CA1249677A - Computer display system for producing color text and graphics - Google Patents
Computer display system for producing color text and graphicsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1249677A CA1249677A CA000490794A CA490794A CA1249677A CA 1249677 A CA1249677 A CA 1249677A CA 000490794 A CA000490794 A CA 000490794A CA 490794 A CA490794 A CA 490794A CA 1249677 A CA1249677 A CA 1249677A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- color
- graphics
- text
- signals
- signal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
- G09G5/02—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed
- G09G5/022—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed using memory planes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
- G06F3/153—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units using cathode-ray tubes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
- G09G5/02—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators characterised by the way in which colour is displayed
- G09G5/026—Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The invention pertains to a method and apparatus to provide for the display of characters and graphics in color.
The invention includes three bit map memories which store graphics information in different colors, but only one character generator, and means for mixing the colors to obtain a capability of displaying text or graphics in any of a plurality of predetermined colors.
The invention pertains to a method and apparatus to provide for the display of characters and graphics in color.
The invention includes three bit map memories which store graphics information in different colors, but only one character generator, and means for mixing the colors to obtain a capability of displaying text or graphics in any of a plurality of predetermined colors.
Description
Ei~ld Qf ~h~ InQention This invention relates generally to a computer display system, and more particularly to a display system for s combining text and graphics in color.
De~s~L~ 52f ~he Pr~or ~, Graphics and alphanumeric text are displayed usually in many bu6iness applications. This permits the di~play of characters or graphics eitber ~imultaneously or individually. In order to highlight and differentiate different graphs presented on one chart, it i~ de~irable to present each graph and/or te~t in different colors. The prior art utilizes 3 bit map memorie~ for storing ~he te~t in red, green and blue in the different bit map memories, a~
well as 3 bit map memories for storing graphics display.
Accordingly, three character generators are normally required for generating text in the different colors. This has the disadvantage of requiring e~ces~ive hardware and thereby increasing the cost of the computer display system.
It is a primary object of the invention to have an improved display ~ystem.
It i~ another object of the invention to have an improved display system having color capability.
It is another object of the invention to have an improved display system for displaying graphics and te~t in .-different colors.
The displa,y syste~ includes three bit map memories for storing pi~els ~bits) representatlve of a graphic display image. Each of the three bit map memorie~ is utilized to display graphic~ in a particular color. Additional colors m~y be displayed utilizing the contents of each bit map memory, by combining the colors in each bit map memory.
De~s~L~ 52f ~he Pr~or ~, Graphics and alphanumeric text are displayed usually in many bu6iness applications. This permits the di~play of characters or graphics eitber ~imultaneously or individually. In order to highlight and differentiate different graphs presented on one chart, it i~ de~irable to present each graph and/or te~t in different colors. The prior art utilizes 3 bit map memorie~ for storing ~he te~t in red, green and blue in the different bit map memories, a~
well as 3 bit map memories for storing graphics display.
Accordingly, three character generators are normally required for generating text in the different colors. This has the disadvantage of requiring e~ces~ive hardware and thereby increasing the cost of the computer display system.
It is a primary object of the invention to have an improved display ~ystem.
It i~ another object of the invention to have an improved display system having color capability.
It is another object of the invention to have an improved display system for displaying graphics and te~t in .-different colors.
The displa,y syste~ includes three bit map memories for storing pi~els ~bits) representatlve of a graphic display image. Each of the three bit map memorie~ is utilized to display graphic~ in a particular color. Additional colors m~y be displayed utilizing the contents of each bit map memory, by combining the colors in each bit map memory.
-2- 72434-20 ~2~
Text information is stored in byte form in a data random access memory (RAM). Additionally, attribute characters are stored in an attribute RAM.
A mixing read-only memory (ROM) receives the pixels in the form of signals from each of the 3 bit map memories as well as the text signals from a data RAM coupled to a character generator. The character generator stores signals of char-acters that are utilized to generate the text bytes stored in the data RAM.
Attribute signals are also applied to the mixing ROM
to provide for low or high intensity of the display or invert-ing the background of text and graphic color.
It is the purpose of the mixing PROM to receive color graphics signals, monochrome text signals and mode control sig-nals to produce signals to represent pixels for presentation to a color CRT for the display of color graphics and color text either individually or intermixed on the same display CRT.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a computer display system for displaying color graphics and color alphanumeric text comprising:
a.) first means for storing graphic pixels (bits) representative of graphic display images, each image being identical and in a predetermined different color;
b.) second means for generating text signals repres-entative of alphanumeric text in monochrome color and c.) third means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the graphic pixels and text signals for generating color-mixed signals -2a- 72434-20
Text information is stored in byte form in a data random access memory (RAM). Additionally, attribute characters are stored in an attribute RAM.
A mixing read-only memory (ROM) receives the pixels in the form of signals from each of the 3 bit map memories as well as the text signals from a data RAM coupled to a character generator. The character generator stores signals of char-acters that are utilized to generate the text bytes stored in the data RAM.
Attribute signals are also applied to the mixing ROM
to provide for low or high intensity of the display or invert-ing the background of text and graphic color.
It is the purpose of the mixing PROM to receive color graphics signals, monochrome text signals and mode control sig-nals to produce signals to represent pixels for presentation to a color CRT for the display of color graphics and color text either individually or intermixed on the same display CRT.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a computer display system for displaying color graphics and color alphanumeric text comprising:
a.) first means for storing graphic pixels (bits) representative of graphic display images, each image being identical and in a predetermined different color;
b.) second means for generating text signals repres-entative of alphanumeric text in monochrome color and c.) third means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the graphic pixels and text signals for generating color-mixed signals -2a- 72434-20
3$~'7 for presentation on a color CRT for the display of color graphics and color text either individ-ually or intermixed on the same display CRT.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a method of mixing first signals representat-ive of graphic display images in different colors with second signals representative of alphanumeric text in monochrome stored in a ROM comprising the steps of:
a.) dividing said ROM in segments;
b.) storing signals representative of text of pre-determined colors in predetermined first segments;
c.) storing signals representative of graphics in predetermined colors in second predetermined segments; and, d.) selecting the segments storing the text or graphics with the desired colors.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a circuit for implementing the selective coloring of graphics and alphanumerics on the CRT screen of a computer display system, characterized by:
a) a first addressable store for holding in each location thereof a first plurality of bits for a corresponding dot (pixel) of the pattern to be displayed on said CRT screen, said first plurality of bits representing the particular color of the corresponding dot to be displayed, said first store delivering a first set of signals representing said first plurality of bits stored in an addressed location of said store;
b) a character generator for generating a second -2b- 72434-20 set of signals representing a pattern of bits for forming an alphanumeric to be displayed;
c) a second addressable store for holding in each location thereof a second plurality of bits for a dot to be displayed on said CRT screen, said second plurality of bits representing the color of said dot to be displayed, said second store delivering a third set of signals representing the color of a dot to be currently displayed on said CRT screen; and d) a coupling circuit for coupling said first and second signal set to the address input terminals of said second store.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWI~GS
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and operation may best be understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the invention.
Figures 2A and 2B are logic block diagrams of the invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the color mixing ROM.
DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~T
-Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a block diagram of the invention. Bit map memories 101, 102, 103 store images of the graphics to be displayed on the display screen.
The image stored in bit map memory 101 will be displayed in red; the image 5tored in bit map memory 102 will be displayed in green; and the image stored in bit map memory 103 will be displayed in blue. Each bit map i8 a random acces~ memory that contains the screen image of 216,000 pixels (720 x 300 pixels). Each location in each bit map represents a pixel to be displayed on the monitor in a predetermined color. The monochrome option requires ~ single plane memory, just one bit per pixel displayed. The color option require~ 3 planes of memory, 101, 102, 103, a plane for each of the three basic colors -- red, green and blue.
When writing to a color option memory, one or more pianes at the addressed pixel position will be written to obtain ths designated color. Black is displayed when all the corresponding piYels of three planes equal ZERO. A
microprocessor (not shown) controls what is written into the actual bit map memory. Data is written one piYel per write command. Bit map memory 101, 102, 103 is addressed via an addres~ multiplexer 4 from PCO interface addres~ 23 or from row address select/column address select (RA5/CAS) 6. Each bit map memory is made up of 8 64R x 1 dyn~mic RAMS storing 216,000~pixels for display on a CRT (not shown). A pattern ROM 16 stores bits representative of the patterns that may be displayed; i.e., diagonal lines, cross-hatch lines, dotted areas,-etc. A mode control register 18 stores mode signals which indicate a replace mode of operation, an OR mode of operation or an exclusive OR mode of operation.
Predetermined output signals from pattern ROM 16 are ~elected in accordance with state of the mode signals from mode control register 18. Eight bit~ are read from bit map memory 101, 102, 103, and applied to bit select 34 which applie~ a bit selected from each of said bit map memorie~ to bit map register 36. A transceiver 38 when enabled allows data bits from bit map register 36 to be reflected on data bus 21.
Three low order address bits in a read command issued to the . I
~ 4~ 6~ ~ 510-02072 color option select which pixel appears in the ~eturn data byte. In the ca~e of a write ~emory operation a full byte of data transferred from the PCO 23 is used to determine what i8 to be written into the addre~s pixel po~itlon of bit map s memory. The write command aata byte utilizes bits 0, 1 and 2 for pattern select (the three high order bits of an eight word byte); bits 3 and 4 for operations reserved for future U~et and bits 5, 6 and 7 for color select. In the color ver6ion of the graphics option, bit 5 will write into the red plane, bit 6 into the green plane and bit 7 into the blue plane. Therefore, by the use of these three bits eight color~ can be generated.
The output signals of bit map memory 101, 102, 103 are buffered fir~t in A buffers 10~, 105, 106 and secondly in B
buffer~ 107, 108, 109t then they are serialized in bit shift register~ 110, 111, 112 and the ~tream of bits applied to text mix PROM 123.
Data RAM 115 stores text to be displayed on a CRT. The data is stored and read under control of CRTC 116. Text in the form of ~ignal~ read from data RAM 115 are then applied to character generator 119. The output sign~l from character generator 119 i~ then applied to the text mix PROM 123.
Referring now to Figures 2A and 29, the text is generated in the normal monochrome display manner. The text display codes are in the data RAM 115 and the matching attributes5 i.e., blinking, inverse, blanking, etc. are stored in attribute RAH~ . Both the attribute RA~ and the data RAM 11~, 115 respectively store 8 bit bytes. The catbode ray tube controller 116 controls the addressing of data RAM 115 by sending sequenti~l addresses to the d~ta RAM
115. The output of data RA~ 115 i~ stored in data register 118. The output of the attribute RA~ 114 is stored in attribute register 111. The output of data register 118 is applied to a character generator ll9s the output being data L~
byte~ to the character generator 119. Four raster signals from cathode ray tube controller 116 are also applied to character generator ll9 to addre~s tbe horizontal lines of each character. The output of character generator 119 is applied to shift regi~ter 121. Register 121 is a serial shift register to ~erialize the teYt for CRT di~play. It has the same function a~ shift cegi~ter 110, 111 and 112 for color.
The signal VIDEOl-lR from shift register 121 i8 applied to driver 131, which inverts the video signal to VIDEOD+OO
and is then stored in register 113. There are three attribute signals from attribute register 120 INYRSEIlR, LOWINT+lR and CURSOR+lRt the~e signal~ are applied to driver 122 which generate~ signals INVRSE+OO, LoWINT+OO and CURSOR+OO.
In normal operation of the graphics option of the computer system, graphics information to be displayed on the screen is stored in bit map memories 101, 102 and 103. All of the dots which will appear as red are stored in bit map memory 1015 all of the dots which appear as green will be stored in bit map memory 102t and all those dots which will appear as blue will be stored in bit map memory 103. By combining red, green and blue, several different colors can be generated in addition to the basic colors. The 8 bit outputs of the bit map memories 101, 102 and 103 are stored in their respective buffers -- buffer A104 for red, buffer A105 for green and huffer A106 for blue. These bytes are, in turn, transmitted to buffer B107 for red, buffer B108 for green and buffer B109 for blue. The data bytes are then applied to ~hifter 110 for red, shifter 111 for green and shifter 112 for blue~ these shifters generate their respective color sign~ls VIDRED+OO, VIDGRN~OO and VIDBLU+OO
whlch are then stored in register 113 on the rise of the aot clock sign~l, DOTCLR+lD. The color output signals YIDRED+lD, .
.
3~J~
VIDGRN+lD and VIDBLU+lD from register 113 are then applied to input addres~ terminal5 of a read-only memory 123. In addition, the inverse signal INVRSE+00, the low intensity signal LOWINT+00 and video signal VIDEOD+lE are also applied to the input address terminals of ROM 123. Also applied to the input address terminals of ROM 123 is the teYt-on signal TEXTON+00, the palate fiignal PALATE+00 and the graphics signal GRAFIC+lD which are received from mode register 18 which i8 loaded via a data bus 21 from main memory 125 under control of the microproce~sor 124. The text-on sign~l TEXTON
when high, allows the text received to be displayed on the color CRT 130. The palate signal PALATE~00 selects one of two colors for that teYt and the graphic~ sig~al GRAFIC+lD
activates the graphics for display on the color CRT 130. The out signals of ROM 123, REDVID~00, GRNVID+00 and BLW ID+00 are then stored in register 126 on the rise of the dot clock signal W TCLR+lD. The output signals from register 126 REDOUT+00, GRNOUT+00 and BLUOUT+00 are further gated through their respective A~D gates 127, 128, 129 when the display enable DSPEND+00 signal is high. The color output signals from AND gates 127, 128, 129, respectively, are REDOUT+lG, GRNOUT+lG and BLUOUT+lG are then di~played on the screen of the color CRT 13p. The display enable signal DSPEN8+00 which ~ is generated by the CRTC 116 for a horizontal display time of the beam across the face of the CRT 130 is also stored in register 126 to generate the display enable signal DSPEND+00.~
ROM 123 also generate~ an attribute video signal ATTVID+00. ATTVID+00 represents the high intensity attribute of the teYt from ROM 123.
Referring now to ROM 123 of Figures 2B and 3, when certain address signals applied to ROM 123 are true, the effect of mixing color graphics with monochrome text produces color teYt which may or may not be mixed with the graphics display. The TEXTON signal selects the teYt portion of ROM
~ 6~ 510-02072 _7_ 123~ wherea~ the GRAFIC signal selects the grapbics portion.
Hence as shown on Figure 3, when TEXTON ~ignal is ZERO and GRAFICS signal is ZERO~ there is no graphic~ or text displayed. When TEXTON is ONE and GRAFICS 18 ZERO, either red or green text can be displayed. The selection i6 done by the PALATE signal. When PALATE i~ ZERO and TEXTON i~ ONE, with ~RAFICS equal to ZERO, green text will be di6played. In a similar manner with the above signal~ set the same, but with PALATS equal to ONE, red text will be displayed.
Text and graphic~ can further be mixed and pre~ented in selected colors. For ex~mple, if the TEXTON signal i8 ONE
and the GRAFICS signal i~ ONE, green or~red text and graphics can be selected depending on whether PALATE is ZERO or ONE.
Wher, PA~ATE i6 ZERO the text is green and when the PALATS i8 ONE the teYt is red with graphics independent of the PALATE
signal and being a color represented by the truth table below.
Colors can be mixed by having different combinations of VIDRED, VIDGRN, VIDBLU along witb the other signals.
Graphics can, therefore, be presented in 8 colors; whereas text can be pre6ented in 4 colors. Each teYt color may appear as a high intensity or low intensity color.
The following truth table indicates how the 8 color~ for graphic~ are selected for display in response to various signals applied to ROM 123, whereon ONE represents that the signal is true and ZERO repre~ents that the signal is false.
V~DRED Y5~B~ ~nBL~ B~5LLI~S SQLQB
0 0 0 Black 0 0 1 Blue 0 1 0 Green 0 1 1 Cyan 1 0 0 Red 1 0 1 Magenta 1 1 0 Yellow 1 1 1 White
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a method of mixing first signals representat-ive of graphic display images in different colors with second signals representative of alphanumeric text in monochrome stored in a ROM comprising the steps of:
a.) dividing said ROM in segments;
b.) storing signals representative of text of pre-determined colors in predetermined first segments;
c.) storing signals representative of graphics in predetermined colors in second predetermined segments; and, d.) selecting the segments storing the text or graphics with the desired colors.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a circuit for implementing the selective coloring of graphics and alphanumerics on the CRT screen of a computer display system, characterized by:
a) a first addressable store for holding in each location thereof a first plurality of bits for a corresponding dot (pixel) of the pattern to be displayed on said CRT screen, said first plurality of bits representing the particular color of the corresponding dot to be displayed, said first store delivering a first set of signals representing said first plurality of bits stored in an addressed location of said store;
b) a character generator for generating a second -2b- 72434-20 set of signals representing a pattern of bits for forming an alphanumeric to be displayed;
c) a second addressable store for holding in each location thereof a second plurality of bits for a dot to be displayed on said CRT screen, said second plurality of bits representing the color of said dot to be displayed, said second store delivering a third set of signals representing the color of a dot to be currently displayed on said CRT screen; and d) a coupling circuit for coupling said first and second signal set to the address input terminals of said second store.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWI~GS
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and operation may best be understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the invention.
Figures 2A and 2B are logic block diagrams of the invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the color mixing ROM.
DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~T
-Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a block diagram of the invention. Bit map memories 101, 102, 103 store images of the graphics to be displayed on the display screen.
The image stored in bit map memory 101 will be displayed in red; the image 5tored in bit map memory 102 will be displayed in green; and the image stored in bit map memory 103 will be displayed in blue. Each bit map i8 a random acces~ memory that contains the screen image of 216,000 pixels (720 x 300 pixels). Each location in each bit map represents a pixel to be displayed on the monitor in a predetermined color. The monochrome option requires ~ single plane memory, just one bit per pixel displayed. The color option require~ 3 planes of memory, 101, 102, 103, a plane for each of the three basic colors -- red, green and blue.
When writing to a color option memory, one or more pianes at the addressed pixel position will be written to obtain ths designated color. Black is displayed when all the corresponding piYels of three planes equal ZERO. A
microprocessor (not shown) controls what is written into the actual bit map memory. Data is written one piYel per write command. Bit map memory 101, 102, 103 is addressed via an addres~ multiplexer 4 from PCO interface addres~ 23 or from row address select/column address select (RA5/CAS) 6. Each bit map memory is made up of 8 64R x 1 dyn~mic RAMS storing 216,000~pixels for display on a CRT (not shown). A pattern ROM 16 stores bits representative of the patterns that may be displayed; i.e., diagonal lines, cross-hatch lines, dotted areas,-etc. A mode control register 18 stores mode signals which indicate a replace mode of operation, an OR mode of operation or an exclusive OR mode of operation.
Predetermined output signals from pattern ROM 16 are ~elected in accordance with state of the mode signals from mode control register 18. Eight bit~ are read from bit map memory 101, 102, 103, and applied to bit select 34 which applie~ a bit selected from each of said bit map memorie~ to bit map register 36. A transceiver 38 when enabled allows data bits from bit map register 36 to be reflected on data bus 21.
Three low order address bits in a read command issued to the . I
~ 4~ 6~ ~ 510-02072 color option select which pixel appears in the ~eturn data byte. In the ca~e of a write ~emory operation a full byte of data transferred from the PCO 23 is used to determine what i8 to be written into the addre~s pixel po~itlon of bit map s memory. The write command aata byte utilizes bits 0, 1 and 2 for pattern select (the three high order bits of an eight word byte); bits 3 and 4 for operations reserved for future U~et and bits 5, 6 and 7 for color select. In the color ver6ion of the graphics option, bit 5 will write into the red plane, bit 6 into the green plane and bit 7 into the blue plane. Therefore, by the use of these three bits eight color~ can be generated.
The output signals of bit map memory 101, 102, 103 are buffered fir~t in A buffers 10~, 105, 106 and secondly in B
buffer~ 107, 108, 109t then they are serialized in bit shift register~ 110, 111, 112 and the ~tream of bits applied to text mix PROM 123.
Data RAM 115 stores text to be displayed on a CRT. The data is stored and read under control of CRTC 116. Text in the form of ~ignal~ read from data RAM 115 are then applied to character generator 119. The output sign~l from character generator 119 i~ then applied to the text mix PROM 123.
Referring now to Figures 2A and 29, the text is generated in the normal monochrome display manner. The text display codes are in the data RAM 115 and the matching attributes5 i.e., blinking, inverse, blanking, etc. are stored in attribute RAH~ . Both the attribute RA~ and the data RAM 11~, 115 respectively store 8 bit bytes. The catbode ray tube controller 116 controls the addressing of data RAM 115 by sending sequenti~l addresses to the d~ta RAM
115. The output of data RA~ 115 i~ stored in data register 118. The output of the attribute RA~ 114 is stored in attribute register 111. The output of data register 118 is applied to a character generator ll9s the output being data L~
byte~ to the character generator 119. Four raster signals from cathode ray tube controller 116 are also applied to character generator ll9 to addre~s tbe horizontal lines of each character. The output of character generator 119 is applied to shift regi~ter 121. Register 121 is a serial shift register to ~erialize the teYt for CRT di~play. It has the same function a~ shift cegi~ter 110, 111 and 112 for color.
The signal VIDEOl-lR from shift register 121 i8 applied to driver 131, which inverts the video signal to VIDEOD+OO
and is then stored in register 113. There are three attribute signals from attribute register 120 INYRSEIlR, LOWINT+lR and CURSOR+lRt the~e signal~ are applied to driver 122 which generate~ signals INVRSE+OO, LoWINT+OO and CURSOR+OO.
In normal operation of the graphics option of the computer system, graphics information to be displayed on the screen is stored in bit map memories 101, 102 and 103. All of the dots which will appear as red are stored in bit map memory 1015 all of the dots which appear as green will be stored in bit map memory 102t and all those dots which will appear as blue will be stored in bit map memory 103. By combining red, green and blue, several different colors can be generated in addition to the basic colors. The 8 bit outputs of the bit map memories 101, 102 and 103 are stored in their respective buffers -- buffer A104 for red, buffer A105 for green and huffer A106 for blue. These bytes are, in turn, transmitted to buffer B107 for red, buffer B108 for green and buffer B109 for blue. The data bytes are then applied to ~hifter 110 for red, shifter 111 for green and shifter 112 for blue~ these shifters generate their respective color sign~ls VIDRED+OO, VIDGRN~OO and VIDBLU+OO
whlch are then stored in register 113 on the rise of the aot clock sign~l, DOTCLR+lD. The color output signals YIDRED+lD, .
.
3~J~
VIDGRN+lD and VIDBLU+lD from register 113 are then applied to input addres~ terminal5 of a read-only memory 123. In addition, the inverse signal INVRSE+00, the low intensity signal LOWINT+00 and video signal VIDEOD+lE are also applied to the input address terminals of ROM 123. Also applied to the input address terminals of ROM 123 is the teYt-on signal TEXTON+00, the palate fiignal PALATE+00 and the graphics signal GRAFIC+lD which are received from mode register 18 which i8 loaded via a data bus 21 from main memory 125 under control of the microproce~sor 124. The text-on sign~l TEXTON
when high, allows the text received to be displayed on the color CRT 130. The palate signal PALATE~00 selects one of two colors for that teYt and the graphic~ sig~al GRAFIC+lD
activates the graphics for display on the color CRT 130. The out signals of ROM 123, REDVID~00, GRNVID+00 and BLW ID+00 are then stored in register 126 on the rise of the dot clock signal W TCLR+lD. The output signals from register 126 REDOUT+00, GRNOUT+00 and BLUOUT+00 are further gated through their respective A~D gates 127, 128, 129 when the display enable DSPEND+00 signal is high. The color output signals from AND gates 127, 128, 129, respectively, are REDOUT+lG, GRNOUT+lG and BLUOUT+lG are then di~played on the screen of the color CRT 13p. The display enable signal DSPEN8+00 which ~ is generated by the CRTC 116 for a horizontal display time of the beam across the face of the CRT 130 is also stored in register 126 to generate the display enable signal DSPEND+00.~
ROM 123 also generate~ an attribute video signal ATTVID+00. ATTVID+00 represents the high intensity attribute of the teYt from ROM 123.
Referring now to ROM 123 of Figures 2B and 3, when certain address signals applied to ROM 123 are true, the effect of mixing color graphics with monochrome text produces color teYt which may or may not be mixed with the graphics display. The TEXTON signal selects the teYt portion of ROM
~ 6~ 510-02072 _7_ 123~ wherea~ the GRAFIC signal selects the grapbics portion.
Hence as shown on Figure 3, when TEXTON ~ignal is ZERO and GRAFICS signal is ZERO~ there is no graphic~ or text displayed. When TEXTON is ONE and GRAFICS 18 ZERO, either red or green text can be displayed. The selection i6 done by the PALATE signal. When PALATE i~ ZERO and TEXTON i~ ONE, with ~RAFICS equal to ZERO, green text will be di6played. In a similar manner with the above signal~ set the same, but with PALATS equal to ONE, red text will be displayed.
Text and graphic~ can further be mixed and pre~ented in selected colors. For ex~mple, if the TEXTON signal i8 ONE
and the GRAFICS signal i~ ONE, green or~red text and graphics can be selected depending on whether PALATE is ZERO or ONE.
Wher, PA~ATE i6 ZERO the text is green and when the PALATS i8 ONE the teYt is red with graphics independent of the PALATE
signal and being a color represented by the truth table below.
Colors can be mixed by having different combinations of VIDRED, VIDGRN, VIDBLU along witb the other signals.
Graphics can, therefore, be presented in 8 colors; whereas text can be pre6ented in 4 colors. Each teYt color may appear as a high intensity or low intensity color.
The following truth table indicates how the 8 color~ for graphic~ are selected for display in response to various signals applied to ROM 123, whereon ONE represents that the signal is true and ZERO repre~ents that the signal is false.
V~DRED Y5~B~ ~nBL~ B~5LLI~S SQLQB
0 0 0 Black 0 0 1 Blue 0 1 0 Green 0 1 1 Cyan 1 0 0 Red 1 0 1 Magenta 1 1 0 Yellow 1 1 1 White
Claims (10)
1. A computer display system for displaying color graphics and color alphanumeric text comprising:
a.) first means for storing graphic pixels (bits) representative of graphic display images, each image being identical and in a predetermined different color;
b.) second means for generating text signals representative of alphanumeric text in monochrome color; and c.) third means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the graphic pixels and text signals for generating color-mixed signals for presentation on a color CRT for the display of color graphics and color text either individually or intermixed on the same display CRT.
a.) first means for storing graphic pixels (bits) representative of graphic display images, each image being identical and in a predetermined different color;
b.) second means for generating text signals representative of alphanumeric text in monochrome color; and c.) third means coupled to said first and second means and responsive to the graphic pixels and text signals for generating color-mixed signals for presentation on a color CRT for the display of color graphics and color text either individually or intermixed on the same display CRT.
2. The computer display system as recited in Claim 1 wherein said third means is divided into areas, with some predetermined areas storing signals representative of text in color, other predetermined areas storing signals representative of graphics in color, and still other predetermined areas storing signals representative of color text and graphics mixed.
3. The computer display system as recited in Claim 2 wherein said third means is responsive to a VIDRED signal when true for displaying on a CRT a red color, and also responsive to a VIDGRN signal when true for displaying on a CRT a green color, and further responsive to a VIDBLU signal when true for displaying on a CRT a blue color.
4. The computer display terminal as recited in Claim 3 wherein a predetermined color is generated when a predetermined combination of the VIDRED, VIDGRN, VIDBLU
signals are true in accordance to the following truth table wherein 1 indicates the signal is true:
VIDRED VIDGRN VIDBLU RESULTANT COLOR
0 0 0 Black 0 0 1 Blue 0 1 0 Green 0 1 1 Cyan 1 0 0 Red 1 0 1 Magenta 1 1 0 Yellow 1 1 1 White.
signals are true in accordance to the following truth table wherein 1 indicates the signal is true:
VIDRED VIDGRN VIDBLU RESULTANT COLOR
0 0 0 Black 0 0 1 Blue 0 1 0 Green 0 1 1 Cyan 1 0 0 Red 1 0 1 Magenta 1 1 0 Yellow 1 1 1 White.
5. The computer display system as recited in Claim 4 including fourth means coupled to said third means for generating attribute signals for presentation on a color CRT.
6. A method of mixing first signals representative of graphic display images in different colors with second signals representative of alphanumeric text in monochrome stored in a ROM comprising the steps of:
a.) dividing said ROM in segments;
b.) storing signals representative of text of predetermined colors in predetermined first segments;
c.) storing signals representative of graphics in predetermined colors in second predetermined segments; and, d.) selecting the segments storing the text or graphics with the desired colors.
a.) dividing said ROM in segments;
b.) storing signals representative of text of predetermined colors in predetermined first segments;
c.) storing signals representative of graphics in predetermined colors in second predetermined segments; and, d.) selecting the segments storing the text or graphics with the desired colors.
7. The method recited in Claim 6 wherein a VIDRED signal selects, when true, signals representative of red graphics, a VIDGRN signal selects, when true, signals representative of green graphics, and a VIDBLU signal selects, when true, signals representative of blue graphics.
8. The method recited in Claim 7 wherein a predetermined color is generated when a predetermined combination of VIDRED, VIDGRN, VIDBLU signals are true in accordance to the following truth table:
VIDRED VIDGRN VIDBLU RESULTANT COLOR
0 0 0 Black 0 0 1 Blue 0 1 0 Green 0 1 1 Cyan 1 0 0 Red 1 0 1 Magenta 1 1 0 Yellow 1 1 1 White.
VIDRED VIDGRN VIDBLU RESULTANT COLOR
0 0 0 Black 0 0 1 Blue 0 1 0 Green 0 1 1 Cyan 1 0 0 Red 1 0 1 Magenta 1 1 0 Yellow 1 1 1 White.
9. A circuit for implementing the selective coloring of graphics and alphanumerics on the CRT screen of a computer display system, characterized by:
a) a first addressable store for holding in each location thereof a first plurality of bits for a corresponding dot (pixel) of the pattern to be displayed on said CRT screen, said first plurality of bits representing the particular color of the corresponding dot to be displayed, said first store delivering a first set of signals representing said first plur-ality of bits stored in an addressed location of said store;
b) a character generator for generating a second set of signals representing a pattern of bits for forming an alphanumeric to be displayed c) a second addressable store for holding in each location thereof a second plurality of bits for a dot to be displayed on said CRT screen, said second plurality of bits representing the color of said dot to be displayed, said second store delivering a third set of signals representing the color of a dot to be currently displayed on said CRT screen; and d) a coupling circuit for coupling said first and second signal set to the address input terminals of said second store.
a) a first addressable store for holding in each location thereof a first plurality of bits for a corresponding dot (pixel) of the pattern to be displayed on said CRT screen, said first plurality of bits representing the particular color of the corresponding dot to be displayed, said first store delivering a first set of signals representing said first plur-ality of bits stored in an addressed location of said store;
b) a character generator for generating a second set of signals representing a pattern of bits for forming an alphanumeric to be displayed c) a second addressable store for holding in each location thereof a second plurality of bits for a dot to be displayed on said CRT screen, said second plurality of bits representing the color of said dot to be displayed, said second store delivering a third set of signals representing the color of a dot to be currently displayed on said CRT screen; and d) a coupling circuit for coupling said first and second signal set to the address input terminals of said second store.
10. The circuit of Claim 9, characterized by further including a source of a signal for enabling the display of graphics on said CRT screen, said second store receiving said signal at another address input terminal thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US650,941 | 1984-09-17 | ||
| US06/650,941 US4724431A (en) | 1984-09-17 | 1984-09-17 | Computer display system for producing color text and graphics |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1249677A true CA1249677A (en) | 1989-01-31 |
Family
ID=24610945
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000490794A Expired CA1249677A (en) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-09-16 | Computer display system for producing color text and graphics |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4724431A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0175340B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS61113097A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR910001564B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU577154B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1249677A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3583196D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK421885A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8708077A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI80537C (en) |
| MX (1) | MX162938B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO853633L (en) |
| YU (1) | YU147285A (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4837710A (en) * | 1985-12-06 | 1989-06-06 | Bull Hn Information Systems Inc. | Emulation attribute mapping for a color video display |
| US4857899A (en) * | 1985-12-10 | 1989-08-15 | Ascii Corporation | Image display apparatus |
| US4772881A (en) * | 1986-10-27 | 1988-09-20 | Silicon Graphics, Inc. | Pixel mapping apparatus for color graphics display |
| KR900008518Y1 (en) * | 1987-12-24 | 1990-09-22 | 주식회사 금성사 | Text mode color selecting device |
| US5351074A (en) * | 1988-01-19 | 1994-09-27 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Apparatus for forming a color image using two memories |
| US4894653A (en) * | 1988-06-24 | 1990-01-16 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Method and apparatus for generating video signals |
| US4932062A (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1990-06-05 | Dialogic Corporation | Method and apparatus for frequency analysis of telephone signals |
| US4953104A (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1990-08-28 | Eastman Kodak Company | Page buffer for an electronic gray-scale color printer |
| US5003494A (en) * | 1989-12-18 | 1991-03-26 | Eastman Kodak Company | Data storage system for an electronic color printer |
| US5210825A (en) * | 1990-04-26 | 1993-05-11 | Teknekron Communications Systems, Inc. | Method and an apparatus for displaying graphical data received from a remote computer by a local computer |
| GB2263038B (en) * | 1991-12-30 | 1996-01-31 | Apple Computer | Apparatus for manipulating streams of data |
| US5579446A (en) * | 1994-01-27 | 1996-11-26 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Manual/automatic user option for color printing of different types of objects |
| US5704021A (en) * | 1994-01-27 | 1997-12-30 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Adaptive color rendering by an inkjet printer based on object type |
| JP3109421B2 (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 2000-11-13 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Chart processing equipment |
| GB2312819B (en) * | 1995-11-14 | 1998-02-04 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Graphic display unit |
| JPH09139957A (en) * | 1995-11-14 | 1997-05-27 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Graphic display device |
| US7113171B2 (en) * | 1997-06-10 | 2006-09-26 | Mark Vayda | Universal input device |
| US8279169B2 (en) * | 1997-06-10 | 2012-10-02 | Mark Vayda | Universal input device and system |
| US20020077863A1 (en) * | 2000-11-17 | 2002-06-20 | Jolyn Rutledge | System and method for processing patient medical information acquired over a plurality of days |
| JP3816882B2 (en) * | 2003-03-05 | 2006-08-30 | 株式会社東芝 | Display font memory |
| US7907110B2 (en) * | 2007-04-04 | 2011-03-15 | Atmel Corporation | Display controller blinking mode circuitry for LCD panel of twisted nematic type |
| KR101023389B1 (en) * | 2009-02-23 | 2011-03-18 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Apparatus and method for improving performance of character recognition |
| BR112014017693A8 (en) * | 2012-01-19 | 2017-12-12 | Microsoft Corp | SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY OF MULTIPLE CONTENT ITEMS |
Family Cites Families (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS559742B2 (en) * | 1974-06-20 | 1980-03-12 | ||
| GB2032740A (en) * | 1978-10-16 | 1980-05-08 | Tektronix Inc | Programmable color mapping |
| US4342029A (en) * | 1979-01-31 | 1982-07-27 | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | Color graphics display terminal |
| US4232311A (en) * | 1979-03-20 | 1980-11-04 | Chyron Corporation | Color display apparatus |
| JPS5678880A (en) * | 1979-12-03 | 1981-06-29 | Hitachi Ltd | Character and graphic display unit |
| AU8583482A (en) * | 1981-05-19 | 1982-12-07 | Western Electric Co. Inc. | Terminal independent color memory for a digital image displaysystem |
| US4408200A (en) * | 1981-08-12 | 1983-10-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | Apparatus and method for reading and writing text characters in a graphics display |
| US4490797A (en) * | 1982-01-18 | 1984-12-25 | Honeywell Inc. | Method and apparatus for controlling the display of a computer generated raster graphic system |
| US4484187A (en) * | 1982-06-25 | 1984-11-20 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Video overlay system having interactive color addressing |
| JPS5968781A (en) * | 1982-10-12 | 1984-04-18 | シャープ株式会社 | Selective display system for ram data |
| JPS5967588A (en) * | 1982-10-09 | 1984-04-17 | シャープ株式会社 | Selective display system for ram data |
| US4639721A (en) * | 1982-10-09 | 1987-01-27 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Data selection circuit for the screen display of data from a personal computer |
| JPS5979293A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1984-05-08 | 株式会社東芝 | Display |
| JPS5991487A (en) * | 1982-11-17 | 1984-05-26 | 富士通株式会社 | Display unit |
| US4574277A (en) * | 1983-08-30 | 1986-03-04 | Zenith Radio Corporation | Selective page disable for a video display |
| NO853634L (en) * | 1984-09-17 | 1986-03-18 | Honeywell Inc | MIXING LINE DRAWINGS AND TEXT IN A CRT PROVIDER SYSTEM EM. |
| US4642626A (en) * | 1984-09-17 | 1987-02-10 | Honeywell Information Systems Inc. | Graphic display scan line blanking capability |
-
1984
- 1984-09-17 US US06/650,941 patent/US4724431A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1985
- 1985-09-16 NO NO853633A patent/NO853633L/en unknown
- 1985-09-16 ES ES547008A patent/ES8708077A1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-09-16 CA CA000490794A patent/CA1249677A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-09-17 AU AU47521/85A patent/AU577154B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1985-09-17 YU YU01472/85A patent/YU147285A/en unknown
- 1985-09-17 MX MX206642A patent/MX162938B/en unknown
- 1985-09-17 DE DE8585111731T patent/DE3583196D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-09-17 KR KR1019850006838A patent/KR910001564B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-09-17 JP JP60205149A patent/JPS61113097A/en active Pending
- 1985-09-17 EP EP85111731A patent/EP0175340B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-09-17 FI FI853550A patent/FI80537C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1985-09-17 DK DK421885A patent/DK421885A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR860002753A (en) | 1986-04-28 |
| KR910001564B1 (en) | 1991-03-15 |
| AU4752185A (en) | 1986-03-27 |
| DE3583196D1 (en) | 1991-07-18 |
| FI853550A0 (en) | 1985-09-17 |
| AU577154B2 (en) | 1988-09-15 |
| MX162938B (en) | 1991-07-17 |
| ES8708077A1 (en) | 1987-09-01 |
| US4724431A (en) | 1988-02-09 |
| YU147285A (en) | 1989-02-28 |
| DK421885A (en) | 1986-03-18 |
| DK421885D0 (en) | 1985-09-17 |
| EP0175340A2 (en) | 1986-03-26 |
| EP0175340A3 (en) | 1987-05-20 |
| NO853633L (en) | 1986-03-18 |
| FI853550L (en) | 1986-03-18 |
| FI80537C (en) | 1990-06-11 |
| FI80537B (en) | 1990-02-28 |
| EP0175340B1 (en) | 1991-06-12 |
| JPS61113097A (en) | 1986-05-30 |
| ES547008A0 (en) | 1987-09-01 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1249677A (en) | Computer display system for producing color text and graphics | |
| US4490797A (en) | Method and apparatus for controlling the display of a computer generated raster graphic system | |
| US4730185A (en) | Graphics display method and apparatus for color dithering | |
| US4139838A (en) | Color pattern and alphanumeric character generator for use with raster-scan display devices | |
| JPH0327119B2 (en) | ||
| CA1224291A (en) | Raster scan display system | |
| JPH0426471B2 (en) | ||
| US4616220A (en) | Graphics display comparator for multiple bit plane graphics controller | |
| JPH0514312B2 (en) | ||
| US4833462A (en) | Raster-scanned cathode ray tube display with cross-hair cursor | |
| US4720803A (en) | Display control apparatus for performing multicolor display by tiling display | |
| US4599610A (en) | Overlaying information on a video display | |
| US4763118A (en) | Graphic display system for personal computer | |
| US4935893A (en) | Data display apparatus | |
| EP0102750B1 (en) | Character font display systems | |
| JPS61113092A (en) | Computer display system | |
| JPS61151689A (en) | Memory writing control system | |
| CN85107554A (en) | Be used for producing the calculator display organization of color text and graphics | |
| JPS6095492A (en) | Display modification controller | |
| JPS5816190B2 (en) | CRT display drive system | |
| JPS5830791A (en) | Color control for cathode ray tube | |
| RU1836719C (en) | Device for displaying of graphic information on colour tv indicator | |
| KR930003408B1 (en) | Emulation attribute mapping for a color video display | |
| JPH0983886A (en) | Character video signal generator | |
| JPH0121512B2 (en) |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |