IBM Image Adapter/A

Abstract

The image-processing system developed for the IBM PS/2 series of personal computers is described. The adapter is a single PS/2 card that occupies the video feature bus slot and is designed to extend the video function supplied as part of the base PS/2 machine by providing support for large screen displays up to 1600 by 1200 pixels. Image-processing and display functions are performed by an on-card high-performance microprocessor which has a throughput of 8.5 million instructions per second. However, for image operations, several additional mechanisms boost the effective processor performance to several times this figure. The card supports the attachment of an optical daughter card that allows the Image Adapter to drive an image scanner and printer directly while requiring only a single PS/2 card slot.