US5724497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable graphics processor having pixel to character conversion hardware for use in a video game system or the like
Assignee: Nintendo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-11-10
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Granted: 1998-03-03
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Expires: 2014-11-10
Abstract
Abstract 057244972 A fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is embodied in a removable external memory unit for connection with a host information processing system. In an exemplary embodiment, a video game system is described including a host video game system and a pluggable video game cartridge housing the graphics microprocessor. The game cartridge also includes a read-only program memory (ROM) and a random-access memory (RAM). The graphics coprocessor operates in conjunction with a three bus architecture embodied on the game cartridge. The graphics processor using this bus architecture may execute programs from either the program ROM, external RAM or its own internal cache RAM. The fully user programmable graphics coprocessor has an instruction set which is designed to efficiently implement arithmetic operations associated with 3-D graphics and, for example, includes special instructions executed by dedicated hardware for plotting individual pixels in the host video game system's character mapped display which, from the programmer's point of view, creates a "virtual" bit map by permitting the addressing of individual pixels-even though the host system is character based. The graphics coprocessor interacts with the host coprocessor such that the graphics coprocessor's 16 general registers are accessible to the host processor at all times.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeremy E. San
- 👤 Ben Cheese
- 👤 Carl N. Graham
- 👤 Peter R. Warnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/23; G06T17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 68
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
In a video game system for use with a display screen, said video game system having a main unit for receiving a video game cartridge and including a game microprocessor for executing a video game program, and a video memory for storing character data including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen, a display frame being defined by a combination of characters, said video game cartridge comprising: a program memory for storing at least some of the instructions of said video game program, and a conversion circuit coupled to said program memory for receiving display data in terms of a pixel specification which identifies the location of a pixel for display on said display screen for processing said pixel specification and for converting said pixel specification data into character data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a video game system for use with a display screen, said video game system having a main unit for receiving a video game cartridge and including a game microprocessor for executing a video game program, and a video memory for storing character data including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen, a display frame being defined by a combination of characters, said video game cartridge comprising: a program memory for storing at least some of the instructions of said video game program, and a conversion circuit coupled to said program memory for receiving display data in terms of a pixel specification which identifies the location of a pixel for display on said display screen for processing said pixel specification and for converting said pixel specification data into character data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, further including a random access memory (RAM), buffer memory means for temporarily storing said character data generated by said conversion circuit, and means for coupling said character data stored in said buffer memory to said RAM.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, further including a programmable graphics processor coupled to said program memory and wherein said conversion circuit is embodied within said graphics processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said programmable graphics processor includes a first source common bus, a second source common bus and a destination common bus, said conversion circuit receiving data from said first source bus and said second source bus and for forwarding data to said destination bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said pixel specification includes the display coordinate of a pixel and color information to be associated with said display coordinate, and further including color register means for receiving and for temporarily storing said color information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, further including a random access memory (RAM) and means for coupling character related information to said conversion circuit from said RAM to be associated with said pixel specification being processed by said conversion circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said conversion circuit includes address converting means for generating a character address, and character data including a matrix of bits defining a character including data corresponding to said pixel specification.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, further including means for storing video game character data, including a matrix of bits defining a character, wherein said conversion circuit includes means for receiving, from said means for storing, character data information regarding other pixels to be displayed in the vicinity of pixel currently being processed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said conversion circuit includes a color matrix for storing data relating to the specified pixel and other pixels in a character including the specified pixel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A video game cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said conversion circuit includes address converter circuitry for receiving pixel coordinate data and for generating a character address further including address register means for storing a character address generated by said conversion circuit, an address comparator, coupled to the address register means, for comparing the current character address generated by said conversion circuit with a previously generated address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an information processing system for use with a display screen, and having a microprocessor for executing a videographics program and a video memory for storing character data including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen and being indicative of a plurality of characters which when combined define a display frame, an external memory system comprising: a program memory for storing at least some of the instructions of said videographics program, and a conversion circuit coupled to said program memory for receiving display data in terms of a pixel specification which identifies the location of a pixel for display on said display screen for processing said pixel specification and for converting said pixel specification data into character data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an information processing system for use with a display screen, and having a microprocessor for executing a videographics program and a video memory for storing character data including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen and being indicative of a plurality of characters which when combined define a display frame, an external memory system comprising: a program memory for storing at least some of the instructions of said videographics program, and a conversion circuit coupled to said program memory for receiving display data in terms of a pixel specification which identifies the location of a pixel for display on said display screen for processing said pixel specification and for converting said pixel specification data into character data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, wherein said pixel specification includes coordinate data defining the location of the pixel on the display screen and wherein said conversion circuit receives said pixel specification from said program memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An external memory system according to claim 12, wherein said conversion circuit includes address converter circuitry for receiving pixel coordinate data and for generating a character specifying address.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including a random access memory (RAM), buffer memory means for temporarily storing character data generated by said conversion circuit, and means for coupling character data stored in said buffer memory to said RAM.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An external memory system according to claim 12, further including register means for temporarily storing pixel coordinate data from said program memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including a programmable graphics processor coupled to said program memory and wherein said conversion circuit is embodied within said graphics processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
An external memory according to claim 16, wherein said programmable graphics processor includes a first source common bus, a second source common bus and a destination common bus, said conversion circuit receiving data from said first source bus and said second source bus and for forwarding data to said destination bus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, wherein said pixel specification includes the display coordinate of a pixel and color information to be associated with said display coordinate, and further including color register means for receiving and for temporarily storing said color information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An external memory system according to claim 18, further including a register matrix for receiving pixel color information from said color register means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including a random access memory (RAM) and a RAM controller for controlling access to said RAM, said conversion circuit including address converting means for generating a character address, and character data generating means for generating character data including a matrix of bits defining a character and including data corresponding to said pixel specification, and means for transferring the character address and character data generated by said conversion circuit to said RAM controller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including a random access memory (RAM) and means for coupling character information to said conversion circuit from said RAM to be associated with said pixel specification being processed by said conversion circuit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, wherein said conversion circuit includes address converting means for generating a character address, and character data generating means for generating character data including data corresponding to said pixel specification.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including means for storing character data, wherein said conversion circuit includes means for receiving, from said means for storing, character data information regarding other pixels to be displayed in the vicinity of pixel currently being processed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, wherein the program memory and said conversion circuit are embodied within a video game cartridge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, wherein said conversion circuit includes a color matrix for storing data relating to the specified pixel and other pixels in a character including the specified pixel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
An external memory system according to claim 25, wherein said color matrix includes a plurality of rows and columns and wherein the color matrix is loaded by row and read out by column.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
An external memory system according to claim 26, further including register means for temporarily storing said pixel specification including pixel coordinate data and wherein said color matrix is addressed in part by at least a portion of the contents of said register means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including bit pending means for recording whether the pixel being processed is part of the current character being processed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
An external memory system according to claim 28, further including random access memory means (RAM) and means for transferring the character data generated by said conversion circuit to said RAM depending upon the state of said bit pending means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including means for indicating the bits of a character identified by said conversion circuit which do not need to be updated.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
An external memory system according to claim 30, wherein said conversion circuit includes means for generating a character address in response to a predetermined state of said means for indicating.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
An external memory system according to claim 11, further including address register means for storing a character address generated by said conversion circuit, an address comparator, coupled to the address register means, for comparing the current character address generated by said conversion circuit with a previously generated address.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
An external memory system according to claim 32, further including character memory means for storing character data including a matrix of bits defining a character and control means responsive to said address comparator for writing out the address stored in said address register means to said character memory means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
66 words
A graphics processor for use with a display screen comprising: means for receiving a pixel specification relating to a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen; and a conversion circuit for processing said pixel specification and for generating a character specification including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed including the specified pixel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
A graphics processor for use with a display screen comprising: means for receiving a pixel specification relating to a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen; and a conversion circuit for processing said pixel specification and for generating a character specification including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed including the specified pixel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, wherein said pixel specification includes coordinate data defining the location of the pixel on the display screen and further including register means for temporarily storing pixel coordinate data received from said program memory.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, further including a first source common bus, a second source common bus and a destination common bus, said conversion circuit receiving data from said first source bus and said second source bus and forwarding data to said destination bus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, wherein said pixel specification includes the display coordinate of a pixel and color information to be associated with said display coordinate, and further including color register means for receiving and for temporarily storing said color information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphics processor according to claim 37, further including a register matrix for receiving pixel color information from said color register means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
89 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, wherein said graphics processor is coupled in use to a random access memory (RAM), and further including a RAM controller for controlling access to said RAM, said conversion circuit including address converting means for generating a character address, and character data generating means for generating character data including a matrix of bits defining a character and including data corresponding to said pixel specification, and means for transferring the character address and character data generated by said conversion circuit to said RAM controller.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
40 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, further including a random access memory (RAM) and means for coupling character information to said conversion circuit from said RAM to be associated with said pixel specification being processed by said conversion circuit.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, wherein said conversion circuit includes address converting means for generating a character address, and character data generating means for generating character data including a matrix of bits defining a character and including data corresponding to said pixel specification.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, wherein said graphics processor is embodied within a video game cartridge.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
58 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, wherein said conversion circuit includes a color matrix for storing data relating to the specified pixel and other pixels in a character including the specified pixel, wherein said color matrix includes a plurality of rows and columns and wherein the color matrix is loaded by row and read out by column.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
42 words
A graphics processor according to claim 43, further including register means for temporarily storing said pixel specification including pixel coordinate data and wherein said color matrix is addressed in part by at least a portion of the contents of said register means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, further including bit pending means for recording whether the pixel being processed is part of the current character being processed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
38 words
A graphics processor according to claim 45, further including random access memory means (RAM) and means for transferring said character data generated by said conversion circuit to said RAM depending upon the state of said bit pending means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
47 words
A graphics processor according to claim 34, further including address register means for storing a character address generated by said conversion circuit, an address comparator, coupled to the address register means, for comparing the current character address generated by said conversion circuit with a previously generated address.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
40 words
A graphics processor according to claim m47, further including character memory means for storing character data and control means, responsive to said address comparator, for writing out the address stored in said address register means to said character memory means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
102 words
A graphics processor for use in an information processing system having a main processing unit for executing a videographics program stored in at least one memory device, said graphics processor comprising: means for receiving program instructions from said at least one memory; and means, responsive to at least one predetermined program instruction, for converting pixel-based format data which identifies the location of a pixel for display on said display screen associated with said at least one predetermined instruction into a character-based data format including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
102 words
A graphics processor for use in an information processing system having a main processing unit for executing a videographics program stored in at least one memory device, said graphics processor comprising: means for receiving program instructions from said at least one memory; and means, responsive to at least one predetermined program instruction, for converting pixel-based format data which identifies the location of a pixel for display on said display screen associated with said at least one predetermined instruction into a character-based data format including address data for identifying a matrix of bits defining a character to be displayed on said display screen.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said at least one predetermined instruction specifies the pixel-based data by defining the location of the pixel on the display screen.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said pixel based format data includes coordinate data defining the location of the pixel on the display screen and further including register means for temporarily storing said coordinate data received from said program memory.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
48 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, further including a first source common bus, a second source common bus and a destination common bus, and wherein means for converting receives data from said first source bus and said second source bus end forwards data to said destination bus.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
43 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said pixel-based data includes the display coordinate of a pixel and color information to be associated with said display coordinate, and further including color register means for receiving and for temporarily storing said color information.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphics processor according to claim 53, further including a register matrix for receiving said color information from said color register means.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
84 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said graphics processor is coupled in use to a a random access memory (RAM), and further including a RAM controller for controlling access to said RAM, said means for converting including address converting means for generating a character address, and character data generating means for generating character data including data corresponding to said pixel-based data and means for transferring the character address and character data generated by said means for converting circuit to said RAM controller.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphics processor according to claim 55, further including means for coupling character information from said RAM to said means for converting.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
37 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said means for converting includes address converting means for generating a character address, and character data generating means for generating character data including data corresponding to said pixel-based data.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
30 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said graphics processor is embodied within a video game cartridge which is coupled, in use, to a host video game processing unit.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
59 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, wherein said means for converting includes a color matrix for storing data relating to the specified pixel and other pixels in a character including the specified pixel, wherein said color matrix includes a plurality of rows and columns and wherein the color matrix is loaded by row and read out by column.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
42 words
A graphics processor according to claim 59, further including register means for temporarily storing said pixel-based data including pixel coordinate data and wherein said color matrix is addressed in part by at least a portion of the contents of said register means.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, further including bit pending means for recording whether the pixel being processed is part of the current character being processed.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
39 words
A graphics processor according to claim 61, further including random access memory means (RAM) and means for transferring the character data generated by said means for converting to said RAM depending upon the state of said bit pending means.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
47 words
A graphics processor according to claim 49, further including address register means for storing a character address generated by said conversion circuit, an address comparator, coupled to the address register means, for comparing the current character address generated by said conversion circuit with a previously generated address.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
40 words
A graphics processor according to claim 63, further including character memory means for storing character data and control means responsive to said address comparator for writing out the address stored in said address register means to said character memory means.
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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) | 2001-03-02 | 2001-09-01 | 2002-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-02 | 2005-09-01 | 2006-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-02 | 2009-09-01 | 2010-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |