US5103499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beam synchronized coprocessor
Assignee: Amiga Development LLC
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Filing: 1989-10-16
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Granted: 1992-04-07
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Expires: 2009-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A computer that provides data to a video display using a bitmap display memory organization and bitplane addressing. Separate control is provided for two bitplane backgrounds and for eight reusable and easily movable sprites. Additional logic allows for dynamically-controllable interobject priority and collision detection among data in each of the bitplane backgrounds and sprites. A coprocessor provides for video beam-synchronized changes to data in registers, freeing the main processor for general purpose computing tasks. A block image transferer is provided to rapidly copy data in large blocks from one memory location to another. In hold-and-modify mode, color output circuitry holds the values for a previously displayed pixel while bitplane data modifies those values, allowing for simultaneous display of a greatly increased number of colors.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay G. Miner
- 👤 Dave Dean
- 👤 Joseph C. Decuir
- 👤 Ronald H. Nicholson
- 👤 Akio Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:42
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/02; G09G5/024; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; G09G5/22; G09G5/24; G09G5/36; G09G5/363; G09G5/39; G09G5/395; G09G5/397; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/203; G09G5/022; G09G5/34; G09G5/346; G09G5/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for using a computer system to make midscreen alterations to display control data stored in a storage location included in the computer system, wherein a video beam scans a plurality of positions on a screen, and wherein the computer system executes the following steps: indicating the position of the video beam on the screen; specifying a video beam position that does not correspond to a blanking period of the screen; comparing the video beam position indication wtih the specified video beam position; and transferring display control data into the storage location, at times when the video beam position indication corresponds to the specified video beam position, to make midscreen alterations to display control data stored in the storage location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for using a computer system to make midscreen alterations to display control data stored in a storage location included in the computer system, wherein a video beam scans a plurality of positions on a screen, and wherein the computer system executes the following steps: indicating the position of the video beam on the screen; specifying a video beam position that does not correspond to a blanking period of the screen; comparing the video beam position indication wtih the specified video beam position; and transferring display control data into the storage location, at times when the video beam position indication corresponds to the specified video beam position, to make midscreen alterations to display control data stored in the storage location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the computer system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing display control data, and further comprising: selecting one of the plurality of storage locations, wherein display control data is transferred to the selected storage location.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for using a coprocessor to transfer display control data to a storage location when a video beam reaches a specified position on a screen, wherein the video beam scans a plurality of positions on the screen, wherein the coprocessor has a program counter and is responsive to a plurality of different instructions, wherein the coprocessor is in a computer system that includes a memory, a bus, the storage location, and means for indicating the position of the video beam on the screen, wherein the coprocessor, the memory, and the storage location are coupled to the bus, and wherein the coprocessor carries out the following steps: fetching the next instruction to be executed from the memory at an address stored in the program counter; receiving an indication of the position of the video beam from the video beam position indicating means; comparing the video beam position indication with a specified video beam position; performing a specified program function, after comparing the video beam position indication with the specified video beam position, in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing at least one of the plurality of instructions; and transferring display control data into the storage location, when executing at least one of the plurality of instructions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for using a coprocessor to transfer display control data to a storage location when a video beam reaches a specified position on a screen, wherein the video beam scans a plurality of positions on the screen, wherein the coprocessor has a program counter and is responsive to a plurality of different instructions, wherein the coprocessor is in a computer system that includes a memory, a bus, the storage location, and means for indicating the position of the video beam on the screen, wherein the coprocessor, the memory, and the storage location are coupled to the bus, and wherein the coprocessor carries out the following steps: fetching the next instruction to be executed from the memory at an address stored in the program counter; receiving an indication of the position of the video beam from the video beam position indicating means; comparing the video beam position indication with a specified video beam position; performing a specified program function, after comparing the video beam position indication with the specified video beam position, in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing at least one of the plurality of instructions; and transferring display control data into the storage location, when executing at least one of the plurality of instructions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, in which the computer system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing display control data, and further comprising the following step: selecting one of the plurality of storage locations, wherein display control data is transferred to the selected storage location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, in which the coprocessor transfers display control data into the storage location, when executing a MOVE instruction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the computer system includes a plurality of storage locations for storing display control data, and in which display control data is transferred to a selected storage location specified by data in the MOVE instruction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 6, in which the display control data transferred to the storage location is specified by data in the MOVE instruction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the display control data transferred to the storage location is specified by data in the MOVE instruction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the coprocessor performs the function of executing the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a WAIT instruction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 9, in which the coprocessor performs the function of executing the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the WAIT instruction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 11, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the SKIP instruction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 or 6, in which the coprocessor performs the function of executing the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a WAIT instruction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 13, in which the coprocessor performs the function of executing the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the WAIT instruction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 14, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 15, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the SKIP instruction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 13, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 17, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the SKIP instruction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 or 6, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 19, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the SKIP instruction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, in which the coprocessor performs the function of executing the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a WAIT instruction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, in which the coprocessor performs the function of executing the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the WAIT instruction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 9, 10, 21, or 22, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 23, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the SKIP instruction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to the specified video beam position, when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, in which the coprocessor performs the function of skipping the next instruction only in response to the video beam position indication corresponding to a video beam position specified by data in the SKIP instruction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 26, in which the coprocessor changes the address stored in the program counter when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, in which the coprocessor changes the address stored in the program counter when executing a SKIP instruction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the program counter is coupled to a location register storing a jump address corresponding to an instruction, and further comprising the following step: storing the jump address in the program counter as the address corresponding to the next instruction to be executed, in response to generation of a control signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 29, wherein the control signal is generated when a strobe address corresponding to the location register is accessed.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claims 3, 5, 6, 9, 21, 11, or 25, in which the computer system includes a main processor, and in which the steps are carried out by the coprocessor without interrupting the main processor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 31, in which: the coprocessor fetches the next instruction from the memory by direct memory access; and the receiving and comparing steps are executed by the coprocessor without accessing the data bus.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claims 3, 5, 6, 9, 21, 11 or 25, and further comprising the following step: specifying a video beam position that does not correspond to a blanking period of the screen; wherein the coprocessor makes midscreen alterations to display control data stored in the storage location.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claims 3, 5, 6, 9, 21, 11, or 25, and further comprising the following step: specifying a video beam position that corresponds to a blanking period of the screen.
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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) | 1995-04-07 | 1995-10-07 | 1996-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-07 | 1999-10-07 | 2000-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-07 | 2003-10-07 | 2004-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |