US5594473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal computer apparatus for holding and modifying video output signals
Assignee: Escom AG
•
Filing: 1993-03-08
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Granted: 1997-01-14
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Expires: 2013-03-08
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
2026-10-29 20:52
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: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A personal computer system to provide color video output signals to a display, wherein an image including a plurality of pixels is formed on the display by scanning the display, and wherein the visual characteristics of a pixel being scanned are determined by the video output signals provided by the personal computer system when the pixel is being scanned, and wherein the personal computer system comprises: means for providing image data for defining the visual characteristics of a pixel; palette means for providing a plurality of different intensity data codes corresponding to a plurality of available intensity levels which correspond to a plurality of available colors; means for designating a hold-and-modify mode to increase the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data; means for selecting one of the plurality of different intensity data codes from the palette means in accordance with the image data at times when hold-and-modify is not designated; means for providing a video output signal corresponding to the a selected intensity data code at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated; and hold- and-modify means for providing a video output signal corresponding to a previously selected intensity data code modified in accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is designated including means for modifying the previously selected intensity data code by retaining a portion of the previously selected intensity data code, and by replacing a portion of the previously selected intensity data code with at least a portion of the image data thereby increasing the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
A personal computer system to provide color video output signals to a display, wherein an image including a plurality of pixels is formed on the display by scanning the display, and wherein the visual characteristics of a pixel being scanned are determined by the video output signals provided by the personal computer system when the pixel is being scanned, and wherein the personal computer system comprises: means for providing image data for defining the visual characteristics of a pixel; palette means for providing a plurality of different intensity data codes corresponding to a plurality of available intensity levels which correspond to a plurality of available colors; means for designating a hold-and-modify mode to increase the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data; means for selecting one of the plurality of different intensity data codes from the palette means in accordance with the image data at times when hold-and-modify is not designated; means for providing a video output signal corresponding to the a selected intensity data code at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated; and hold- and-modify means for providing a video output signal corresponding to a previously selected intensity data code modified in accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is designated including means for modifying the previously selected intensity data code by retaining a portion of the previously selected intensity data code, and by replacing a portion of the previously selected intensity data code with at least a portion of the image data thereby increasing the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising means for selecting the portion of the previously selected intensity data code which is replaced with at least a portion of the image data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 2, in which the electron beam is formed by a plurality of electron guns, and in which a different portion of each intensity data code corresponds to the intensity level for each of the electron guns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 3, in which the palette means includes a plurality of color registers for storing a plurality of different color intensity data codes corresponding to one of a plurality of available colors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 4, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 3, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least ore address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 2, in which the palette means includes a plurality of color registers for storing a plurality of different color intensity data codes corresponding to one of a plurality of available colors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 7, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 2, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 1, in which the electron beam is formed by a plurality of electron guns, and in which a different portion of each intensity data code corresponds to the intensity level for each of the electron guns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 10, in which the palette means includes a plurality of color registers for storing a plurality of different color intensity data codes corresponding to one of a plurality of available colors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 11, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 10, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 1, in which the palette means includes a plurality of color registers for storing a plurality of different color intensity data codes corresponding to one of a plurality of available colors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 14, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 11, in which the palette means includes a plurality of color registers for storing a plurality of different color intensity data codes corresponding to one of a plurality of available colors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 16, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 1, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A personal computer system in accordance with claim 1, in which the means for providing image data includes memory means including a plurality of addresses for storing bit-mapped image data, wherein the visual characteristics of the pixel are defined by the bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
251 words
A method for providing color video output signals to a display from a personal computer system, in which an image including a plurality of pixels is formed on the display, and in which the visual characteristics of a pixel being scanned are determined by the video output signals provided by the personal computer system when the pixel is being scanned, comprising: providing image data for defining the visual characteristics of a pixel; providing a plurality of different intensity data codes corresponding to a plurality of available intensity levels which correspond to a plurality of available colors; designating a hold-and-modify mode to increase the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data; selecting one of the plurality of different intensity data codes in is accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated; providing a video output signal corresponding to the selected intensity data code at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated; and providing a video output signal corresponding to a previously selected intensity data code modified in accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is designated including the step of modifying the previously selected intensity data code by retaining a portion of the previously selected intensity data code, and by replacing a portion of the previously selected intensity data code with at least a portion of the image data thereby increasing the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
251 words
A method for providing color video output signals to a display from a personal computer system, in which an image including a plurality of pixels is formed on the display, and in which the visual characteristics of a pixel being scanned are determined by the video output signals provided by the personal computer system when the pixel is being scanned, comprising: providing image data for defining the visual characteristics of a pixel; providing a plurality of different intensity data codes corresponding to a plurality of available intensity levels which correspond to a plurality of available colors; designating a hold-and-modify mode to increase the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data; selecting one of the plurality of different intensity data codes in is accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated; providing a video output signal corresponding to the selected intensity data code at times when the hold-and-modify mode is not designated; and providing a video output signal corresponding to a previously selected intensity data code modified in accordance with the image data at times when the hold-and-modify mode is designated including the step of modifying the previously selected intensity data code by retaining a portion of the previously selected intensity data code, and by replacing a portion of the previously selected intensity data code with at least a portion of the image data thereby increasing the number of intensity levels that are available in response to the image data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 20, and further comprising: selecting the portion of the previously selected intensity data code which is replaced with at least a portion of the image data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, and further comprising: storing bit-mapped image data in a memory having a plurality of addresses, wherein the visual characteristics of a pixel are defined by bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 20, and further comprising: storing bit-mapped image data in a memory having a plurality of addresses, wherein the visual characteristics of a pixel are defined by bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 20, and further comprising: storing bit-mapped image data in a memory having a plurality of addresses, wherein the visual characteristics of a pixel are defined by bit-mapped image data stored in at least one address corresponding to the pixel.
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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) | 2000-01-14 | 2000-07-15 | 2001-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-14 | 2004-07-15 | 2005-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-14 | 2008-07-15 | 2009-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |