Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating image data are provided. A memory and a data processor are coupled with a system bus. In certain embodiments a data expanding apparatus is also coupled to the system bus and compressed data are transferred to the data expanding apparatus via the system bus and decompressed data are transferred therefrom to the memory without passing the compressed data through the data processor. Also in certain embodiments, an image data generation command string is transferred from the memory to an image data generation device via the system bus without passing the image data generation command string through the data processor.

Abstract: A real time texture mapping method produces an image of an object having a surface that has dynamically changing texture by using image data and moving image texture pattern data. The image data is stored in a drawing area of an image memory, and the moving image texture pattern data is stored frame-by-frame in a texture area of the image memory. The moving image texture pattern data stored in the texture area is mapped a frame per vertical display period onto the surface of the object which is represented in the image data stored in the drawing area. The new two-dimensional image data having the texture pattern data mapped on the surface of the object is used as a current image frame for display. The new image data having the texture pattern data mapped on the surface of the object may be stored in the texture area of the image memory, and used as a new texture pattern to map onto a second object stored in the drawing area for a next image frame to be displayed.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for generating an image which make it possible to prepare texture images of normal brightness and to generate a texture-mapped image as an image brighter than the original texture images.In a system for mapping texture images prepared in advance onto polygonal areas obtained by a drawing process with brightness calculated for each of the polygonal areas, a brightness level lower than the maximum brightness level that can be rendered by the system is used as the maximum brightness level of the texture image prepared in advance, and the rendering of brightness during the mapping of the texture images onto the polygonal areas can be performed with brightness higher than the original brightness of the texture images.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing the speech information includes a first execution device and a second execution device for executing operations at respective different execution cycles, and a first memory unit for reading and recording the speech information. The first execution device and the second execution device exploit the first memory unit in common for processing the speech information. The processing apparatus further includes a second memory unit for storage of the speech information from the first execution means or the speech information read out from the first memory unit. The first execution device records the speech information on or reads the speech information from the second memory unit during the execution cycle of the first execution device. The second execution device accesses the first memory unit during the execution cycle of the second execution device for outputting the special information to outside.

Abstract: A data format is provided capable of assigning a desired color lookup table (CLUT) to a texture pattern of each polygon drawn on a two-dimensional display screen. Assuming that TPF represents a pixel depth of the texture pattern, when TPF is 00, 01, and 10, the format (CLUT) is applied of a 4-bit mode, an 8-bit mode, and 16-bit mode respectively, whereby its related command is decreased in word length and thus requires less storage in a source video memory.

Abstract: Drawing instructions and control instructions generated by a CPU are transferred to a drawing device sections, which generates an image by sequentially performing drawing operations in accordance with the drawing instructions and the control instructions. Each of the drawing instructions and the control instructions has a data structure consisting of a header portion and an instruction data portion. The header portion has a command identification code for indicating of what kind the instruction is. A drawing instruction sequence is formed in which the drawing instructions and the control instructions are arranged in the order of drawing and control procedures, and DMA-transferred to the drawing device section by a sorting controller. The drawing device section performs drawing and control operations in the order in the drawing instruction sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus and method which map a texture image onto a polygonal area in which the mapped image can have a dynamic brightness range greater than the dynamic brightness range of the original texture image. The brightness levels of the pixels of the texture image are ascertained and reduced, and the polygonal area onto which the texture image is mapped is shaded by multiplying the reduced brightness levels of the pixels by a shading factor, wherein a shading factor greater than 1 produces a mapped texture image which has a dynamic brightness range that is greater than the dynamic brightness range of the texture image.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating the interrupt information includes an addressing device for generating the specified address information for specifying the desired information stored in a memory device, a readout address generating device for generating the readout address information of the desired information stored in the memory device, and a comparator device for comparing the specified address information from the addressing device and the readout address information from the readout address generating device and for generating the interrupt information in case of coincidence of the specified address information and the readout address information and supplying the interrupt information to a central processing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing the speech information includes a first execution device and a second execution device for executing operations at respective different execution cycles, and a first memory unit for reading and recording the speech information. The first execution device and the second execution device exploit the first memory unit in common for processing the speech information. The processing apparatus further includes a second memory unit for storage of the speech information from the first execution device or the speech information read out from the first memory unit. The first execution device records the speech information on or reads the speech information from the second memory unit during the execution cycle of the first execution device. The second execution device accesses the first memory unit during the execution cycle of the second execution device for outputting the speech information to outside.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing data wherein control dependency on the host computer may be lower through an external control with the aid of a simpler program and wherein the data recording/reproduction may be performed efficiently without lowering the processing efficiency of the host computer. An error correction method is employed in which the error correction capability for burst errors may be improved.

Abstract: Compressed audio signal data on a CD-ROM disc at a data transfer rate higher than the standard rate. Information indicating the increased data transfer rate is recorded on the disc, and the compressed audio signal data as recorded are interleaved on the disc are interleaved in accordance with the increased data transfer rate.

Abstract: Image processing method and apparatus for producing an image from image data provides an image memory including a drawing area to store image data of an object to be drawn and a texture area to store texture data to decorate the object, a supply circuit for supplying image data to the image memory, a selector for selectively supplying the image data from the supply circuit to the drawing area and the texture area, an image synthesizing circuit for synthesizing an image from the image data stored in the image memory and an output circuit for converting an output signal from the image synthesizing circuit to a video signal for outputting the video signal. The method provides the steps of storing image data of an object to be drawn in a drawing area of an image memory, storing moving image data in a texture area of the image memory, and mapping a texture of the moving image stored in the texture area onto the surface of the object stored in the drawing area.

Abstract: A method for processing a digital signal produced by digitizing an analog signal such as a musical instrument sound signal, and an apparatus for producing sound source data. When the input signal contains a periodically repetitive wave form portion, the fundamental frequency and its high harmonic components of the input signal is extracted by a comb filter prior to signal processing which takes advantage of the periodicity of the input signal. The fundamental frequency or pitch is detected by performing Fourier transform to produce frequency components, phase matching these frequency components and performing inverse Fourier transform. When extracting a repetitive waveform portion or so-called looping domain, such looping domain having the highest similarity in waveform in the vicinity of both ends of the domain is selected.

Abstract: A method for processing a digital signal produced by digitizing an analog signal such as a musical instrument sound signal, and an apparatus for producing sound source data. When the input signal contains a periodically repetitive waveform portion, the fundamental frequency and its high harmonic components of the input signal is extracted by a comb filter prior to signal processing which takes advantage of the periodicity of the input signal. The fundamental frequency or pitch is detected by performing Fourier transform to produce frequency components, phase matching these frequency components and performing inverse Fourier transform. When extracting a repetitive waveform portion or so-called looping domain, such looping domain having the highest similarity in waveform in the vicinity of both ends of the domain is selected.

Abstract: Compressed audio signal data are recorded on a CD-ROM disc at a data transfer rate higher than the standard rate. Information indicating the increased data transfer rate is recorded on the disc, and the compressed audio signal data as recorded are interleaved on the disc in accordance with; the increased data transfer rate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing data wherein control dependency on the host computer may be lower through an external control with the aid of a simpler program and wherein the data recording/reproduction may be performed efficiently without lowering the processing efficiency of the host computer. An error correction method is employed in which the error correction capability for burst errors may be improved.

Abstract: A digital audio signal generating apparatus suitable for the application to electronic musical instruments, sound effect generators for amusement machines and the like. This digital audio signal generating apparatus has a signal processing section and a memory used to perform a speech synthesis, wherein the signal processing section utilizes a vacant area of the memory to perform a delay processing to add a reverberation sound. Thus, the number of required memories can be reduced and the arrangement of the apparatus can be simplified.

Abstract: An apparatus for looping or data-compressing sampled waveform data digitized from musical sound signals (or the like) to produce sound source data, recording the sound source data on a storage medium, and reading out the sound source data from the storage medium for reproduction. To eliminate amplitude discontinuities at repetition points during looping, two connection samples of repetitive waveform portions having values closest to each other are selected from actual samples and interpolated samples. An interpolation filter performs multiple oversampling to produce the interpolated samples. The interpolation filter includes a filter for each degree of oversampling, and all the filters have the same amplitude characteristics. By asserting pulse code modulated data at the beginning portion of a looping domain, adverse compression effects can be avoided without the necessity of providing compression parameters.