Graphic System
Chapter Two
Chapter Objectives
• After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
• Explain the concept and function of a display processor in a graphic system.
• Identify and describe the main components of a display processor and their
roles.
• Explain how a raster scan system works in displaying images on a screen.
• Describe the roles of the CPU and display controller in image generation.
• Identify different types of display devices and their characteristics.
• Explain the working principle of Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays.
• Describe the main components of a CRT and their functions.
• Differentiate between raster scan displays and random scan displays.
Display Processor:
• A display processor is a piece of hardware that turns
code into images on your screen. It’s an essential part
of how graphics are displayed.
Parts of the Display Processor
• It has four main parts:
1. Display File Memory
2. Display Processor
3. Display Generator
4. Display Console
This system works together to create the images you
see on your screen!
1. Display File Memory: This is where the images and
graphics are stored before they are shown on the screen.
2. Display Processor:
This is the main component that processes the stored data and prepares it
for display.
3. Display Generator:
This takes the processed data and creates the actual images that you see on
the screen.
4. Display Console: This is the interface that lets you interact with the
display, like buttons and menus.
Raster Scan System
• The raster scan system is a method used to display
images on screens, such as monitors and televisions. It
works by processing visual data in a sequential
manner, creating images by illuminating pixels in a
grid format.
Key Components
1. Control Processing Unit (CPU):
• The CPU is the main brain of the computer. It processes
instructions and data, handling all the computations and tasks
required to create images.
2. Display Controller: Also known as a video controller, this
specialized processor manages how the images are shown on
the display. It takes the processed data from the CPU and
controls the display device to render graphics correctly.
How It Works
Image Creation: The CPU processes data and creates the
image information.
Control: The display controller then takes this information
and determines how to display it on the [Link] controls
the timing and sequence of image rendering.
Raster Scanning: The system works by scanning the screen
in horizontal lines from top to bottom. Each line is drawn
one after the other, creating a complete image when
finished.
Example: Displaying an Image
• Let’s say you open a photo on your computer:
[Link] Processes the Image:
1. The CPU retrieves the image file and calculates how each pixel should look
based on its color and brightness.
[Link] Sent to Display Controller:
1. The CPU sends this pixel data to the display controller.
[Link] Scan in Action:
1. The display controller starts at the top-left corner of the screen and scans
across. It illuminates pixels in the first row, then moves down to the next
row, and continues this until the entire image is displayed.
[Link]:
1. You see the complete image appear on your screen as it is drawn line by
line, from top to bottom.
Display Devices
• The most commonly used display device is the video monitor,
which typically operates based on various technologies. Below
are some of the key types of display devices:
1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors
• Refresh CRT: Traditional monitors that use electron beams to
draw images on a phosphorescent screen. The screen
refreshes multiple times per second to create a stable image.
• Color CRT Monitors: Similar to refresh CRTs but designed to
display color by combining red, green, and blue phosphors.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
• CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. CRT is a technology used in
traditional computer monitors and televisions. The image on
CRT display is created by firing electrons from the back of the
tube of phosphorus located towards the front of the screen.
• Once the electron heats the phosphorus, they light up, and they
are projected on a screen. The color you view on the screen is
produced by a blend of red, blue and green light.
Examples of CRT Monitors
• Example: Panasonic CRT TV
• Description: Many older television sets used CRT
technology. These TVs provided a warm color
palette and good contrast but were bulky
compared to modern flat screens.
Key Characteristics of CRT Monitors
• Bulky Design: CRT monitors are heavier and larger than modern
flat panel displays due to their glass tubes.
• Color Display: They use phosphor-coated screens that glow when
struck by electron beams, allowing for vibrant colors and deep
blacks.
• Refresh Rate: CRTs typically have high refresh rates, which can
reduce flickering and provide smoother motion, especially
beneficial for video playback and gaming.
• Resolution: While they can display high resolutions, CRT monitors
may not match the clarity of today's LCD and LED displays at the
same size.
Components of CRT:
• Main Components of CRT are:
• 1. Electron Gun:This is like the "source" of the CRT. It contains a
heating filament and a cathode that produce electrons. These electrons
are focused into a narrow beam aimed at the screen.
• Control Electrode: This component acts like a switch for the electron
beam. It turns the beam on and off, controlling when the image is
displayed.
Focusing System: The focusing system sharpens the electron beam,
ensuring it’s narrow and precise. This helps create clear images on the
[Link] Yoke:This part directs the electron beam. It uses electric or
magnetic fields to bend the beam's path so it can move across the screen.
The deflection yoke is connected to a sweep generator, which helps control
the beam's movement in a systematic way.
Phosphor-coated Screen: The inside front of the CRT is coated with
phosphors. When the electron beam hits these phosphors, they glow and
produce light, creating the images you see on the screen. The term
"phosphorescence" refers to this glowing effect.
Conclusion
• CRT monitors were a significant advancement in
display technology and laid the foundation for
modern screens. Understanding their examples
and characteristics can help students appreciate
the evolution of display devices and their role in
technology history.
Random Scan Monitors
• Definition: Random scan monitors, also known as vector
displays, create images by directly drawing lines and
shapes based on specific coordinates. They don’t scan the
entire screen but instead only render the parts needed.
• How It Works:
• The monitor uses an electron beam that moves directly to
the points specified in the graphic data.
• It’s particularly suited for vector graphics, where images
are defined by lines and curves rather than pixels.
Applications of Random Scan Monitors
Computer-Aided Design (CAD):
• Random scan monitors are ideal for CAD applications where
precise lines and shapes are crucial. Engineers and
architects can draw detailed designs with accuracy.
Engineering Simulations:
• These monitors are used in simulations that require real-
time rendering of vector graphics, such as flight simulators
or mechanical design tools, allowing for dynamic
adjustments and precise visualizations
Random-scan monitors are also known as vector displays or
stroke-writing displays or calligraphic displays.
Advantages:
1. High quality for line graphics and curves.
2. Can produce smooth images for vector graphics.
Disadvantages:
1. More complex hardware.
2. Limited color capabilities
3. .Not efficient for displaying large, filled areas or bitmaps.
Raster Scan Display
• Definition: Raster scan displays are the type of screens used in
most modern monitors. They work by dividing the screen into a
grid of tiny squares called pixels.
• How It Works:
• The electron beam scans horizontally from the top left to the
bottom right of the screen, line by line, filling in pixels to create
an image.
Advantages:
1. Efficient for displaying complex images, including photographs and
detailed graphics.
2. Supports a wide range of colors and resolutions.
Disadvantages:
3. Lower quality for line graphics compared to random scan.
4. Image quality can suffer if the resolution is too low.
Applications of Raster Scan Monitors
1. Television and Broadcasting:
• Raster scan technology is the foundation of modern TV displays,
allowing for the smooth presentation of video content, including
movies and live broadcasts.
2. Computer Monitors:
• Most desktop and laptop monitors use raster scan technology to
display a wide range of content, from documents to graphics and
videos, making it versatile for everyday use.
3. Digital Imaging:
Raster scan monitors are essential in photo editing and graphic
design, allowing for detailed pixel manipulation in raster graphics,
which are common in images and photographs.
4. Gaming:
Modern video games rely on raster scan displays for rich, detailed
graphics. The technology supports high resolutions and fast refresh
rates, enhancing the gaming experience.
5. Web Browsing and Applications:
Any application that displays text, images, or videos on a screen
utilizes raster scan technology, making it integral to daily computer
usage.
Differentiate between Random and Raster Scan
Display:
Summary
Random Scan is ideal for vector graphics and line art, while Raster Scan is
more suited for detailed images and color graphics.
The choice between the two depends on the application and the type of visuals
being displayed.