Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying radar data on a display monitor, wherein the monitor is divided into octants, and wherein the radar data defines a pie-shaped slice to be displayed within an octant on the monitor. The radar data has a center point which is defined as a point on an x-y plane, a radius r which is a defined as a number of displacement units in length extending radially from the center point, a starting angle .theta., a delta angle .differential..theta., radial displacement data which defines the color of groups of displacement units along the radius r for the slice, and a quantity Q which is the number of groups of radial displacement data within said radar data. The radar data is received by a data processing system and stored in memory. The video display monitor is updated by a screen refresh memory controlled by a graphics accelerator.

Abstract: Surface fill using Bresenhem algorithm concepts can be adapted to handle the hidden surface and shading functions required in solids modelling. A first plurality of vector generators provides the surface fill function, a second plurality of vector generators provides the hidden surface function, and a third plurality of vector generators provides the shading function. All three pluralities of vector generators can be run in unison to increase the speed at which images of solids can be generated by a factor of 1000.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing communication between a plurality of processors which communicate with one another over a system bus wherein sending processors seek to transfer information to target processors. Means are provided for each processor to store information to be transferred, for receiving a request signal from a sending processor, and for receiving an acknowledgment signal from a target processor, wherein the sending processor provides a request signal to the target processor, with the target processor thereafter accessing the contents of the storing means of the sending processor. Upon completion of retrieval by the target processor of information from the storing means, the target processor writes an acknowledgment signal into the means for receiving an acknowledgment signal associated with the sending processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for writing a vector of data into a random access memory at high speed wherein the random access memory (RAM) is partitioned into blocks of addressable storage sites and wherein storage sites within each block are individually accessible. A vector generator provides addressing and storage site enabling signals to the RAM. Boundary detectors monitor the addressing and storage site selection signals to determine whenever storage sites within a new block of storage sites are sought to be addressed. When a boundary transition is detected, a control signal is provided to the vector generator which slows the operation of the vector generator for a period of time sufficient to permit the RAM to accept a new address. For all other addresses, the vector generator is permitted to operate at a higher speed wherein access to the RAM is made by way of enabling specific storage sites within the block of storage sites being written into.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for writing a vector of data into a random access memory at high speed wherein the random access memory (RAM) is partitioned into blocks of addressable storage sites and wherein storage sites within each block are individually accessible. A vector generator provides addressing and storage site enabling signals to the RAM. Boundary detectors monitor the addressing and storage site selection signals to determine whenever storage sites within a new block of storage sites are sought to be addressed. When a boundary transition is detected, a control signal is provided to the vector generator which slows the operation of the vector generator for a period of time sufficient to permit the RAM to accept a new address. For all other addresses, the vector generator is permitted to operate at a higher speed wherein access to the RAM is made by way of enabling specific storage sites within the block of storage sites being written into.

Abstract: A color printer includes a print head assembly including a plurality of independently actuable print heads serially arranged along a printing direction. Each print head includes a plurality of impact pins and an associated different color printing ribbon having a portion disposed between the associated print head and a media to be printed upon. The serial alignment of the print heads enables four color images to be produced by a single pass of the print head assembly along the media in a printing direction. Control apparatus includes pulse modulation circuitry for controlling the impact force of each impact pin to cause intensity modulation of printed colored marks. In addition, a feedback system enables the control apparatus to vary the impact force of each impact pin to maintain good color fidelity.

Abstract: A color printer includes a print head assembly including a plurality of independently actuable print heads serially arranged along a printing direction. Each print head includes a plurality of impact pins and an associated different color printing ribbon having a portion disposed between the associated print head and a media to be printed upon. The serial alignment of the print heads enables four color images to be produced by a single pass of the print head assembly along the media in a printing direction. Control apparatus includes pulse modulation circuitry for controlling the impact force of each impact pin to cause intensity modulation of printed colored marks. In addition, a feedback system enables the control apparatus to vary the impact force of each impact pin to maintain good color fidelity.

Abstract: An arcade amusement gun of the type which pneumatically shoots a rubber ball toward a hollow target with each pull of the trigger is gated by a master control so that its firing rate is the same as the other arcade amusement guns in a grouping of such guns.

Abstract: An arcade amusement gun for pneumatically shooting rubber balls toward a hollow target from which the balls are automatically returned to the gun, including apparatus for automatically loading one ball at a time from beneath the gun into the gun breech and apparatus for artificially producing a recoil of the gun upon the firing of each ball.