Display Apparatus And Method Capable of Rotating An Image

Abstract

A system for translating a portrait-oriented software address to a portrait-oriented yet landscape-configured display address. Based on the orientation of a display device, an address translation system either passes the software address “as is” or translates the address to represent a portrait-oriented display address. An address generator operates alternatively in column-forward and column-reverse modes, and additionally operates alternatively in row forward and row reverse modes to selectively rotate the image.

1 . A graphics system, comprising: 
 a device that stores image data in a plurality of columns; and    a refresh address generator that generates column refresh address signals,    the column refresh address signals including a first column refresh address signal to specify a first column of the plurality of columns and a second column refresh address signal to specify a second column of the plurality of columns, 
 in a first mode, the second column refresh address signal is generated after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and  
 in a second mode, the first column refresh address signal is generated after the second column refresh address signal is generated.  
   
   
   
       2 . The graphics system according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the device stores the image data in a plurality of rows;    the refresh address generator further generating row refresh address signals including a first row refresh address signal to specify a first row of the plurality of rows in the device and a second row refresh address signal to specify a second row of the plurality of rows, 
 in the first mode, the second row refresh address signal being generated after the first row refresh address signal is generated, and  
 in the second mode, the first row refresh address signal being generated after the second row refresh address signal is generated.  
   
   
   
       3 . The graphics system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first column refresh address signal is generated first before any other column refresh address signals in the first mode.    
   
   
       4 . The graphics system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 in the first mode, the second column refresh address signal is generated just after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and    in the second mode, the first column refresh address signal is generated just after the second column refresh address signal is generated.    
   
   
       5 . The graphics system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 in the first mode, no additional column refresh address signal is generated between generation of the first column refresh address signal and the second column refresh address signal, and    in the second mode, no additional column refresh address signal is generated between the generation of the second column refresh address signal and the first column refresh address signal.    
   
   
       6 . The graphics system according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 in the first mode, the second column refresh address signal is generated successively after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and    in the second mode, the first column refresh address signal is generated successively after the second column refresh address signal is generated.    
   
   
       7 . A graphics system, comprising: 
 a refresh address generator that generates column refresh address signals,    the column refresh address signals including a first column refresh address signal to specify a first column of a plurality of columns in a device that stores image data and a second column refresh address signal to specify a second column of the plurality of columns,    in a first mode, the second column refresh address signal is generated after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and    in a second mode, the first column refresh address signal is generated after the second column refresh address signal is generated.    
   
   
       8 . The graphics system according to  claim 7 , 
 the refresh address generator further generating row refresh address signals including a first row refresh address signal to specify a first row of the plurality of rows in the device and a second row refresh address signal to specify a second row of the plurality of rows, 
 in the first mode, the second row refresh address signal is generated after the first row refresh address signal is generated, and  
 in the second mode, the first row refresh address signal is generated after the second row refresh address signal is generated.  
   
   
   
       9 . The graphics system according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 the first column refresh address signal is generated first before any other column refresh address signals in the first mode.    
   
   
       10 . The graphics system according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 in the first mode, the second column refresh address signal is generated just after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and    in the second mode, the first column refresh address signal is generated just after the second column refresh address signal is generated.    
   
   
       11 . The graphics system according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 in the first mode, no additional column refresh address signal is generated between generation of the first column refresh address signal and the second column refresh address signal, and    in the second mode, no additional column refresh address signal is generated between the generation of the second column refresh address signal and the first column refresh address signal.    
   
   
       12 . The graphics system according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 in the first mode, the second column refresh address signal is generated successively after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and    in the second mode, the first column refresh address signal is generated successively after the second column refresh address signal is generated.    
   
   
       13 . A graphics system comprising: 
 a device that stores image data in a plurality of columns; and    a refresh address generator that generates column refresh address signals, 
 in a first mode, the column refresh address signals is generated to increment a column refresh address to specify a column among a plurality of columns in a device that stores image data, and  
 in a second mode, the column refresh address signals is generated to decrement the column refresh address.  
   
   
   
       14 . The graphics system according to  claim 13 , 
 the refresh address generator further generating row refresh address signals, and 
 in one of the first mode and the second mode, the row refresh address signals are generated to increment a row refresh address to specify a row among a plurality of rows of the device, and  
 in the other of the first mode and the second mode, the row refresh address signals are generated to decrement the row refresh address.  
   
   
   
       15 . The graphics system according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 the column refresh address signals and the row refresh address signals specify locations of cells in the device from which data are fetched during a refresh operation.    
   
   
       16 . A graphics system, comprising: 
 an address generator that generates column address signals,    the column address signals including a first column address signal to specify a first column of a plurality of columns in a device that stores image data and a second column address signal to specify a second column of the plurality of columns,    in a first mode, the second column address signal is generated after the first column refresh address signal is generated, and    in a second mode, the first column address signal is generated after the second column address signal is generated.    
   
   
       17 . The graphics system according to  claim 16 , 
 the address generator further generating row address signals including a first row address signal to specify a first row of the plurality of rows in the device and a second row address signal to specify a second row of the plurality of rows, 
 in one of the first mode and the second mode, the second row address signal is generated after the first row address signal is generated, and  
 in the other of the first mode and the second mode, the first row address signal is generated after the second row address signal is generated.  
   
   
   
       18 . The graphics system according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the first column address signal is generated first before any other column refresh signals in the first mode.    
   
   
       19 . The graphics system according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 in the first mode, the second column address signal is generated just after the first column address signal is generated, and    in the second mode, the first column address signal is generated just after the second column address signal is generated.    
   
   
       20 . The graphics system according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 in the first mode, no additional column address signal is generated between generation of the first column address signal and the second column address signal, and    in the second mode, no additional column address signal is generated between the generation of the second column address signal and the first column address signal.    
   
   
       21 . The graphics system according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 in the first mode, the second column address signal is generated successively after the first column address signal is generated, and    in the second mode, the first column address signal is generated successively after the second column address signal is generated.    
   
   
       22 . A graphics system comprising: 
 a device that stores image data in a plurality of columns; and    an address generator that generates column address signals, 
 in a first mode, the column address signals is generated to increment a column address to specify a column among a plurality of columns in a device that stores image data, and  
 in a second mode, the column address signals is generated to decrement the column address.  
   
   
   
       23 . The graphics system according to  claim 22 , 
 the address generator further generating row address signals, and 
 in one of the first mode and the second mode, the row address signals are generated to increment a row address to specify a row among a plurality of rows of the device, and  
 in the other of the first mode and the second mode, the row address signals are generated to decrement the row address.