Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for performing video encoding mode decisions. A down-scaled frame is received that includes a macroblock corresponding to a first subset of macroblocks of a first area in a full-scale frame. A first average motion vector is calculated for the first subset of macroblocks, and a second average motion vector is calculated for a second subset of macroblocks of a second area surrounding the first subset of macroblocks. A comparison of a threshold to a distance measure between absolute values of the first and second average motion vectors is performed. A prediction mode for the macroblock in the down-scaled frame is determined based on the comparison to generate predicted blocks.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a part for an article of equipment includes a fluid conducting first region including a corrosion resistant first material, and a fluid conducting second region including a second material. The first region and the second region are either directly or indirectly joined by solid state welding to form a unitary fluid conducting part. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for replacing at least one fluid conducting part of an article of equipment is disclosed wherein a replacement part is provided that includes a fluid conducting first region including a corrosion resistant first material, and a fluid conducting second region including a second material. The second material is substantially identical to the material of a region of the equipment on which the replacement part is mounted. The first and second regions are either directly or indirectly joined by solid state welding to form a unitary fluid conducting replacement part.

Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) includes a first loop, a second loop, and a lock detector. The first loop locks a feedback signal having a frequency equal to a fraction of a frequency of an output signal to a reference signal in phase. The first loop has a first bandwidth. The second loop locks the feedback signal to the reference signal in frequency and has a second bandwidth. The first bandwidth is higher than the second bandwidth. The lock detector is coupled to the second loop and increases the second bandwidth in response to detecting that the feedback signal is not locked to the reference signal.

Abstract: A current generator includes first and second current generators and an output current generator. The first current generator has an output for providing a first current, the first current proportional to a difference between a first power supply voltage and a first gate-to-source voltage. The second current generator has an output for providing a second current, the second current proportional to a second gate-to-source voltage. The second gate-to-source voltage is approximately equal to the first gate-to-source voltage. The output current generator provides an output current proportional to a sum of said first current and said second current.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improving efficiency, power, and bandwidth consumption in parallel processing. Rather than using memory polling to ensure that enough space is available in memory locations for, for example, write instructions, the techniques disclosed herein provide a system and method to automate this evaluation mechanism in environments such as data-parallel processing to efficiently check available space in memory locations before instructions such as write threads are allowed. These operations are handled efficiently in hardware, but are flexible enough to be implemented in all manner of programming models.

Abstract: A method of providing cipher data during a period of time when output of a primary source of cipher data is unavailable is disclosed. The method comprises switching from a primary source of cipher data to an alternate source of cipher data at a beginning of the period of time; using the cipher data from the alternate source during the period of time; and switching back to the primary source at an end of the period of time.

Abstract: A frame construction engine constructs a first frame of deinterlaced video and a second frame of deinterlaced video based on a first field of interlaced video and based on a second field of interlaced video, independent of any other fields of interlaced video. The frame construction engine constructs the first frame of deinterlaced video by assigning pixel values from the first field of interlaced video to corresponding pixel locations in the first frame. The frame construction engine constructs the second frame of deinterlaced video by assigning pixel values from the second field of interlaced video to corresponding pixel locations in the second frame. Missing pixel locations in each of the frames are selected from a corresponding field of spatially interpolated pixel values or from an opposite field of deinterlaced video.

Abstract: An adjustable stock and cheek rest assembly for a firearm includes a buffer tube extending rearwardly from the firearm at an angle relative to the firearm receiver. A stock is slidably mounted on the buffer tube, and a cheek rest is disposed in overlying relationship to the stock. A cheek rest adjustment arrangement is connected between the stock and the cheek rest, and is provided with a movable linkage for enabling vertical movement of the cheek rest relative to the stock as the stock moves along the angled buffer tube. A movable member provided with locking structure is mounted on the stock for selective engagement with lock receiving structure on the buffer tube for locking the stock in various axial adjustment positions along the buffer tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for centralized timestamp processing is described herein. A graphics processing system includes multiple graphics engines and a timestamp module. For each task, a graphics driver assigns the task to a graphics engine and writes a task command packet to a memory buffer associated with the graphics engine. The graphics driver also writes a timestamp command packet for each task to a timestamp module memory buffer. A command processor associated with the graphics engine signals the timestamp module memory buffer upon completion of the task. If the read pointer is at the appropriate position in the timestamp module memory buffer, the timestamp module/timestamp module memory buffer executes the timestamp command packet and writes the timestamp to a timestamp memory. The timestamp memory is accessible by the graphics driver.

Abstract: A circuit includes a circuit identification storage module and a control module. The circuit identification storage module stores circuit identification information. The control module receives the circuit identification information and in response thereto selectively performs a secure boot procedure or a test boot procedure. The control circuit performs the secure boot procedure when the circuit identification information indicates that the circuit is a production circuit. The control circuit performs the test boot procedure when the circuit identification information indicates that the circuit is a test circuit. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that provides, by mapping logic, output to a selected display of a plurality of displays forming an arrangement, where the selected display provides a visual indication in response to the output. The visual indication indicates that the selected display is ready to be mapped to an image data portion corresponding to the selected display's physical position within the arrangement. The method maps the image data portion to the selected display. The image data portion is stored in a frame buffer, and is mapped in response to input indicating the selected display's physical position. The frame buffer stores a single large surface image as a plurality of image data portions, where each image data portion is mapped to a corresponding display of the plurality of displays. An apparatus is also disclosed, that operates in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for performing video encoding mode decisions in a video transcoding system. A down-scaled frame may be received that includes at least one macroblock. The down-scaled frame may be associated with a full-scale frame having a plurality of macroblocks that have been downsampled. A weighting factor and a distance measure factor may be determined for each of the macroblocks in the full-scale frame. Predicted blocks may be generated based on the weighting and distance measure factors.

Abstract: A method detects by a display driver logic, inactivity between the display driver logic and a display logic, and deactivates an auxiliary channel by the display driver logic, wherein the auxiliary channel is between the display driver logic and the display logic. The method also detects, by the display driver logic via the auxiliary channel, a required operating mode capability of a display; and determines a minimum number of connection lines needed between the display driver logic and the display logic, to operate the display in the required operating mode capability. A display driver logic includes a connection port suitable for operative connection to a display logic, wherein the display drive logic is operative to detect inactivity between the display driver logic and the display logic, and deactivate an auxiliary channel between the display driver logic and the display logic.

Abstract: A method of operating a processing device is provided. The method includes, responsive to an idle state of the processing device, transitioning the processing device to a substantially disabled state. The processing device, for example, may be a graphics processing unit (GPU). Transitioning the processing device to a substantially disabled state upon detection of an idle state may result in power savings. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing power consumption of a data transfer interface in a computer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for reducing power consumption of a data transfer interface between a first device and a second device, includes, identifying a free interval between a first data and a second data, disabling the data transfer interface during the free interval, enabling the data transfer interface at the end of the free interval, and transmitting the second data. The method may also include a step of notifying the second device that the data transfer interface is being temporarily disabled. Another embodiment, for example, includes the transfer of display data (or video frames) over an interface, such as, a DisplayPort interface, between a graphics controller device and a timing controller device in a computer system.

Abstract: A graphics processing circuit includes at least two pipelines operative to process data in a corresponding set of tiles of a repeating tile pattern, a respective one of the at least two pipelines operative to process data in a dedicated tile, wherein the repeating tile pattern includes a horizontally and vertically repeating pattern of square regions. A graphics processing method includes receiving vertex data for a primitive to be rendered; generating pixel data in response to the vertex data; determining the pixels within a set of tiles of a repeating tile pattern to be processed by a corresponding one of at least two graphics pipelines in response to the pixel data, the repeating tile pattern including a horizontally and vertically repeating pattern of square regions; and performing pixel operations on the pixels within the determined set of tiles by the corresponding one of the at least two graphics pipelines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods for enabling efficient reads to a local memory of a processing unit. In an embodiment, a processing unit includes an interface and a buffer. The interface is configured to (i) send a request for a portion of data in a region of a local memory of an other processing unit and (ii) receive, responsive to the request, all the data from the region. The buffer is configured to store the data from the region of the local memory of the other processing unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provides for the execution of threads and/or workitems on multiple processors of a heterogeneous computing system in a manner that they can share data correctly and efficiently. Disclosed method, system, and article of manufacture embodiments include, responsive to an instruction from a sequence of instructions of a work-item, determining an ordering of visibility to other work-items of one or more other data items in relation to a particular data item, and performing at least one cache operation upon at least one of the particular data item or the other data items present in any one or more cache memories in accordance with the determined ordering. The semantics of the instruction includes a memory operation upon the particular data item.

Abstract: Various semiconductor chip package substrates with reinforcement and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes providing a package substrate that has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The first side has a central area adapted to receive a semiconductor chip. A solder reinforcement structure is formed on the first side of the package substrate outside of the central area to resist bending of the package substrate.

Abstract: A central processor unit (CPU) is connected to a system/graphics controller generally comprising a monolithic semiconductor device. The system/graphics controller is connected to an input output (IO) controller via a high-speed PCI bus. The IO controller interfaces to the system graphics controller via the high-speed PCI bus. The IO controller includes a lower speed PCI port controlled by an arbiter within the IO controller. Generally, the low speed PCI arbiter of the IO controller will interface to standard 33 MHz PCI cards. In addition, the IO controller interfaces to an external storage device, such as a hard drive, via either a standard or a proprietary bus protocol. A unified system/graphics memory which is accessed by the system/graphics controller. The unified memory contains both system data and graphics data. In a specific embodiment, two channels, CH0 and CH1 access the unified memory.