J. Robert Flexer
Gio Wiederhold
ABSTRACT
Graphics and imaging are important in scientific, academic and industrial environments. In the past graphics systems have been used with large computers and were only available to a minority of users. The relatively small and specialized use of graphics has inhibited sharing of software and prevented standardization necessary for widespread use. Dense semiconductor memory has recently become easily available in large quantities and makes high resolution graphics and imaging systems feasible. The concepts leading to the design of the present system come from the need to provide a large number of graphic and imaging functions, in a compact form, to a commonly used microprocessor bus. Three fundamental functions are implemented: a video frame digitizer, an image memory, and an output video generator. Video images can be digitized in one frame time with a precision of 1, 2 or 4 bits per pixel. The video generator can display the images in gray levels or in color. The software selectable system parameters include a variety of image formats, video output controls, digitization commands, addressing modes, vertical image offset, and lightpen controls. A novel contouring digitization mode is useful to reduce images obtained in gray scale to outline form. Such real-time preprocessing reduces memory and bandwidth requirements. Photographic illustrations demonstrate various operating modes.
- 1.Alan Kay: A Personal Computer for Children of All Ages, Proceedings of the 1972 ACM Conference, August 1972, Boston.Google Scholar
- 2.Warren A. Teitelman: A Display Oriented Programmers Assistant, XEROX Palo Alto Research Center report CSC-77-03.Google Scholar
- 3.H.S. McDonald, W.H. Nink, D.R. Welle: A Direct View CRT Console for Remote Computing, Digest of Technical Papers, 1967 International Solid State Circuits Conference, Vol. 10, pp. 68-69.Google Scholar
- 4.G. J. Agin: An Experimental Vision System for Industrial Applications, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Industrial Robots, Soc. of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, Mich. 1975, pp. 135-148.Google Scholar
- 5.Tom McWilliams: SCALD, Structured Computer-Aided Logic Design, Stanford University CSD report 78-665, May 1978. Google ScholarDigital Library
- 6.M.L. Dertouzos: Character Generation from Resistive Storage of Time Derivatives, Proceedings of the 1969 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 35, pp. 561-568.Google Scholar
- 7.Ivan C. Sutherland: SKETCHPAD: A Man-Machine Graphical Communication System, MIT Lincoln Laboratory TR 296, May 1965.Google Scholar
- 8.W.J. Sanders, G. Breitbard, D. Cummins, R.F. Flexer, K. Holtz, J. Miller, and Gio Wiederhold: An Advanced Computer for Medical Research, Proceedings of the 1967 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 31, pp. 497-509.Google Scholar
- 9.Gio Wiederhold: Setting Up a General Purpose Data-Acquisition System, Proceedings of the IBM Symposium on Computers in Chemistry, IBM DPD 1967, pp. 249-264.Google Scholar
- 10.C.M. Theiss: Computer Graphics Displays of Simulated Automobile Dynamics, Proceedings of the 1969 SJCC, AFIPS Vol. 34.Google Scholar
- 11.Robert L. Beckermeyer: Interactive Graphics Consoles, Environment and Software, Proceedings of the 1970 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 37, pp. 315-323.Google Scholar
- 12.C. Levinthal: Molecular Model Building by Computer, Scientific American, Vol. 214, 1966, pp. 42 ev.Google ScholarCross Ref
- 13.A.M. Tometsko: Computer Approaches to Protein Structure, Viewing Models of Proteins from the Inside, Computers and Biomedical Research, Vol. 5, No. 5, 1972, pp. 460-472.Google ScholarCross Ref
- 14.Ronald R. Resch: The Topological Design of Sculptural and Architectural Systems, Proceedings of the 1973 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 42, pp. 643-650.Google Scholar
- 15.Mitch Model: Monitoring of Programming Systems, Stanford University CSD, Ph.D. Thesis.Google Scholar
- 16.D.L. Vickers: The Sorcerers Apprentice: Head Mounted Display and Wand, Utah Univ. CSD report UTEC CSC 74-078, 1974.Google Scholar
- 17.W.M. Newman and R.F. Sproull: Principles of Interactive Computer Graphics, McGraw-Hill 1973. Google ScholarDigital Library
- 18.R. Narasimhan: Syntax Directed Interpretation of Classes of Pictures, Comm. of the ACM, Vol. 9, March 1966, pp. 166-173. Google ScholarDigital Library
- 19.Ronald R. Morrison: Graphic Language Translations with a Language Independent Processor, Proc. 1967 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 31, pp. 723-731Google Scholar
- 20.Pierre J. Lebeux: Frame Selection Systems and Languages for Medical Applications, Univ. of Calif., San Francisco, Lab. for Medical Information Science Tech. Report 7, 1974.Google Scholar
- 21.D. Norwood: Introduction of a User-Oriented Total Hospital System into a Community Hospital, Introduction and System Description, Proceedings of MediInfo 1974, IFIP, pp. 295-298.Google Scholar
Index Terms
- A building block approach to color graphics
Recommendations
A building block approach to color graphics
Graphics and imaging are important in scientific, academic and industrial environments. In the past graphics systems have been used with large computers and were only available to a minority of users. The relatively small and specialized use of graphics ...
Raster graphics for interactive programming environments
Raster-scan display terminals can significantly improve the quality of interaction with conventional computer systems. The design of a graphics package to provide a “window” into the extensive programming environment of interlisp is presented. Two ...
Raster graphics for interactive programming environments
SIGGRAPH '79: Proceedings of the 6th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniquesRaster-scan display terminals can significantly improve the quality of interaction with conventional computer systems. The design of a graphics package to provide a “window” into the extensive programming environment of interlisp is presented. Two ...
Comments