초록 ▼

In a line generator and a method for determining the individual pixels to be plotted for a line to be drawn in a display system, coded representations of a plurality of lines are stored in a line definition table. The coded representation of each individual line is a string of data items representin

In a line generator and a method for determining the individual pixels to be plotted for a line to be drawn in a display system, coded representations of a plurality of lines are stored in a line definition table. The coded representation of each individual line is a string of data items representing the transitions between adjacent pixels to be plotted for drawing the individual line. Preferably, only coded representations of lines up to a predetermined size (i.e. the length of the line in the case of a straight line) are stored in the line definition table. Strings of data items for representing the pixels to be plotted for longer lines to be drawn are still calculated as in the prior art. In this case, control logic determines whether there are coded representations of a line to be drawn in the line definition table, or not, and passes control to appropriate processing logic for determining the pixels to be plotted. In a preferred embodiment, the string of data items forming the coded representation of a line to be drawn is a string of binary digits and the value of each bit in the string represents a transition in one of two directions. This provides a very compact representation of the line.

대표청구항 ▼

A line generator for determining the individual pixels to be plotted for a line to be drawn on a display device in a display system, said display device having a plurality of discrete display points (“pixels”) that are drawn by being illuminated in response to electrical control signals, said line g

A line generator for determining the individual pixels to be plotted for a line to be drawn on a display device in a display system, said display device having a plurality of discrete display points (“pixels”) that are drawn by being illuminated in response to electrical control signals, said line generator comprising: line definition means for determining pixels to plot, said line definition means including: (a) a line definition table having a plurality of discrete entries representing a set of lines, in each of which is stored a coded representation of a respective one of said set of lines, the coded representation of each individual line comprising a series of data items representing transitions between adjacent pixels to be plotted for drawing said individual line; (b) address logic for accessing an appropriate entry in the line definition table for the coded representation of a line to be drawn in response to a line drawing order; and means for generating electrical control signals for causing pixels to be drawn on said display device, said electrical control signals generated in response to said coded representation of said line to be drawn.