A television-based computer display system is described which uses a minicomputer to calculate scan lines of the display image.A display resolution of 512 lines by 512 positions is achieved with each position definable with 15 bits of color information (over 32,000 colors).The scan conversion process incorporates hidden surface removal, calculation of intersections, surface shading and, optionally, perspective. Object description must be by polygonal planar surfaces; the surfaces can have a solid color and are considered opaque.Object complexity is limited only by main storage size.The design criteria which motivated the system architecture are discussed along with pertinent details on the particular implementation.The system described effectively mates minicomputer technology with that of the television industry to produce an economical, fast turnaround, color display system for 2-D and 3-D computer graphics.This system relies upon a special scan-line generator and upon a skillful hardware/software trade-off to achieve an economical and realistic color display device.Performance data and examples of display objects are given.
Details are given on the architectural design of a computer currently under construction which has been optimized for display processing and display generation.The design takes full advantage of evolving trends in ECL medium and large scale integrated circuits.
A detailed study of the basic operations of scan graphics processes led to the design of this generalpurpose exl~ndable processor. Full advantage is taken of evolving trends in ECL technology and large-scale integrated circuits. The design allocates hardwired instructions to critical display functions and provides general-purpose flexibility in externally microprogrammable asynchronous processors.The machine uses instruction set partitioning and is optimized to execute relatively short programs operating on large data bases. The processor is thus not limited to display generation but is rather well suited for other real-time tasks, particularly those operating with autonomous processors which can be added as external devices.
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