Abstract: A system and method for the phase alignment of signals of arbitrary relative frequency are described. A phase difference detector detects a phase difference between a first signal pulse and a corresponding second signal pulse. A phase comparator compares this detected phase difference to a calculated expected phase difference, to produce an error signal proportional to the difference. The clock generator adjusts the frequency of one of the signals by an amount based on the error signal, in order to phase align the first signal to the second signal. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second signals are video signals with a common frame rate and different line rates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a device, and a system for performing gamma correction on a set of pixel data based on a gamma correction curve table. The gamma correction curve table includes a specified total number of intensity levels associated with gamma corrected pixel values with one intensity level per pixel value. The method includes partitioning the gamma correction curve table into N segments such that each of the N segments is associated with a set of intensity levels from the specified total number of intensity levels. A plurality of intensity levels is selected for each of the N segments such that significant banding effects are not visible to the human eye between an adjacent pair of the selected intensity levels. The gamma corrected pixel values are stored for each of the N segments such that each of the plurality of selected intensity levels functions as an index to the associated gamma corrected pixel values.

Abstract: An operation for combining multiple video streams permits combining any number of overlay images and base images regardless of processes performed upon one or more of the images. Specifically, where the base images are dynamically sized and resized to provide a constant frame rate (despite varying frame complexity), the process similarly treats overlay images and even other base images. In the dynamic sizing process, a rendering time is compared to high and low water marks. During dynamic resizing, two double buffering operations and a synchronization operation are performed. After dynamic sizing and resizing, the resulting resized images are combined together, regardless of the frame rate of the individual images. Consequently, multiple video streams at varying frame rates are combined at a constant frame rate.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically resizing graphic images of variable image complexity to generate display images at a constant frame rate for output to a display device. In one frame, an image resolution is determined and a graphic image is drawn to the determined image resolution. In the subsequent frame, the graphic image is magnified to a target resolution prior to being output to a display device. The synchronization of the drawing of the graphic image and its display is managed by a swap buffer signal. The present invention further provides for the double buffering of graphic images and their corresponding image resolutions. The present invention further provides for the independent dynamic resizing of multiple channels, such that, a plurality of display devices can independently resize graphic images of variable complexity at a constant frame rate.

Abstract: A synchronizing device is described. The synchronizing device detects a video frame. The synchronizing device determines a duration of a first signal state of a video signal, determines a duration of a second signal state of the video signal and compares the duration of a first signal state with the duration of a second signal state.

Abstract: A programmable video output format (VOF) generator that enables a processing system to drive different video display devices with varying video format requirements. The programmable VOF generator includes a compiler that generates video formats based on user input, and a state machine that generates all video signals with requisite output format. The compiler allows the user to provide minimal information on general display parameters using a high-level language. Therefore, no specialized knowledge of the video display hardware requirements is required from the user.