RMC, RMI* (Graphics Display Chips)  Project Overview
 
    RMC & RMI
RMC & RMI
• Bill architected and specified this chip pair.   

• The RMC was implememnted in CMOS, while RMI in bipolar (for driving high capacitance memory arrays).

• Keywords: Hardware, CMOS, Bipolar, DRAM, Graphics, Video, Microcoded Graphics Engine, AT&T. 
    
    * RMC = "Raster Memory Controller"    RMI ="Raster Memory Interface"


Significance of this Accomplishment
 
  Significance
•  This was somewhat like today's Seadragon: "Its aim is nothing less than to change the way we use screens."

•  Bill designed RMC's sophisticated microcoded  graphics engine (which freed the host CPU for other tasks).

•  Bill designed and built an ultrasound-based head position sensor in order to demo a early virtual reality application using RMC & RMI.

•  Bill wrote and presented an IEEE conference paper on the RMC/RMI system and this "non-windows" approach.

•  Motorola booked a large order for RMC/RMI pairs from AT&T. 


Skills Transferable to Your Projects:
 
  Juggler
Leadership / Management
• Bill led the various parts of the RMC, RMI project.
  (Patrick O'Malley was the other team leader).

 Theory / R&D
• Bill's experience designing DRAM controllers and video display chips led the RMC, RMI R&D.
• This includes Bill’s numerous insights in hardware design (CMOS design, pipelining,
   memory architectures, ALUs and microcode). 

Software
• Bill directed software development for testing and demonstrating the RMC, RMI systems.

Hardware
• Bill designed RMC's sophisticated microcoded graphics engine and ultrasound-based head position sensor.


Patents
Patent Ribbon Patent   (4, 670, 745)
Issued   (06 - 02 -1987)

Current Owner: Motorola, Inc.
Licensing availability: (Please contact Motorola).
Contact Info: motorolaventures@motorola.com 


Future Opportunities
 
  Futue Clock		 By pushing beyond the current state-of-the-art,
there are these opportunities:


• Recent demonstrations like Seadragon begin to show the future beyond conventional overlapping "Windows".

• Recent success of the Nintendo Wii foreshadows a resurgence in VR-like interactive displays.  


Links to related material
  Links of Chain
• Patent 4, 670, 745

• An Innovative VLSI Solution to Video Display Applications- The Raster Memory System    MINI/MICRO Northeast Professional Program Session Record 17   5-94

Back Arrow