Abstract: A reduced memory method, apparatus, and system suitable for implementation in Liquid Crystal Display (LCDs) that reduces a pixel element response time thereby enabling the display of high quality fast motion images thereupon. As a method of generating an overdrive pixel value in an LCD device, a predicted pixel value is compressed and stored. The stored compressed pixel value is then retrieved and decompressed as a start pixel value. An overdrive pixel value based upon a target pixel value and the start pixel value such that the overdrive pixel value enables a pixel to reach the target pixel value within a single frame period.

Abstract: A method for reducing a response time of the pixels corresponding to a period of time required for a selected pixel at a starting pixel value to reach a target pixel value. Providing an n×n factored zero diagonal LCD overdrive matrix and for a selected pixel at a particular start pixel value, selecting a particular target pixel value to be reached in one frame time, and determining a particular overdrive pixel value based upon the particular start pixel value and the particular target pixel value using the factored zero diagonal LCD overdrive matrix. When the start pixel value and the target pixel value are equal or almost equal in value, then setting the overdrive pixel value to a main diagonal pixel value such that the start pixel value is equal to the target pixel value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing Hsync and Vsync signals in graphic controllers to avoid a false reading of pulses caused by glitches. The apparatus and method involve detecting when the synch signal crosses the threshold for the first time. When this occurs, the output of the detection circuit is held for the predetermined period of time, even if subsequent transitions across threshold occur during this period. After the predetermined period expires, the output is released and may assume the same state as the input sync signal at that time. In this manner, a misinterpretation of the resolution format caused by the reading of a “false” pulse caused by a glitch on a sync signal can be avoided.

Abstract: A method of overdriving LCD panels to improve LCD pixel response time is described that does not rely upon conventional use of overdrive look up tables. The method is based upon modeling the LCD pixels as linear second-order dynamical systems that leads to simple runtime calculations requiring but a small number of stored panel specific constants.

Abstract: An extended overdrive table uses the saturation regions to store useful data that conformably extends the unsaturated region in a natural way. This extended overdrive table reduces the size of any interpolation errors when straddling crossover points to acceptable levels without requiring storing or using any crossover data. In addition, since the saturation regions are used to hold the new data, no additional storage requirements are introduced. The numeric range of the extended table is increased and it is therefore supposed that the bit depth of the table entries is increased, but the table can be resealed to retain the original bit depth with insignificant loss of accuracy. Also, the new data incorporated into the saturation regions allows run time calculation of the pixel attained at the end of the frame time that is needed as the start of the pixel for the next cycle.

Abstract: Pixel clock frequency and optimum sampling phase adjustment is an important requirement in Flat panel display monitors (FPDM) with an analog video interface. This invention proposes a new and more advanced method for frequency an optimum sampling phase determination. It is based on analyzing the content of the image to arrive at an optimum value of phase and frequency by directly optimizing image quality. The method differs from exsisting methods on two counts. First, no assumptions are needed about the precise value of expected frequency. Second, instead of following a two step approach of first determining frequency and then phase, this invention makes possible a single pass phase-frequency optimization.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel based display, a method of dynamically selecting either frame rate conversion (FRC) or pixel voltage overdrive is disclosed. The method is carried out by performing the following operations. A video vertical refresh rate of an incoming video data stream is determined and based upon the determining, only one video data stream conditioning protocol from a number of available video data stream conditioning protocols is selected. The selected video data stream condition protocol is then applied to the video data stream.

Abstract: A method of automatic generation of horizontal synchronization of an analog signal to a digital display is described. Accordingly, a number of features are found and for each of a range of test Htotal values, a pixel co-ordinate value for each of the found features is calculated. A pixel co-ordinate remainder value associated with each of the pixel co-ordinate values is determined and a maximum gap value of the pixel co-ordinate remainder values associated with a true horizontal resolution. is determined.

Abstract: A processor having a limited amount of local memory for storing code and/or data utilizes a program stored in external memory. The program stored in external memory is configured into blocks which can be loaded individually into the local memory for execution. Queuing the individual blocks of code allows the program to be executed by the processor and also facilitates loading of the subsequent code to be executed. A semaphore system can be utilized to indicate which blocks of local memory are available/unavailable. The system can support the interaction of multiple independent programs in external memory.

Abstract: A method for reducing a response time of the pixels corresponding to a period of time required for a selected pixel at a starting pixel value to reach a target pixel value. Providing an n×n LCD overdrive matrix and for a selected pixel at a particular start pixel value, selecting a particular target pixel value to be reached in one frame time, and determining a particular overdrive pixel value based upon the particular start pixel value and the particular target pixel value using triangular interpolation.

Abstract: The computing forward and backward vectors in unique patterns to achieve improved horizontal and vertical detail of the video display while reducing data processing and storage overhead is disclosed. The invention comprises generating a unique pattern of forward and backward motion vectors. The motion vectors are calculated using a quincunx vector sub-sampling of the forward and backward motion vectors to generate the pattern of motion vectors. The unique pattern generated by the quincunx vector sub-sampling provides more symmetrical sampling in the horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions and the benefit of lower data processing overhead while performing frame rate conversion.

Abstract: To achieve the foregoing, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, an apparatus and method for generating refined sub-pixel vectors for motion estimation from vector correlation values and converged vector correlation values using quadratic approximations respectively is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes defining a minimum vector position value of a converged vector and then determining a predetermined number of vector correlation samples around the minimum vector position value. The predetermined number of vector correlation samples provide a coarse correlation surface estimation of the minimum vector position value. A correlation surface fitting of the predetermined number of vector correlation samples using a quadratic approximation of the coarse correlation surface estimation of the minimum value is then performed. The correlation surface fitting resulting in a refined sub-pixel minimum vector position with horizontal and vertical components.

Abstract: A multi-function display controller that includes a source detector unit for determining if the source of an input stream is either film originated source originated or video source originated. A source converter unit for converting the input image stream to a common signal processing format is coupled to the source detector unit. Once converted to the common signal processing format, a determination is made if the input image stream is interlaced or non-interlaced (progressive scan). If the input image stream is interlaced, a de-interlace unit converts the interlaced signal to progressive scan using either motion adaptive or motion compensated de-interlacing techniques. It should be noted that in the described embodiment, motion vectors generated for use by the motion compensated de-interlace can be optionally stored in a memory unit for use in subsequent operations, such as motion compensated frame rate conversion or noise reduction (if any).

Abstract: A method of auto-calibration of a liquid crystal display (LCD) is described. The method is carried out by generating and displaying on the LCD a test patch at a first grey level, generating a first signal based upon the test pattern at the first grey level, generating and displaying a second test patch at a second grey level, generating a second signal based upon the test pattern at the second grey level, and calculating an entry to an LCD overdrive table based upon the first and the second signal.

Abstract: A configurable real time data processor arranged to provide a data stream to a display unit having an associated set of display attributes. A number of ports each of which is configured to receive an input data stream, an adaptive image converter unit coupled to at least one of the ports suitable for converting a corresponding input data stream to a corresponding converted data stream having associated converted data stream attributes, an image compositor unit arranged to combine the converted data streams to form a composited data stream, an image enhancer unit arranged to enhance the composited data stream to form an enhanced data stream, and a display unit interface arranged process the enhanced data stream suitable for display on the display unit.

Abstract: A method of coupling a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device by providing a source device having a transmitter unit coupled thereto, providing sink device having a receiver unit coupled thereto, receiving a source data stream in accordance with a native stream rate by the transmitter unit, coupling the transmitter unit and the receiver unit by way of a linking unit, forming a multimedia data packet stream formed of a number of multimedia data packets and generating a transport schedule for transferring the multimedia data packet stream in accordance with a link rate between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit wherein the multimedia data

Abstract: In a digital display device, a packet based method of driving selected pixel elements by way of associated data latches included in a column driver is disclosed. For each frame lines in a video frame, a number of video data packets are provided directly to the column driver at a link rate and each of the number of data latches are populated with appropriate video data based upon video data packets within a line period ?. Selected pixel elements are driven based upon the video data.

Abstract: In a video processor unit, a method of providing a video data stream at a clock rate that is independent of a pixel clock rate. Receiving native video data from a video source at a native clock rate, storing the video data in a memory unit, reading selected portions of the video data at a memory clock rate, rasterizing the selected video data, packetizing the rasterized video data, sending the packetized video data to a display unit by way of a link at a link rate, wherein the link rate is directly related to the memory clock rate.

Abstract: In a system for processing and displaying a DVD-video data stream, a system for decoding and processing a subpicture data stream. The subpicture data stream comprises a subpicture pixel data stream and a subpicture display control data stream. The subpicture display control data stream preferably comprises one or more display control commands, one or more of which include subpicture display control information. The system comprises at least one processing unit for processing software programmed to perform at least some subpicture data stream decoding and subpicture display control command execution. In addition, the system further comprises a subpicture hardware unit configured to receive the subpicture pixel data stream, subpicture control information extracted from a subpicture display control command executed by said at least one processing unit, and subpicture display control commands not executed by said at least one processing unit.

Abstract: A television line doubler (interlaced to progressive scan converter) incorporating the following aspects—an improved field motion detector which does not treat low frequency vertical transitions as motion; a frame motion detector having an improved ability to differentiate motion from subcarrier signal components; a sawtooth artifact detector; a sawtooth artifact detector in combination with a film pattern detector, such that the artifact detector can take the film pattern detector out of film mode earlier than it would if it only were responsive to a break in the film pattern; tandem field motion detectors; an improved field based film detector; film pattern detectors and motion detectors used therewith which operate by performing end-of-field calculations; the combination of a field motion detector and a frame motion detector such that the frame motion detector provides a motion signal used as a verification by the field motion detector; an improved NTSC film detector requiring a minimum number of NTSC film