Patents by Inventor Howard Cheng
Howard Cheng has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20070126745Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for displaying digital video. The CPU configures a space in the main memory for entries to record the displaying information in accordance with a video source in sequence and transfer the corresponding video data of the entries to the main memory. The flip controller informs the display controller to access the video data in the main memory in accordance the displaying information of the entries, and the display controller output the video data in the main memory to display in a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2005Publication date: June 7, 2007Inventors: Jedy Wei, Chin-Chung Yen, Howard Cheng
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Publication number: 20070070083Abstract: A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. The graphics processor includes an embedded frame buffer for storing frame data prior to sending the frame data to an external location, such as main memory. A copy pipeline is provided which converts the data from one format to another format prior to writing the data to the external location. The conversion may be from one RGB color format to another RGB color format, from one YUV format to another YUV format, from an RGB color format to a YUV color format, or from a YUV color format to an RGB color format. The formatted data is either transferred to a display buffer, for use by the video interface, or to a texture buffer, for use as a texture by the graphics pipeline in a subsequent rendering process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.Inventors: Farhad Fouladi, Mark Leather, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng, Timothy Van Hook
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Patent number: 7184059Abstract: A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. The graphics processor includes an embedded frame buffer for storing frame data prior to sending the frame data to an external location, such as main memory. A copy pipeline is provided which converts the data from one format to another format prior to writing the data to the external location. The conversion may be from one RGB color format to another RGB color format, from one YUV format to another YUV format, from an RGB color format to a YUV color format, or from a YUV color format to an RGB color format. The formatted data is either transferred to a display buffer, for use by the video interface, or to a texture buffer, for use as a texture by the graphics pipeline in a subsequent rendering process.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Farhad Fouladi, Mark M. Leather, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng, Timothy J. Van Hook
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Publication number: 20060250403Abstract: An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2006Publication date: November 9, 2006Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 7071945Abstract: An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng
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Publication number: 20050125630Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a scalar value from a vector register for use in a mixed vector and scalar instruction, including providing a vector in a vector register file, and embedding a location identifier of the scalar value within the vector in the bits defining the mixed vector and scalar instruction. The scalar value can be used directly from the vector register without the need to load the scalar to a scalar register prior to executing the instruction. The scalar location identifier may be embedded in the secondary op code of the instruction, or the instruction may have dedicated bits for providing the location of the scalar within the vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2005Publication date: June 9, 2005Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung Liao, Peter Sandon, Howard Cheng, Timothy Van Hook
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Patent number: 6859862Abstract: A microprocessor including a control unit and a cache connected with the control unit for storing data to be used by the control, wherein the cache is selectively configurable as either a single cache or as a partitioned cache having a locked cache portion and a normal cache portion. The normal cache portion is controlled by a hardware implemented automatic replacement process. The locked cache portion is locked so that the automatic replacement process cannot modify the contents of the locked cache. An instruction is provided in the instruction set that enables software to selectively allocate lines in the locked cache portion to correspond to locations in an external memory, thereby enabling the locked cache portion to be completely managed by software.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung C. Liao, Peter A. Sandon, Howard Cheng, Peter Hsu
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Patent number: 6857061Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a scalar value from a vector register for use in a mixed vector and scalar instruction, including providing a vector in a vector register file, and embedding a location identifier of the scalar value within the vector in the bits defining the mixed vector and scalar instruction. The scalar value can be used directly from the vector register without the need to load the scalar to a scalar register prior to executing the instruction. The scalar location identifier may be embedded in the secondary op code of the instruction, or the instruction may have dedicated bits for providing the location of the scalar within the vector.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung C. Liao, Peter A. Sandon, Howard Cheng
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Publication number: 20050021926Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading and storing vectors from and to memory, including embedding a location identifier in bits comprising a vector load and store instruction, wherein the location identifier indicates a location in the vector where useful data ends. The vector load instruction further includes a value field that indicates a particular constant for use by the load/store unit to set locations in the vector register beyond the useful data with the constant. By embedding the ending location of the useful date in the instruction, bandwidth and memory are saved by only requiring that the useful data in the vector be loaded and stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2004Publication date: January 27, 2005Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung Liao, Peter Sandon, Howard Cheng
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Publication number: 20040135787Abstract: An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 6701424Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading and storing vectors from and to memory, including embedding a location identifier in bits comprising a vector load and store instruction, wherein the location identifier indicates a location in the vector where useful data ends. The vector load instruction further includes a value field that indicates a particular constant for use by the load/store unit to set locations in the vector register beyond the useful data with the constant. By embedding the ending location of the useful date in the instruction, bandwidth and memory are saved by only requiring that the useful data in the vector be loaded and stored.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung C. Liao, Peter A. Sandon, Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 6697074Abstract: An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 6681296Abstract: A microprocessor including a control unit and a cache connected with the control unit for storing data to be used by the control, wherein the cache is selectively configurable as either a single cache or as a partitioned cache having a locked cache portion and a normal cache portion. The normal cache portion is controlled by a hardware implemented automatic replacement process. The locked cache portion is locked so that the automatic replacement process cannot modify the contents of the locked cache. An instruction is provided in the instruction set that enables software to selectively allocate lines in the locked cache portion to correspond to locations in an external memory, thereby enabling the locked cache portion to be completely managed by software.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2001Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung C. Liao, Peter A. Sandon, Howard Cheng, Peter Hsu
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Patent number: 6664958Abstract: A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. The same texture mapping hardware used for color texturing provides resampled z texturing for sprites with depth or other applications. A z blender performs a z blending operation in screen space to blend surface z values with z texel values to provide per-pixel mapping of resampled z textures onto sampled 3D surface locations. Z texels can represent absolute depths or depth displacements relative to primitive surface depth. The z texel values may add to or replace primitive surface z values, and a constant bias may be added if desired. The resulting depth values are used for occlusion testing. Z textures can be generated by copying out portions of an embedded z buffer and providing the copied depth values to the texture mapping hardware.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mark M. Leather, Anthony P. DeLaurier, Patrick Y. Law, Robert A. Drebin, Howard Cheng, Robert Moore
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Patent number: 6612131Abstract: A post and connector assembly for an earring of the pierced-ear type utilizes a conventional straight post and a connector that includes a resilient surface that is biased into a groove in the post to establish a positive locking position, but which surface is manually deflectable to release the lock to facilitate both connection and removal of the post.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Inventor: Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 6591361Abstract: A method and apparatus that converts integer numbers to/from floating point representations while loading/storing the data. The method and apparatus perform this conversion within a central processing unit having a converter unit and a set of conversion registers. The load/store instructions having data requiring conversion include an index field for identifying one of the conversion registers. Each one of the conversion registers includes information on the type of conversion required and any scaling factors to be applied. Upon receiving one of these instructions, the converter uses the identified conversion register to perform the conversion and stores the converted data into the corresponding register or memory location.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1999Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yu-Chung Liao, Peter A. Sandon, Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 6571328Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a scalar value from a vector register for use in a mixed vector and scalar instruction, including providing a vector in a vector register file, and embedding a location identifier of the scalar value within the vector in the bits defining the mixed vector and scalar instruction. The scalar value can be used directly from the vector register without the need to load the scalar to a scalar register prior to executing the instruction. The scalar location identifier may be embedded in the secondary op code of the instruction, or the instruction may have dedicated bits for providing the location of the scalar within the vector.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chung C. Liao, Peter A. Sandon, Howard Cheng, Timothy J. Van Hook
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Publication number: 20030052887Abstract: An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng
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Publication number: 20020189284Abstract: A post and connector assembly for an earring of the pierced-ear type utilizes a conventional straight post and a connector that includes a resilient surface that is biased into a groove in the post to establish a positive locking position, but which surface is manually deflectable to release the lock to facilitate both connection and removal of the post.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventor: Howard Cheng
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Patent number: 6489963Abstract: An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng