Patents Assigned to ATI Technologies
  • Patent number: 9304772
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for improving efficiency, power, and bandwidth consumption in parallel processing. Rather than requiring memory polling to ensure ordered execution of processes or threads in wavefronts, the techniques disclosed herein provide a system and method to allow any process or thread in a wavefront to run out of order as long as needed, but ensure ordered execution of multiple ordered instructions when needed. These operations are handled efficiently in hardware, but are flexible enough to be implemented in all manner of programming models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Laurent Lefebvre, Michael Mantor
  • Patent number: 9300966
    Abstract: In a Phase Plane Correlation (PPC) process, using adaptive frequency domain filtering to aid in generating candidate motion vectors. It is determined when it is beneficial to pre-filter an input image, prior to a PPC process. This results in more reliable and consistent PPC surfaces than otherwise. The filter is applied in the frequency domain where time-domain convolution becomes a much more efficient component-wise multiplication with an in-place window. An energy measure of the high-frequency content in the computed Fourier surfaces gauges the degree of high frequency content in the image. First, the Fourier transform of the two images is computed. Then, the high-frequency content is estimated from the Fourier surfaces. A window function is computed as a function of the high-frequency energy. The window is applied to the Fourier surfaces. Then, the modified Fourier surfaces are fed into the PPC process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Gordon F. Wredenhagen
  • Patent number: 9286904
    Abstract: A computing device may be configured to output a digital audio stream to an audio playback system for rendering as sound over speakers. The sound may be sampled. Based at least in part on a quality of the sampled sound, the data rate of the digital audio stream may be reduced by reducing a sampling rate and/or by reducing a number of bits per sample. A reduced sampling rate may be determined based on a computed maximum sampling rate of the audio playback system, and/or a reduced number of bits per sample may be determined based on a computed maximum number of bits per sample of the audio playback system. The maximum usable sampling rate and maximum usable number of bits per sample may be determined based on an upper usable frequency within a frequency spectrum of the sampled sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Carl Wakeland, William Herz
  • Patent number: 9286046
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for controlling the distribution and installation of operating systems. In one example, the method and apparatus partitions a storage device of a device into a first partition and a second partition. The method and apparatus installs a first operating system into the first partition of the storage device, obtains an image of the second operating system, the image including at least the second operating system pre-configured for operation with the device, and installs, using the first operating system, the image of the operating system to the second partition of the storage device. In an embodiment, the image is transmitted from one or more other devices. In an embodiment, two or more images are cached on the device according to the likelihood they will be used in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Alexander Androncik, Christopher Lefterys, Nikhil Tull, Sonemaly Phrasavath
  • Patent number: 9281701
    Abstract: A charging system having a charging device with a groove for receiving a mobile/portable device for charging is provided having a magnetic core located in a housing of the charging device with the magnetic core having a base and two legs that are located around the groove. A coil is wrapped around the base and a driver circuit is connected to the coil as well as to an external power source. A power receiver is located in a mobile/portable device that can be placed in the groove in the charging device. The power receiver includes a receiver magnetic core as well as a receiving coil wrapped around the receiver magnetic core for receiving an inductive current from the charging device. A charging circuit is connected to the receiving coil and adapted to be connected to the battery of the mobile/portable device for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Yvan Large, Philippe Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9263364
    Abstract: Various semiconductor chip thermal interface material methods and apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of establishing thermal contact between a first semiconductor chip and a heat spreader is provided. The method includes placing a thermal interface material layer containing a support structure on the first semiconductor chip. The heat spreader is positioned proximate the thermal interface material layer. The thermal interface material layer is reflowed to establish thermal contact with both the first semiconductor chip and the heat spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Maxat Touzelbaev, Gamal Refai-Ahmed, Yizhang Yang, Bryan Black
  • Publication number: 20160037166
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product that exploits motion hints associated with rendered video frames. These motion hints are provided to a video encoder to guide a motion-compensation prediction process performed by the video encoder. Specifically, these motion hints can be used to better position a search window in a reference video frame to better capture the motion of a block of pixels in the reference video frame. Because the search window is better positioned in the reference video frame, the memory required to perform the encoding process can be reduced without sacrificing the level of encoded image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Khaled MAMMOU, Ihab M.A. AMER
  • Publication number: 20150363310
    Abstract: A method and system for allocating memory to a memory operation executed by a processor in a computer arrangement having a first processor configured for unified operation with a second processor. The method includes receiving a memory operation from a processor and mapping the memory operation to one of a plurality of memory heaps. The mapping produces a mapping result. The method also includes providing the mapping result to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicants: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Anthony ASARO, Kevin NORMOYLE, Mark HUMMEL
  • Patent number: 9213381
    Abstract: A method of controlling voltage in a circuit is provided. Within the circuit, a block of an electrical component provides an indication that it desires to switch states (such as from off to on, on to off, or from one speed to another). The change in states requires a different current draw by the electrical component block. The indication is received by an electrical component that controls the voltage of the circuit. The electrical component that controls the voltage then issues a signal granting permission for the electrical component block to switch states. This permission signal is received by the electrical component and the electrical component block changes state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Osborn, Sebastien Nussbaum, John P. Petry, Umair B. Cheema
  • Patent number: 9209106
    Abstract: A method of assembling a semiconductor chip device is provided. The method includes providing a first circuit board that has a plurality of thermally conductive vias. A second circuit board is mounted on the first circuit board over and in thermal contact with the thermally conductive vias. The second circuit board includes first side facing the first circuit board and a second and opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiao Ling Shi, Suming Hu, Liane Martinez, Roden Topacio, Terence Cheung
  • Publication number: 20150346798
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient management of operating modes within an integrated circuit (IC) for optimal power and performance targets. A semiconductor chip includes processing units each of which operates with respective operating parameters. Temperature sensors are included to measure a temperature of the one or more processing units during operation. A power manager determines a calculated power value independent of thermal conditions and current draw. The power manager reads each of a first thermal design power (TDP) value for the processing units and a second TDP value for a platform housing the semiconductor chip. The power manager determines a ratio of the first TDP value to the second TDP value. Additionally, the power manager determines another ratio of the first TDP value to the calculated power value. Using the measured temperature, the ratios and the calculated power value, the power manager determines a manner to adjust the operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicants: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Praveen K. Dongara, Aniruddha Dasgupta, Adam Clark
  • Patent number: 9201682
    Abstract: In a hardware-based virtualization system, a hypervisor switches out of a first function into a second function. The first function is one of a physical function and a virtual function and the second function is one of a physical function and a virtual function. During the switching a malfunction of the first function is detected. The first function is reset without resetting the second function. The switching, detecting, and resetting operations are performed by a hypervisor of the hardware-based virtualization system. Embodiments further include a communication mechanism for the hypervisor to notify a driver of the function that was reset to enable the driver to restore the function without delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Gongxian Jeffrey Cheng, Anthony Asaro, Yinan Jiang
  • Patent number: 9190012
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the effects of display underflow using a variable horizontal blanking interval are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a method of display that includes detecting a data ready signal that indicates availability of display data for transmission from a display pipeline, and generating a line-transmit signal based upon a clock signal and the data ready signal. The line-transmit signal is provided to the display pipeline. The line-transmit signal is substantially coincident with the clock signal if the data ready signal is set, and may be delayed if the data ready signal is not asserted. The display pipeline transmits the display data upon receiving the line-transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Collis Quinn Carter
  • Publication number: 20150324318
    Abstract: A bus protocol compatible device includes an encoder having an input for receiving a local clock signal, and an output, a multiplexer having a first input for receiving a reference clock signal, a second input coupled to said output of said encoder, a control input for receiving a select signal, and an output, and a driver having an input coupled to said output of said multiplexer, and an output for coupling to a bus protocol link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Michael J. Tresidder
  • Patent number: 9176794
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for providing improved access to accelerated processing device compute resources to user mode applications. The functionality disclosed allows user mode applications to provide commands to an accelerated processing device without the need for kernel mode transitions in order to access a unified ring buffer. Instead, applications are each provided with their own buffers, which the accelerated processing device hardware can access to process commands. With full operating system support, user mode applications are able to utilize the accelerated processing device in much the same way as a CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gongxian Cheng, Paul Blinzer, Mark Hummel, Leendert Peter Van Doorn
  • Patent number: 9176795
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for providing improved access to accelerated processing device compute resources to user mode applications. The functionality disclosed allows user mode applications to provide commands to an accelerated processing device without the need for kernel mode transitions in order to access a unified ring buffer. Instead, applications are each provided with their own buffers, which the accelerated processing device hardware can access to process commands. With full operating system support, user mode applications are able to utilize the accelerated processing device in much the same way as a CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Rex McCrary, Michael Houston, Philip J. Rogers, Gongxian Jeffrey Cheng, Mark Hummel, Paul Blinzer
  • Patent number: 9164646
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for the accommodation of display migration among a plurality of physical displays. In one example, the method and apparatus detects a display migration condition from at least a second physical display to a first physical display. The method and apparatus then controls compositing of a plurality of desktop surfaces so as enable access of each one of the plurality of desktop surfaces on the first physical display. The plurality of desktop surfaces include at least a desktop surface associated with the second physical display. The desktop surface is the content in a piece of memory in a frame buffer, which represents all the display content presented on the associated physical display. In one example, the plurality of desktop surfaces may be composited into at least one three-dimensional display object. The three-dimensional display object includes but is not limited to a revolving door object or other three-dimensional shape or object (e.g., a cube object).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Cheng, Xiaoqing Frederick Li
  • Patent number: 9164564
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing net power consumption in a computer system includes identifying a plurality of processing states operable to execute a task. A processing state and current drain pattern is selected that is most power efficient. A selected processing state may include one or more processing elements of the computer system such as one or more processors or accelerators and indicates the manner in which one or more portions of the received task may be distributed among the processing elements of the computer system. The current drain pattern selected may be a constant current drain pattern or a pulsed current drain pattern and may be selected to optimize power consumption when executing the task among the one or more processing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: James Esliger, Wilson Kwan
  • Patent number: 9152571
    Abstract: An input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) having an “invalidate all” command available to clear the contents of cache memory is presented. The cache memory provides fast access to address translation data that has been previously obtained by a process. A typical cache memory includes device tables, page tables and interrupt remapping entries. Cache memory data can become stale or be compromised from security breaches or malfunctioning devices. In these circumstances, a rapid approach to clearing cache memory content is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Kegel, Mark D. Hummel, Anthony Asaro
  • Patent number: 9153198
    Abstract: A method and device of over training a connection is provided. Noise is intentionally supplied and added to a signal that is subjected to a link training operation. The link training operation is used to obtain a link between a source device and a receiving device. The device includes a noise source from which noise is obtained and added to a signal to aid in link over-training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: James D. Hunkins