoded and stored in respective positions in said plurality of memory buffers, or a second display system state wherein each of said picture elements is encoded and stored in successive positions of one of said memory buffers; state control means for selecting between said first display system state and said second display system state; control means for associating one or more of said plurality of memory buffers with one or more encoded graphics image creating application programs, said control means being operable when said display system is in said second display system state; selection means for enabling transmission of picture elements from one or more of said plurality of memory buffers to said display device; and image mixing means for combining for display said picture elements from said one or more of said plurality of memory buffers according to an image display priority.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for displaying graphics images on a display device, said system comprising: memory means for storing graphics images represented by a plurality of picture elements, said memory means organised into a plurality of memory buffers and operable in a first display system state wherein each of said picture elements is encoded and stored in respective positions in said plurality of memory buffers, or a second display system state wherein each of said picture elements is encoded and stored in successive positions of one of said memory buffers; state control means for selecting between said first display system state and said second display system state; control means for associating one or more of said plurality of memory buffers with one or more encoded graphics image creating application programs, said control means being operable when said display system is in said second display system state; selection means for enabling transmission of picture elements from one or more of said plurality of memory buffers to said display device; and image mixing means for combining for display said picture elements from said one or more of said plurality of memory buffers according to an image display priority.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to Claim 1, further comprising: processing means for operating applications programs to create encoded graphics images; and input means for accepting encoded graphics image picture elements from said processing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
A system according to Claim 1, wherein said plurality of picture elements represent blank areas or non-blank areas of said graphics image; and wherein said image mixing means comprises: addressing means for simultaneously accessing an encoded picture element from each of said plurality of memory buffers, where each of said encoded picture elements corresponds to a given location on said display device; priority control means for establishing priority of display of said images from said plurality of memory buffers; and image combining means for combining said corresponding encoded picture elements such that the display of non-blank images from any one of said plurality of memory means overlays images from said plurality of memory means with lower display priority.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to Claim 3 further comprising: display generating means for generating display control signals to control said display device, said display generating means being responsive to said image combining means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to Claim 3 further comprising a plurality of selection means for enabling the display of encoded picture elements from respective plurality of memory buffers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to Claim 1, further comprising linking means for linking one or more of said plurality of memory buffers to create a single large image, which can be smoothly scrolled on said display device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for combining and displaying images stored as encoded picture elements in a plurality of memory buffers, each memory buffer containing picture elements representing images for display in a display area of a graphics display device, said method comprising: repeating the following steps for each picture element storage location corresponding to a location in said display area; simultaneously accessing picture elements from each of said plurality of memory buffers, said picture elements corresponding to the same display area location; determining the display priority of each of said plurality of memory buffers; examining each corresponding picture element in the order of said display priority to determine whether said picture element represents a non-blank image portion of said display area; displaying the examined picture element if it represents a non-blank image portion of said display area; ignoring the remaining corresponding picture elements once one picture element has been displayed; and displaying a background colour if none of said corresponding picture elements represents a non-blank image portion of said display area.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for combining and displaying images stored as encoded picture elements in a plurality of memory buffers, each memory buffer containing picture elements representing images for display in a display area of a graphics display device, said method comprising: repeating the following steps for each picture element storage location corresponding to a location in said display area; simultaneously accessing picture elements from each of said plurality of memory buffers, said picture elements corresponding to the same display area location; determining the display priority of each of said plurality of memory buffers; examining each corresponding picture element in the order of said display priority to determine whether said picture element represents a non-blank image portion of said display area; displaying the examined picture element if it represents a non-blank image portion of said display area; ignoring the remaining corresponding picture elements once one picture element has been displayed; and displaying a background colour if none of said corresponding picture elements represents a non-blank image portion of said display area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of Claim 7 further comprising the steps of: enabling one or more of said plurality of memory buffers for access; and ignoring picture element data from any memory buffer not enabled.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of displaying objects with apparent motion on a graphics display device, said method comprising the steps of: writing encoded images to a first memory means with a first display priority; writing encoded images having apparent motion to a second memory means with a second display priority higher than said first display priority; combining said images from said memory means so that the image from the memory means with the highest display priority is retained for display; displaying said combined images on a graphics display device; erasing said encoded images having apparent motion and rewriting said encoded image at locations displaced from the original location of said encoded image; repeating said combining, displaying, and erasing and rewriting steps at a rate sufficient to create the appearance that the encoded image having apparent motion moves on said display device.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of displaying objects with apparent motion on a graphics display device, said method comprising the steps of: writing encoded images to a first memory means with a first display priority; writing encoded images having apparent motion to a second memory means with a second display priority higher than said first display priority; combining said images from said memory means so that the image from the memory means with the highest display priority is retained for display; displaying said combined images on a graphics display device; erasing said encoded images having apparent motion and rewriting said encoded image at locations displaced from the original location of said encoded image; repeating said combining, displaying, and erasing and rewriting steps at a rate sufficient to create the appearance that the encoded image having apparent motion moves on said display device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 7, further comprising the step of writing images to a third memory means with a third display priority higher than said second display priority.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
307 words
An apparatus for combining for display on a display device images stored as encoded picture elements, said apparatus comprising: memory means for storing encoded picture elements organised as a plurality of memory buffers; first selector means connected to a first memory buffer for decoding said encoded picture elements if they are not zero; first logic means responsive to said first memory buffer and a second memory buffer for generating an encoded output when said first memory buffer encoded picture element is zero and said second memory buffer encoded picture element is non-zero; second selector means connected to said first logic means for decoding said encoded output when said encoded output is non-zero; second logic means responsive to said first memory buffer, said second memory buffer and a third memory buffer for generating a second encoded output when said first memory buffer encoded picture element is zero, and said second memory buffer encoded picture element is zero, and said third memory buffer picture element is non-zero; third selector means connected to said second logic means for decoding said second encoded output when said second encoded output is non-zero; third logic means for generating a third encoded output when said first, second and third memory buffer encoded picture elements are zero; fourth connector means connected to said third logic means for decoding said third encoded output when said third encoded output is non-zero; first signal generating means for generating a display control signal when a first decoded output of said first, second, third or fourth selector is non-zero; second signal generating means for generating a display control signal when a second decoded output of said first, second, third or fourth selector is non-zero; and third signal generating means for generating a display control signal when a third decoded output to said first, second, third or fourth selector is non-zero.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
307 words
An apparatus for combining for display on a display device images stored as encoded picture elements, said apparatus comprising: memory means for storing encoded picture elements organised as a plurality of memory buffers; first selector means connected to a first memory buffer for decoding said encoded picture elements if they are not zero; first logic means responsive to said first memory buffer and a second memory buffer for generating an encoded output when said first memory buffer encoded picture element is zero and said second memory buffer encoded picture element is non-zero; second selector means connected to said first logic means for decoding said encoded output when said encoded output is non-zero; second logic means responsive to said first memory buffer, said second memory buffer and a third memory buffer for generating a second encoded output when said first memory buffer encoded picture element is zero, and said second memory buffer encoded picture element is zero, and said third memory buffer picture element is non-zero; third selector means connected to said second logic means for decoding said second encoded output when said second encoded output is non-zero; third logic means for generating a third encoded output when said first, second and third memory buffer encoded picture elements are zero; fourth connector means connected to said third logic means for decoding said third encoded output when said third encoded output is non-zero; first signal generating means for generating a display control signal when a first decoded output of said first, second, third or fourth selector is non-zero; second signal generating means for generating a display control signal when a second decoded output of said first, second, third or fourth selector is non-zero; and third signal generating means for generating a display control signal when a third decoded output to said first, second, third or fourth selector is non-zero.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of Claim 11 further comprising: enabling means associated with each of said memory buffers of said memory means for enabling said buffers to be responsive to said selector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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