Claims
- 1. A video display processor disposed on a single integrated circuit comprising:
- a data port for receiving sequential data corresponding to a plurality of color data and color codes corresponding to respective pixels of a raster scan video display;
- at least one sprite register storing a sprite horizontal location and sprite color data for a corresponding mobile pattern of a predetermined size in pixels smaller than said video display, said at least one sprite register outputting said sprite color data when said raster scan of said video display has a horizontal location including said corresponding mobile pattern;
- a color palette including an input, a plurality of color palette registers each storing a color code wherein the number of colors specifiable by said color codes exceed the number of said color palette registers and an output, said color palette outputting a color code via said output corresponding to color data received at said input;
- a color priority logic connected to said data port, said at least one sprite register and said color palette, said color priority logic supplying said color data from said data port to said input of said color palette when none of said at least one sprite register output sprite color data and supplying said sprite color data to said input of said color palette from a sprite register having the highest priority in a predetermined priority of sprites when any one of said at least one sprite register outputs sprite color data; and
- a digital to analog converter having an input connected to said output of said color palette and an output, said digital to analog converter outputting at least one analog color signal corresponding to color codes received at said input of said digital to analog converter.
- 2. The video display processor of claim 2, further comprising:
- each of said at least one sprite register further stores a sprite pattern including a single bit for each pixel of a horizontal extent of said corresponding mobile pattern for a current horizontal line of said raster scan of said video display, said sprite register outputting said sprite color data if said sprite pattern bit corresponding to a current horizontal position of said raster scan of said video display has a first digital state, and not outputting said sprite color data if said sprite pattern bit corresponding to the current horizontal position of said raster scan of said video display has a second digital state, whereby said second digital state of said sprite pattern selects a transparent state where said color priority logic supplies said color data from said data port to said input of said color palette.
- 3. The video display processor of claim 1, further comprising:
- a border color register storing a border color for a border area around an active area of said video display; and
- said color priority logic is further connected to said border color register, said color priority logic further supplying said border color from said border color register to said input of said color palette when said raster scan of said video display is within said border area, whereby said border color has priority over said sprite color of any mobile pattern within said border area.
- 4. A video display system comprising:
- a host processor;
- a memory for storing color data and color codes;
- a video display processor disposed on a single integrated circuit including
- a data port for receiving sequential data corresponding to a plurality of color data and color codes corresponding to respective pixels of a raster scan video display,
- at least one sprite register storing a sprite horizontal location and sprite color data for a corresponding mobile pattern of a predetermined size in pixels smaller than said video display, said at least one sprite register outputting said sprite color data when said raster scan of said video display has a horizontal location including said corresponding mobile pattern,
- a color palette including an input, a plurality of color palette registers each storing a color code wherein the number of colors specifiable by said color codes exceed the number of said color palette registers and an output, said color palette outputting a color code via said output corresponding to color data received at said input,
- a color priority logic connected to said data port, said at least one sprite register and said color palette, said color priority logic supplying said color data from said data port to said input of said color palette when none of said at least one sprite register output sprite color data and supplying said sprite color data to said input of said color palette from a sprite register having the highest priority in a predetermined priority of sprites when any one of said at least one sprite register outputs sprite color data,
- a digital to analog converter having an input connected to said output of said color palette and an output, said digital to analog converter outputting at least one analog color signal corresponding to color codes received at said input of said digital to analog converter; and
- a video display connected to said digital to analog converter for generating a visual display corresponding to said at least one analog color signal.
- 5. The video display system of claim 4, wherein:
- each of said at least one sprite register further stores a sprite pattern including a single bit for each pixel of a horizontal extent of said corresponding mobile pattern for a current horizontal line of said raster scan of said video display, said sprite register outputting said sprite color data if said sprite pattern bit corresponding to a current horizontal position of said raster scan of said video display has a first digital state, and not outputting said sprite color data if said sprite pattern bit corresponding to the current horizontal position of said raster scan of said video display has a second digital state, whereby said second digital state of said sprite pattern selects a transparent state where said color priority logic supplies said color data from said data port to said input of said color palette.
- 6. The video display system of claim 4, wherein:
- said video display processor further includes
- a border color register storing a border color for a border area around an active area of said video display, and
- said color priority logic is further connected to said border color register, said color priority logic further supplying said border color from said border color register to said input of said color palette when said raster scan of said video display is within said border area, whereby said border color has priority over said sprite color of any mobile pattern within said border area.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/103,498 filed Aug. 6, 1993, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/803,236 filed Dec. 5, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,049, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/455,869 filed Dec. 18, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,811, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/262,176 filed Oct. 20, 1988, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/38,476 filed Apr. 13, 1987, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 06/600,921 filed Apr. 16, 1984, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5379049 |
Leach |
Jan 1995 |
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Divisions (2)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
103498 |
Aug 1993 |
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Parent |
803236 |
Dec 1991 |
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Continuations (4)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
455869 |
Dec 1989 |
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Parent |
262176 |
Oct 1988 |
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Parent |
38476 |
Apr 1987 |
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Parent |
600921 |
Apr 1984 |
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