A random-access video frame buffer

This paper described a random-access semiconductor memory designed to drive a shaded-picture television display. The memory provides eight bits per picture element to store a shaded grey-scale picture. The memory has four ports, one for the host computer, one for the TV display, and two which can service an external picture-processing device. A color map, 256 words of 36 bits each, provides for conversion of the eight bit codes into red, green, and blue components of 12 bits each. A flexible addressing and synchronizing system is included to provide for variable picture format and to simplify memory management. Analog deflection signals for precision CRT recording are generated in addition to the RTMA standard TV synchronizing signals. This paper discusses the central design considerations of this type of display system.