Patent US2792111A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4956640A
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US
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Method and apparatus for controlling video display priority
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-28
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Granted: 1990-09-11
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Expires: 2008-11-28
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the type of information displayed at each display pixel on the video monitor of a video display system. A number of video RAMs are provided which number is at least equal to the number of different types of information. A bitmap is stored for each type of information in the video RAMs in interspersed fashion, a selected number of bits for select display pixels of the bitmap for a given type of information being simultaneously stored in said RAMs, followed for each RAM by the selected number of bits for the same selected display pixels for the bitmap of at least one other information type. No more than one bitmap bit for a given display pixel is stored in any video RAM. The addressing of the RAMs for read out of the bitmap is shifted so that bits for the same display pixels for all of the bitmaps are simultaneously read out from the RAMs. The bits of the bitmaps for each display pixel are then prioritized, the prioritizing including determining and generating an indication of the type of information which has priorty and is to be displayed at each display pixel.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard H. Jundanian
- 👤 David C. Hempstead
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:26
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
In a video display system adapted to display on a video monitor having a plurality of display pixels a plurality of different types of information, each having a selected priority, means for controlling the type of information displayed at each display pixel comprising: a number of video RAMs which is at least equal to the number of said different types of information; means for storing a bitmap for each of said information types in said RAMs in interspersed fashion, a selected number of bits for selected display pixels of the bitmap for a given type of information being simultaneously stored in said RAMs followed for each RAM by the selected number of bits for the same selected display pixels for the bitmap of at least one other information type, no more than one bitmap bit for a given display pixel being stored in any video RAM; means operative for shifting the addressing of said RAMs for read out of the bitmaps so that bits for the same display pixels of all the bitmaps are simultaneously readout from said RAMs; and prioritizer means responsive to the bits of the bitmaps for each display pixel for determining and generating an indication of the type of information which has priority and is to be displayed at the display pixel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
In a video display system adapted to display on a video monitor having a plurality of display pixels a plurality of different types of information, each having a selected priority, means for controlling the type of information displayed at each display pixel comprising: a number of video RAMs which is at least equal to the number of said different types of information; means for storing a bitmap for each of said information types in said RAMs in interspersed fashion, a selected number of bits for selected display pixels of the bitmap for a given type of information being simultaneously stored in said RAMs followed for each RAM by the selected number of bits for the same selected display pixels for the bitmap of at least one other information type, no more than one bitmap bit for a given display pixel being stored in any video RAM; means operative for shifting the addressing of said RAMs for read out of the bitmaps so that bits for the same display pixels of all the bitmaps are simultaneously readout from said RAMs; and prioritizer means responsive to the bits of the bitmaps for each display pixel for determining and generating an indication of the type of information which has priority and is to be displayed at the display pixel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A means as claimed in claim 1 including multiplexing means for storing the number of bits read out for each bitmap read out from said RAMs and for applying said bits to said prioritizer means one bit from each bitmap at a time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the number of bits read out for each bitmap read out is said selected number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A means as claimed in claim 2 wherein said prioritizer means includes means for recognizing the bitmap which each set of bits from the RAMs relate to.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A means as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for recognizing includes means for generating timing signals, and means responsive to the state of the timing signals for indicating the bitmap to which a bit received from a given RAM relates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said prioritizer means is adapted to grant priority for a given display pixel to the highest priority information type which has a bit corresponding to said display pixel in its bitmap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a video display system adapted to display on a video monitor having a plurality of display pixels a plurality of different types of information, each having a selected priority, a method for controlling the type of information displayed at each display pixel comprising the steps of: providing a number of video RAMs which is at least equal to the number of said different types of information; storing a bitmap for each of said information types in said RAMs in interspersed fashion, a selected number of bits for selected display pixels of the bitmap for a given type of information being simultaneously stored in said RAMs followed for each RAM by the selected number of bits for the same selected display pixels for the bitmap of at least one other information type, no more than one bitmap bit for a given display pixel being stored in any video RAM; shifting the addressing of said RAMs for read out of the bitmaps so that bits for the same display pixels of all the bitmaps are simultaneously read out from said RAMs; and prioritizing the bits of the bitmaps for each display pixel, the prioritizing step including the steps of determining and generating an indication of the type of information which has priority and is to be displayed at the display pixel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a video display system adapted to display on a video monitor having a plurality of display pixels a plurality of different types of information, each having a selected priority, a method for controlling the type of information displayed at each display pixel comprising the steps of: providing a number of video RAMs which is at least equal to the number of said different types of information; storing a bitmap for each of said information types in said RAMs in interspersed fashion, a selected number of bits for selected display pixels of the bitmap for a given type of information being simultaneously stored in said RAMs followed for each RAM by the selected number of bits for the same selected display pixels for the bitmap of at least one other information type, no more than one bitmap bit for a given display pixel being stored in any video RAM; shifting the addressing of said RAMs for read out of the bitmaps so that bits for the same display pixels of all the bitmaps are simultaneously read out from said RAMs; and prioritizing the bits of the bitmaps for each display pixel, the prioritizing step including the steps of determining and generating an indication of the type of information which has priority and is to be displayed at the display pixel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 including the steps of storing the number of bits read out for each bitmap read out from said RAMs, and applying said bits to said prioritizer means one bit from each bitmap at a time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the number of bits read out for each bitmap readout is said selected number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said prioritizing step includes the step of recognizing the bitmap which each set of bits from the RAMs relate to.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said recognizing step includes the steps of generating timing signals, and indicating, in response to the state of the timing signals, the bitmap to which a bit received from a given RAM relates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said prioritizing step is adapted to grant priority for a given display pixel to the highest priority information type which has a bit corresponding to said display pixel in its bitmap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-10 | 1994-03-12 | 1994-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-10 | 1998-03-12 | 1998-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-10 | 2002-03-12 | 2002-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |