The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1996
Stephen R Butterfield, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Donald E Phillips, Garden Grove, CA (US);
Barbara B Renshaw, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Steven K Nelson, Harbor City, CA (US);
Robert F Hossley, El Segundo, CA (US);
Peerless Systems Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method used to perform image rendering in a manner which is capable of producing complex, high resolution page images where a continuous synchronous raster image output device, such as a laser printer, using a minimum of random access memory. The invented technique decomposes basic graphics functions into a compact series of orders commands suitable for real time processing and then generates the output page image in real time. The graphic content of a page is defined in much less memory then the rendered image would otherwise require, but is in a form that can be processed and deliver to the output device at the speed required by the output device. This is accomplished by the use of graphics functions which are represented as low level primitives which can be converted to bit mapped images in real time. Additionally, the number of commands which need to be processed and delivered is reduced by eliminating redundant or overlapping graphics functions to minimize the memory used by the commands.