Change In Number Of Bits For A Designated Color (e.g., 4 Bits To 8 Bits, 8 Bits To 4 Bits) Patents (Class 345/605)
  • Patent number: 7123277
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, a method of converting a source pixel data of a first format for a display of a second format having a plurality of three-color pixel elements comprises determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in the source pixel data of the first format. The resample areas for each emitter of each color in the display is also determined. A set of fractions for each resample area is formed. The denominators are a function of the resample area and the numerators are the function of an area of each of the implied sample areas that at least partially overlaps the resample areas. The data values for each implied sample area is multiplied by its respective fraction and all products are added together to obtain luminance values for each resample area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Clairvoyante, Inc.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 7119813
    Abstract: A compact image element encoding format selectively allocates a bit field within the format to alternately encode either multi-bit alpha resolution or increased color resolution. This encoding technique may be advantageously used to allocate encoding bits to model semi-transparency while using those same bits for other purposes (e.g., higher color resolution) in instances where semi-transparency is not required (e.g., for opaque image elements). In one advantageous embodiment, the same encoding format can provide either RGB5 or RGB4A3, on an image-element-by-image-element basis. Applications include but are not limited to texture mapping in a 3D computer graphics system such as a home video game system or a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Hollis, Anthony P. DeLaurier, Farhad Fouladi
  • Patent number: 7106345
    Abstract: A first command is retrieved from a script containing one or more commands written for a first color space. The first command is associated with zero or more input buffers and zero or more output buffers. The first command has zero or more parameters. A behavior of the first command in the first color space and in a second color space is determined. The behavior comprises one of unique behavior, transparent behavior, and different behavior. The first command has the unique behavior when the first command only operates in the first color space. The first command has the transparent behavior when the first command generates similar results in the first color space and in the second color space. The first command has the different behavior when the first command generates different results in the first color space and in the second color space. Using the behavior of the first command, an operation associated with the first command is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Graves, Randall H. Ubillos
  • Patent number: 7098928
    Abstract: A code processing circuit includes a plurality of coders which encode different kinds of data, respectively, a first buffer which stores the codes outputted from the coders provided corresponding to the plurality of coders, a second buffer which stores the lengths of the codes outputted from the coders provided corresponding to the plurality of coders, a first adder which adds the code lengths stored in the second buffer provided corresponding to the plurality of coders, a second adder which adds all the code lengths added in the first adder, and an adjustment unit which adjusts an output code by the unit of 1 bit based on the codes stored in the first buffer, the code lengths stored in the second buffer and the code lengths added in the second adder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Ono
  • Patent number: 7075545
    Abstract: 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 system has a 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. The embedded frame buffer is selectively configurable to store the following pixel formats: point sampled RGB color and depth, super-sampled RGB color and depth, and YUV (luma/chroma). Graphics commands are provided which enable the programmer to configure the embedded frame buffer for any of the pixel formats on a frame-by-frame basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Van Hook, Farhad Fouladi
  • Patent number: 7068285
    Abstract: A system and method for converting color images divides a first image into first RGB values per pixel, determines which of the RGB colors in the first image has a greater specific gravity, converts the first RGB values into second RGB color values based on the color with the greater specific gravity, and forms a second image based on the second RGB values. The color value conversion involves allocating a first number of bits to represent the second RGB value corresponding to the color having the predetermined specific gravity and a second number of bits to represent the RGB values corresponding to remaining ones of the colors. The first and second numbers of bits are different and preferably the first number is greater than the second number. Through this system and method, an M-bit color image may be converted into an N-bit color image with greater color accuracy than other methods which have been proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoung-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7068283
    Abstract: A display controller provides luminance values to a display, where values for contrast and brightness for the display are constructed within a gamma correction mapping table. The display controller has an original gamma correction mapping table, a gamma correction transform circuit and a transformed gamma correction mapping table. The original gamma correction mapping table contains entries describing a default luminance value to be provided the display for a magnitude of a video input signal. The gamma correction transform circuit receives entries from the original gamma correction mapping table and from the contrast signal and brightness signal, transforms the entries to transformed luminance values. The transformed luminance values are placed in the transformed gamma correction mapping table. The transformed gamma correction mapping table receives a video signal that provides a pointer to the luminance values to be used to drive the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Song Huang
  • Patent number: 7050065
    Abstract: An apparatus for graphics processing unit, which includes a memory for storing pixel data in a red, green and blue (RGB) color space and a display pipeline. The display pipeline includes an RGB color space to a luminance color, blue color difference and red color difference (YCbCr) color space converter module configured to convert the pixel data from the RGB color space to the YCbCr color space. The RGB to YCbCr color space converter module generates a luminance color component (Y) of the pixel data by adding ¼ of a red color (R) component of the pixel data to ½ of a green color (G) component of the pixel data and ¼ of a blue color (B) component of the pixel data. The luminance color component (Y) of the pixel data may be determined by left shifting the green color (G) component of the pixel data by one bit, adding the result to the red color (R) component of the pixel data and the blue color (B) component of the pixel data, and right shifting the sum by two bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne D. Young
  • Patent number: 7042465
    Abstract: The invention is characterized by the fact that an area sensor for outputting an analog signal responsive to the light reception amount of light of CMYG is used and when CMYG image data is converted into RGB image data, RGB image data having a domain also in negative values is generated without performing processing of putting the RGB image data into values of 0 or more, without decreasing the information amount of the CMYG image data. Further, the invention is characterized by the fact that when the image data is recorded in a file section 16 finally as a JPEG file, the pixel data of each color of YCbCr is represented as data type of eight bits and the information amount per pixel is 24 bits for recording more color information without increasing the memory capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 7038702
    Abstract: A frame memory 105 stores the original image data received from a higher-level device 102 via an interface 103. Color reduction processing means receives color reduction rate data through a transfer from an upper-level device 102 or manual setting means such as a switch or jumper settings. Based on this color reduction rate data, the number of colors in the gradation data of the original image is reduced, and the color count of the original image is simulated using the reduced color count. Also included are a timing generating circuit 106 and a gradation voltage generating circuit 107. A gradation voltage selector 108 performs a partial halting of driver operations based on the color reduction rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kudo, Akihito Akai, Kazuo Okado, Toshimitsu Matsudo, Atsuhiro Higa
  • Patent number: 7038696
    Abstract: A method and apparatus captures the color palettes of a video graphics controller of a managed computer to a remote computer to transmit correct color information to a remote computer. A remote management controller may perform this technique independent from the operating system. The managed computer includes a processor and a video graphics controller. The remote management controller snoops a bus, which couples the processor to the video graphics controller, for processor accesses to the EGA and VGA color palettes stored in the video graphics controller. The remote management controller includes an EGA shadow look up table and a VGA shadow look up table that store the snooped information which is used to create correct color information to be transmitted to the remote computer so that it can display the same colors generated at the managed computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Don A. Dykes
  • Patent number: 7015887
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a driving circuit and driving method for a LCD having high performance of moving image displaying within few amount of memory and downscaled circuit. In the present invention, a voltage applied to a pixel to drive liquid crystal material in the pixel is determined as a voltage with which the transparency of the pixel at the end of the current field becomes the designated transparency. To determine the voltage, a data table for quick response in which output data is stored in correspondence with some of the possible value of a preceding field image data and some of the possible value of the current field image data is employed, and the output data corresponding to the preceding field image data and the current field image data is determined by the data table through linear interpolation. The voltage corresponding to the output data is applied to the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Advanced Display Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoichiro Oda, Akimasa Yuuki, Shin Tahata, Toshio Tobita, Shiro Miyake, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Keiichi Murayama
  • Patent number: 7012618
    Abstract: An RGB digital video signal destined to be displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) is converted from the RGB color space to the YUV color space. The signal converted into the YUV color space is subjected to at least a processing operation selected among a sub-sampling operation (24) and a data compression operation (26). The signal is then stored in a memory and the signal read from said memory (12) is then subjected to at least a return operation (28, 30) complementary to the aforesaid processing operation (24, 26). The signal subjected to the aforesaid return operation is lastly reconverted from the YUV color space to the RGB color space, thus being susceptible to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Danilo Pau, Daniele Alfonso, Emiliano Piccinelli, Tiziana Signorelli
  • Patent number: 6999098
    Abstract: Graphics processing circuitry includes processing circuitry operative to generate pixel information in response to primitive information, and a correction circuit, coupled to the processing circuitry, operative to generate gamma corrected pixel information in response to the pixel information. The correction circuit converts the floating point pixel information generated by the processing circuitry into a gamma corrected fixed-point value so that gamma space pixel data is stored in the frame buffer. This fixed point gamma corrected pixel information, converted from the floating point pixel information, compensates for the non-linear display characteristics exhibited by current display devices. This results in the display output being more accurate; thereby, improving the appearance quality of the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Mark M. Leather
  • Patent number: 6987498
    Abstract: A pseudo-tone processing means color-reduces each RGB component of incoming display data using pseudo-tone processing. A frame memory stores the color-reduced display data before feeding it to a display through a drive means. Color reduction is performed so that the tone number of each RGB component after color reduction is G component>R component>B component. Color reduction is unequally performed in a manner which reflects contributions of each RGB component to brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ikeda, Shuichi Ojima, Tsuyoshi Hirashima, Ryota Hata, Shinya Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 6977659
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing bit rates by replacing original texture in a video sequence with synthesized texture. Reducing the bit rate of the video sequence begins by identifying and removing selected texture from frames in a video sequence. The removed texture is analyzed to generate texture parameters. New texture is synthesized using the texture parameters in combination with a set of constraints. Then, the newly synthesized texture is mapped back into the frames of the video sequence from which the original texture was removed. The resulting frames are then encoded. The bit rate of the video sequence with the synthesized texture is less than the bit rate of the video sequence with the original texture. Also, the ability of a decoder to decode the new video sequence is not compromised because no assumptions are made about the texture synthesis capabilities of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: AT & T Corp.
    Inventors: Adriana Dumitras, Barin Geoffry Haskell
  • Patent number: 6970176
    Abstract: Video is processed based on the color content of a video frame. A frame-specific or sequence-specific color cube is created in order to efficiently use the available bandwidth, and to efficiently carry out conventional video operations. The color cube is a statistically tuned subset of the original color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventors: Pieter Sierd Van Der Meulen, Fransiscus Wilhelmus Sijstermans
  • Patent number: 6967745
    Abstract: When highly redundant information that expresses five tones using 4 bits is transferred to a printer in terms of a unit data length in data transfer, efficiency is very poor. Hence, multi-valued data is quantized to 5-valued data, which is output as a 4-bit code that can express five values. 4-bit codes for three bits are combined to be converted into an 8-bit code. The 8-bit codes are packed into data of a 16-bit unit, and the packed data is transferred to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Konno, Hisashi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Tajika, Miyuki Fujita, Norihiro Kawatoko, Tetsuya Edamura, Tetsuhiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 6954215
    Abstract: An image rendered by a non-alpha-channel-aware application is employed in an alpha-channel-aware environment. The pixel data file to be written to by the non-alpha-channel-aware application is initialized by setting the alpha value for each pixel to 1. The alpha-channel-aware application then writes to the initialized pixel data file, changing some or all pixel data. The alpha value for each pixel is then decremented by 1 (modulo 256) making the changed pixels opaque and the unchanged pixels transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. J. Noyle
  • Patent number: 6947056
    Abstract: An apparatus generally having a register, an adder circuit and a mask circuit is disclosed. The register may be configured to replace a current value with a new value in response to a clock value. The adder circuit may be configured to generate the new value by adding the current value to a delta value. The mask circuit may be configured to mask at least one value among the delta value, the new value and the clock value in response to a mask value having a plurality of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Kwong
  • Patent number: 6937245
    Abstract: 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 system has a 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. The embedded frame buffer is selectively configurable to store the following pixel formats: point sampled RGB color and depth, super-sampled RGB color and depth, and YUV (luma/chroma). Graphics commands are provided which enable the programmer to configure the embedded frame buffer for any of the pixel formats on a frame-by-frame basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Van Hook, Farhad Fouladi
  • Patent number: 6914614
    Abstract: The data bits of a first image data unit representing a first range of 0-255 continuous color tones are mapped to a second image data unit having an expanded bit count capable of representing a second range of continuous color tones greater the first range. Of the available colors tones in the second range, 256 color tones are selected and associated with the 256 data combinations achievable with the first image data unit. A decoder is used to convert each data combination in the first image data unit into its corresponding color tone from the second range, which defines its conversion into a second image data unit. In this manner, one can expand the range of displayable colors to approximate the display of true colors associated with a higher resolution without increasing the number of bits of the first image data unit, which is input to a driver IC by an MPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6914615
    Abstract: A graphic display apparatus for displaying a graphic which is represented by binary bit map data includes: a display device including a plurality of sub-pixels; and a control section for controlling the display device, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels form a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups includes a predetermined plural number of sub-pixels, and the control section assigns each of bits included in the bit map data to one of the plurality of groups and displays the graphic by controlling sub-pixels included in the one of the plurality of groups based on information about bits located in the vicinity of the bit assigned to the one of the plurality of groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Okada, Noriyuki Koyama, Yoshimi Asai
  • Patent number: 6906725
    Abstract: The present invention provides a simulation for displaying a screen formulated from data, such as a FLIR sensor, relying on color definitions that are more readily supported by common image generators, most preferably 8-bit per channel RGB color processing and video output. The system has an image generator that transmits a video signal of at least two digital data channels, and a display system with a combiner circuit and a visual display device. The bit sets of the channels each represent a respective value of the data variable at a resolution for that channel, and the bit sets of the second channel each represent a respective value of the data variable at a second resolution higher than the resolution of the first channel. Combiner circuitry receives the channels of video output and processes these channels to select the channel which represents the accurate data unaffected by clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Turner
  • Patent number: 6903749
    Abstract: A sub-system and method to receive input image pixel amplitude data at an input pixel resolution and to output image pixel amplitude data in one or two dimensions at a higher pixel resolution includes a computer system-executable algorithm with user-programmable coefficients. The programmable coefficients are user-selectable according to the nature and quality of the input image data such that sharpness of the output image data can be at least partially tailored to the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Chrontel, Inc.
    Inventors: David Soo, Meng Long
  • Patent number: 6888552
    Abstract: A high dynamic range image editing system for editing an image file having pixels spanning a first range of light intensity levels in an image editing system that only displays differences in the light intensity levels of pixels within a second range of light intensity levels that is less than the first range of light intensity levels, without reducing the range of light intensity levels in the image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Timothy S. Hawkins, Chris D. X. N. Tchou
  • Patent number: 6870544
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating harmonizing colors based on a reference color. In a first embodiment, the invention includes (a) defining a reference color in a uniform color space, (b) converting the hue of the reference color from the uniform color space to an artists color wheel, (c) determining harmonizing colors for the reference color within the artists color wheel, (d) converting the hues of the harmonizing colors from the artists color wheel to the uniform color space, and (e) displaying the harmonizing color information. In a second embodiment, a brown region is defined for colors having red/orange/yellow hues and low chroma values. Additional harmonizing colors are determined when either the reference color or one of the harmonizing colors falls within the brown region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: X-Rite, Incorporated
    Inventors: Clark E. Blanchard, Richard D. Haadsma
  • Patent number: 6853384
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device carries out tone display with pixels by applying a tone voltage according to tone data to each pixel in each frame, and includes: an LUT memory, which receives tone data of a display frame and tone data of an immediately preceding frame, for converting and outputting the tone data of the display frame; a source driver for applying the tone voltage to the pixels based on the converted tone data outputted from the LUT memory; and a liquid crystal cell, which makes up the pixels, for realizing tone display by the applied tone voltage, wherein the LUT memory stores beforehand output tone data which is specified by the tone data of the display frame and the tone data of the immediately preceding frame. This reduces a voltage change of pixel electrodes which is associated with a tone change to suppress unmatched tone display, thereby improving image quality of moving images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Miyata, Makoto Shiomi, Akihito Jinda, Kazunari Tomizawa, Koichi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 6833837
    Abstract: A dithering method limits a digital value of a pixel to N bits, wherein the image signal includes a pixel value of M bits, wherein M is greater than N(M>N). A pseudo-random number (M−N) of bits is added to an original pixel value of M bits, the result of the addition is then truncated at N bits, wherein the random values which are added to two or more adjacent pixels values are mutually correlated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Gerard David Hei La
  • Patent number: 6825821
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a driving circuit and driving method for a LCD having high performance of moving image displaying within few amount of memory and downscaled circuit. In the present invention, a voltage applied to a pixel to drive liquid crystal material in the pixel is determined as a voltage with which the transparency of the pixel at the end of the current field becomes the designated transparency. To determine the voltage, a data table for quick response in which output data is stored in correspondence with some of the possible value of a preceding field image data and some of the possible value of the current field image data is employed, and the output data corresponding to the preceding field image data and the current field image data is determined by the data table through linear interpolation. The voltage corresponding to the output data is applied to the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Advanced Display Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoichiro Oda, Akimasa Yuuki, Shin Tahata, Toshio Tobita, Shiro Miyake, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Keiichi Murayama
  • Publication number: 20040227963
    Abstract: A system and methods introduce loss directly on display list commands. Various methods are described for introducing loss directly on display list color commands and on display list vector commands. Advantages of the disclosed system and methods include significant savings in printer memory with only subtle loss being introduced to printed images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Dana A. Jacobsen, Terry-Lee M. Fritz
  • Patent number: 6803922
    Abstract: A technique is provided for aligning and formatting multi-operand pixel data, for example, within a pixel formatter of a graphics engine for a set-top box system. The technique includes, in one embodiment, obtaining pixel data of a first alignment and a first format for conversion to a second alignment and a second format. The pixel data undergoes pre-alignment where the first alignment of the pixel data is changed to a bit zero alignment, after which the pixel data is reformatted from the first format to the second format. The reformatted pixel data is post-aligned to change from bit zero alignment to the second alignment. In one embodiment, the pixel data is source pixel data or pattern pixel data, while the second alignment and the second format are alignment and format of destination pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Charles F. Marino
  • Patent number: 6791564
    Abstract: A mechanism for, and method of, clipping a red-green-blue (RGB) integer value to an n-bit maximum value and a processor incorporating the mechanism or the method. In one embodiment, the mechanism includes: (1) a multiplexer having a first input that accepts n low-order bits of the RGB integer value and a select input that accepts at least one high-order bit of the RGB integer value and (2) an n-bit maximum value generator, coupled to a second input of the multiplexer, that provides the n-bit maximum value to the second input, an output of the multiplexer providing the n low-order bits when the at least one high order bit has a zero value and providing the n-bit maximum value when the at least one high order bit has a nonzero value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: IPFirst, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Elliott, G. Glenn Henry
  • Patent number: 6788348
    Abstract: Transforming digital images including luminance data relating to points with first coordinates and chrominance data relating to points with second coordinates is performed. More particularly, the transforming is performed where one of the luminance data and the chrominance data is more numerous than the other. This is done by processing the least numerous data by filtering to obtain least numerous data relating to points with identical coordinates to those of the most numerous data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: ST Microelectronics SA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Chiaruzzi, Franck Seigneret
  • Publication number: 20040160438
    Abstract: A transformation device for remote monitoring a computer display image is described. The transformation device monitors display images of a server on a remote computer display via a network. The transformation device includes an image capture unit and a system-on-chip. The image capture unit captures the display images from the a display cable and transforms the display images into digital image data fulfilling browser safe palette requirements and corresponding synchronization signals to reduce the bandwidth requirements. The system-on-chip transforms the digital image data and the corresponding synchronization signals into network packets and delivers the network packets to the remote computer so as to display instantly the display images of the server on a display of the remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Ching-Chih Shih, Shin-Yun Lin, Pi-Cheng Chen, Wen-Yuan Hung
  • Patent number: 6778187
    Abstract: Methods and devices for compressing and uncompressing three color component graphics and/or digital video data for storage to and retrieval from a reduced memory space, while allocating memory space for pixel data special attribute, such as a transparency attribute. 24 bit video data, for example, may be compressed and stored along with 2 bits of transparency data in a 16-bit memory space, without undue loss of fidelity relative to the original graphics and/or video data. The stored and compressed video data may be uncompressed and a correction factor may be selectively applied to each of the three component pixel data. The resulting uncompressed pixel data matches or closely resembles the video data prior to compression and storage. The correction factor may vary depending upon the color space of the graphics and/or video pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Oak Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: You-Wen Yi
  • Patent number: 6774875
    Abstract: A method for compensating luminance, suitable for use in a plasma display panel. The method includes the following steps. First, the luminance value of each pixel signal is read out. Then, the load of the pixel signal row is computed. The load is the number of pixel signal in the pixel signal row that the luminance value of the pixel signal is larger than a predetermined threshold luminance value. Then, a primary luminance compensation value is decided according to the load of the pixel signal row. A number of secondary luminance compensation values are decided according to the primary luminance compensation value. Afterwards, each pixel signal in the pixel signal row is performed luminance compensation sequentially. If the luminance value is larger than or equal to a low threshold luminance value, the luminance value is subtracted by the primary luminance compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shu-Rong Tong, Tu-Hao Tsai, Jih-Fon Huang
  • Patent number: 6760036
    Abstract: A method for extending the data width of a graphics processing channel in a computer graphics system. The method includes the first step of providing a plurality of graphics processing channels having pre-defined output data widths or capacities. The next step is combining at least a portion of an output from at least two of the plurality of graphics processing channels. Another step is defining at least one extended graphics processing channel with an extended data width. The extended graphics processing channel is formed with output portions from the plurality of graphics processing channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Reed P. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 6747669
    Abstract: An error diffusing circuit modifies input video data signals representative of the gray levels of 8-bit gradation to output video data signals representative of the gray levels of 6-bit gradation, and an initial value generator produces an initial value for each of the first video data signals on each line of a frame, wherein the initial value generator varies the initial value depending upon the combination of a frame number, a line number and the color so that any pattern is not unintentionally produced on the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Machihiko Yamaguchi, Koichi Koga
  • Patent number: 6747661
    Abstract: Graphics data representing color values of pixels are compressed into a data structure. Each pixel has a color value that results from the combination of a luma component and chroma components. The number of bits representing the luma and chroma components of a pixel are reduced to less than eight bits, and the luma components of at least four pixels and at least two chroma components are combined into a data structure r bits in length. The number of bits of the data structure is derived from r=2s, where s is an integer greater than or equal to five.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6744439
    Abstract: A digital image processing circuit for replacing an input code associated with a pixel of the image with an output code selected in a first memory containing a set of codes, including an input bus for receiving the input code, an output bus for providing the output code, said first memory, means of address calculation of the first memory, means of address selection of the first memory between the input code and an address code generated by the address calculation means, a second memory for containing an address code generated by the address calculation means, and means of selection of the output code between a code read from the first memory and said code contained in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Laury, Franck Seigneret, Emmanuel Chiaruzzi, Philippe Monnier
  • Publication number: 20040100475
    Abstract: Graphics processing circuitry includes processing circuitry operative to generate pixel information in response to primitive information, and a correction circuit, coupled to the processing circuitry, operative to generate gamma corrected pixel information in response to the pixel information. The correction circuit converts the floating point pixel information generated by the processing circuitry into a gamma corrected fixed-point value so that gamma space pixel data is stored in the frame buffer. This fixed point gamma corrected pixel information, converted from the floating point pixel information, compensates for the non-linear display characteristics exhibited by current display devices. This results in the display output being more accurate; thereby, improving the appearance quality of the resulting image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventor: Mark M. Leather
  • Patent number: 6734865
    Abstract: A system and method for storing data in memory in either a packed or unpacked format contiguously and providing retrieved data in an unpacked format. The memory system includes a memory having packed and unpacked data stored in lines of data and a register to store a line of data it receives from the memory. Further included in the system is a selection circuit coupled to receive data from both the memory and the register. The selection circuit selects a portion of data from the lines of data presented to it by the memory and the register to be provided to a data bus according to a select signal provided by a memory address generator. The select signal is calculated by the memory address generator from an expected address at which the data is expected to be located. A second register and a second selection circuit may also be included in the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Peterson, William Radke
  • Patent number: 6731299
    Abstract: A method for converting N-bit image data of a digital image into M-bit image data, in which N−M=K, K>0, is disclosed. The method is adapted to be used for dithering in an image processing system or a computer graphic system. For example, an N-bit red color value of each pixel of the digital image can be converted into an M-bit red color value by this method with little or no color deviation. According to the method, a difference of the most significant n bits and the least significant n bits of the N-bit image data of a pixel is used as a preliminary criterion for color value conversion, in which n is preferably equal to K. An apparatus for converting N-bit image data of a digital image into M-bit image data, in which N−M=K, K>0, is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a subtraction operator for realizing the difference of the most significant n bits and the least significant n bits of the N-bit image data of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hai-Wei Wang, Chung-Yen Lu
  • Patent number: 6731290
    Abstract: Idle frames received by a graphics controller are compressed by evaluating two idle frames to create an encoding table used to replace selected pixel byte values in subsequent idle frames with codes. Possible pixel byte values are associated with a first set of counters, with each counter counting several different byte values as they occur with the first idle frame. A first subset of the possible pixel byte values is selected based on the counts in the first counters and each byte value in the first subset is associated with a second counter. The occurrences of the first subset of pixel byte values are counted in the second idle frame, and a second subset of pixel byte values is selected based on the counts in the second counters and used to create the encoding table. In one aspect, the encoding table is created when the second set of pixel byte values satisfy a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Ying Cui
  • Patent number: 6714208
    Abstract: The method of displaying a monochromatic image on a color monitor and the image display apparatus display the monochromatic image on a color display device with red, green and blue cells as a unit pixel. In the method and apparatus, all density regions of the monochromatic image to be displayed are provided with bluish tints. The image data for the monochromatic image is output for display after it is allotted to red, green and blue data to satisfy following relationships: R data=kR·B data(0<kR<1) G data=kG·B data(0<kG<1), where symbols R, G and B denote red, green and blue, respectively and symbols kR and kG denote allotment ratios for R and G data to B data, respectively. By the method and the apparatus, the so-called “blue based” monochromatic films used in the medical field can be displayed in a format (characteristics) suitable for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6714206
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing intensity levels for sub-pixels of a display device with overlapping logical pixels. The dithering system combines frame rate control techniques with contributions from overlapping pixels to establish the intensity level of each sub-pixel. The dithering system initially provides an assignment of frame numbers to each sub-pixel. The dithering system then receives a logical pixel color that includes an intensity value for each component color (e.g., red, green, and blue) for each logical pixel. The dithering system maps each component intensity value of each logical pixel to an intensity value with a low depth plus a remainder. The dithering system generates a sub-pixel intensity value for each sub-pixel of each logical pixel using frame rate control to adjust the intensity value of each sub-pixel based on the remainder and current frame number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Silicon Image
    Inventors: Russel A. Martin, Dale Adams, Duane Siemens, Hugo Steemers
  • Patent number: 6707460
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting an N-bit resolution input to an M-bit resolution output is provided. Upon receiving an original input having an N-bit input sequence, the method and apparatus generates an (N+M)-bit sequence by repeating the N-bit input sequence in the original input. A new M-bit sequence is generated by taking M Most Significant Bits from the (N+M)-bit sequence, and a new N-bit sequence is formed by taking N Most Least Significant Bits from the (N+M)-bit sequence. The M-bit resolution output is then formed by adjusting the new M-bit sequence based on the difference between the new N-bit sequence and the N-bit input sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: S3 Graphics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Roger Swanson, Daniel Hung
  • Publication number: 20030222886
    Abstract: A method of and device for performing a data expansion operation on a plurality of input data objects to generate expanded output data objects is disclosed. The method comprises receiving and decoding a data manipulation instruction defining a data expansion operation, a portion of the data manipulation instruction indicating an expansion operation from a number of predetermined types of data manipulation operations. The method includes generating one or more expansion objects responsive to the indication of an expansion operation, said expansion objects being for use in extending an input data object. The input data objects and said expansion objects are manipulated according to control information programmed to produce a set of expanded output data objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Sophie Wilson
  • Patent number: 6654026
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing image signals in a monitor system having an LCD module is enclosed. The apparatus includes an A/D converter converting analog R/G/B input image signals received into first 8-bit digital R/G/B image signals; a microprocessor determining whether a resolution of the input image signals is supported by the LCD module and generating a corresponding control signal, the resolution being determined using a horizontal/vertical sync signal received; an image converter converting the first 8-bit digital R/G/B image signals into second 8-bit digital R/G/B image signals based on the control signal if the resolution of the input signals is not supported by the LCD module, the second 8-bit digital R/G/B image signals being displayable on the LCD module; a scaler adjusting frame sizes of the first or second 8-bit digital R/G/B image signals; and a switch outputting the first 8-bit digital R/G/B image signals to the scaler or the image converter depending on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Min Lee