Abstract

A relatively low cost, high speed search processor for efficiently scanning, inserting, and clearing certain data in an ordered linked list of data regarding a plurality of video scan line segments, which segments define mathematical elements (e.g. polygons) and corresponding portions of a three dimensional image. Data items containing information regarding the starting coordinates of the segments of a scan line are encoded and stored in the linked list according to the magnitudes thereof. The present search processor is adapted to read a new data entry to the linked list which is representative of the magnitude of a scan line segment starting coordinate and rapidly search the existing data items of the linked list to determine a particular location in the list at which to insert the new data entry, depending upon the magnitude of the scan line segment starting coordinate thereof relative to the magnitudes of the respective scan line segment starting coordinates of other items in the list.