摘要:
The present invention comprises a method for utilizing an socalled SIMD computer architecture in conjunction with a host processor and coordinate processor to render quality, three-dimensional, anti-aliased shaded color images into the frame buffer of a video display system. The method includes a parallel algorithm for rendering an important graphic primitive for accomplishing the production of a smoothly shaded color three-dimensional triangle with anti-aliased edges. By taking advantage of the SIMD architecture and said parallel algorithm, the very time consuming pixel by pixel computations are broken down for parallel execution. A single coordinate processor computes and transmits an overall triangle record which is essentially the same for all blocks of pixels within a given bounding box which box in turn surrounds each triangle. The individual pixel data is produced by a group of M x N pixel processors and stored in the frame buffer in a series of repetitive steps wherein each step corresponds to the processing of an M x N block of pixels within the bounding box of the triangle. Thus, each pixel processor performs the same operation, modifying its computations in accordance with triangle data received from the coordinate processor and positional data unique to its own sequential connectivity to the frame buffer, thus allowing parallel access to the frame buffer.
摘要:
In a method for rapid windowing of display information in a computer system image data is maintained in a hierarchical data tree structure. The complete image field (1), within which the image is defined, is divided into cells (7). The window is defined within this field and a field of possible interest (5) is defined around the window. Then, for each node in the tree, summary node data is computed which identifies those cells within the field of possible interest which are at least partially occupied by the part of the image defined at that node. By traversing the tree it is then possible to identify rapidly the image data to be windowed.
摘要:
An arrangement is described comprising a diagnostic computer (11) connected to a host computer (12) for the purpose of troubleshooting the host computer's hardware and software. The arrangement includes an interface unit (13) comprising specific controls (31, 33, 35) with transfer and mask registers between the diagnostic computer and the host, and control units (22, 23) in the diagnostic computer, to perform functions required by the user of the system. The arrangement is specifically designed for use with a host computer comprising a level-sensitive scan (LSSD) register.
摘要:
The technique for transmitting address information between a processor (10) and a plurality of memory subsystems (14, 18) in a common bus (4, 6, 8) communication system (2). The width of the address field is greater than the number of lines on the bus (6). For example, addresses are three bytes wide, and the bus (6) is one byte wide, thereby reducing the number of pins required on the processor and the subsystems. For communication between the processor and a given memory subsystem, only those bytes of a selected address which differ from the corresponding bytes of a previous address are transmitted sequentially for accessing a selected memory location.
摘要:
The present invention comprises a method for utilizing an socalled SIMD computer architecture in conjunction with a host processor and coordinate processor to render quality, three-dimensional, anti-aliased shaded color images into the frame buffer of a video display system. The method includes a parallel algorithm for rendering an important graphic primitive for accomplishing the production of a smoothly shaded color three-dimensional triangle with anti-aliased edges. By taking advantage of the SIMD architecture and said parallel algorithm, the very time consuming pixel by pixel computations are broken down for parallel execution. A single coordinate processor computes and transmits an overall triangle record which is essentially the same for all blocks of pixels within a given bounding box which box in turn surrounds each triangle. The individual pixel data is produced by a group of M x N pixel processors and stored in the frame buffer in a series of repetitive steps wherein each step corresponds to the processing of an M x N block of pixels within the bounding box of the triangle. Thus, each pixel processor performs the same operation, modifying its computations in accordance with triangle data received from the coordinate processor and positional data unique to its own sequential connectivity to the frame buffer, thus allowing parallel access to the frame buffer.
摘要:
In a method for rapid windowing of display information in a computer system image data is maintained in a hierarchical data tree structure. The complete image field (1), within which the image is defined, is divided into cells (7). The window is defined within this field and a field of possible interest (5) is defined around the window. Then, for each node in the tree, summary node data is computed which identifies those cells within the field of possible interest which are at least partially occupied by the part of the image defined at that node. By traversing the tree it is then possible to identify rapidly the image data to be windowed.