Abstract: A graphics display apparatus using a character generation architecture is disclosed. A font memory is disclosed which can be addressed to provide a different character for each character position on a display screen. In this manner graphics images can be manipulated at character generation speeds. Further, memory can be more efficiently used and font registers and additional pages of memory are not required to accommodate an expanded font list. In accordance with the present invention, attributes are generated in hardware so that the base text can remain unchanged even though the attributes of the text are changed. A unique echo circuit is provided to generate a bold faced attribute, including an anti-smear function. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a single memory is used to store textual and font information, thus reducing the size and costs of the character generation architecture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which a color graphics display system can run software written for either a color graphics system or a monochrome system, and in which a monochrome graphics system can run software written for either a monochrome system or a color graphics system, in which color image data is separated into monochrome image data and color control information so that a central processing unit can operate upon the image data as if running a monochrome program, yet continue to provide a color visual display by use of color control information which designates the colors to be displayed as part of a control operation.