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22 views4 pages

Raster 1

Uploaded by

shk7676246389
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Raster-Scan Systems

Raster-graphics systems are essential for creating and displaying images on screens. These
systems involve multiple processing units working together. The central processing unit
(CPU) gets help from a special processor called the video controller or display controller,
which manages the display device and keeps the screen updated by accessing the frame
buffer.

Video Controller

In a typical raster system, a portion of the system memory is set aside for the frame buffer.
The video controller can access this memory directly. Screen positions and frame-buffer
locations are organized using Cartesian coordinates. Application programs use graphics
software to set the positions of displayed objects based on this coordinate system.
The origin of the coordinate system is usually at the lower-left corner of the screen, but it can
be placed anywhere that's convenient. The screen surface represents the first quadrant of a
two-dimensional system: positive x values go from left to right, and positive y values go from
bottom to top. Pixel positions are given integer x values (from 0 to the maximum width) and
y values (from 0 to the maximum height).
Refresh Operations
To keep the screen image stable, the video controller constantly refreshes the display. It starts
at the top-left corner of the screen, setting the x register to 0 and the y register to the top scan
line value. It retrieves the pixel value from the frame buffer and sets the CRT beam's
intensity. Then, it moves one pixel to the right (incrementing the x register) and repeats the
process across the top scan line.
After finishing the top line, the x register resets to 0, and the y register moves down to the
next scan line. This process continues for each scan line until the bottom of the screen. Then,
the video controller resets to the top and starts over. To keep up with the necessary refresh
rate of at least 60 frames per second, the video controller can handle multiple pixel values at
once, speeding up the process.

Advanced Video Controller Functions


Video controllers are capable of more than just refreshing the screen; they can also manage
multiple frame buffers, allowing one to refresh while another loads new pixel values. This
capability is particularly useful for animations, as different frames can load without
interrupting the refresh cycle. Additionally, video controllers can perform pixel
transformations, resizing or moving screen areas during the refresh. They often use lookup
tables to quickly change screen intensity values based on frame buffer data. Furthermore,
some systems have the ability to mix the frame-buffer image with an input from a camera or
another source.
Raster-Scan Display Processor
A raster system might also include a separate display processor (or graphics controller) to
handle graphics tasks, freeing up the CPU. The display processor digitizes picture definitions
from application programs into pixel values stored in the frame buffer, a process known as
scan conversion.

Scan Conversion
Scan conversion translates geometric shapes, like lines, into pixel positions in the frame
buffer. For example, to convert a line, the system finds the closest pixel positions along the
line's path and stores the color for each position in the frame buffer. Characters can be
defined using rectangular grids or outlines, which are then converted into pixels in the frame
buffer.

Additional Display Processor Functions


Display processors can generate line styles, creating dashed, dotted, or solid lines. They can
display color areas by filling regions with color and apply transformations to objects in a
scene. Additionally, display processors can interface with input devices, such as a mouse, to
facilitate interactive input.

Memory Optimization Techniques


To save memory, frame buffers can be organized using linked lists and color information
encoded efficiently. One method, run-length encoding, stores each scan line as pairs of
numbers: one for color and one for the number of adjacent pixels in that color. This works
well for images with long runs of a single color. Another method, cell encoding, uses
rectangular areas.
These methods can be tricky when recording color changes and may increase storage needs
with shorter runs. Although memory costs have dropped, making frame buffer size less of an
issue, encoding is still useful for storing and transmitting digital images.
Understanding these components and processes reveals the complexity and efficiency of
modern raster-graphics systems. They are crucial for delivering the smooth, vibrant visuals
we see on screens today.

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