Method and apparatus for compiling three-dimensional digital image information
US4439760A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 1981 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G5/395
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus, comprising a video data bus (8), a plurality of video memory modules (VM1-VMN), and bus arbitration circuits (BAC1-BACN) associated with each video memory module, are disclosed for compiling digital image information for display. A data processor (1) addresses the plurality of video memory modules over a processor data bus (2), the data processor for assigning a priority value to picture element data stored in the video memory modules. Upon command of the data processor, a frame (5 to 300) of picture element data is serially compiled on the video data bus (8). Data contention between video memory modules for access to the video data bus is controlled by the bus arbitration circuits, the picture element data bidding with the highest priority value gaining access. In one embodiment, the priority value represents the depth of a point of a solid object for display and/or the relative depth of picture element data comprising the object for display. The data processor may change the priority value associated with picture element data for display as well as the coordinates of data location in the display. Accordingly, textual characters having the highest priority …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.