Graphics system and method

Abstract: In order to produce high quality colour presentation graphics such as posters, advertisements, notices, greeting cards etc., efficiently and at a low cost, there is provided a graphics system (1) for a colour copier(24). The system (1) includes a memory card (15) input (7) for object image data, a host processor (2) connected to a user controllable keyboard (20) for selecting and editing the object image data to create edited image data, a real-time object processor (12) for rendering the edited image data to output an image signal (17) to the copier (24) for printing an image represented by the image signal. The system (1) is characterised by the absence of an image frame store.

Description: The present invention relates to an object-based graphics system, for example a presentation graphics system, which can be connected to an existing printing device, such as a colour laser copier, and to a method of generating and outputting pixel data for an image. Colour composition systems for creating full colour desk top publishing capable of creating and printing A3 size full colour images at 400 dots per inch (dpi) traditionally use a personal computer system with the aid of various input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard. The image is normally composed and stored in a frame buffer memory device on a pixel by pixel basis before the image is written out to the relevant display device, such as a colour printer on a line by line basis. For an image the size of an A3 page, at 400 dpi, 4,632 x 6,480 pixels must be stored. If 24-bits of colour are stored per pixel, this gives a total storage requirement of over 90-Mbytes. Such a storage size requirement is often a significant expense in the design of a full colour composition system in addition to a resulting increase in the size of any system incorporating the composition system, thereby hindering the acceptance of full colour systems in normal consumer markets. A paper entitled "A Monolithic Scan-Line Bit Producer for Real-Time Image Rasterisation", N.Kanopoulos, N.Vasanthavada, Microprocessing and Microprogramming Vol. 21, August 1987, No. 1-5 Amsterdam, The Netherlands, discloses a scan-line bit producer, which performs the bit-setting operation step of the scan line algorithm. DE 40 00 021 A1 discloses an arrangement for determining function values for picture elements from adjacent picture elements in an iterative fashion without dependence on the coordinates of the elements. US 4,837,477 discloses an arrangement that uses a double buffer pattern data memory for the display of rasterised images. GB-A-2246929 discloses an arrangement for producing personalised cards from photographs using a video scanner and pixel-based image manipulation. According to the present invention, there is provided a graphics system as set out in claim 1. The invention also provides a method of generating and outputting pixel data for an image as set out in claim 14. The present invention further provides a computer program product as set out in claim 24. Optional features are set out in claims 2 to 13, claim 15 to 23 and 25. Thus, an embodiment provides a simplified image composition system for use with a printing device that substantially eliminates the need for storage of an image on a pixel by pixel basis. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig.1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment. The present embodiments apply technology disclosed in: (i) Australian Patent Application No. 38244/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2147 of 29 April 1992, entitled "A Real-Time Object Based Graphics System"; (ii) Australian Patent Application No. 38240/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2148 of 29 April 1992 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Filling an Object Based Rasterised Image"; (iii) Australian Patent Application No. 38242/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2153 of 29 April 1992 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing Transparency in an Object Based Rasterised Image"; (iv) Australian Patent Application No. 38233/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2156 of 29 April 1992 entitled "Edge Calculation for Graphics Systems" and Australian Patent Application No. PL 2145 of 29 April 1992 entitled "Object Sorting for Graphics Systems"; (v) Australian Patent Application No. 38250/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2142 of 29 April 1992 entitled "A Preprocessing Pipeline for RTO Graphics System"; (vi) Australian Patent Application No. 38246/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2150 of 29 April 1992 entitled "Object Based Graphics Using Quadratic Polynomial Fragments"; and (vii) Australian Patent Application No. 38239/93 claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL 2149 of 29 April 1992 entitled "Bezier Spline to Quadratic Polynomial Fragment Conversion"; all lodged herewith by the present applicant, the disclosure of each of which and any corresponding European applications is hereby incorporated by cross-reference. Those specifications disclose arrangements by which real-time object based images can be created, generally using quadratic polynomial fragment (QPF) representations of objects. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown first embodiment of the present invention in the form of a presentation system 1 which includes a host processor 2 connected to a processor bus 3 via an address latch 14. Also connected to the processor bus 3 are a system ROM 4, a system RAM 5, a serial controller 6, a memory card interface socket 7, a real time object (RTO) processor 12, and a dual port RAM 8. The host processor 2 is a general purpose microprocessor which is arranged to control the generation of object based images. In the preferred embodiment, the host processor 2 is a 32 bit microprocessor such as the INTEL i960SA, which permits high speed operation at low cost and has a wide addressing range. The host processor 2 operates to create and maintain multiple object lists which are stored in the system RAM 5 and which include multiple objects which are ultimately processed the RTO processor 12 to form an image. The calculations for image generation are generally only performed at the graphic object level. For each image that is to be created, the host processor 2 specifies the position, size, and colour of each object that is to appear in the final image. The host processor 2 also interacts with the serial controller 6 to a keyboard 20 which allows the user to interface with the presentation system 1 for command and control, including the selection of graphic objects to form an image for printing. The serial controller 6 interprets keyboard commands from the keyboard 20 and forwards the keyboard commands to the host processor 2 via the processor bus 3. The host processor 2 has a 16-bit external data bus which is multiplexed with a 32 bit address bus, in addition there are 16 control signals provided by the host processor 2. The most significant 16 address bits (bits 31-16) are not multiplexed, However address bits 15-4 are demultiplexed by the address latch 14. The host processor 2 has secondary control of the processor bus 3 whilst the RTO processor 12 can obtain access to the bus via DMA whenever it requires such access, except whenever specifically locked out via software controlling the host processor 2. The address latch 14 are of a tri-stated nature and are only used when the host processor 2 has control of the bus. The address bits 3,2,1 are demultiplexed directly by the host processor 2 to avoid any latch delays during burst accesses. During bursts, the upper address bits and the latched address bits remain static while address bits 3-1 count up. Thus host processor bursts are limited to 16 bytes. These bursts can occur in several combinations of byte and half-word accesses. All address decoding is based on the upper 4 address lines (aligned to 256 Mbyte boundaries), so one host processor burst cannot span multiple devices. The multiplexed data bus of the host processor 2 is used to directly control the RTO processor 12, system RAM 5, system ROM 4, serial controller 6 and the memory card interface socket 7. Arbitration of the processor bus 3 takes place between the host processor 2 and RTO processor 12. The host processor 2 masters the bus until the RTO processor 12 is commanded (by the host processor 2) to begin operation. The RTO processor 12 then takes control of the processor bus 3 and will notify the host processor 2 when it is finished. The host processor 2 has no mechanism to stop RTO processor 12 from obtaining the processor bus 3 except by halting the RTO processor 12 from operation. The RTO processor 12 will attempt to completely prepare an object list for printing or display once started and may use the processor bus 3 continuously once it gets it (if the RTO processor 12 is rendering at the same time it may bottleneck internally and release the processor bus 3 until it is able use it again). Multiple object lists can be used to make up an image, and hence the system software could use this approach to prevent the RTO processor 12 from holding too long a mastership of the processor bus 3. The host processor 2 communicates with the various other devices of the presentation system 1 by means of memory mapped I/O. The upper 4-bits of the processor bus 3 are decoded by programmable array logfic units (PALs) (not shown) to provide all necessary enable and select signals, read and write strobes, buffer controls and the ready signal for the host processor 2. These logic units are active when the host processor 2 masters the bus and when RTO processor 12 masters the bus. The system ROM 4 preferably contains 512 kilobytes of ROM which is generally provided by a single 256K x 16 device. The system ROM 4 contains the controlling program for the presentation system 1 as well as various examples of images, fonts, clip titles, and other data used in the presentation system 1. Both the host processor 2 and RTO processor 12 can access the memory in the system ROM 4 and single and burst accesses are supported. Preferably, the system ROM 4 is wired so that larger ROMs can be used when they become readily available. The system RAM 5 preferably contains 256K bytes of RAM which consists of two 128K x 8 devices. The system RAM 5 is used by the host processor 2 for the caching of graphics objects including QPF lists, the caching of performance critical code, and as a variable storage. Single and burst accesses are supported, as are byte writes. Preferably, the system RAM 5 is also wired so that larger RAMs can be used when they become readily available. The memory card interface socket 7 provided for the insertion of standardized memory cards. Typically, these sockets are adapted to take cards conforming to both the JEIDA and PCMIA standards. JEIDA (Japanese Electronics Industry Development Association) and PCMCIA (PC Memory Card International Organization) have released substantially identical standards for the use of 68 pin interchangeable memory cards. Each memory card 15 may be typically be used as ROM devices incorporating object graphic data, but can also be either flash EPROM or static Ram with battery backup. Each memory card 15 is used to store libraries of graphics objects, object edit lists, clip titles, fonts, characters, animation sequences and/or special programs which can be used to replace or supplement all or part of the programs within system ROM 4. Where static RAM cards are used, then these can also be used for storage of a user's images for later use. Preferably the memory card interface socket 7 is capable of accommodating cards with increased storage capabilities as they become available. The memory card bus 9 to the memory cards is preferably buffered by a bidirectional buffer 10 from all other devices accessing the processor bus 3. This is to ensure that the memory cards 15 do not interfere with the logic levels of the processor bus 3 at any stage. Since a memory card 15 can be inserted or removed by the user at any time, some bus problems may be unavoidable. Short pins in the memory card interface socket 7 can be used to provide interrupts a short time before the card is removed. If the RTO processor 12 is mastering the processor bus 3 when a card is removed, the recovery time for the host processor 2 software will be reduced by the maximum bus tenure of the RTO processor 12. The memory card interface socket 7 is provided with short card detect pins which generate insertion and removal interrupts for the indication of the presence or otherwise of a memory card 15. The signals are sent to the serial controller 6 where they can be used for detection of removal, insertion of crooked memory cards. Detected memory card signal can then be relayed to the host processor 2 through a general interrupt. This allows notification of a software event to update the current state of the host processor 2 to take account of the removal. In order to determine the nature of the memory card 15 inserted, an optional attribute memory may be read from the memory card 15. This attribute memory is only 8 bits wide and is read on the low data bus and is accessed at the predetermined memory address of the memory card. This allows the presentation system 1 to be used in conjunction with memory cards of different attributes and speeds. Preferably system software is provided to interrogate the memory cards and decide based on their speed and optional attribute memory, how the RTO processor 12 and the host processor 2 will best be able to safely access the memory cards. Where SRAM type memory card devices with battery backups are supported, the memory card sockets 7 is provided with battery condition signals that are connect to the serial controller 6 and indicate whether the battery is good or bad. The serial controller 6 is preferably implemented by a Exar 82C684 Quart device which includes four, full duplex, asynchronous serial channels, two timers and sixteen general purpose input and output ports. The connection of the serial controller 6 to processor bus 3 is only 8 bits wide so all accesses only exist on the lower (even) byte of the processor bus 3. A first serial communications link 21 of the serial controller 6 is used to communicate with an output device such as a Canon CLC 500 colour laser copier 24 to control the copying device and receive status information. A second serial communications link 22 is used as an RS232 interface which provides a means to interrogate and control the host processor 2 when performing servicing or updating system control software. A third serial communications link 23 is used to communicate with a keyboard 20 for the interactive entry of user requests, commands, selections and information. Additionally the serial controller 6 is also used for timer events, serial communication, special keyboard keys, and memory card insertion and removals which can be communicated to the host processor 2 through an interrupt. The RTO processor 12 is setup and controlled by the host processor 2 for the real-time rendering of object based graphic image and a full description of a specific example of the RTO processor 12 can be found in Australian Patent Application 38244/93, claiming priority from Australian Patent Application No. PL2147 of 29 April 1992 by the same applicant, the disclosure of which has been previously incorporated by cross-reference. The RTO processor 12, apart from interfacing with the processor bus 3, also interfaces with its own dedicated QPF memory 16, which is implemented as 512k bytes of 25ns local QPF memory (four 128K x 8 rams). These rams are always enabled, and RTO processor 12 drives the read and write strobes directly. Once setup and started, the RTO processor 12 reads lists of objects from system ROM 4, system RAM 5, or the memory cards into its own local memory, prepares the objects, and then renders the objects, outputing an 8 bit data word an RTO processor level output bus 17, for each pixel of the output device, which describes the level and effects desired for the highest visible object active at the pixel. Preferably, the display lists include object outline data which permit the calculation of graphic images in real time. An example of such data is quadratic polynomial fragments which are normally cached in the system RAM 5, but may be read directly from the system ROM 4 or from memory card 15. After reading the display list in the form of QPF's, the RTO processor 12 scales and translates the QPF objects in each of the X and Y directions. This allows the implementation of squash and stretch effects, as well as the compensation for different pixel aspect ratios found on different output devices. Next, QPF's which have been translated or scaled entirely off the screen are removed from the object list by culling. QPF's which are too small to be visible, are also culled. QPF's which cross the boundaries of the output device are also clipped. After initial processing, the QPF's are stored in the dedicated QPF memory 16. Once all the QPF's are stored in the dedicated QPF memory 16, they are sorted into line order and then pixel order in terms of the position of each of the first pixel in each QPF. Subsequently, the intersections of all QPF's with scan lines that they cross are calculated. This is performed in real-time without the use of a frame store. QPF's are not flattened into straight lines before intersection calculation, and accordingly curvature is preserved in the curves even at high magnification. After intersection calculation, the visible ordering of objects is determined and hidden surfaces are removed. Regions of colour are then filled by extending the priority levels for each QPF until the next intersection. Transparency and effect calculations are then performed in hardware and at real-time data rates. In this manner, the RTO processor 12 outputs pixel data for display on raster displays or printing on a copier device in a synchronous manner and comprises colour level data transferred via the level output bus 17. When the RTO processor 12 is a slave to the host processor 2, the host processor 2 is able to read the control registers of the RTO processor 12 in addition to reading the dedicated QPF memory 16. Access to control registers of the RTO processor 12 is performed by memory mapped I/O techniques. The base address for accessing the dedicated QPF memory 16 is programmed into the RTO processor 12 registers at start-up and is also set according to the host processor memory map table. The RTO processor 12 does not support burst access or byte writes to its registers or dedicated QPF memory 16. When the RTO processor 12 is in control of the processor bus 3, the RTO processor 12 drives the demultiplexed address and data buses directly. As mentioned previously it requests use of the processor bus 3 by notification and subsequent grant from the host processor 2. The RTO processor 12 has an interrupt output signal which is connected to the host processor 2 and forms the highest priority interrupt (INT0) of that device. This interrupt can be used to indicate many events including completion of operations and internal error events. The 8-bit contents of the RTO processor output level bus 17 is used to form the address of a dual port RAM 8 which is used as a colour palette between the RTO processor 12 and a colour copier 24 such as a Canon CLC 500. Preferably, the dual port RAM 8 is divided into a number of separate palette areas, with a separate palette area being chosen after a predetermined number of lines have been printed by the copier 24. The copier 24 operates by means of a four pass process. The four colour passes include Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK). Hence swapping of palette areas can be timed to occur at the completion of each colour pass of the copier 24. One port of the dual port RAM 8 outputs the colour selected by the RTO processor 12 to a copier interface buffer 25. The copier interface buffer 25 outputs the current pixel colour in addition to pixel clocking information, copier enablement signals and line enable signals obtained from a timing bus 26 output from the RTO processor 12, by way of RS422 output drivers, to the copier 24 according to its specific timing requirements. Where the copier 24 is a CLC 500, the buffers 25 output to an IPU port of that copier. The other port of the dual port RAM 8 is connected to the processor bus 3. This port is readable and writable and permits burst accesses by the host processor 2 which can be used by the host processor 2 to alter the colour palette area by software control. Hence the colour palettes can by changed at any time by the host processor 2 including between the time that the copier 24 is engaged in a colour pass or even when the copier 24 is engaged in a current colour pass. The RTO processor output level bus 17 is also fed to a video processing unit 27 which contains a video synchronisation unit, preferably implemented by a 74ACT715 Video Synchronization Generator which is a programmable video synchronization generator, capable of producing a wide range of different sync waveforms and timings. The host processor 2, acting under software control, is designed to program the video synchronisation unit at start-up by the processor bus 3, so as to output the correct synchronisation timings and interlace factors as required by the particular video device, such as video TFT LCD display 28. The interlace factor is also forward to the RTO processor 12. The video processing unit 27 also contains a RamDac device which is preferably implemented by a Bipolar Technologies, BT478 RamDac device, which is software programmable to contain a palette of 256 colours. The RamDac can be software programmed by the host processor 2 at start-up or during operation. In addition to the colour palette, the RamDac has a single overlay pattern available which can be preprogrammed by the host processor 2 so that when the RTO processor 12 is being used to print an image on the copier 24, the video TFT LCD display 28 can be colour blanked. The RamDac of the video processing unit 27 reads in the current value of the RTO processor output level bus 17 and uses this to determine which of 256 output colours to output to the video TFT LCD display 28. Output is in an RGB analog output format in addition to vertical and horizontal synchronization information and backlight brightness control information. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention particular to specific output devices. Use of other types of output devices and other modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without parting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A graphics system (1) for generating and outputting pixel data for an image without a frame rendering memory, the system comprising an input (3,7) for object-based image data, and real-time image processing means (12) for selecting object-based image data and for rendering the object-based image data using object outline data to calculate outline intersections with scan lines to produce the pixel data without the use of a frame rendering memory; characterised in that : host processor means (2) is provided to process user-input signals to select and edit the object-based image data to create edited object-based image data; the real-time image processing means (12) is arranged to render the edited object-based image data using object outline data to calculate outline intersections with scan lines to produce the pixel data without the use of a frame rendering memory; means (2, 12, 27) for generating timing signals for an image generating device (24, 28) is provided; and the system is arranged to render the edited object-based image data to produce and output the pixel data one pixel at a time together with the timing signals to enable generation of an image by the image generating device. A graphics system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a colour transformation means (8) connected to said real-time image processor means (12) and arranged to receive rendered pixel data one pixel at a time and to generate an image signal therefrom for transmission to the image generating device. A graphics system as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that said colour transformation means (8) includes separate colour transformation means for each colour component of said image signal. A graphics system as claimed in claim 3 characterised in that said host processor (2) connects and is arranged to supply colour control information to said colour transformation means (8), said colour transformation means (8) being arranged to use said colour control information to modify said rendered pixel data to form said image signal. A graphics system as claimed in claim 3 or 4 characterised in that said colour transformation means (8) includes a memory device (8) having a plurality of colour storage areas for storing said colour control information. A graphics system as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that said memory device (8) comprises a dual-ported memory device (8) with one port connected to said host processor (2), and wherein said host processor (2) is operable to alter said colour control information in the colour storage areas. A graphics system as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said pixel data comprises only a portion of the image which is to be generated by said image generating device. A graphics system as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said input (3,7) includes means (7) adapted to receive detachable memory storage devices (15) containing object-based image data. A graphics system as claimed in claim 8 characterised in that said detachable memory storage devices (15) are in the form of non-volatile memory cards. A graphics system as claimed in claim 8 or 9 characterised in that said input (3, 7) includes means (7) adapted to receive detachable memory storage devices (15) containing control information for use in controlling the operation of said graphics system (1). A graphics system as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10 characterised in that said input (7) further comprises detection means for determination of the presence or absence of a said detachable memory storage device (15). A graphics system as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said image generating device comprises a display device (28). A graphics system as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that at least said edited object-based image data is based on quadratic polynomial fragments. A method of generating and outputting pixel data for an image without a frame rendering memory in an object-based graphics system (1), the method comprising the steps of: receiving object-based image data from a data source; and selecting the object-based image data and rendering the selected object-based image data using object outline data to calculate outline intersections with scan lines to produce and output the pixel data without the user of a frame rendering memory; characterised in that : the received object-based image data is selected and edited to create edited object-based image data; in the rendering step, the edited object-based image data is rendered using object outline data to calculate outline intersections with scan lines to produce and output the pixel data without the use of a frame rendering memory; timing signals for an image generating device (24, 28) are generated; and the pixel data is output one pixel at a time and the timing signals are output to enable generation of an image by the image generating device. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said rendering includes determining object viewing priorities and assigning pixel colours according to the corresponding object viewing priorities. A method as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, characterised in that at least said edited object-based image data is based on quadratic polynomial fragments, and said rendering comprises calculating said outline intersections for said quadratic polynomial fragments. A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the step of assigning a colour comprises assigning a colour for each colour component of an image signal. A method as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that said selecting and editing also includes supplying colour control information used for said assigning. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18, characterised in that the step of receiving said object-based image data includes receiving object-based image data from at least one detachable portable memory storage device. A method as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that said at least one detachable portable memory storage device is in the form of a non-volatile memory card. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 20, characterised in that said selecting and editing is controlled in dependence upon control information input from at least one detachable portable memory storage device. A method as claimed in any of claims 19 to 21, further comprising the step of determining the presence or absence of at least one detachable portable memory storage device. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 22, characterised in that said image generating device is a display device (28). A computer program product comprising instructions for causing a programmable processing apparatus to become configured as an apparatus operable to perform a method as set out in claim 14. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the instructions comprise instructions for causing the programmable processing apparatus to become operable to perform a method as set out in at least one of claims 15 to 23.

Inventors: SILVERBROOK KIA, SILVERBROOK, KIA, Silverbrook, Kia, c/o Canon Info. Systems Res.
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G06T1
IPC codes: G06T17, H04N1