Abstract: A parallel polygon/pixel rendering engine for a digital map capable of producing real-time linear shaded, three dimensional, raster graphics for video generation. The apparatus is suitable for use with avionic display systems, particularly digital map displays which include an instruction and interpreter unit and an image scanner. The apparatus comprises a raster engine, a memory interface and a bit mapped memory. The raster engine further includes a raster engine control and generic interpolation polygon processor interface, an edge interpolator, a line interpolator and a controller for the edge and line interpolators. The raster engine control is electrically connected to receive data from the instruction interface unit and is further electrically connected to the edge interpolator and interpolator controller. The edge interpolator is adapted to receive data from the raster engine control and the line interpolator is electrically connected to receive data from the edge interpolator.

Abstract: A polygon tiling engine for use in a computer graphics display system. The computer graphics display system includes a high speed processor which provides lines of vertices, object type codes and START and STOP points for the vertex lines. The system further includes a VME bus. An improved apparatus for polygon tiling comprises apparatus for receiving the START and STOP points, instruction register apparatus coupled to the high speed processor for receiving instruction codes, object storing apparatus, a state machine for controlling the polygon tiling apparatus, a polygon address generating machine, a user defined object memory, a multiplexer and a triple buffered memory. Information is sent from the high speed processor to the tripled buffered memory, instruction registers and START and STOP registers. The information is processed into polygon addresses by the polygon generating apparatus. The polygon tiling apparatus is capable of tiling terrain data, multivertex polygons and user defined objects.

Abstract: A polygon sort engine including first and second apparatus for sorting. The first apparatus for sorting receives planar, externally convex polygon vertices from an external polygon tiling engine. This includes points and lines. The state machine on the second apparatus for sorting interfaces with the polygon tiling engine and a raster engine in a graphics pipeline. It provides a control signal which determines when the first apparatus for sorting will receive the next polygon. The second sorting appartus also controls whether the polygon is stored in the PING or PONG memory. For example, as the state machine is controlling the sorting of the current polygon into the PING RAM, the state machine will also be controlling the loading of the previous vertices and the PONG RAM into the raster engine.

Abstract: A bus interface controller for use in a digital information system. The bus interface comprises more than four bi-directional data channels which are multiplexed so as to accomplish switching of data from any channel to any or all of the remaining channels. The device is preferably embedded in a substate comprising gallium arsenide material and operates at a frequency of at least 25 MHz.

Abstract: A memory interface controller apparatus for use in a digital system, such as a graphics display system. The apparatus comprises apparatus for receiving incoming pixel data and apparatus for detecting pixel address collision. In an alternate embodiment, apparatus for performing hidden surface removal on the incoming pixel data is included. The memory interface controller apparatus further may include apparatus for construction of images with transparent objects.

Abstract: A pivoting cup holder for supporting a beverage container in a vehicle. The cup holder comprises a flat movable drawer which can slide into and out of a retainer set into or below the dashboard or an armrest of an automobile. A semicircular indentation is formed in each side of the drawer. Pivotally mounted to the drawer are a pair of cup rings, each of which is formed with a curved edge complementary to the semicircular indentation. The cup rings are spring-loaded to rotate horizontally to a use position when the drawer is pulled outwardly of the retainer. In the use position the cup rings cooperate with the semicircular indentation to form complete circular retainers for supporting the side wall of a beverage container. The cup holder further comprises a spring loaded bail and cup support which, when the drawer is opened, vertically pivot to a position centered below the circular retainers to brace the bottom surface of the beverage container.