Abstract: Apparatus and methods provide at least redundant control information such as control symbols and control data over respective channels, such as differential lanes, and skew at least the redundant control information in time between the plurality of transmission circuits. Non-control information such as video and/or audio data may also be skewed. Corresponding receiver circuits and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image rendering unit (IRU) of a device determines the dynamic frame rate capabilities (DFRCs) of a display and an image frame rate of content to be displayed. Preferably, the DFRCs are stored in a storage device deployed within the display itself. Based on the DFRCs and the image frame rate for the content, the IRU determines an updated frame rate and thereafter provides the content to the display at the updated frame rate. Where control of power consumption is desired, selection of a reduced frame rate can effect a power savings. In this manner, the present invention provides flexible control over display frame rates and/or power consumption of the device.

Abstract: To adjust brightness of at least a portion of a display image, a type of content to be included within the display image is determined and, based on the identified content type, the light source of the display is set to an adjusted intensity. Thereafter, that portion of the display image unrelated to the content requiring adjusted brightness is processed to account for the adjusted intensity of the light source. Because the processing in accordance with the present invention is performed entirely on one or more processors that provide the display images to the display, the present invention overcomes the added complexity and cost associated with prior art techniques, while simultaneously providing the flexibility to quickly adjust display brightness based on types of content being included in the displayed image.

Abstract: A method and a system for frame data to a frame sequential display device without using a frame buffer at the display device and while still maintaining the ability to use a standard interface capable of running at standard bandwidths is disclosed herein. A display system may be used to convert a multiple color frame to a plurality of single color component frames for sequential display on a display device. The display system includes a data system, a display controller, and a display device. The data system provides graphics data to the display controller. The display controller converts the graphics data into single color component frames and then transmits the single color component frames sequentially in sets of parallel data to the display device for display. The display device receives the sets of parallel data and converts the parallel data into sequential data. The sequential data is then output to a frame sequential display.

Abstract: A system and method are described for providing an improved ratiometric expansion of video images. Source video images are set to a lower resolution than the full resolution of a pixelated display device. The source video images are up-scaled to match the display resolution of the display device. Pixels in the source video image are replicated to form a partially up-scaled video image that has frequency content well below the Nyquist rate of the image. The replicated image is then re-sampled through the use of a two-tap filter to generate a video image with the same resolution as the display device.

Abstract: A digital interface device is provided for facilitating key encryption of a digital signal which is communicated from a computer system to an associated peripheral device, such as a digital display device. The digital interface device has a digital output, digital output formatting circuitry associated with the output and a non-volatile RAM for storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) for, inter alia, controlling digital output formatting. The interface device is configured such that the non-volatile RAM has a specific addressable write-protectable area allocated for storing an encryption key flag at a flag address along with encryption key data. The write-protectable area is rendered read-only when a predetermined flag value is stored at the flag address.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gamma correction in a video graphics circuit is accomplished by storing a plurality of gamma correction curves in one or more lookup tables that can be accessed using pixel display information to generate gamma-corrected data. Gamma correction selection information is provided to select which of the gamma correction curves is utilized to perform the gamma correction for a particular set of pixel data.

Abstract: A graphic accelerator interface device for a computer is provided. The accelerator has a host data path that includes a plurality of comparators, each assigned to permit os/application access to a different “surface” which is defined by an address range corresponding to a block of data in a frame buffer. Unlike the prior art, an access flag register is associated with the host data path such that each surface assigned to a comparator has associated read and write flags. Whenever a read or a write occurs to one of the assigned surfaces via the host data path, the corresponding flag is set. Preferably, for os/application access, the surfaces contain data in an untiled format which the graphic accelerator uses in a tiled format. The invention affords more efficient, i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting multiple bus masters on an AGP bus is presented. A first bus master is configured as an AGP bus master and utilizes the AGP request portion of the AGP bus structure to issue bus master requests. A second bus master is configured as a PCI bus master and utilizes the PCI bus master request portion of the AGP bus to assert bus master requests. When bus master grants are received via the AGP bus, status lines are used to determine the character of the bus master grant. When the status lines indicate that the bus master grant is an AGP bus master grant, the AGP bus master performs AGP bus master operations. When the status lines indicate that the bus master grant is a PCI bus master grant, the PCI bus master is enabled and allowed to perform PCI bus mastering operations.

Abstract: A method and a system for frame data to a frame sequential display device without using a frame buffer at the display device and while still maintaining the ability to use a standard interface capable of running at standard bandwidths is disclosed herein. A display system may be used to convert a multiple color frame to a plurality of single color component frames for sequential display on a display device. The display system includes a data system, a display controller, and a display device. The data system provides graphics data to the display controller. The display controller converts the graphics data into single color component frames and then transmits the single color component frames sequentially in sets of parallel data to the display device for display. The display device receives the sets of parallel data and converts the parallel data into sequential data. The sequential data is then output to a frame sequential display.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a digital representation of a YCbCr video signal data stream is received that represents a video image or a series of video images. Received Y data values are linearly transformed and used to provide an RGB signal. The RGB signal is non-linearly adjusted to provide an adjusted RGB signal that enhances the viewed brightness of the data. In a specific embodiment, the non-linear adjusting adjusts the brightness of data near a mid-range of the video image more than other ranges of data.

Abstract: A system and method are described for providing an improved ratiometric expansion of video images. Source video images are set to a lower resolution than the full resolution of a pixelated display device. The source video images are up-scaled to match the display resolution of the display device. Pixels in the source video image are replicated to form a partially up-scaled video image that has frequency content well below the Nyquist rate of the image. The replicated image is then re-sampled through the use of a two-tap filter to generate a video image with the same resolution as the display device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending a plurality of image input layers include processing that begins by converting each of a plurality of image input layers that have a color base that differs from a color base of a display into a image layer having the color base of the display, thereby producing converting image layers. The color base of the image input layers and of the output include the colorimetries of various standardized video signals, color space, and/or any other defining display characteristics of video signals that is currently standardized or maybe standardized. Further note that an image input layer corresponds to a window, a background and/or a display area of a display, where the display is capable of presenting more than one image, where the images originate from different video and/or graphics data sources (e.g., a television signal, and a computer application display).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting the color base of an image input layer include processing that begins by interpreting a conversion flag. The processing then continues by converting the color base of the image input layer from a first color base to a second color base when the conversion flag indicates a color base conversion. Note that a color base corresponds to standardized colorometries of video signals, color space of video signals, and/or any other displaying characteristics of video signals that are standardized or may be subsequently standardized. Further note that an image input layer corresponds to a display or portion thereof (e.g., a window or a picture in picture), wherein the display is capable of presenting images from multiple video and/or graphics data sources (e.g., a television signal and a computer application).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality of video data when displayed on a display device that uses YUV output data to produce a display includes processing that begins by generating expanded RGB data from received RGB data. For example, the RGB data may be 8-bit data and the expanded data is generated by adding bits to it. The processing continues by generating RGB representative data from received YUV data. The RGB representative data is of the same format as the expanded RGB data and has a value range that includes and exceeds the normalized value range of the perceived RGB data. For example, the RGB representative data may have values less than zero and/or greater than 1, or normalized values outside of the zero to 1 range. The processing then continues by mixing the RGB representative data and the expanded RGB data to produce resulting RGB data, which has a similar format as both the expanded RGB data and the RGB representative data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically blending a plurality of image input layers include processing that begins by determining color base (e.g., color space, colorimetries and/or any defining characteristics relating to the display of a video signal and/or graphics data) of each of a plurality of image input layers. An image input layer corresponds to a window, display area and/or background of a display capable of presenting separate images at one time, wherein the separate images originate from separate video and/or graphics sources. The processing continues by determining an output color base of an output, where the output color base corresponds to the color base capabilities of the video equipment (e.g., RGB output). The processing then continues by converting, for each of the plurality of image input layers that has a different color base than the output color base, the color base to match the output color base thereby producing converting image layers.