Method and apparatus for generating graphic and textual images on a raster scan display

Claim 2

Apparatus for generating an image on a display device from a two-dimensional image matrix, comprising: A. a display refresh memory for storing information correspondence to each picture element to be displayed on the display device; B. display refresh means for supplying to the display device the information stored in the refresh memory; and C. general image generator means for writing to the display refresh memory a pattern of picture elements to be displayed on the display device, the general image generator means including (1) first and second means for generating, respectively, outer and inner sequences of pattern modulated vectors, each pattern modulated vector, in turn, being a sequence of points having a predefined pattern and comprising a line segment having a specified length, starting position and angular orientation relative to the display device, (2) the first pattern modulated vector means generating outer vectors whose points define the starting positions for each of the inner vectors generated by the second pattern modulated vector means, and the pattern for each such inner vector, and (3) the second pattern modulated vector means generating, for each starting position defined by the outer vectors, a vector comprising an illumination pattern for a succession of picture elements lying along the inner vector and defining the picture elements to be displayed therein.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the the display device is a raster scan device and the display refresh means reads information out of the display refresh memory in raster sequence.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the orientation of at least one of the sequences of vectors generated by the first and second pattern modulated vector means is variable independently of the orientation of the other sequence of vectors generated by the first and second pattern modulated vector means, whereby the information corresponding to the image contained in said matrix may be a slanted transformation of the matrix.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the orientation of the vectors generated by the first pattern modulated vector means is variable independently of the orientation of the vectors generated by the second pattern modulated vector means, whereby the information corresponding to the image contained in said matrix may be a rotated transformation of the matrix.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the orientation of the vectors generated by the first pattern modulated vector means is variable independently of the orientation of the vectors generated by the second pattern modulated vector means, whereby the information corresponding to the image contained in said matrix may be a rotated transformation of the matrix.

Claim 7

Apparatus for generating from a two-dimensional image matrix arranged into rows and columns a display thereof consisting of a transformation of the image recorded in said matrix, such apparatus comprising: means for generating from each of a set of first points to a corresponding second point a pixel illumination pattern to be displayed corresponding to a row of said image matrix; means for generating the locations of successive ones of said first points, corresponding to the starting positions for the pixel illumination pattern for each row; the means for generating the locations of successive ones of said first points being adapted to locate such succession of points along a line segment of any assigned angular orientation, starting location and length; and the means for generating pixel illumination patterns and the means for generating the successive locations of such first points being operable independently, whereby through selection of appropriate successive locations for said first points, the matrix may be transformed for display in differing sizes, slants and rotations.

Claim 8

Apparatus for generating from a two-dimensional image matrix arranged into rows and columns a display thereof consisting of a transformation of the image recorded in said matrix, such apparatus comprising: means for generating from each of a set of first points to a corresponding second point a pixel illumination pattern to be displayed corresponding to a row of said image matrix; means for generating the locations of successive ones of said first points, corresponding to the starting positions for the pixel illumination pattern for each row; the means for generating the locations of successive ones of said first points being adapted to locate such succession of points along a line segment of any assigned angular orientation, starting location and length; and the means for generating pixel illumination patterns and the means for generating the successive locations of such first points being operable independently, whereby through selection of appropriate successive locations for said first points, the matrix may be transformed for display in differing sizes, slants and rotations.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the representation of an image matrix is generated in a refresh memory from which the display is generated.

Claim 10

Apparatus for generating from a two-dimensional image matrix arranged into rows and columns a display thereof consisting of a transformation of the image recorded in said matrix, such apparatus comprising: means for generating a pixel illumination pattern to be displayed from each of a set of first points to a corresponding second point, such pattern corresponding to a column of the image matrix; means for generating the locations of successive ones of said first points, corresponding to the starting positions for the pixel illumination pattern for each column, including means for locating such succession of points along a line segment of any assigned angular orientation, starting location and length; and the means for generating pixel illumination patterns and the means for generating the successive locations of such first points being operable independently, whereby through selection of appropriate successive locations for said first points, the matrix may be transformed for display in differing sizes, slants and rotations.

Claim 11

Apparatus for generating from a two-dimensional image matrix arranged into rows and columns a display thereof consisting of a transformation of the image recorded in said matrix, such apparatus comprising: means for generating a pixel illumination pattern to be displayed from each of a set of first points to a corresponding second point, such pattern corresponding to a column of the image matrix; means for generating the locations of successive ones of said first points, corresponding to the starting positions for the pixel illumination pattern for each column, including means for locating such succession of points along a line segment of any assigned angular orientation, starting location and length; and the means for generating pixel illumination patterns and the means for generating the successive locations of such first points being operable independently, whereby through selection of appropriate successive locations for said first points, the matrix may be transformed for display in differing sizes, slants and rotations.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the representation of an image matrix is generated in a refresh memory from which the display is generated.

Claim 13

Apparatus for generating from an image matrix a representation on a two-dimensional display of the image contained therein, comprising: means for generating a first pattern-modulated line segment from a first point on the display to a second point on the display, including line segment generator means for establishing the picture element positions on the display intermediate the first and second points where the line segment is to be displayed; and means for generating an ordered of set of data which specifies the location for each of said first points and (b) for each such first point, a pattern for the line segment to be displayed between each said first point and its corresponding second point.

Claim 14

Apparatus for generating from an image matrix a representation on a two-dimensional display of the image contained therein, comprising: means for generating a first pattern-modulated line segment from a first point on the display to a second point on the display, including line segment generator means for establishing the picture element positions on the display intermediate the first and second points where the line segment is to be displayed; and means for generating an ordered of set of data which specifies the location for each of said first points and (b) for each such first point, a pattern for the line segment to be displayed between each said first point and its corresponding second point.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 further including: pattern generator means for determining the information to be displayed at each of the intermediate locations of the line segments, such pattern generator means including a shift register and means for loading the shift register with a pattern of 1's and 0's representing the selection of information to be displayed at each location; and means for shifting the shift register contents by one position responsive to the writing of a predetermined number of display locations.

Claim 16

Apparatus for generating a two-dimensional image of an object from a stored representation of the object, the size, orientation and slanting of the image all being variable to allow generation of images of differing size, orientation and slanting from the stored representation of the object, such apparatus comprising: A. first and second means for generating line images between starting points and ending points, each such line image generator including (1) location counters used for selecting locations to be displayed intermediate said starting points and said ending points, (2) an octant register connected to control the incrementing and decrementing of the location counters, (3) a pair of registers (DU and DV) whose contents represent the angle of a line within the octant defined by the contents of the octant register, (4) an error register which contains, for each display location between the starting and ending points the relative error between the location of a straight line between the starting and ending points and the location represented by the contents of the location counters for such display location, and (5) an adder operatively connected to the error register and said pair of registers (DU and DV) such that (a) the incrementing and decrementing of the location counters is responsive to an overflow signal from the adder in association with the contents of the octant register, and (b) after each display location is selected, the output of the adder is loaded back into the error register for use in selecting the next display location, and B. the first line image generator means further comprising means for selecting for display at each display location a digital word from among a repetitive sequence of digital word patterns from a fixed array of word patterns; C. the second line image generator means further comprising a pattern shift register and counter means for controlling which locations are to be changed; and D. the first and second line image generator means being connected such that the first line image generator (1) sets the starting points for lines drawn by the second line image generator and (2) selects a word pattern for each use of the second line image generator.

Claim 17

Apparatus for generating a two-dimensional image of an object from a stored representation of the object, the size, orientation and slanting of the image all being variable to allow generation of images of differing size, orientation and slanting from the stored representation of the object, such apparatus comprising: A. first and second means for generating line images between starting points and ending points, each such line image generator including (1) location counters used for selecting locations to be displayed intermediate said starting points and said ending points, (2) an octant register connected to control the incrementing and decrementing of the location counters, (3) a pair of registers (DU and DV) whose contents represent the angle of a line within the octant defined by the contents of the octant register, (4) an error register which contains, for each display location between the starting and ending points the relative error between the location of a straight line between the starting and ending points and the location represented by the contents of the location counters for such display location, and (5) an adder operatively connected to the error register and said pair of registers (DU and DV) such that (a) the incrementing and decrementing of the location counters is responsive to an overflow signal from the adder in association with the contents of the octant register, and (b) after each display location is selected, the output of the adder is loaded back into the error register for use in selecting the next display location, and B. the first line image generator means further comprising means for selecting for display at each display location a digital word from among a repetitive sequence of digital word patterns from a fixed array of word patterns; C. the second line image generator means further comprising a pattern shift register and counter means for controlling which locations are to be changed; and D. the first and second line image generator means being connected such that the first line image generator (1) sets the starting points for lines drawn by the second line image generator and (2) selects a word pattern for each use of the second line image generator.