Patents Assigned to ATI Technologies ULC
  • Patent number: 8199164
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing multisampling-based antialiasing in a system that includes first and second graphics processing unit (GPUs) that reduces the amount of data transferred between the GPUs and improves the efficiency with which such data is transferred. The first GPU renders a first version of a frame using a first multisampling pattern and the second GPU renders a second version of a frame in the second GPU using a second multisampling pattern. The second GPU identifies non-edge pixels in the second version of the frame. The pixels in the first version of the frame are then combined with only those pixels in the second version of the frame that have not been identified as non-edge pixels to generate a combined frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Raja Koduri, Gordon M. Elder, Jeffrey A. Golds
  • Publication number: 20120144167
    Abstract: A multi-instruction set architecture (ISA) computer system includes a computer program, a first processor, a second processor, a profiler, and a translator. The computer program includes instructions of a first ISA, the first ISA having a first complexity. The first processor is configured to execute instructions of the first ISA. The second processor is configured to execute instructions of a second ISA, the second ISA being different than the first ISA and having a second complexity, wherein the second complexity is less than the first complexity. The profiler is configured to select a block of the computer program for translation to instructions of the second ISA, wherein the block includes one or more instructions of the first ISA. The translator is configured to translate the block of the first ISA into instructions of the second ISA for execution by the second processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: John S. Yates, JR., Matthew F. Storch, Sandeep Nijhawan, Dale R. Jurich, Korbin S. Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 8193039
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing includes connecting a first end of a first through-silicon-via to a first die seal proximate a first side of a first semiconductor chip. A second end of the first thu-silicon-via is connected to a second die seal proximate a second side of the first semiconductor chip opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Michael Z. Su, Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Bryan Black
  • Patent number: 8196161
    Abstract: When a stream of packets (e.g. MPEG-2 transport stream) includes certain packets representing unscrambled digital television program content and certain other packets representing the content of a scrambled digital television program that is currently tuned by a receiver, interception of the unscrambled digital television program at an output of the receiver may be prevented by determining whether packets representing program content have an ascertained characteristic (e.g. have a packet ID matching one of a set of packet IDs) that uniquely identifies the packets as representing content of the scrambled program. For packets not having the characteristic, delivery to the output of the digital television receiver in an unscrambled state may be prevented, e.g., by discarding the packet or by overwriting its payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: David A. Strasser
  • Patent number: 8193635
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having memory disposed thereon and method of making thereof includes a standard dimension carrier substrate and an information router integrated on the carrier substrate. Further included therein is at least one system memory integrated on the carrier substrate and in electrical communication with the information router across at least one of the electrical leads associated with the carrier substrate. Thereupon, system instructions may be stored and retrieved from the system memory through the information router within the integrated circuit on the standard dimension carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: John Bruno
  • Publication number: 20120133659
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for providing a static frame. In one example, the method and apparatus divides a frame into regions and sends the divided regions of the frame from a display data transmitter, e.g., a processor such as a graphic processing unit (GPU), to a display data receiver, e.g., a timing controller (TCON). In a self-refresh mode when the frame is static, the method and apparatus detects alteration of one or more regions in the static frame. The alteration may be due to data errors in one or more regions of the static frame captured by the display data receiver and/or due to updated content (e.g., movement of a cursor) in one or more regions of the static frame in the display data transmitter. The method and apparatus then, in one example, only resends those altered regions from the display data transmitter to the display data receiver to redress the alteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Andjelija Masnikosa, Collis Quinn Carter
  • Patent number: 8190944
    Abstract: A device configured to switch a clock speed for multiple links running at different clock speeds and a method for switching the clock signals are disclosed. A frequency divider derives a plurality of clock signals at different frequencies from a source clock signal. A clock switching controller selects a maximum data rate among data rates requested by a plurality of ports of links and outputs a transmit clock signal at the selected maximum data rate to the ports along with a clock enabling signal for each of the ports. Each of the clock enabling signals selectively enables the transmit clock signal for matching a data rate requested by each port. The clock speed may be selected and updated as required by the ports glitch-free in a known amount of time without interrupting data transfers on any of the other ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Kevin D. Senohrabek, Natale Barbiero, Gordon F. Caruk
  • Patent number: 8188615
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is adapted to be selectively AC or DC coupled to an external device at a coupling point. The integrated circuit includes a first connector connected to the coupling point by way of a coupling capacitor for AC coupling, a second connector connected to the coupling point for DC coupling, and a switch to selectively short the first and second connectors and thereby the coupling capacitor, when the integrated circuit is DC coupled to the device. The switch may be a MOSFET bridge comprising a switch control MOSFET interconnected between the first and second connectors, with the switch control MOSFET receiving at its gate a mode status signal for turning on the switch control MOSFET and thereby shorting the MOSFET bridge when the integrated circuit is DC coupled to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Yamin Du, Richard Fung, Pouya Ashtiani
  • Patent number: 8189730
    Abstract: Briefly, a system time clock (STC) recovery apparatus includes an STC counter that receives a program clock reference (PCR) signal. The STC recovery apparatus also includes a phase lock loop that generates an STC signal having an STC frequency and a fractional divider that generates a modified STC signal by adjusting the STC frequency of the STC signal such that the modified STC signal is provided to the STC counter. The STC clock recovery apparatus further includes a register, such as any suitable memory, which stores a target frequency value and a source frequency value. The target frequency value is the value of the target frequency for the modified STC signal and the source frequency value is the value of the frequency of the STC signal from the phase lock loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Wai-Leong Poon
  • Publication number: 20120127689
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved integrated circuit package and method with a encapsulant retention structure located adjacent to a packaged integrated chip on a substrate. The structure allows for the placement and retention of a larger quantity of encapsulant to seep under the packaged integrated chip. The retention wall placed on the substrate alternatively serves as substrate stiffener able to maintain mechanical properties to be used with a more desirable thinner substrate. In one embodiment, the use of openings and recesses in a stiffener layer of an integrated circuit package houses a passive electronic component to maintain mechanical properties when a thinner substrate is used. The use of either a retention wall or a stiffener allows for the manufacture of these integrated circuit package using strip, matrix, or array technology where a larger board with a plurality of integrated circuit packages is produced industrially and then cut to individual units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Neil R. McLellan, Vincent K. Chan, Roden R. Topacio
  • Publication number: 20120131596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing thread wavefronts and associated events are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a method for synchronizing one or more thread wavefronts and associated events includes inserting a first event associated with a first data output from a first thread wavefront into an event synchronizer. The event synchronizer is configured to release the first event before releasing events inserted subsequent to the first event. The method further includes releasing the first event from the event synchronizer after the first data is stored in the memory. Corresponding system and computer readable medium embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicants: Advance Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Laurent LEFEBVRE, Michael Mantor, Deborah Lynne Szasz
  • Publication number: 20120127367
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provides temporal image processing by producing, for output on a single link such as a single cable or wireless interface, packet based multi-steam information wherein one stream provides at least frame N information for temporal imaging processing and a second stream that provides frame N?1 information for the same display, such as a current frame and a previous frame or a current frame and next frame. The method and apparatus also outputs the packet based multi-stream information and sends it for the same display for use by the same display so that the receiving display may perform temporal image processing using the multi-stream multi-frame information sent with a single link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: David I.J. Glen
  • Publication number: 20120110309
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for improved transfer of processing data outputs to memory are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a method for transferring outputs of a plurality of threads concurrently executing in one or more processing units to a memory includes: forming, based upon one or more of the outputs, a combined memory export instruction comprising one or more data elements and one or more control elements; and sending the combined memory export instruction to the memory. The combined memory export instruction can be sent to memory in a single clock cycle. Another method includes: forming, based upon outputs from two or more of the threads, a memory export instruction comprising two or more data elements; embedding at least one address representative of the two or more of the outputs in a second memory instruction; and sending the memory export instruction and the second memory instruction to the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Laurent Lefebvre, Michael Mantor, Robert Hankinson
  • Patent number: 8169242
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a feedback controlled clock generating circuit, such as a DLL, PLL or other suitable circuit, that is operative to provide a feedback reference frequency signal based on a generated output clock signal. The integrated circuit also includes a programmable fine lock/unlock detection circuit that includes programmable static phase error sensitivity logic that senses phase error. The programmable static phase error sensitivity logic sets a phase lock sensitivity window used to determine a fine lock/unlock condition of the generated output clock signal. The programmable fine lock/unlock detection logic is also operative to generate a fine phase lock/unlock signal based on the set phase lock sensitivity window. The integrated circuit may also include a coarse lock detection circuit that generates a coarse lock signal based on a frequency unlock condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Saeed Abbasi, Raymond S P Tam, Nima Gilanpour
  • Publication number: 20120096218
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit including programmable control logic configured to generate at least one data pattern sequence from a number of stored data patterns and using the generated at least one data pattern sequence to at least one of read from and write to at least one memory device. A method includes generating at least one data pattern sequence from a number of stored data patterns and writing and reading the data pattern sequence from and to a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Sagheer Ahmad, Eric Scott, Joe Macri, Dan Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8159505
    Abstract: An efficient method of compositing planes onto a target surface using a computing device with graphics processing capability is disclosed. The method includes partitioning the target surface, on which planes are composited, into partitions. Each one of the partitions contains connected pixels to be formed by compositing an identical subset of the planes to be composited. Each partition is associated with a corresponding subset of the planes. Each partition and its corresponding set of associated planes are then provided to a graphics processor for composition, using exemplary software components including an application programming interface, a library and device driver software. An image is formed on the target surface by compositing each partition. Using the disclosed method, a single pass through stages of the graphics pipeline for the graphics processor is sufficient to composite multiple planes to form an image on the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Cheng, Kenneth Man, Daniel Wong, Catalin Beju, Geoffrey Park, Iouri Kiselev
  • Patent number: 8161204
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing a source and sink device are disclosed. A sink device can efficiently determine the source data rate even in cases where the sink device is not directly coupled to the source device. A method for transmitting a source data stream from a source device to a sink device includes, forming a logical channel from a source device to a sink device, where the logical channel is configured to carry the source data stream, and one or more rate parameters. The rate parameters relate a data rate of the source data stream to a data rate of the logical channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Chorney, Collis Quinn Carter
  • Patent number: 8156276
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for data transfer includes receiving a first data packet across a first bi-directional bus and receiving a second data packet across a second bi-directional bus. Next, the first data packet is written to a first register operably coupled to the first bi-directional bus and the second bi-directional bus. The second data packet is written to a second register operably coupled to the first bi-directional bus and the second bi-directional bus. The second data packet is then transferred across the first bi-directional bus and the first data packet is transferred across the second bi-directional bus, thereby providing data transfer across a plurality of bi-directional buses and providing for data to be transferred across those buses to be stored at an intermediate register so that the data may be transferred in the next clock cycle, overcoming any latency requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen L. Morein, Robert W. Bloemer
  • Patent number: 8156317
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (100) may receive a boot loader code (114) via a debug access port (105), wherein a boot logic is operative to block, upon a reset (123) of the programmable processor (103) from the debug access port (105), commands and to the programmable processor from the debug access port, while still allowing the reset (123) command and while allowing write access to memory (112) to receive the boot loader code image (114) written to memory (112). The boot logic also blocks commands to the memory subsystem (109) from the debug access port and turns off write access to memory (112) after allowing the boot loader code image (114) to be written. The boot logic validates the boot loader code image (114) by performing a security check and jumps to the boot loader code image (114) if it is valid, thereby allowing it to run on the programmable processor (103). The boot logic may be logic circuits, software or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: James Lyall Esliger, Denis Foley
  • Publication number: 20120075353
    Abstract: System and method for providing control data for dynamically adjusting lighting and adjusting video pixel data for a display to substantially maintain image display quality while reducing power consumption. In accordance with one or more embodiments, image statistics, e.g., histogram data representing luma values corresponding to pixels for a video frame, are analyzed to determine whether the pixels represent one or more of a plurality of images which includes an image containing primarily natural imagery, an image containing primarily graphics imagery, and an image containing a combination of at least respective portions of natural and graphics imagery. Based on such analysis, control data are provided to enable light source brightness reduction by one of a plurality of percentages and pixel brightness increases, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Hongfeng Dong, Stephen Bagshaw, Don Cherepacha, David Glen