Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a computer image generator for providing translucency in the scene content of a video processed image as displayed on a cathode ray tube through subpixel processing. The method and apparatus considers the occulting problem of translucent surfaces in a typical computer image generated display. The apparatus and method thereof for processing a translucent object represented by a polygon surface utilizes creation of an array of flag bits per pixel representing a visible bed-of-nails of each polygon surface each of which has its own translucency factor. Each of the surface flag bit signals are processed to provide a logical union between the array of flag bits representing the translucent bed-of-nails of the visible portion of the surface and the array of flag bits stored in the bed-of-nails memory. The final resultant pixel display will be thus representative of the translucency intensities of the various surfaces processed.

Abstract: A computer-generated image system that is described in the Disclosure has a videoprocessor circuit with an integrator circuit to assign a predetermined identification to each edge of each face of any image that is to be displayed. Also, it has a "skip-over logic" circuit to identify any area in the face of any image to be displayed that requires no further intensity modification.Perhaps a key to the success of this arrangement in accordance with the described invention is its provision of a signal modifier circuit to apply a pre-determined intensity modification factor to any area not identified by the skip-over logic circuit. By this arrangement, any area that is to be displayed behind a translucent area will be visible although at a reduced intensity.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for texture generation for a digital image generator of an aircraft flight simulator is disclosed in which (a selected two of the three) coordinates of each pixel of an image are inverse transformed to earth coordinates (112-124, in FIG. 11) from which addresses are developed (126, 128 and 130) for accessing a texture table (132 and 134) to retrieve elements from which an appropriate pixel intensity is developed (140). The table stores near (132) and far (134) texture, the far texture elements being interpolated to avoid a checkerboard effect, stores a limited number of texture types, the elements of selected texture types being combined (132 and 134) to develop additional texture types, and stores levels of detail (degrees of filtering) the appropriate levels being accessed (126) to avoid aliasing (scintillation of a scene), adjacent levels being mixed (136 and 138) to provide smooth detail level transition.

Abstract: A digital image generator (DIG) that realizes a modular architecture. The DIG employes a geometric processor that processes a plurality of prioritized faces which comprise an image to be displayed. The faces, in turn, comprise a plurality of picture elements (pixels) which are processed according to whether a skip over logic device determines that the pixels are visible and not occulted. Pixels that are in fact visible are processed, in part, by a Bed of Nails (BON) device-spatial filter device combination. This combination provides quantization of a visible pixel at a subpixel resolution level. Pixels that have been so processed are stored in a frame buffer memory for input to a display.