Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a compressed representation of a two-dimensional image where the image is described as a sequence of pixels in raster order. The method includes receiving the two-dimensional image as a sequence of pixels in raster order. For each pixel, the system determines whether the pixel is part of a first string of pixels that is identical to a second string of pixels found previously in the image at one of a plurality of preselected fixed distances from the first string of pixels. If so, the first string of pixels is encoded as a string token that is a reference to the second string of pixels. Otherwise, the pixel is encoded as a non-string token.

Abstract: Sets of pixel data defining parts of rasterized portions of an image are received. At least one of the parts of one of the rasterized portions of the image overlaps another part of that portion of the image. The pixel data that defines the overlapping part includes mask data that identifies pixels of the overlapping part that are to be included in the image. The sets of pixel data are decompressed. The decompressed data are used to generate a series of the rasterized portions of the image including the pixels identified in the mask data. While each of the rasterized portions of the image is being used by a print engine, another of the rasterized portions of the series is being generated.

Abstract: Sets of pixel data defining parts of rasterized portions of an image are received. At least one of the parts of one of the rasterized portions of the image overlaps another part of that portion of the image. The pixel data that defines the overlapping part includes mask data that identifies pixels of the overlapping part that are to be included in the image. The sets of pixel data are decompressed. The decompressed data are used to generate a series of the rasterized portions of the image including the pixels identified in the mask data. While each of the rasterized portions of the image is being used by a print engine, another of the rasterized portions of the series is being generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a compressed representation of a two-dimensional image where the image is described as a sequence of pixels in raster order. The method includes receiving the two-dimensional image as a sequence of pixels in raster order. For each pixel, the system determines whether the pixel is part of a first string of pixels that is identical to a second string of pixels found previously in the image at one of a plurality of preselected fixed distances from the first string of pixels. If so, the first string of pixels is encoded as a string token that is a reference to the second string of pixels. Otherwise, the pixel is encoded as a non-string token.

Abstract: Sets of pixel data defining parts of rasterized portions of an image are received. At least one of the parts of one of the rasterized portions of the image overlaps another part of that portion of the image. The pixel data that defines the overlapping part includes mask data that identifies pixels of the overlapping part that are to be included in the image. The sets of pixel data are decompressed. The decompressed data are used to generate a series of the rasterized portions of the image including the pixels identified in the mask data. While each of the rasterized portions of the image is being used by a print engine, another of the rasterized portions of the series is being generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a compressed representation of a two-dimensional image where the image is described as a sequence of pixels in raster order. The method includes receiving the two-dimensional image as a sequence of pixels in raster order. For each pixel, the system determines whether the pixel is part of a first string of pixels that is identical to a second string of pixels found previously in the image at one of a plurality of preselected fixed distances from the first string of pixels. If so, the first string of pixels is encoded as a string token that is a reference to the second string of pixels. Otherwise, the pixel is encoded as a non-string token.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a semi-custom integrated circuit by using a standard mask and a custom mask to select from a standardized set of features in a way that obviates the need to create a customized mask containing only the selected features, and mask sets created using such methods and apparatus. For some integrated circuit fabrication processes, the second mask has an additional purpose, so it is not created only to perform this selection function. For some fabrication processes, the selection can be achieved without use of additional processing steps.

Abstract: A rendering device for converting input information into a bit map including a Bezier subdivision processor responsive to Bezier curve information describing a Bezier curve of an image. The Bezier subdivision processor performs at least one subdivision on the Bezier curve if the Bezier curve is greater than a desired resolution of a bit map to produce subdivided Bezier curves until all subdivided Bezier curves are at about the resolution of the bit map. The Bezier subdivision processor produces cross information from each Bezier curve which makes one crossing of a grid having the resolution of the bit map. The rendering device also includes a digital processor responsive to the cross information and operative to produce a bit map of the image from the cross information.

Abstract: A memory construct including a stack which is capable of holding one or more data items of a type and which operates as a LIFO memory, and a queue which is capable of holding one or more data items of the same type until they are used. The queue operates as a FIFO memory associated with the stack so that when the stack is empty, data is read from the queue and when the stack is not empty, data is read from the stack.

Abstract: A rendering device for converting input information into a bit map including a Bezier subdivision processor responsive to Bezier curve information describing a Bezier curve of an image. The Bezier subdivision processor performs at least one subdivision on the Bezier curve if the Bezier curve is greater than a desired resolution of a bit map to produce subdivided Bezier curves until all subdivided Bezier curves are at about the resolution of the bit map. The Bezier subdivision processor produces cross information from each Bezier curve which makes one crossing of a grid having the resolution of the bit map. The rendering device also includes a digital processor responsive to the cross information and operative to produce a bit map of the image from the cross information.

Abstract: The bus of the present invention advantageously utilizes high-speed, source synchronized data transfers and lower-speed, globally synchronized transfers of arbitration and consistency information. In a first embodiment, a high speed clock signal and slower speed clock enable signal are globally distributed from a central arbiter to agents coupled to the bus. A sending agent utilizes the high speed clock signal for source synchronized data transfers by forwarding the high speed clock signal, along with the data, to one or more receiving agents. Thus, the globally distributed clock signal is used to accomplish source synchronized data transfers. Arbitration requests, by contrast, are processed at the slower clock enable signal rate in a globally synchronous fashion. In addition, by communicating data cycles information from the central arbiter to the receiving agent at the slower clock enable signal rate, the present invention avoids resynchronization and the possibility of metastability.

Abstract: Each housekeeping command calls for a corresponding combination of write back and flag reset operations. In laundering, a write back operation is performed for owner entries in a specified address set without invalidating those entries. In flushing, a launder is followed by a flag reset invalidating the entries in the address set. Also, the command indicates which of the valid flags should be reset. In demapping, only the flags making an entry inaccessible to the cache's processor are reset. The entries in the address set are selected based on two numbers which together provide a base three number. Each base three digit of this number specifies whether the corresponding real address bit of the entry will match if it is one or zero or "don't care". This permits housekeeping on any consecutive range of N addresses by specifying no more than 2 log.sub.2 N address sets which exactly cover that range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a page printing system which uses virtual (logical) memory for mapping images. Physical memory which is used for creating a page image bitmap for synthetic graphics is to be allocated as patches. A path in general corresponds to a rectangular area of a page when the page exists in bitmap form. Each patch is represented by a set of non-contiguous segments of logical memory which, when mapped to physical memory, are contiguous.

Abstract: A graphics display system is disclosed including a memory circuit for storing vector data representing a graphics image, a raster memory circuit for rasterizing the vector data into a second memory for storage, and a processor for controlling the operation of the vector memory and raster memory circuits. The raster data can be displayed on a suitable cathode ray tube monitor, thereby displaying the graphics image on the monitor.

Abstract: A graphics display system is disclosed including a memory circuit for storing vector data representing a graphics image, a raster memory circuit for rasterizing the vector data into a second memory for storage, and a processor for controlling the operation of the vector memory and raster memory circuits. The raster data can be displayed on a suitable cathode ray tube monitor, thereby displaying the graphics image on the monitor.

Abstract: A graphics display system is disclosed including a memory circuit for storing vector data representing a graphics image, a raster memory circuit for rasterizing the vector data into a second memory for storage, and a processor for controlling the operation of the vector memory and raster memory circuits. The raster data can be displayed on a suitable cathode ray tube monitor, thereby displaying the graphics image on the monitor.