Parallel Processors (e.g., Identical Processors) Patents (Class 345/505)
  • Patent number: 8959138
    Abstract: A method for generating a distributed data scalable adaptive map-reduce framework for at least one multi-core cluster. The method includes partitioning a cluster into at least one computational group, determining at least one key-group leader within each computational group, performing a local combine operation at each computational group, performing a global combine operation at each of the at least one key-group leader within each computational group based on a result from the local combine operation, and performing a global map-reduce operation across the at least one key-group leader within each computational group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ankur Narang, Jyothish Soman
  • Publication number: 20150042672
    Abstract: A parallel multicolor ILU factorization preconditioner processor and a method of computing an ILU preconditioning matrix. One embodiment of the preconditioning processor having parallel computing pipelines includes: (1) a graph coloring circuit operable to identify parallelisms in a sparse linear system, (2) an ILU computer configured to employ the parallel computing pipelines according to the parallelisms to: (2a) determine a sparsity pattern for an ILU preconditioning matrix, and (2b) compute non-zero elements of the ILU preconditioning matrix according to the sparsity pattern, and (3) a memory communicably couplable to the parallel computing pipelines and configured to store the ILU preconditioning matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Strzodka, Julien Demouth, Patrice Castonguay
  • Publication number: 20150042665
    Abstract: Graphics processing units (GPUs) deployed in general purpose GPU (GPGPU) units are combined into a GPGPU cluster. Access to the GPGPU cluster is then offered as a service to users who can use their own computers to communicate with the GPGPU cluster. The users develop applications to be run on the cluster and a profiling module tracks the applications' resource utilization and can report it to the user and to a subscription server. The user can examine the report to thereby optimize the application or the cluster's configuration. The subscription server can interpret the report to thereby invoice the user or otherwise govern the users' access to the cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Greg Scantlen, Gary Scantlen
  • Patent number: 8952963
    Abstract: A new hardware architecture defines an indexing and encoding method for accelerating incoherent ray traversal. Accelerating multiple ray traversal may be accomplished by organizing the rays for minimal movement of data, hiding latency due to external memory access, and performing adaptive binning. Rays may be binned into coarse grain and fine grain spatial bins, independent of direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Raycast Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alvin D. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8952971
    Abstract: A rendering processing apparatus and method using multiprocessing are disclosed. The rendering processing method includes dividing an application execution window into frames and generating a rendering processing command for rendering processing of an image on a frame basis by a pre-rendering manager, generating a rendering image on a frame basis according to the rendering processing command by a rendering manager, and storing the generated rendering image in a memory. The generation of a rendering processing command and the generation of a rendering image are performed in a plurality of threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tobesoft Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwajun Song
  • Patent number: 8952976
    Abstract: A SIMD parallel processor is described comprising an array comprising processing elements, associated data storage components and access means configured to enable access to at least one of the data storage components associated with at least one of the processing elements; a control processor; memory control means configured to enable addressing of at least one of the access means for the control processor; and connecting means configured to connect the memory control means to the access means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Alexander Alexandrovich Danilin, Richard Petrus Kleihorst, Paul Wielage
  • Patent number: 8952970
    Abstract: A rendering processing apparatus and method using multiprocessing are disclosed. The rendering processing method includes dividing an application execution window into frames and generating a rendering processing command for rendering processing of an image on a frame basis by a pre-rendering manager, generating a rendering image for a frame according to the generated rendering processing command by a rendering manager, and storing the generated rendering image in a memory. A task for generating a rendering processing command is divided into at least one task, a task for generating a rendering image is divided into at least one task, and the divided tasks can be processed simultaneously in a plurality of threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tobesoft Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwajun Song
  • Publication number: 20150035842
    Abstract: A method includes providing an input port and/or an output port directly interfaced with a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) of a data processing device further including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to enable a corresponding reception of input data and/or rendering of output data therethrough. The method also includes implementing a voice/audio processing engine in the data processing device. Further, the method includes performing voice/audio related processing of the input data received through the input port and/or voice/audio related processing of data in the data processing device to realize the output data based on executing the voice/audio processing engine solely through the GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Mahesh Sambhaji Jadhav
  • Publication number: 20150035841
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to a multithreaded execution pipeline. In some embodiments, an apparatus is configured to assign a number of threads to an execution pipeline that is an integer multiple of a minimum number of cycles that an execution unit is configured to use to generate an execution result from a given set of input operands. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured to require strict ordering of the threads. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured so that the same thread access (e.g., reads and writes) a register file in a given cycle. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured so that the same thread does not write back an operand and a result to an operand cache in a given cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Havlir, James S. Blomgren, Terence M. Potter
  • Patent number: 8947448
    Abstract: A parallax representation unit in a displayed image processing unit uses a height map containing information on a height of an object for each pixel to represent different views caused by the height of the object. A color representation unit uses, for example, texture coordinate values derived by the parallax representation unit to render the image, shifting the pixel defined in the color map. The color representation unit uses the normal map that maintains normals to the surface of the object for each pixel to change the way that light impinges on the surface and represent the roughness accordingly. A shadow representation unit uses a horizon map, which maintains information for each pixel to indicate whether a shadow is cast depending on the angle relative to the light source, so as to shadow the image rendered by the color representation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Segawa, Noriaki Shinoyama, Akio Ohba, Tetsugo Inada
  • Patent number: 8941677
    Abstract: A quality display is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide for the display of an indication of quality of a geographic survey. In some example embodiments, a survey grid corresponding to the geographic boundaries of a dynamically created survey area is displayed, where the displayed survey grid expands based on the geographic movement of survey participants. In additional embodiments, data representing the survey grid, cells of the survey grid, and a plurality of sub-cells into which each cell of the survey grid is divided is stored. In other embodiments, a numerical index corresponding to the quality of the survey in each cell of the survey grid is determined based on positioning information. In still other embodiments, a display attribute associated with each cell of the survey grid is adjusted in accordance with the numerical index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Peter D. Hallenbeck
  • Patent number: 8941669
    Abstract: Frames are rendered by multiple graphics processors (GPUs), which may be heterogeneous. Graphics processors split the execution of the command in a push buffer of a frame. One GPU begins rendering a frame, and a second GPU takes over rendering that frame after the second GPU is done rendering a previous frame. The second GPU may then begin rendering a subsequent frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Henry P. Moreton
  • Publication number: 20150022534
    Abstract: A graphics processor capable of efficiently performing arithmetic operations and computing elementary functions is described. The graphics processor has at least one arithmetic logic unit (ALU) that can perform arithmetic operations and at least one elementary function unit that can compute elementary functions. The ALU(s) and elementary function unit(s) may be arranged such that they can operate in parallel to improve throughput. The graphics processor may also include fewer elementary function units than ALUs, e.g., four ALUs and a single elementary function unit. The four ALUs may perform an arithmetic operation on (1) four components of an attribute for one pixel or (2) one component of an attribute for four pixels. The single elementary function unit may operate on one component of one pixel at a time. The use of a single elementary function unit may reduce cost while still providing good performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: YUN DU, Guofang Jiao, Chun Yu, Alexei Vladimirovich Bourd
  • Patent number: 8933943
    Abstract: A technique to promote load balancing in parallel graphics rendering. In one embodiment, one or more threads are associated with one or more rendering tiles and scheduled in a balanced manner on one or more graphics processing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alexei Soupikov, Alexander Reshetov, Dmitry Pyadushkin
  • Patent number: 8933963
    Abstract: A system may include a memory that stores instructions and a processor to execute the instructions to create a first set of objects, describing a graphical scene, in a first data structure based on data relating to the graphical scene. The processor may create a second set of objects in a second data structure based on the first set of objects in the first data structure, where at least one object of the first set of objects is associated with at least one object of the second set of objects and one or more properties for an object of the second set of objects is based on information associated with the first data structure. The processor may modify the second set of objects and provide the modified second set of objects to a browser for rendering the graphical scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Garrity
  • Patent number: 8933944
    Abstract: An improved external controller with dual microcontrollers useable with an implantable medical device is disclosed. The external controller comprises a low speed (low frequency) microcontroller and a high speed (high frequency) microcontroller. The low speed microcontroller receives telemetry data from the medical device, converts data into graphical commands, and transmits commands to the high speed microcontroller. The high speed microcontroller interprets the graphical commands, retrieves images indicative of the commands from a storage device, and renders the images onto a display screen. The high speed microcontroller may also process more complicated data sent from the low speed microcontroller, and return the results to the low speed microcontroller to allow it to form the graphics command for the high speed microcontroller to execute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Aghassian, Thomas Stouffer, Vuong Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150009222
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing graphics processing. The apparatus includes a dual CPU socket architecture comprising a first CPU socket and a second CPU socket. The apparatus includes a plurality of GPU boards providing a plurality of GPU processors coupled to the first CPU socket and the second CPU socket, wherein each GPU board comprises two or more of the plurality of GPU processors. The apparatus includes a communication interface coupling the first CPU socket to a first subset of one or more GPU boards and the second CPU socket to a second subset of one or more GPU boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: FRANCK DIARD, TOM PUTNAM, JEN-HSUN HUANG, XUN WANG
  • Patent number: 8928676
    Abstract: In a raster stage of a graphics processor, a method for parallel fine rasterization. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor. The graphics primitive is rasterized at a first level to generate a plurality of tiles of pixels. The titles are subsequently rasterized at a second level by allocating the tiles to an array of parallel second-level rasterization units to generate covered pixels. The covered pixels are then output for rendering operations in a subsequent stage of the graphics processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Walter R. Steiner, Franklin C. Crow, Craig M. Wittenbrink, Roger L. Allen, Douglas A. Voorhies
  • Patent number: 8928677
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing low latency computation on a parallel processing subsystem. A low latency functional node is exposed to an operating system. The low latency functional node and a generic functional node are configured to target the same underlying processor resource within the parallel processing subsystem. The operating system stores low latency tasks generated by a user application within a low latency command buffer associated with the low latency functional node. The parallel processing subsystem advantageously executes tasks from the low latency command buffer prior to completing execution of tasks in the generic command buffer, thereby reducing completion latency for the low latency tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Elliot Wexler, Jeffrey A. Bolz, Jesse David Hall, Philip Alexander Cuadra, Naveen Leekha, Ignacio Llamas
  • Patent number: 8928690
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for implementing antialiasing including independently operating different portions of a graphics pipeline at different sampling rates in accordance with pixel color details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Jude Brennan
  • Patent number: 8928679
    Abstract: A system, method and a computer program product are provided for distributing prim groups for parallel processing in a single clock cycle. A work distributor divides a draw call for primitive processing into a plurality of prim groups according to a prim group size. The work distributor then distributes the plurality of prim groups to a plurality of shader engines for parallel processing of the plurality of prim groups during a clock cycle. The size of a prim group and a number of prim groups are scaled to the plurality of shader engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Carroll, Vineet Goel, Mangesh Nijasure, Todd E. Martin
  • Patent number: 8922565
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are disclosed, in which a processing unit is configured to perform secondary processing on graphics pipeline data outside the graphics pipeline, with the output from the secondary processing being integrated into the graphics pipeline so that it is made available to the graphics pipeline. A determination is made whether to use secondary processing, and in a case that secondary processing is to be used, a command stream, which can comprise one or more commands, is provided to the secondary processing unit, so that the unit can locate and operate on buffered graphics pipeline data. Secondary processing is managed and monitored so as to synchronize data access by the secondary processing unit with the graphics pipeline processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael D. Street
  • Patent number: 8922569
    Abstract: A client-server computing system includes a server with a virtual display driver that marshals and transmits graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a client via a network. The virtual display driver includes a translation module that classifies graphics commands according to graphics library type and, if necessary, translates commands from one type to another such that the original command can be executed on the client. The translation module enables the server and the client to utilize different types of graphics libraries, such as the Direct3D API and the OpenGL API.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: hopTo Inc.
    Inventor: William Tidd
  • Patent number: 8917941
    Abstract: A method for measuring shapes in thick multi-planar reformatted (MPR) digital images, including identifying a shape in a digital MPR image, scan-converting points corresponding to the identified shape on a starting plane of an MPR slab in an image volume from which the MPR was obtained to generate a plurality of starting points for the identified shape, calculating an end point in the MPR slab corresponding to each starting point, propagating a ray from each starting point to each corresponding end point, accumulating samples along each ray, and computing a desired measurement value from the accumulated samples after reaching the end point for all rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Lining Yang
  • Publication number: 20140368515
    Abstract: Techniques for coalescing graphics operations are described. In at least some embodiments, multiple graphics operations can be generated to be applied to a graphical element, such as a graphical user interface (GUI). The graphics operations can be coalesced into a single renderable graphics operation that can be processed and rendered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Fortini, Rico Mariani, Anjali S. Parikh, Matthew P. Kotsenas, Jason J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20140368516
    Abstract: An operating system that includes an image processing framework as well as a job management layer is provided. The image processing framework is for performing image processing operations and the job management layer is for assigning the image processing operations to multiple concurrent computing resources. The computing resources include several processing units and one or more direct memory access (DMA) channels for concurrently rendering image data and transferring image data between the processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Angus M. Taggart, Eric J. Graves, Jean-Francois N. Dumais
  • Patent number: 8907963
    Abstract: Concurrent display of graphic content on multiple displays is described. A frame of graphic content to be displayed on multiple displays can be written to a single memory location. Previously written graphic content can be read to multiple displays having misaligned synchronization signals and new graphic content can be written to a different memory location concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Neil John Graham
  • Publication number: 20140354656
    Abstract: A multi core graphic processing device includes a first graphic core that processes a first segment of a graphic frame divided into a plurality of segments and generates a first local decision that defines a scene property of the first segment, a second graphic core that processes a second segment of the graphic frame different from the first segment and generates a second local decision that defines a scene property of the second segment, and a global decision unit that receives the first local decision and the second local decision from the first graphic core and the second graphic core, and selects one of the received first local decision and second local decision as a global decision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HYEON-SU PARK, YUN-SEOK LEE, NYEONG-KYU KWON
  • Patent number: 8902238
    Abstract: Flood-fill techniques and architecture are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, the architecture comprises a hardware primitive with a software interface which collectively allow for both data-based and task-based parallelism in executing a flood-fill process. The hardware primitive is defined to do the flood-fill function and is scalable and may be implemented with a bitwise definition that can be tuned to meet power/performance targets, in some embodiments. In executing a flood-fill operation, and in accordance with an example embodiment, the software interface produces parallel threads and issues them to processing elements, such that each of the threads can run independently until done. Each processing element in turn accesses a flood-fill hardware primitive, each of which is configured to flood a seed inside an N×M image block. In some cases, processing element commands to the flood-fill hardware primitive(s) can be queued and acted upon pursuant to an arbitration scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alon Gluska, Niraj Gupta, Mostafa Hagog, Dror Reif
  • Publication number: 20140347373
    Abstract: There are provided a method of generating a terrain model and a device using the same. The method of generating a terrain model includes dividing a primitive terrain model into a plurality of partial terrain sections based on a predetermined criterion, assigning the plurality of partial terrain sections to a multiprocessor, and generating a final terrain model by performing a terrain transformation simulation of the plurality of partial terrain sections through parallel processing based on the multiprocessor. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly generate a realistic terrain model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seung Hyup SHIN, Il Kwon JEONG
  • Patent number: 8896705
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a response speed of a display panel is provided. The measuring device includes a microcontroller and at least one photo sensor. The microcontroller provides a control command, according to which a display controller of the display panel provides test pattern to the display panel. The photo sensor senses a test frame displayed corresponding to the test pattern by the display panel, and provides a corresponding sensing signal associated with brightness and a response signal. According to the response signal, the response speed of the display panel is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chiu, Tien-Hua Yu, Wen-Cheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20140340411
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates seamlessly switching between graphics-processing units (GPUs) to drive a display. In one embodiment, the system receives a request to switch from using a first GPU to using a second GPU to drive the display. In response to this request, the system uses a kernel thread which operates in the background to configure the second GPU to prepare the second GPU to drive the display. While the kernel thread is configuring the second GPU, the system continues to drive the display with the first GPU and a user thread continues to execute a window manager which performs operations associated with servicing user requests. When configuration of the second GPU is complete, the system switches the signal source for the display from the first GPU to the second GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas W. Costa, Simon M. Douglas, David J. Redman
  • Patent number: 8892804
    Abstract: An internal bus bridge architecture and method is described. Embodiments include a system with multiple bus endpoints coupled to a bus root via a host bus bridge that is internal to at least one bus endpoint. In addition, the bus endpoints are directly coupled to each other. Embodiments are usable with known bus protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Morein, Mark S. Grossman
  • Publication number: 20140333636
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for notifying a display driver to update a display with a graphics frame including multiple graphics data rendered separately by multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) substantially concurrently are described. Graphics commands may be received to dispatch to each GPU for rendering corresponding graphics data. The display driver may be notified when each graphics data has been completely rendered respectively by the corresponding GPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Elliott Swift, Kenneth Christian Dyke, Richard Warren Schreyer
  • Publication number: 20140333635
    Abstract: A graphical processing unit having an implementation of a hierarchical hash table thereon, a method of establishing a hierarchical hash table in a graphics processing unit and GPU computing system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the graphics processing unit includes: (1) a plurality of parallel processors, wherein each of the plurality of parallel processors includes parallel processing cores, a shared memory coupled to each of the parallel processing cores, and registers, wherein each one of the registers is uniquely associated with one of the parallel processing cores and (2) a controller configured to employ at least one of the registers to establish a hierarchical hash table for a key-value pair of a thread processing on one of the parallel processing cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventor: Julien Demouth
  • Publication number: 20140327682
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to reduce the number of IO requests to memory when executing a program that iteratively processes contiguous data are provided. A first set of data elements may be loaded in a first register and a second set of data elements may be loaded in a second register. The first set of data elements and the second set of data elements can be used during the execution of a program to iteratively process the data elements. For each of a plurality of iterations, a corresponding set of data elements to be used during the execution of an operation for the iteration may be selected from the first set of data elements stored in the first register and the second set of data elements stored in the second register. In this way, the same data elements are not re-loaded from memory during each iteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Tomasz Janczak
  • Publication number: 20140327683
    Abstract: In some aspects, systems and methods provide for forming groupings of a plurality of independently-specified computation workloads, such as graphics processing workloads, and in a specific example, ray tracing workloads. The workloads include a scheduling key, which is one basis on which the groupings can be formed. Workloads grouped together can all execute from the same source of instructions, on one or more different private data elements. Such workloads can recursively instantiate other workloads that reference the same private data elements. In some examples, the scheduling key can be used to identify a data element to be used by all the workloads of a grouping. Memory conflicts to private data elements are handled through scheduling of non-conflicted workloads or specific instructions and/or deferring conflicted workloads instead of locking memory locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: IMAGINATION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Luke T Peterson, James A McCombe, Steven J Clohset, Jason R Redgrave
  • Patent number: 8878870
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide graphic processing techniques and configurations including an apparatus comprising a storage medium having stored therein a table comprising information about respective positions and sizes of a number of rectangular blocks, the rectangular blocks to substantially form at least one plane having an arbitrary shape object, and at least one overlay engine operatively coupled with the table and associated with the at least one plane to request the information about the respective positions and the sizes of the number of rectangular blocks to provide graphics overlay of the arbitrary shape object. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Satish Kumar Vutukuri, Haohong Wang, Li Sha, Tao Xie, Ching-Han Tsai, Tzun-Wei Lee, Leung Chung Lai, Shuhua Xiang
  • Patent number: 8872833
    Abstract: The present invention systems and methods enable configuration of functional components in integrated circuits. A present invention system and method can flexibly change the operational characteristics of functional components in an integrated circuit die based upon a variety of factors, including if the die has a defective component. An indication of the defective functional component identification is received. A determination is made if the defective functional component is one of a plurality of similar functional components that can provide the same functionality. The other similar components can be examined to determine if they are parallel components to the defective functional component. The defective functional component is disabled if it is one of the plurality of similar functional components and another component can handle the workflow that would otherwise be assigned to the defective component. Workflow is diverted from the disabled component to other similar functional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Van Dyke, John S. Montrym, Michael B. Nagy, Sean J. Treichler
  • Patent number: 8866826
    Abstract: Parallel graphics-processing methods and mobile computing apparatus with parallel graphics-processing capabilities are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment of a mobile computing apparatus includes physical memory, at least two distinct graphics-processing devices, and a bus coupled to the physical memory and the at least two graphics-processing devices. A virtual graphics processing component enables each of at least two graphics-processing operations to be executed, in parallel, by a corresponding one of the at least two distinct graphics-processing devices, which operate in the same memory surface at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Reid, Hanyu Cui, Praveen V. Arkeri, Ashish Bijlani
  • Patent number: 8866825
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of image processing circuits. Each image processing circuit generates an image frame corresponding to a single large surface. The first image processing circuit provides a portion of the generated image frame for a first display or plurality of displays and provides a remaining portion of the image frame to the remaining image processing circuits. The next image processing circuits provides the remaining portion of the image frame for the next plurality of displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Jeffrey G. Cheng
  • Patent number: 8861011
    Abstract: A print image processing system includes plural logical page interpretation units, a dual interpretation unit, a cache memory, an assignment unit, and a print image data generation unit. The logical page interpretation units interpret assigned logical pages in input print data in parallel. The dual interpretation unit interprets an assigned logical page in the print data or an element to be cached which is included in the logical page. The cache memory stores interpretation results of elements to be cached. The assignment unit assigns logical pages to the dual interpretation unit and the logical page interpretation units. The print image data generation unit generates print image data for the logical pages using the interpretation results output from the logical page interpretation units or the dual interpretation unit and the interpretation results stored in the cache memory. The print image data generation unit supplies the print image data to a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8860737
    Abstract: A processing unit includes multiple execution pipelines, each of which is coupled to a first input section for receiving input data for pixel processing and a second input section for receiving input data for vertex processing and to a first output section for storing processed pixel data and a second output section for storing processed vertex data. The processed vertex data is rasterized and scan converted into pixel data that is used as the input data for pixel processing. The processed pixel data is output to a raster analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: John Erik Lindholm, Brett W. Coon, Stuart F. Oberman, Ming Y. Siu, Matthew P. Gerlach
  • Patent number: 8860701
    Abstract: A control method for bi-stable displaying is provided, using queues for storing coordinates to achieve pipeline parallel processing on display data, thereby increasing display speed. In a preceding stage of the display process, because a plurality of queues may be used for temporarily storing part of the display data which is then reconstructed into complete display data to update a current frame buffer, comparing pixel data and generating driving data can be simultaneously preformed upon a plurality of line segments. Moreover, in a succeeding stage of the display process, a similar process may be performed to update a previous frame buffer, so access time can be reduced and errors caused by overlapping image blocks can also be avoided. Furthermore, the method may be also applied to a timing controller and a bi-stable display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Chia Shih, Gin-Yen Lee
  • Patent number: 8854379
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for routing data across a multicore processing network. The system includes a multicore processing array having a plurality of processing cores, a memory for storing data relating to an object being modeled, the data being associated with coordinate information relating to the object within a coordinate system, and a controller for routing the data from the memory to one or more of the plurality of processing cores of the multicore processing array based on the coordinate information associated with the data. The present disclosure also relates to a method for routing data across a multicore processing network and a computer accessible medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a procedure for routing data across a multicore processing network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Conte, Andrew Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8854384
    Abstract: In a graphics processing device, a plurality of processors write fragment shading results for order-dependent data to a buffer, according to the order in which the data is received. Fragment shading results for order-neutral data is written to the buffer one batch at a time. The order-dependent data comprises spatially overlapping data. Order-neutral data may not overlap. A scheduler controls the order of reception of one batch of data at a time by the processors. The order for receiving the order-dependent data may be determined. The plurality of processors may process the data in parallel. A writing order for writing results to a buffer from the processing in parallel, may be enforced. A portion of the processors may be instructed to wait before writing results to the buffer in a specified order. Processors signal when writing results to the buffer is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Keall, Giles Edkins, Eben Upton, James Adams
  • Patent number: 8854381
    Abstract: A processing unit that includes a plurality of virtual engines and a shader core. The plurality of virtual engines is configured to (i) receive, from an operating system (OS), a plurality of tasks substantially in parallel with each other and (ii) load a set of state data associated with each of the plurality of tasks. The shader core is configured to execute the plurality of tasks substantially in parallel based on the set of state data associated with each of the plurality of tasks. The processing unit may also include a scheduling module that schedules the plurality of tasks to be issued to the shader core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mantor, Rex McCrary
  • Patent number: 8854365
    Abstract: A method for rendering parametric surface patches on a display screen includes receiving, at a processing unit, a computer-implemented representation of a first parametric surface patch, wherein the first parametric surface patch is a portion of a three-dimensional computer-implemented model that is desirably displayed at a first viewing perspective on the display screen. The first parametric patch is subdivided in the parameter domain to generate a plurality of subpatches, which are stored as quadtree coordinates in a memory. Thereafter, at least one pixel on the display screen is rendered based at least in part upon the quadtree coordinates in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Teorell Loop, Christian Eisenacher
  • Publication number: 20140292775
    Abstract: A graphics processing chip includes multiple graphics pipeline cores and multi-pipeline core logic circuitry to process graphic data streams received from a processor and to drive multiple GPUs on the multiple graphics pipeline cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Offir REMEZ, Yoel SHOSHAN, Guy SELA
  • Publication number: 20140292774
    Abstract: A processing system, a method of carrying out sample-based rendering (such as true or quasi-Monte Carlo rendering) in a multi- or many-core processor processing system and a graphics processing unit (GPU) incorporating the processing system or the method. In one embodiment, the processing system includes: (1) a sample-space distributor operable to distribute a first subset of samples for a pixel of an image to a first compute core for sample-based rendering therewith and a second subset of samples for the pixel to a second compute core for the sample-based rendering therewith, the second subset differing from the first subset and (2) a sample-space combiner associated with the sample-space distributor and operable to combine results of the sample-based rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Radig, Daniel Levesque, Carsten Wächter, Daniel Seibert