Patent ID: 7176929
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for displaying an animation sequence within a programmable area of an on screen display (OSD), comprising: an attribute table configured to store at least two attributes but no more than four color attributes for each of a predetermined number of characters used in the animation sequence on an OSD; and wherein the attribute table comprises a first icon attribute bank, a second icon attribute bank and a third icon attribute bank; wherein the first, second and third icon attribute banks are used to store attributes to create the animation sequence when alternately selected and applied to a single character; a selector circuit including an address input coupled to an address signal, an FR input coupled to a frame character attribute, a first address input coupled to a first icon attribute stored within the attribute table, a second address input coupled to a second icon attribute stored within the attribute table, and a third address input coupled to a third icon attribute stored within the attribute table, wherein the selector circuit is arranged to alternately select one of the address inputs from the first, second, and third address inputs in response to a drawing location that is associated with at least one of the predetermined number of characters in order to create the animation sequence, and provide an attribute signal corresponding to the selected attribute to be applied to the character at the drawing location; and a color selection logic circuit that includes a first input coupled to the attribute signal, a first plane input that is configured to receive a first pixel stream; and a second plane input that is configured to receive a second pixel stream; wherein the color selection logic circuit is configured to expand the first pixel stream and the second pixel stream to colors based on the selected attribute and to apply the selected attribute to the character at the drawing location and produce a color signal in response to the attribute signal, wherein the character at the drawing location remains static but the attribute for the character alternately changes in order to create the animation sequence.