Display element density conversion

Claim 2

In a computer system having at least one output device, said at least one output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on said at least one image, said pixels being arranged in a first density, a method for converting from using said first density to represent said at least one image on a first output device of said at least one output device to using a second pixel density to represent said at least one image on a second output device of said at least one output device, wherein said first output device and said second output device may be the same output device, said method comprising the steps of: performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from said plurality of pixels arranged in said first density to determine the position of a first output pixel in said second pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density; determining a primary pixel positioning error of said first output pixel; and performing a secondary conversion on said input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in said second pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density, said step of performing a secondary conversion being performed if said primary pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the steps of: retrieving a cumulative pixel position error; and applying said cumulative pixel position error to said primary conversion and said secondary conversion.

Claim 4

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of performing a primary conversion further including the step of: applying a primary pixel positioning error previously determined for a first input pixel to a second input pixel.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of performing a primary conversion further including the step of: moving an output pixel pointer by a primary distance.

Claim 6

The method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of obtaining pixel positioning information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of obtaining pixel sizing information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 8

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of performing a secondary conversion further includes the step of: moving an output pixel pointer by a secondary distance.

Claim 9

The method as claimed in claim 7 further including a step of obtaining pixel positioning information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 10

The method as claimed in claim 7 further including a step of obtaining pixel sizing information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 11

The method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of saving said primary pixel positioning error in global storage for use in processing a subsequent input pixel.

Claim 12

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined limit is a distance equal to half the distance between centers of two output pixels in said second pixel density.

Claim 13

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary pixel positioning error has an associated direction opposite that of a direction associated with a pixel positioning error produced in said secondary conversion step.

Claim 14

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of performing a secondary conversion further including the step of: determining a secondary pixel positioning error of said second output pixel.

Claim 15

The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step of performing a secondary conversion further including the step of: applying said secondary pixel positioning error previously determined for a first input pixel to a second input pixel.

Claim 16

The method as claimed in claim 13 further including a step of saving said secondary pixel positioning error in global storage for use in processing a subsequent input pixel.

Claim 17

In a computer system having at least one output device, said at least one output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on said at least one image, said pixels being arranged in a first density, a pixel density conversion apparatus for converting from using said first density to represent said at least one image on a first output device of said at least one output device to using a second pixel density to represent said at least one image on a second output device of said at least one output device, wherein said first output device and said second output device may be the same output device, said apparatus comprising: means for performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from said plurality of pixels arranged in said first density to determine the position of a first output pixel in said second pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density; means for determining a primary pixel positioning error of said first output pixel; and means for performing a secondary conversion on said input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in said second pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density, said means for performing a secondary conversion activated if said primary conversion pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 18

In a computer system having at least one output device, said at least one output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on said at least one image, said pixels being arranged in a first density, a pixel density conversion apparatus for converting from using said first density to represent said at least one image on a first output device of said at least one output device to using a second pixel density to represent said at least one image on a second output device of said at least one output device, wherein said first output device and said second output device may be the same output device, said apparatus comprising: means for performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from said plurality of pixels arranged in said first density to determine the position of a first output pixel in said second pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density; means for determining a primary pixel positioning error of said first output pixel; and means for performing a secondary conversion on said input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in said second pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density, said means for performing a secondary conversion activated if said primary conversion pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 19

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further including: means for retrieving a cumulative pixel position error; and means for applying said cumulative pixel position error to said primary conversion and said secondary conversion.

Claim 20

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 said means for performing a primary conversion further including: means for applying a pixel positioning error previously determined for a first input pixel to a second input pixel.

Claim 21

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for performing a primary conversion further includes: means for moving an output pixel pointer by a primary distance.

Claim 22

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further including means for obtaining pixel positioning information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 23

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further including means for obtaining pixel sizing information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 24

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for performing a secondary conversion further includes: means for moving an output pixel pointer by a secondary distance.

Claim 25

The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 further including means for obtaining pixel positioning information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 26

The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 further including means for obtaining pixel sizing information associated with a currently active graphics or text mode.

Claim 27

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further including means for saving said primary pixel positioning error in global storage for use in processing a subsequent input pixel.

Claim 28

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said predetermined limit is a distance equal to half the distance between centers of two output pixels in said second pixel density.

Claim 29

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said primary pixel positioning error has an associated direction opposite that of a direction associated with a pixel positioning error produced by said means for performing a secondary conversion.

Claim 30

The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for performing a secondary conversion further including: means for determining a secondary pixel positioning error of said second output pixel.

Claim 31

The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein said means for performing a secondary conversion further including: means for applying said secondary pixel positioning error previously determined for a first input pixel to a second input pixel.

Claim 32

The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 further including means for saving said secondary pixel positioning error in global storage for use in processing a subsequent input pixel.

Claim 33

In a computer system having at least one output device, said at least one output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on said at least one image, said pixels being arranged in a first density and a second density, a method for converting from using said first density and said second density to represent said at least one image on a first output device of said at least one output device to using a third pixel density to represent said at least one image on a second output device of said at least one output device, wherein said first output device and said second output device may be the same output device, said method comprising the steps of: performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from said plurality of pixels arranged in said first density and said second density to determine the position of a first output pixel in said third pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density and said second density; determining a primary pixel positioning error of said first output pixel; and performing a secondary conversion on said input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in said third pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density and said second density, said step of performing a secondary conversion being performed if said primary conversion pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 34

In a computer system having at least one output device, said at least one output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on said at least one image, said pixels being arranged in a first density and a second density, a method for converting from using said first density and said second density to represent said at least one image on a first output device of said at least one output device to using a third pixel density to represent said at least one image on a second output device of said at least one output device, wherein said first output device and said second output device may be the same output device, said method comprising the steps of: performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from said plurality of pixels arranged in said first density and said second density to determine the position of a first output pixel in said third pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density and said second density; determining a primary pixel positioning error of said first output pixel; and performing a secondary conversion on said input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in said third pixel density corresponding to the position of said input pixel in said first pixel density and said second density, said step of performing a secondary conversion being performed if said primary conversion pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 35

A computer system having at least one output device, the output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on the at least one image, the pixels being arranged in a first pixel density, the computer system programmed to convert from representing the at least one image in the first pixel density on a first output device to representing the at least one image in a second pixel density on a second output device, the computer system including: means for performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from the plurality of pixels arranged in the first pixel density to determine the position of a first output pixel in the second pixel density corresponding to the position of the input pixel in the first pixel density; means for determining a primary pixel positioning error of the first output pixel; and means for performing a secondary conversion on the input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in the second pixel density corresponding to the position of the input pixel in the first pixel density, the means for performing a secondary conversion activated if the primary pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 36

A computer system having at least one output device, the output device having a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for representing at least one image, each pixel having a position on the at least one image, the pixels being arranged in a first pixel density, the computer system programmed to convert from representing the at least one image in the first pixel density on a first output device to representing the at least one image in a second pixel density on a second output device, the computer system including: means for performing a primary conversion on an input pixel from the plurality of pixels arranged in the first pixel density to determine the position of a first output pixel in the second pixel density corresponding to the position of the input pixel in the first pixel density; means for determining a primary pixel positioning error of the first output pixel; and means for performing a secondary conversion on the input pixel to determine the position of a second output pixel in the second pixel density corresponding to the position of the input pixel in the first pixel density, the means for performing a secondary conversion activated if the primary pixel positioning error is greater than a predetermined limit, said second output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device if said secondary conversion is performed otherwise said first output pixel being displayed on said second output device of said at least one output device.

Claim 37

The computer system of claim 31 wherein the first output device and the second output device are the same output device.