PPI To raster display scan converter

Claim 2

In combination: means for generating a plurality of X addresses to specify picture elements on a raster display during a conversion of data defined by R, θ polar coordinates to data defined by X, Y cartesian coordinates; means for generating a plurality of Y addresses to specify said picture elements on a raster display during said conversion; means for generating radial addresses corresponding to an ordered sequence of picture element addresses within a standard angle increment on a raster display said generating means comprising accumulating means for determining the boundaries of said standard angle increment and for determining said radial addresses based on coordinate system conversion values, said radial addresses specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to mass memory locations specified by said X addresses and said Y addresses; means for generating successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for all picture elements within a standard angle increment; and means for generating said successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for successive standard angle increments corresponding to successive input radial paths.

Claim 3

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein: said X addresses and said Y addresses for picture elements on a raster display correspond to said X addresses and Y addresses of mass memory locations used for the storage of said input data prior to transmittal to said raster display.

Claim 4

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein: said radial address generated for each picture element on said raster display represents the range of a picture element from an origin in said cartesian coordinate system.

Claim 5

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein: said stored input data of a radial path represents the digitized data obtained for increments of range along an azimuth angle.

Claim 6

In combination: means for generating a plurality of X addresses to specify picture elements on a raster display during a conversion of data defined by R, θ polar coordinates to data defined by X, Y cartesian coordinates; means for generating a plurality of Y addresses to specify said picture elements on a raster display during said conversion; means for generating radial addresses, corresponding to an ordered sequence of picture element addresses within a standard angle increment on a raster display said generating means comprising accumulating means for determining the boundaries of said standard angle increment and for determining said radial addresses using stored coordinate system conversion values, said radial addresses specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to mass memory locations specified by said X addresses and said Y addresses; means for generating successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for all picture elements on a raster display within a standard angle increment, said increment being the difference between two adjacent standard angles; means for generating said successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for successive standard angle increments corresponding to successive input radial paths; and means for storing said coordinate system conversion values for each said standard angle used for the generation of said X addresses, Y addresses and radial addresses.

Claim 7

In combination: means for generating a plurality of X addresses to specify picture elements on a raster display during a conversion of data defined by R, θ polar coordinates to data defined by X, Y cartesian coordinates; means for generating a plurality of Y addresses to specify said picture elements on a raster display during said conversion; means for generating radial addresses, corresponding to an ordered sequence of picture element addresses within a standard angle increment on a raster display said generating means comprising accumulating means for determining the boundaries of said standard angle increment and for determining said radial addresses using stored coordinate system conversion values, said radial addresses specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to mass memory locations specified by said X addresses and said Y addresses; means for generating successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for all picture elements on a raster display within a standard angle increment, said increment being the difference between two adjacent standard angles; means for generating said successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for successive standard angle increments corresponding to successive input radial paths; and means for storing said coordinate system conversion values for each said standard angle used for the generation of said X addresses, Y addresses and radial addresses.

Claim 8

The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein: said X addresses and said Y addresses for picture elements on a raster display correspond to said X addresses and Y addresses of mass memory locations used for the storage of said input data prior to transmittal to said raster display.

Claim 9

The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein: said radial address generated for each picture element on said raster display represents the range of a picture element from an origin in said cartesian coordinate system.

Claim 10

The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein: said stored input data of a radial path represents the digitized data obtained for increments of range along an azimuth angle.

Claim 11

The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein: said conversion values in said storing means includes values for each said standard angle within an octant, a quadrant or full 360 degrees.

Claim 12

In combination: means for generating a plurality of X addresses to specify picture elements on a raster display during a conversion of data defined by R, θ polar coordinates to data defined by X, Y cartesian coordinates; means for generating a plurality of Y addresses to specify said picture elements on a raster display during said conversion; means for generating radial addresses corresponding to an ordered sequence of picture element addresses within a standard angle increment on a raster display, said generating means comprising accumulating means for determining the boundaries of said standard angle increment and for determining said radial addresses using stored coordinate system conversion values, said radial addresses specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to mass memory locations specified by said X addresses and said Y addresses; means for generating successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for all picture elements on a raster display within a standard angle increment, said increment being the difference between two adjacent standard angles; means for generating said successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for successive standard angle increments corresponding to successive input radial paths; means for storing said coordinate system conversion values for each said standard angle used for the generation of said X addresses, Y addresses and radial addresses; and means for controlling an access to said conversion values storing means as a function of a quadrant in which a coordinate conversion is being performed thereby minimizing the size of said storing means.

Claim 13

In combination: means for generating a plurality of X addresses to specify picture elements on a raster display during a conversion of data defined by R, θ polar coordinates to data defined by X, Y cartesian coordinates; means for generating a plurality of Y addresses to specify said picture elements on a raster display during said conversion; means for generating radial addresses corresponding to an ordered sequence of picture element addresses within a standard angle increment on a raster display, said generating means comprising accumulating means for determining the boundaries of said standard angle increment and for determining said radial addresses using stored coordinate system conversion values, said radial addresses specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to mass memory locations specified by said X addresses and said Y addresses; means for generating successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for all picture elements on a raster display within a standard angle increment, said increment being the difference between two adjacent standard angles; means for generating said successive X, Y addresses and corresponding radial addresses for successive standard angle increments corresponding to successive input radial paths; means for storing said coordinate system conversion values for each said standard angle used for the generation of said X addresses, Y addresses and radial addresses; and means for controlling an access to said conversion values storing means as a function of a quadrant in which a coordinate conversion is being performed thereby minimizing the size of said storing means.

Claim 14

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein: said X addresses and said Y addresses for picture elements on a raster display correspond to said X addresses and Y addresses of mass memory locations used for the storage of said input data prior to transmittal to said raster display.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein: said radial address generated for each picture element on said raster display represents the range of a picture element from an origin in said cartesian coordinate system.

Claim 16

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein: said stored input data of a radial path represents the digitized data obtained for increments of range along an azimuth angle.

Claim 17

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein: said conversion values in said storing means includes values for each said standard angle within an octant, a quadrant or full 360 degrees.

Claim 18

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein: said storing means comprises a first memory means for storing said standard angle values representing a change in said X address for an increment of said Y address.

Claim 19

The combination as recited in claim 15 wherein: said storing means further comprises a second memory means for storing said standard angle values representing a change in said radial address for an increment in said Y address.

Claim 20

The combination as recited in claim 16 wherein: said storing means further comprises a third memory means for storing said standard angle values representing a change in said radial address for an increment in said X address.

Claim 21

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein: said radial address generating means further comprises means for determining changes in said radial address for a non-integer increment.

Claim 22

In combination: means for specifying a standard angle for use during a conversion of defining data with polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates, said means being responsive to an input signal for advancing to a plurality of successive standard angles; first memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in an X address for each increment of a Y address; first accumulating means responsive to said first memory means for generating X addresses and for determining start and end boundaries of a plurality of said X addresses within a standard angle increment; means for generating a plurality of successive Y addresses within a standard angle increment during said conversion; second memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle, said conversion values providing a change in a range radial described by a radial address for each increment of a Y address, said radial extending from an origin to each said X address and Y address location of the corresponding standard angle boundary; third memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in said range radial or radial address for each increment of an X address; second accumulating means for summing the output of said second memory means for each increment of said Y address during a standard angle increment conversion; and third accumulating means for summing the incremental changes in said radial address resulting from incremental changes in said X address and said Y address, said radial address specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to a mass memory location specified by said X address and said Y address.

Claim 23

In combination: means for specifying a standard angle for use during a conversion of defining data with polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates, said means being responsive to an input signal for advancing to a plurality of successive standard angles; first memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in an X address for each increment of a Y address; first accumulating means responsive to said first memory means for generating X addresses and for determining start and end boundaries of a plurality of said X addresses within a standard angle increment; means for generating a plurality of successive Y addresses within a standard angle increment during said conversion; second memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle, said conversion values providing a change in a range radial described by a radial address for each increment of a Y address, said radial extending from an origin to each said X address and Y address location of the corresponding standard angle boundary; third memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in said range radial or radial address for each increment of an X address; second accumulating means for summing the output of said second memory means for each increment of said Y address during a standard angle increment conversion; and third accumulating means for summing the incremental changes in said radial address resulting from incremental changes in said X address and said Y address, said radial address specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to a mass memory location specified by said X address and said Y address.

Claim 24

The combination as recited in claim 19 wherein: said standard angle increment is the difference between two adjacent standard angles.

Claim 25

The combination as recited in claim 19 wherein: said standard angle specifying means comprises one or more counters.

Claim 26

The combination as recited in claim 21 wherein: said standard angle specifying means further comprises quadrant control means for incrementing or decrementing said counters.

Claim 27

The combination as recited in claim 19 wherein: said X address generating means comprises an X counter means for determining the number of X increments processed at a current Y address within a standard angle increment.

Claim 28

The combination as recited in claim 23 wherein: said first accumulating means further comprises an X START accumulator and an X END accumulator.

Claim 29

The combination as recited in claim 24 wherein: said X address generating means further comprises an adder means for combining the output of said X counter means with an output from said X START accumulator.

Claim 30

The combination as recited in claim 19 wherein: said X address generating means comprises a comparator means for comparing the current X address within a standard angle increment to a predetermined X END address for a current Y address line being processed.

Claim 31

The combination as recited in claim 26 wherein: said comparator means generates a Y line advance signal when said current X address equals or is greater than said X END address.

Claim 32

The combination as recited in claim 19 wherein: said third accumulating means comprises means for approximating said range radials or radial addresses when said X address corresponding to the start of said standard angle is not an integer.

Claim 33

The combination as recited in claim 19 wherein: said first, second and third memory means comprises a plurality of PROMs.

Claim 34

In combination: means for specifying a standard angle for use during a conversion of defining data with polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates, said means being responsive to an input signal for advancing to a plurality of successive standard angles; first memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in an X address for each increment of a Y address; first accumulating means responsive to said first memory means for generating X addresses and for determining start and end boundaries of a plurality of X addresses within a standard angle increment; means for generating a plurality of successive Y addresses within a standard angle increment during said conversion; second memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle, said conversion values providing a change in a range radial described by a radial address for each increment of a Y address, said radial extending from an origin to each said X address and Y address location of a corresponding standard angle boundary; third memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in said range radial or radial address for each increment of an X address; second accumulating means for summing the output of said second memory means for each increment of said Y address during a standard angle increment conversion; third accumulating means for summing the incremental changes in said radial address resulting from incremental changes in said X address and said Y address, said radial address specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to a mass memory location specified by said X address and said Y address; multiplier means responsive to said first accumulating means and said third memory means for calculating changes of said radial address resulting from a non-integer increment in said X address; and decoder means responsive to said third accumulating means for determining when a maximum radial address or a maximum X address is reached.

Claim 35

In combination: means for specifying a standard angle for use during a conversion of defining data with polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates, said means being responsive to an input signal for advancing to a plurality of successive standard angles; first memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in an X address for each increment of a Y address; first accumulating means responsive to said first memory means for generating X addresses and for determining start and end boundaries of a plurality of X addresses within a standard angle increment; means for generating a plurality of successive Y addresses within a standard angle increment during said conversion; second memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle, said conversion values providing a change in a range radial described by a radial address for each increment of a Y address, said radial extending from an origin to each said X address and Y address location of a corresponding standard angle boundary; third memory means responsive to said standard angle specifying means for storing conversion values for each said standard angle providing a change in said range radial or radial address for each increment of an X address; second accumulating means for summing the output of said second memory means for each increment of said Y address during a standard angle increment conversion; third accumulating means for summing the incremental changes in said radial address resulting from incremental changes in said X address and said Y address, said radial address specifying the location of stored input data to be transferred to a mass memory location specified by said X address and said Y address; multiplier means responsive to said first accumulating means and said third memory means for calculating changes of said radial address resulting from a non-integer increment in said X address; and decoder means responsive to said third accumulating means for determining when a maximum radial address or a maximum X address is reached.

Claim 36

The combination as recited in claim 29 wherein: said standard angle increment is the difference between two adjacent standard angles.

Claim 37

The combination as recited in claim 29 wherein: said standard angle specifying means comprises one or more counters.

Claim 38

The combination as recited in claim 32 wherein: said standard angle specifying means further comprises quadrant control means for incrementing or decrementing said counters.

Claim 39

The combination as recited in claim 29 wherein: said X address determining means comprises an X counter means for determining the number of X increments processed at a current Y address within a standard angle increment.

Claim 40

The combination as recited in claim 34 wherein: said first accumulating means further comprises an X START accumulator and an X END accumulator.

Claim 41

The combination as recited in claim 35 wherein: said X address generating means further comprises an adder means for combining the output of said X counter means with an output from said X START accumulator.

Claim 42

The combination as recited in claim 29 wherein: said X address generating means comprises a comparator means for comparing the current X address within a standard angle increment to a predetermined X END address for a current Y address line being processed.

Claim 43

The combination as recited in claim 37 wherein: said comparator means generates a Y line advance signal when said current X address equals or is greater than said X END address.

Claim 44

The combination as recited in claim 30 wherein: said first, second and third memory means comprises a plurality of PROMs.

Claim 47

The method as recited in claim 40 wherein: said X addresses and said Y addresses for picture elements on a raster display correspond to said X addresses and Y addresses of mass memory locations used for the storage of said input data prior to transmittal to said raster display.

Claim 48

The method as recited in claim 40 wherein: said radial address generated for each picture element on said raster display represents the range of a picture element from an origin in said cartesian coordinate system.

Claim 49

The method as recited in claim 40 wherein: said stored input data of a radial path represents the digitized data obtained for increments of range along an azimuth angle.

Claim 50

The method as recited in claim 40 wherein: said step of storing conversion values includes values for each said standard angle within an octant, a quadrant or full 360 degrees.

Claim 53

The method as recited in claim 45 wherein: said standard angle increment is the difference between two adjacent standard angles.

Claim 54

The method as recited in claim 45 wherein: the step of specifying a standard angle comprises one or more counters.

Claim 55

The method as recited in claim 47 wherein: the step of specifying a standard angle further comprises quadrant control for incrementing or decrementing said counters.

Claim 56

The method as recited in claim 45 wherein: the step of generating X addresses comprises an X counter for determining the number increments processed at a current Y address within a standard angle increment.

Claim 57

The method as recited in claim 49 wherein: said step of generating said X addresses by determining start and end boundaries comprises an X START accumulator and an X END accumulator.

Claim 58

The method as recited in claim 50 wherein: the step of generating X addresses further comprises an adder means for combining the output of said X counter means with an output from said X START accumulator.

Claim 59

The method as recited in claim 45 wherein: the step of generating X addresses comprises comparing the current X address within a standard angle increment to a predetermined X END address for a current Y address line being processed.

Claim 60

The method as recited in claim 52 wherein: said step of comparing the current X address within a standard angle increment to a predetermined X END address for a current Y address line being processed generates a Y line advance signal when said current X address equals or is greater than said X END address.

Claim 61

The method as recited in claim 45 wherein: the step of summing the incremental changes of said radial address for changes in said X address and said Y address further comprises calculations for said radial address when said X address corresponding to the start of said standard angle is not an integer.