US5724560A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display graphics adapter for processing different pixel sizes in a windowing system
Assignee: MediaTek Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-14
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Granted: 1998-03-03
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Expires: 2015-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A graphics adapter having a processor for processing pixel data is provided. The processor transfers the processed data to the graphics memory in sets of slices of pixel data where each transfer provides several slices, each slice being from a unique pixel. In an alternative embodiment, the storage of the processed data is accomplished within a plurality of memory banks, each of the memory banks being used to store slices of consecutive pixels. The invention further provides for concurrently displaying images having different color depths. This is achieved by a method of organizing data of different pixel depths such that they can be interpreted correctly. Furthermore, the invention provides for double buffering the processed data to get a smooth transition from one image to another.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Ray Johns
- 👤 John Thomas Roberson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/60; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/393; G09G5/395; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A graphics adapter comprising: means for providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing a plurality of slices; means for gathering common slices from consecutive pixels of said plurality of pixels; means for transferring said gathered common slices in a single transfer cycle, each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels; and means for receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A graphics adapter comprising: means for providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing a plurality of slices; means for gathering common slices from consecutive pixels of said plurality of pixels; means for transferring said gathered common slices in a single transfer cycle, each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels; and means for receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The graphics adapter of claim 1 wherein said forming means includes a plurality of memory banks for storing said pixels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The graphics adapter of claim 2 further including means for interpreting pixel data of a first color depth and pixel data of a second color depth, said first color depth being different from said second color depth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The graphics adapter of claim 3 further including means for concurrently displaying on a screen a first image having pixels of said first color depth and a second image having pixels of said second color depth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The graphics adapter of claim 2 wherein said memory banks are used to double buffer a pixel's color depth data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
A graphics adapter comprising: means for providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel having d bits and containing a plurality of slices, each slice having n bits where d is greater than n; a data bus means for transferring w bits in parallel during a single bus cycle; means for transferring on said data bus means w/n slices in a single bus cycle (where w/n is an integer greater than 1), each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels; and means for receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A graphics adapter comprising: means for providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel having d bits and containing a plurality of slices, each slice having n bits where d is greater than n; a data bus means for transferring w bits in parallel during a single bus cycle; means for transferring on said data bus means w/n slices in a single bus cycle (where w/n is an integer greater than 1), each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels; and means for receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A display apparatus comprising: a host computer; a graphics adapter coupled to said host computer including: means for providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing a plurality of slices; means for gathering common slices from consecutive pixels of said plurality of pixels; means for transferring said gathered common slices in a single transfer cycle, each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels; and means for receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices means coupled to said forming means for displaying said pixel data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A display apparatus comprising: a host computer; a graphics adapter coupled to said host computer including: means for providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing a plurality of slices; means for gathering common slices from consecutive pixels of said plurality of pixels; means for transferring said gathered common slices in a single transfer cycle, each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels; and means for receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices means coupled to said forming means for displaying said pixel data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display apparatus of claim 7 wherein said forming means includes a plurality of memory banks to store said pixel data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The display apparatus of claim 8 wherein said displaying means includes means for interpreting pixel data of a first color depth and pixel data of a second color depth, said first color depth being different from said second color depth.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The display apparatus of claim 9 further including means for concurrently displaying on a screen a first image having pixels of said first color depth and a second image having pixels said second color depth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display apparatus of claim 10 wherein a plurality of transfer cycles are required to transfer all of slices for an individual pixel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display apparatus of claim 7 wherein said plurality of memory banks are used to double buffer said pixel data.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of storing pixel data in a frame buffer comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing a plurality of slices: gathering common slices from consecutive pixels of said plurality of pixels; transferring a plurality of slices in a single transfer cycle, each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels: and receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of storing pixel data in a frame buffer comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel containing a plurality of slices: gathering common slices from consecutive pixels of said plurality of pixels; transferring a plurality of slices in a single transfer cycle, each transferred slice being from a different one of said plurality of pixels: and receiving said slices and forming each of said different ones of said plurality of pixels from said transferred slices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of storing includes the step of storing said pixels in a plurality of memory banks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of interpreting pixel data of a first color depth and pixel data of a second color depth, said first color depth being different from said second color depth.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of concurrently displaying on a screen a first image having pixels of said first color depth and a second image having pixels of said second color depth.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 wherein a plurality of transfer cycles are required to transfer all of slices for an individual pixel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of storing comprises the step of double buffering said pixel data in said plurality of memory banks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |