摘要:
A graphics computer system including a host computer and a graphics processor. The host computer has a host data bus and a host address bus. A first video memory stores color codes corresponding to a display. The first video memory is connected to the host computer permitting it to specify the color codes. A first palette connected to the first video memory has a first look-up table memory for recalling color data words corresponding to color codes received from the first video memory. The first palette is connected to the host computer permitting it to specify the color data words stored in the first look-up table memory. The graphics processor has a local data bus and a local address bus. A second video memory stores color codes corresponding to a display, the graphics processor specifying the color codes stored in the second video memory. A second palette connected to the second video memory has a second look-up table memory. The second palette is connected to the graphics processor permitting it to specify the color data words stored in the second look-up table memory. An interface circuit connects to the host data bus, the host address bus and the second palette. The interface circuit writes data received from the host data bus into the second palette upon detecting predetermined addresses on the host address bus. This causes at least a portion of the second palette to store identical data as stored in corresponding locations of the first palette.
摘要:
A multifunction access circuit for use with first and second digital computers each having an address bus for supplying addresses and a data bus for supplying data. The access circuit has an address decoder with inputs for the address bus from the first computer, and an address translator circuit having address inputs for addresses supplied by the address bus of the first computer and outputs for translated addresses to the address bus of the second computer. The address translator circuit also has registers selectable by the address decoder and data inputs to program the registers so selected with data from the data bus from the first computer. Also in the access circuit is a port circuit with registers controlled by the address decoder for entry of address information from the data bus of the first computer and assertion of the address information on the address bus of the second computer. Further, a mode control circuit is connected to the address decoder and connected to the data bus to program the mode control circuit to selectively establish operation of the address translator circuit and of the port circuit. Other access circuits, devices, systems and methods are also described.
摘要:
A multifunction access circuit for use with first and second digital computers each having an address bus for supplying addresses and a data bus for supplying data. The access circuit has an address decoder with inputs for the address bus from the first computer, and an address translator circuit having address inputs for addresses supplied by the address bus of the first computer and outputs for translated addresses to the address bus of the second computer. The address translator circuit also has registers selectable by the address decoder and data inputs to program the registers so selected with data from the data bus from the first computer. Also in the access circuit is a port circuit with registers controlled by the address decoder for entry of address information from the data bus of the first computer and assertion of the address information on the address bus of the second computer. Further, a mode control circuit is connected to the address decoder and connected to the data bus to program the mode control circuit to selectively establish operation of the address translator circuit and of the port circuit. Other access circuits, devices, systems and methods are also described.
摘要:
A memory access system for use with a graphics processor having an address bus, a data bus and a set of control lines. An address translator circuit connected to the address bus of the graphics processor supplies a translated address to a memory upon receipt of an address from the graphics processor. A logic circuit responds to a write signal to automatically increment the translated address and responds to a control signal to return to the translated address. Control circuitry connected to the logic circuit responds to a read signal to supply the control signal to the logic circuit.
摘要:
An access circuit for data swapping between two computers and a computer system including the access circuit. Each computer including an address bus for supplying addresses and a data bus for transferring data. The access circuit includes a register file and two address decoder circuits. The register file has a plurality of storage locations for storing data. The register file has dual data ports capable of simultaneous data transfer via the first data port with a first data storage location and via the second data port with a second, different storage location. Each address decoder is connected to the address bus of a corresponding computer and the register file. The address decoders translate an address received on the address bus to a storage location of the register file. Two handshakes circuits are connected to respective address decoders and digital computers. The first and second address decoders are connected to each other. When the storage location of the first address decoder equals the storage location of the second address decoder, one of the handshake circuits signals the corresponding digital computer a memory waitstate or memory fault. At least one of the decoders is be programmable to position in the address space of the corresponding computer. At least one the address decoders includes an autoincrement circuit advances the accessed storage location within the register file to a next storage location upon each data transfer.
摘要:
A computer graphics system includes a host computer and a graphics processor. The graphics processor includes a control register. When the graphics processor writes to the control register it simultaneously generates a predetermined address on a local address bus and supplies data on a local data bus identical to data to be written into the control register. A shadow register circuit connected to both the host computer and the graphics processor includes a shadow register and first and second address decoders. The first address decoder enables a write from a local data bus into the shadow register upon detection of the predetermined address. The second address decoder enables a read from the shadow register via a host data bus upon detection of the predetermined address on a host address bus. The shadow register optionally includes a message in plurality of bits and a message out plurality of bits, the first and second address decoders enabling message passing between the host computer and the graphics processor. The shadow register circuit optionally includes a host interrupt bit and a buffer circuit. The buffer circuit generates a host interrupt signal to the host computer if either the graphics processor generates a host interrupt signal or the host interrupt bit of the shadow register has a predetermined state.
摘要:
A computer graphics system. The system includes a video memory having a shift register adapted for split shift register transfers, and digital computer for controlling the video memory and having a tap point counter clocked by a shift clock signal and also having a blanking circuit with a blanking output. Further, logic circuitry enabled by the blanking output is connected to initiate an extra shift clock pulse for the tap point counter during a blanking interval. Other systems, palette devices, and methods are also disclosed.
摘要:
An interface for use with a multiprocessor computer system, having a host processor system and a graphics processor system. The interface permits extended functions to be developed on the host system or on another system, and subsequently loaded to the graphics processor system. The interface comprises software residing on both the host system side and the graphics system side, which operates at run time to permit the function to be called from a main program running on the host. The function's arguments are passed to the graphics system so that the function is executed by the graphics processor.
摘要:
Multimedia information (e.g. graphics, video, sound, control information) passes through a system bus from a CPU main memory to a display memory in accordance with CPU commands. The information may be packetized with associated packet types identifying the different media. A media stream controller processes the information and passes the processed information to the display memory. Controllers in the media stream controller individually pass multimedia information to the display memory. A PACDAC controller in the media stream controller causes media (e.g. graphics, video) in the display memory to be transferred to a PACDAC for display. The format, sequence, and rate of this transfer may be flexibly controlled by software on a frame by frame basis. Arbitration logic establishes priorities for the different controllers in the media stream controller so they may share a single bus for accessing the display memory. A single interrupt controller coordinates interrupts (e.g. at a single level) to provide priorities based upon the type of interrupt cause or media. Each interrupt cause activates only the appropriate callback functions. Two different virtual machine sessions (e.g. Windows, DOS) share an interrupt line to process interrupt requests form one (1) session (e.g. Windows) before processing interrupt requests from the other.
摘要:
A palette device for use with a digital computer that produces a video control signal and color code signals for a first bus and where the digital computer has a graphics coprocessor that produces a video control signal and color code signals for a second bus. The palette device includes an input register for holding respective bits from separate sets of input lines including a first set of input lines for signals representing color codes on the first bus and a second set of input lines for signals representing color codes on the second bus. The palette device further has a look-up table memory for supplying color data words in response to color codes from the input register, and a selector circuit connected between the input register and the look-up table memory. The selector circuit is externally controllable to transfer selected color codes from the selected first or second bus to said look-up table memory and to select a video control signal for output depending on the selected bus. Computer graphics systems, printer systems and methods are also disclosed.