• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Computer Notes

Library
    • Computer Fundamental
    • Computer Memory
    • DBMS Tutorial
    • Operating System
    • Computer Networking
    • C Programming
    • C++ Programming
    • Java Programming
    • C# Programming
    • SQL Tutorial
    • Management Tutorial
    • Computer Graphics
    • Compiler Design
    • Style Sheet
    • JavaScript Tutorial
    • Html Tutorial
    • Wordpress Tutorial
    • Python Tutorial
    • PHP Tutorial
    • JSP Tutorial
    • AngularJS Tutorial
    • Data Structures
    • E Commerce Tutorial
    • Visual Basic
    • Structs2 Tutorial
    • Digital Electronics
    • Internet Terms
    • Servlet Tutorial
    • Software Engineering
    • Interviews Questions
    • Basic Terms
    • Troubleshooting
Menu

Header Right

Home » Graphics » Basic » What is Frame Buffer
Next →
← Prev

What is Frame Buffer

By Dinesh Thakur

A frame buffer is a large, contiguous piece of computer memory. At a minimum  there is one memory bit for each pixel in the rater; this amount of memory is called a bit  plane. The picture is built up in the frame buffer one bit at a time.

You know that a  memory bit has only two states, therefore a single bit plane yields a black-and white  display. You know that a frame buffer is a digital device and the CRT is an analog device. Therefore, a conversion from a digital representation to an analog signal must  take place when information is read from the frame buffer and displayed on the raster  CRT graphics device. For this you can use a digital to analog converter (DAC).Each pixel  in the frame buffer must be accessed and converted before it is visible on the raster CRT.

 

N-bit colour Frame buffer

Color or gray scales are incorporated into a frame buffer rater graphics device by  using additional bit planes. The intensity of each pixel on the CRT is controlled by a  corresponding pixel location in each of the N bit planes. The binary value from each of  the N bit planes is loaded into corresponding positions in a register.php. The resulting binary  number is interpreted as an intensity level between 0 (dark) and 2n -1 (full intensity).

This  is converted into an analog voltage between 0 and the maximum voltage of the electron  gun by the DAC. A total of 2N intensity levels are possible. Figure given below illustrates  a system with 3 bit planes for a total of 8 (23) intensity levels. Each bit plane requires the  full complement of memory for a given raster resolution; e.g., a 3-bit plane frame buffer  for a 1024 X1024 raster requires 3,145,728 (3 X 1024 X1024) memory bits.

An increase in the number of available intensity levels is achieved for a modest increase in required memory by using a lookup table. Upon reading the bit planes in the frame buffer, the resulting number is used as an index into the lookup table. The look up table must contain 2N entries. Each entry in the lookup table is W bit wise. W may be greater  than N. When this occurs, 2W intensities are available; but only 2N different intensities are  available at one time. To get additional intensities, th

insensity-levelBecause there are three primary colours, a simple color frame buffer is implemented with three bit planes, one for each primary color. Each bit plane drives an individual color gun for each of the three primary colors used in color video. These three primaries (red, green, and blue) are combined at the CRT to yield eight colors.simple color buffer 

 

You’ll also like:

  1. What is Buffer? – Definition
  2. How to instruct browser window for not storing the output in the buffer?
  3. Frame Relay – What is Frame Relay?
  4. Frame Java Example
  5. What is Ethernet Frame?
Next →
← Prev
Like/Subscribe us for latest updates     

About Dinesh Thakur
Dinesh ThakurDinesh Thakur holds an B.C.A, MCDBA, MCSD certifications. Dinesh authors the hugely popular Computer Notes blog. Where he writes how-to guides around Computer fundamental , computer software, Computer programming, and web apps.

Dinesh Thakur is a Freelance Writer who helps different clients from all over the globe. Dinesh has written over 500+ blogs, 30+ eBooks, and 10000+ Posts for all types of clients.


For any type of query or something that you think is missing, please feel free to Contact us.


Primary Sidebar

Computer Graphics Tutorials

Computer Graphics

  • CG - Home
  • CG - Introduction
  • CG - Applications
  • CG - Applications
  • CG - Raster Vs Random Scan Display
  • CG - Frame Buffer
  • CG - DVST
  • CG - CRT Display
  • CG - DDA
  • CG - Transformation
  • CG - Cathode Ray Tube
  • CG - Bresenham’s Line Algorithm
  • CG - Pixel
  • CG - Data Compression
  • CG - Clipping
  • CG - Shadow Mask CRT
  • CG - Line Drawing Algorithm
  • CG - Text Clipping
  • CG - Refresh Rates
  • CG - CRT/Monitor
  • CG - Interactive Graphics Display
  • CG - Raster Vs Random Scan System
  • CG - Liquid Crystal Display
  • CG - Scan Converting a Line
  • CG - Monitors Types
  • CG - Display Types
  • CG - Sutherland-Hodgeman Clipping
  • CG - Bitmap
  • CG - Antialiasing
  • CG - Refresh Rates
  • CG - Shadow Mask Vs Beam Penetration
  • CG - Scan Converting a Point
  • CG - Image Resolution
  • CG - Double Buffering
  • CG - Raster Vs Random Scan
  • CG - Aspect Ratio
  • CG - Ambient Light
  • CG - Image Processing
  • CG - Interactive Graphics Displayed
  • CG - Shadow Mask CRT
  • CG - Dithering
  • CG - GUI
  • CG - CLUT
  • CG - Graphics
  • CG - Resolutions Types
  • CG - Transformations Types
  • CG - Half-toning Effect
  • CG - VGA
  • CG - Aliasing
  • CG - CGA

Other Links

  • Computer Graphics - PDF Version

Footer

Basic Course

  • Computer Fundamental
  • Computer Networking
  • Operating System
  • Database System
  • Computer Graphics
  • Management System
  • Software Engineering
  • Digital Electronics
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Compiler Design
  • Troubleshooting

Programming

  • Java Programming
  • Structured Query (SQL)
  • C Programming
  • C++ Programming
  • Visual Basic
  • Data Structures
  • Struts 2
  • Java Servlet
  • C# Programming
  • Basic Terms
  • Interviews

World Wide Web

  • Internet
  • Java Script
  • HTML Language
  • Cascading Style Sheet
  • Java Server Pages
  • Wordpress
  • PHP
  • Python Tutorial
  • AngularJS
  • Troubleshooting

 About Us |  Contact Us |  FAQ

Dinesh Thakur is a Technology Columinist and founder of Computer Notes.

Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.

APPLY FOR ONLINE JOB IN BIGGEST CRYPTO COMPANIES
APPLY NOW