Importance

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Abstract

A system and apparatus for managing the picture memory of a digital color graphics imaging system, thereby enabling images on a display monitor to be changed efficiently at high rates, and more specifically a control system which comprises a video memory controller having an internal memory for a digital color graphics imaging system. The controller operates under the direction of a host computer to generate synchronized color data signals for input to a cathode ray tube monitor or other suitable graphical display device. The controller is effective to randomly address its memory at high speed and serially read, but not serially write, the data stored in the memory at TV rates for displaying on the monitor. The particular embodiment of the controller disclosed herein has a universal organization which may be adapted for use in various computer graphics systems. The controller may be operated by software capable of automatic stepping in X and Y directions to provide for transfer of data into the memory using a first word length and for transfer of data out from the memory using a second longer word length, the controller including specific X and Y address registers for computer addressing into the controller's internal memory at those memory locations specified by the computer or at locations which are reached by incrementing or decrementing the X and Y address registers one step in X and/or Y directions or by loading a new absolute address, the controller being capable of determining and changing values of each word to be stored in memory for presentation on the monitor at a specific location based upon a previous value of that same word combined with other input data from the host computer.

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First Claim