Anti-aliasing Or Image Smoothing Patents (Class 345/611)
  • Patent number: 7580580
    Abstract: A method for compressing two color anti-aliased images takes advantage of the fact that when two color anti-aliased images are present, it is often the case that the two base colors appear in adjacent or continuous series or “runs” of pixels representing the same color. According to one embodiment to the present invention, these runs are identified and then the color and run length are encoded to produce increased compression efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Fell, Thomas G. O'Neill, Jordan M. Slott
  • Patent number: 7577294
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Toyama, John Krumm, Barry L. Brummitt, Brian R. Meyers
  • Patent number: 7573485
    Abstract: A graphics system has a mode of operation in which real samples and virtual samples are generated for anti-aliasing pixels. Each virtual sample identifies a set of real samples associated with a common primitive that covers a virtual sample location within a pixel. The virtual samples provide additional coverage information that may be used to adjust the weights of real samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Gary C. King, Douglas Sim Dietrich, Jr., Michael J. M. Toksvig, Steven E. Molnar, Edward A. Hutchins
  • Publication number: 20090195552
    Abstract: When an alpha test is performed as part of the rendering process in a multisampled graphics processing pipeline, rather than taking the single alpha value initially defined for each fragment 80, 81, 82, 83, an individual alpha value is generated in respect of each of covered sampling position that the fragment in question is being used to render. The individual alpha values estimated for each sample position are then individually compared with a threshold alpha value defined for the alpha test, and the result of this alpha test comparison is used to decide either keep or discard the sample position from further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: ARM Norway AS
    Inventor: Jorn Nystad
  • Patent number: 7567258
    Abstract: In order to render a primitive, the primitive is subdivided into trapezoids and triangles. The subdivision occurs using scanline-aligned lines. These simple scanline-aligned regions are further subdivided so that the primitive is divided into simple scanline-boundaried trapezoids and other complex scan shapes. The simple scanline-boundaried trapezoids are rasterized. One rasterization method uses a texture map containing slope-based coverage information to edge areas. Gouraud shading may be used to provide the anti-aliasing effects on the scanline-boundaried trapezoids. The simple scanline-boundaried trapezoids may also be rasterized using a software rasterizer. Complex scans are rasterized using a software rasterizer. As data is already rasterized, it is thereby efficiently transferred to the GPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ashraf A. Michail, Kun Zhou, Gregory D. Swedberg, Adrian Secchia
  • Patent number: 7564470
    Abstract: Systems and methods for compositing an image directly from multiple source image data for reducing system memory footprint and bandwidth and for improving color quality of the image. The image is divided into spans, lines, and slices. Each line includes at least one span and each slice includes at least one line. All lines in a slice have spans associated with identical sources. An image is composited by reading the image data directly from one or more sources of each span. If necessary, the sources are blended. A control structure is used to provide the image context and identifies the sources of the spans. The control structure includes headers for each data stream from each source of each span. Also, the color quality of the image is improved by reducing the number of color space conversions that occur as the image is composited. All sources in the same color space are blended, before being blended with sources from other color spaces. Preferably, no more than a single color conversion is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Gray, III, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20090179912
    Abstract: An image data update apparatus that can highlight a component with maintaining an appearance of an image to which anti-aliasing is applied and with suppressing increase in processing load is provided. When periodically changing a color arrangement of a traffic congestion line bordered using a color of black and displayed on a map image, only a central portion of the traffic congestion line is changed. Each time the color arrangement is changed, anti-aliasing is applied only to a boundary between the central portion and bordering portion but not to a boundary with a background map image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Hashizume, Natsuko Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7554552
    Abstract: The field of the invention is that of graphical libraries providing graphical functions used for the drawing of symbologic images. One of the fields of favored application is the generation of symbologic images for the piloting of aircraft. The object of the invention is to propose a method of graphical generation of a colored vector surrounded by a dark contour (H) on a background likewise colored as a single drawing, making it possible to preserve the function of antialiasing. The method uses two different mixing laws dependent on the position of the pixel of the vector with respect to the central axis of the vector. This method presents the following advantages: The calculations are optimized and successive writes to the buffer-memory are avoided; The dark contour is drawn at the same time as the vector of which it forms an integral part and thus becomes a functional state of the vector; The method takes into account the relative priority of the vectors with a single ordering logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: David Arneau, Eric Filliatre
  • Patent number: 7554538
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices, and/or systems for video processing, such as for hidden surface removal or reduction, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: nVidia Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Elliott Wexler, Larry I. Gritz
  • Patent number: 7554558
    Abstract: A first command is retrieved from a script containing one or more commands written for a first color space. The first command is associated with zero or more input buffers and zero or more output buffers. The first command has zero or more parameters. A behavior of the first command in the first color space and in a second color space is determined. The behavior comprises one of unique behavior, transparent behavior, and different behavior. The first command has the unique behavior when the first command only operates in the first color space. The first command has the transparent behavior when the first command generates similar results in the first color space and in the second color space. The first command has the different behavior when the first command generates different results in the first color space and in the second color space. Using the behavior of the first command, an operation associated with the first command is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Graves, Randall H. Ubillos
  • Publication number: 20090147022
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing images, and an image display apparatus are provided that can produce favorable images even when digitized image are partially magnified (enlarged) or reduced (shrunk). The apparatus for expanding or reducing input image data supplied thereto, for each area of the image data, comprises a high frequency (HF) component smoothing processor that generates smoothed-HF-component image data by smoothing HF components of the input image data; a partial magnification/reduction controller that generates partial magnification/reduction control information that designates positions of pixels in image data obtained after expanding or reducing the input image data for each image area; and a pixel data generator that generates pixel data of pixel positions designated by the partial magnification/reduction control information in the smoothed-HF-component image data, by using pixel data in a neighborhood of the designated pixel positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Noritaka Okuda, Shotaro Moriya, Toshiaki Kubo, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7545387
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention are a method and apparatus to perform anti-aliasing using multi-sampling on a non-power-of-two pixel grid. Using the present invention with 6 sample multisampling gives the same visual antialiasing quality as 8 samples using a prior art technique but uses less memory. A non-power-of-two equally spaced sample from a conventional grid of size N×N, where N is 12 can be chosen using the present invention. A scan conversion to determine the set of pixels covered by a polygon is performed in two parts. According to one embodiment, the present invention can multiply and divide by “N” in order to multisample an image using samples per pixel chosen from a N×N sub-sample grid, where “N” is not necessarily a power of 2. The present invention performs the divide by “N” step, where the step is achieved using a quick divide by 3 or 12 technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Mark M. Leather, Eric Demers
  • Patent number: 7545389
    Abstract: Provided is a method where a background ARGB must not be taken into consideration before a foreground ARGB including TrueType fonts is combined therewith to create a composite image for display on a display device. A common alpha value is made use of in the process of combining the foreground ARGB with the background ARGB to create the composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Proteau, Robert F. Day
  • Patent number: 7542049
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing anti-aliasing by introducing a falloff area around a graphics object to be rendered. The falloff area is shaded, using Gouraud shading or texture mapping to reduce the aliasing effects of the graphics object. The outside edge of the falloff area is set to be fully transparent, and the inside edge to an opacity matching the outer edge of the graphics object being rendered. To counteract bloating effects, the graphics object is shrunk by half the width of the falloff area. While the width of the falloff area may vary, generally, the width of the falloff area stays constant. In one embodiment, this width corresponds to the edge or diagonal of the square area mapped to each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Raubacher, Gregory D. Swedberg, Ashraf A. Michail, Michael Kallay
  • Patent number: 7542174
    Abstract: An image processing method for reducing jaggy effect, which is applied in an image output device, is provided. Firstly, a continuous tone image is generated, and continuous tone pixels are defined according to a first addressing space. Then, a halftone image is generated. After that, the continuous tone image is low-pass filtered to generate a low-pass filtered image. Next, determine whether a position of the low-pass filtered image whose density is approximate to a pre-determined density. If so, generate a set of second addressing space co-ordinates of a key point corresponding to the position. Then, a moving vector corresponding to the key point is generated so as to regulate the position of a display point of the halftone pixel. Afterward, output the display point according to the position after regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Hui-Jan Chien
  • Patent number: 7538779
    Abstract: A method of rendering pixels from an abstract dataset, by: selecting a collection of sub-pixel locations for a plurality of pixels; sampling dataset properties at the selected sub-pixel locations; merging the properties of more than one of the selected sub-pixel locations; and calculating pixel values based upon the merged properties at the selected sample locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Luxology, LLC
    Inventor: Allen Hastings
  • Patent number: 7538765
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating hierarchical depth culling characteristics includes determining a first minimum depth value and a first maximum depth value for a first graphical element. The graphical element may be a primitive. The first minimum depth value may be a minimum Z-plane depth of a pixel within the primitive and a first maximum depth value is a maximum Z-plane value for a pixel within the primitive. The method and apparatus further includes determining a second minimum depth value and a second maximum depth value for a second graphical element, which may be a tile. The method and apparatus further includes calculating an intersection depth range having an intersection minimum depth value and an intersection maximum depth value based on the intersection of the first minimum depth value and the first maximum depth value and the second minimum depth value and the second maximum depth value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: ATI International SRL
    Inventors: Larry D. Seiler, Laurent Lefebvre, Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 7538778
    Abstract: A polygon rendering system for receiving geometric data defining a polygon in an image being generated. The polygon rendering system renders the geometric data as pixel data. The pixel data defines pixels used to display the image. The system comprises a first memory buffer for storing the pixel data. It also comprises a second memory buffer for storing additional pixel data used to render edge pixels at a higher resolution than pixels that are not the edge pixels. Edge pixels are pixels that are located on an edge of the polygon in the image. The system also comprises a display controller for outputting the pixel data in the first memory buffer to output circuitry. The polygon rendering system identifies which of the pixels are the edge pixels and the display controller updates contents of the first buffer with data based on contents of the second buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20090122078
    Abstract: The embodiments discussed herein involve flood filling a region with anti-aliasing. In forming a fill region, a candidate pixel can be included in the region based on a color of the pixel and also a color of a neighbor of the point. The inclusion basis may be a color distance between a seed color and the points, and a color distance between the seed color and the point's neighbor. Points in the region may be weighted according to their color distance relative to the seed color, where the color distance can also take into account alpha values. Flood filling may be anti-aliased by assigning alpha values to pixels in gaps between corners of the fill region, where an alpha value may be proportional to a point's contribution to the gap. Dimples in a fill region may be tested for and used to determine which of two flood fill algorithms to use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Autodesk, Inc
    Inventors: Ian R. Ameline, Eric A. Blais
  • Publication number: 20090122076
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting and handling thin lines in a raster image includes reading depth values for each pixel of an n×m block of pixels surrounding a substantially central pixel. Differences are then calculated for selected depth values of the n×m block of pixels to yield multiple difference values. These difference values may then be compared with multiple pre-computed difference values associated with thin lines pre-determined to pass through the n×m block of pixels. If the difference values of the pixel block substantially match the difference values of one of the pre-determined thin lines, the pixel block may be deemed to describe a thin line. The apparatus and method may preclude application of an anti-aliasing filter to the substantially central pixel of the pixel block in the event it describes a thin line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Vivante Corporation
    Inventors: Lefan Zhong, Abdulkadir Utku Diril
  • Publication number: 20090122077
    Abstract: The embodiments discussed herein involve flood filling a region with anti-aliasing. In forming a fill region, a candidate pixel can be included in the region based on a color of the pixel and also a color of a neighbor of the point. The inclusion basis may be a color distance between a seed color and the points, and a color distance between the seed color and the points neighbor. Points in the region may be weighted according to their color distance relative to the seed color, where the color distance can also take into account alpha values. Flood filling may be anti-aliased by assigning alpha values to pixels in gaps between corners of the fill region, where an alpha value may be proportional to a point's contribution to the gap. Dimples in a fill region may be tested for and used to determine which of two flood fill algorithms to use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian R. Ameline, Eric A. Blais
  • Patent number: 7532222
    Abstract: An anti-aliasing mechanism. In one aspect, one or more opacities are determined to apply to layers used to render an image. An order in which to render the layers is also determined. This order may correspond to an order in which points within the image are sampled. The first layer to render is set to an opacity that applies to it and rendered. The second layer to render is set at an opacity that applies to it and rendered on top of the first layer. In rendering the second layer, the opacities of the first and second layers are blended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Stevenson
  • Patent number: 7528814
    Abstract: A method of providing enhanced characters suitable for display on substantially low-resolution displays includes scaling-down a first representation of at least one character belonging to a given font according to a predetermined factor. A second representation of the at least one character results. The first representation is a monochrome pixel representation and the second representation is a sub-pixel representation. The second representation is converted to a color display representation according to a set of predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Erik Sparre, Erland Unruh
  • Patent number: 7526137
    Abstract: A domain block image is extracted from an original image by a domain block extracting section, and the domain block image is classified by a domain block classifying section. A range block extracting section extracts a range block image larger than the domain block image from the original image, and a reduced range block forming section reduces the range block image at the same size as the domain block image. A similarity degree judging section judges a similarity degree between the reduced range block image and the domain block image, and an improved domain block forming section performs a conversion of pixel values with respect to the reduced range block image in accordance with this similarity degree. Further, an edge enhancement processing section executes an edge enhancement processing as to the step edge portion so as to obtain an improved domain block image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanya Ishizaka
  • Publication number: 20090102857
    Abstract: Described is a method of rendering an image. A transparency of a destination pixel and a transparency of a source pixel are determined at multiple sample positions in each pixel. A new pre-multiplied color is determined for the destination pixel in response to the transparencies of the destination pixel, the transparencies of the source pixel, a color of the source pixel and a pre-multiplied color of the destination pixel. New transparencies of the destination pixel are determined at the samples in the destination pixel in response to the transparencies of the source pixels and the transparencies of the destination pixel. The method of the present invention permits rendering of polygonal two-dimensional images while eliminating overdraw, therefore using less memory bandwidth than conventional methods for rendering typical two-dimensional vector images. Thus the method is suited for mobile computing and other applications with limited memory bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Kiia K. Kallio
  • Patent number: 7518615
    Abstract: A floating point rasterization and frame buffer in a computer system graphics program. The rasterization, fog, lighting, texturing, blending, and antialiasing processes operate on floating point values. In one embodiment, a 16-bit floating point format consisting of one sign bit, ten mantissa bits, and five exponent bits (s10e5), is used to optimize the range and precision afforded by the 16 available bits of information. In other embodiments, the floating point format can be defined in the manner preferred in order to achieve a desired range and precision of the data stored in the frame buffer. The final floating point values corresponding to pixel attributes are stored in a frame buffer and eventually read and drawn for display. The graphics program can operate directly on the data in the frame buffer without losing any of the desired range and precision of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Airey, Mark S. Peercy, Robert A. Drebin, John Montrym, David L. Dignam, Christopher J. Migdal, Danny D. Loh
  • Patent number: 7518618
    Abstract: The teachings provided herein disclose an image processing method for rendering a digital image possessing anti-aliased pixels by selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating edge-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table; and, utilizing the edge-identification codes to select and apply to the digital image at the target pixel either anti-aliased rendering or conventional halftoning. The anti-aliasing may employ pixel signals that are high addressable and directionally biased to a particular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Beilei Xu, Stuart A. Schweid, Son H. Nguyen, Michael Branciforte
  • Patent number: 7515306
    Abstract: A document display method includes a determination step of determining, in a case that a display magnification of document data to be displayed is reduced, whether or not the display magnification of the document data is equal to or greater than a predetermined display magnification, and an applying step of applying smoothing processing to image data of the document data if it is determined that the display magnification of the document data is equal to or greater than the predetermined display magnification, and not applying the smoothing processing to the image data of the document data if it is determined that the display magnification of the document data is less than the predetermined display magnification. In addition, a display step displays the image data to which the smoothing processing has been applied in the applying step or the image data to which the smoothing processing has not been applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadanori Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 7511717
    Abstract: Hybrid sampling of pixels of an image involves generating shading values at multiple shading sample locations and generating depth values at multiple depth sample locations, with the number of depth sample locations exceeding the number of shading sample locations. Each shading sample location is associated with one or more of the depth sample locations. Generation and filtering of hybrid sampled pixel data can be done within a graphics processing system, transparent to an application that provides image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Rui M. Bastos, Steven E. Molnar, Michael J. M. Toksvig, Matthew J. Craighead
  • Patent number: 7508398
    Abstract: A system and method for providing antialiased memory access includes receiving a request to access a memory address. The memory address is examined to determine if the memory address is within a virtual frame buffer. If the memory address is within a virtual frame buffer then the memory address is transformed into one or more physical addresses within a frame buffer that is utilized for antialiasing. The frame buffer may be a single memory space containing subpixel information corresponding to pixels of the virtual frame buffer. Subpixels located at the physical addresses within the frame buffer are then accessed. The disclosed invention provides for direct access by a software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Montrym, Brian D. Hutsell, Steven E. Molnar, Gary M. Tarolli, Christopher T. Cheng, Emmett M. Kilgariff, Abraham B. de Waal
  • Patent number: 7505841
    Abstract: A vehicle restraint system has a vision-based occupant classification system for control of airbag deployment during a crash scenario. The classification system utilizes two imaging sensors which together create a stream of paired images received and stored by an occupant classification controller. A computer program product of the controller utilizes the paired images to extract disparity/range features and stereo-vision differential edge density features. Moreover, the controller extracts wavelet features from one of the two paired images. All three features or maps are classified amongst preferably seven classifications by algorithms of the computer program product producing class confidence data fed to a sensor fusion engine of the controller for processing and output of an airbag control signal input into a restraint controller of the vehicle restraint system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qin Sun, Hongzhi Kong, David L. Eiche, Victor M. Nieto
  • Patent number: 7502035
    Abstract: A graphics processing apparatus coalesces groups of primitives for concurrent processing in a pixel shader. In one implementation, the shader concurrently processes coalesced groups for multisampling. In another implementation, the shader concurrently processes coalesced groups to calculate derivative information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventor: Henry Packard Moreton
  • Publication number: 20090058880
    Abstract: A method for rendering graphical data is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes rendering an aliased version of one or more polygons and sampling one or more edges of the aliased polygons. The method also includes calculating a curve that approximates the edge portion and intersects a set of pixels, determining the proportional areas of the pixels located between the curve and the aliased edge portion, and rendering an anti-aliased version of the edge portion based on the proportional areas. Various devices, machine-readable media, and other methods for anti-aliasing of a graphical object are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Christopher Tremblay
  • Patent number: 7495672
    Abstract: A sampling pattern covering an array of pixels for use in an anti-aliasing system is disclosed where each pixel has a pattern of sample points at the edges of the pixel. Moreover is the sample point pattern of each pixel a mirror image and different from the pattern of a directly neighboring pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Tomas Akenine-Möller, Fredrik Tolf, Martin Levin, Erik Ledfelt
  • Patent number: 7489317
    Abstract: Antialiasing method and apparatus for video applications. A method for antialiasing a video graphic. A determination is first made as to the relative position of a desired pixel being within the polygon and proximate to the edge of the polygon. Once the relative position is known, then a determination is made as to whether it meets a first predetermined condition or a second predetermined condition. If the relative position meets the first condition, then the color of at least an adjacent pixel is blended with the color of the desired pixel in a predetermined proportion. If the relative position meets the second predetermined condition, then the color of at least an adjacent pixel is blended with the color of the desired pixel in a predetermined proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Bitboys Oy, A Finnish Registered Co
    Inventors: Mika Henrik Tuomi, Sami Santeri Tammilehto, Petri Olavi Nordlund
  • Publication number: 20090033678
    Abstract: Provided is a method for converting an input vector outline image to an output monochrome raster image consisting of only corner-contiguous pixels in a checkerboard pattern. Using a combination of a monochrome checkerboard raster image and a vector-based diamond grid, a determination is made as to which output raster pixels are activated. Efficiencies in file size and computational complexity are realized by using a checkerboard pattern and only half the possible number of raster output pixels. The method improves monitor and printer raster displays for any personal computing or related device, reducing the need for anti-aliasing and font hinting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Robert M. Case
  • Publication number: 20090027416
    Abstract: An antialiasing method includes: providing a first fragment; computing a first coverage area representing a portion of the first fragment covered by a first primitive; providing a second fragment juxtaposed to the first fragment and at least partially covered by a second primitive; processing the first coverage area to obtain a corrected coverage area indicative of a visible first fragment portion resulting from the juxtaposition of the fragments; and applying an antialiasing procedure based on the corrected coverage area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Barone, Davide Terruzzi
  • Patent number: 7479962
    Abstract: A computer graphics system generates pixel values for pixels in an image of objects in a scene, using strictly-deterministic low-discrepancy sequences, illustratively Halton sequences, as sample points for evaluating integrals which are used to simulate a number of computer graphic techniques. The computer graphics system uses the low-discrepancy sequence to ensure that the sample points are evenly distributed over a respective region or time interval, thereby reducing error in the image which can result from clumping of such sample points which can occur in the Monte Carlo technique. In particular, the invention facilitates the generation of images of improved quality when using the same number of sample points at the same computational cost as in the Monte Carlo technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mental Images GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Herken, Martin Grabenstein
  • Publication number: 20080309676
    Abstract: A “Vector Graphics Encoder” encodes vector graphics in a randomly accessible format. This encoding format enables particular portions of encoded images to be directly accessed, at any desired level of zoom, without processing or otherwise decoding the entire image. This random-access format is based on a coarse image grid of partially overlapping cells wherein each cell is defined by a “texel program.” Unlike fixed-complexity cells used by conventional vector images, each cell defined by a texel program is locally specialized without requiring global constraints on the complexity of each cell. The texel program for each cell is provided as a variable-length string of tokens representing a locally specialized description of one or more of layers of graphics primitives overlapping the cell. Images are then rendered by interpreting the texel programs defining one or more cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Diego Fernandes Nehab, Hugues Hoppe
  • Patent number: 7463789
    Abstract: An image-processing device (130) includes a data access section (131) that reads composite image data (10) having one data structure in which a plurality of image data are combined, and a controller (136) that selects predetermined image data from the composite image data (10) and displays only the selected image data on a display section (140). With the above configuration, a plurality of image data are organized in one composite image data (10) to thereby significantly reduce the image data size. Therefore, in such a device as having limited capacity for saving image data or the like, such as a car navigation, mobile phone, or other devices having a small-sized movie display section, a number of images can be displayed by using the composite image data in which a plurality of image data are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer Design Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyonori Myochin
  • Patent number: 7460132
    Abstract: System and method for processing image data containing motion for display on a display device. A preferred embodiment comprises applying a filter to an input image, determining a presence of motion in the input image, and generating an output image from the input image and the filtered image based upon motion in the input image. The detection of motion in the input image permits the use of filtered image data in portions of the image containing motion, thereby taking advantage of aliasing reduction provided by the filter while allowing the use of unfiltered image data in portions not containing motion. This helps to preserve image quality since filtering softens the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeffrey Matthew Kempf
  • Patent number: 7450136
    Abstract: A pixel processing unit reduces the number of pixels exterior to a primitive that must be rendered solely for the purpose of generating texture derivative information required to shade pixels within the primitive. In one embodiment, the alignment of group footprints is selected to reduce pixels exterior to primitives which must be calculated to generate texture derivatives. In another embodiment pairs of primitives from the same graphical surface sharing a common boundary are coalesced and shaded concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventor: Henry Packard Moreton
  • Patent number: 7446780
    Abstract: Multisampling techniques provide temporal as well as spatial antialiasing. Coverage for a primitive is be determined at multiple sample locations for a pixel. In one embodiment, coverage is determined using boundary equations representing a boundary surface of the primitive in a three-dimensional space-time. A shading value for the primitive is computed for the pixel and stored for each coverage sample location of the pixel that is covered by the primitive. The sample locations are distributed in both space and time, and multiple sample locations share a single shading computation. The multisampling techniques are extendable to other dimensions that correspond to other image attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Cass W. Everitt, Rui M. Bastos
  • Patent number: 7440037
    Abstract: Anti-aliasing characters for improved display on an interlaced television monitor is described. In one implementation, an expanded character is generated by increasing a character's original dimensions. The expanded character includes multiple sub-blocks and each sub-block includes multiple pixels. The pixels of each sub-block are mapped to a single destination color that is based on specific numbers of foreground pixels in the sub-block and a particular number of gray levels used to represent the character. Subsequent to this mapping, the expanded character is scaled back to its original size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Rong Wang, You-Shun Liu, Zhi-Guang Zhou, Shan Xu
  • Publication number: 20080252659
    Abstract: A system to apply a smoothing filter during anti-aliasing at a post-rendering stage. An embodiment of the system includes a three-dimensional renderer, an edge detector, and a smoothing filter. The three-dimensional renderer is configured to render a three-dimensional scene. The edge detector is coupled to the three-dimensional renderer. The edge detector is configured to read values of a depth buffer and to apply edge detection criteria to the values of the depth buffer in order to detect an object edge within the three-dimensional scene. The smoothing filter coupled to the edge detector. The smoothing filter is configured to read values of a color buffer and to apply a smoothing coefficient to the values of the color buffer. The values of the color buffer include a pixel sample at the detected object edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: GiQuila Corporation
    Inventors: Lefan Zhong, Mike M. Cai
  • Patent number: 7436413
    Abstract: The invention provides an image data processing apparatus including a memory for storing plural values indicating plural brightnesses when a predetermined display element is driven based on discrete plural drive values, and an operation circuit for converting a first conversion value converted from input image data, based on a value read out from the memory thereby generating the drive value, wherein the operation circuit executes an operation for evaluating a difference between the first conversion value and the value indicating brightness, and an operation for obtaining the drive value according to a result of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izumi Kanai
  • Patent number: 7432931
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing an image signal prevents burn-in of display devices such as a PDP and an LCD. A number-of-pixels conversion section generates pixel data located at interpolation positions in horizontal or vertical directions based on information about the interpolation positions obtained from a controller, to obtain an image signal in which the number of pixels is converted. A panel driver shifts the display position of an image in a PDP in the horizontal or vertical directions by as much as one pixel, each time a predetermined period of time elapses, within a predetermined range based on information about the display position obtained from the controller in order to prevent a screen from being burned-in. The controller changes the phase of each of the interpolation positions in a change unit smaller than 360° for a period of time when the display position of the image is shifted by as much as one pixel, the interval between the interpolation positions being set to 360°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Someya, Koji Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20080225341
    Abstract: An image processing circuit includes: a plurality of counters that extract image blocks each of which includes a predetermined number of pixels from input image data, count a number of pixels having a predetermined value for each of the image blocks, calculate a pixel value for each of the extracted image blocks, and output a plurality of bit streams each of which represents the counted number for a respective image block, the number of the plurality of counters being larger than a bit length defined for a single writing process with the memory divided by the bit length of a value calculated for an image block; a converter that converts the bit streams output from the plurality of counters, by adjusting a bit length of the bit streams for writing in the memory, and outputs the converted bit streams; and a synthesizer that synthesizes the plurality of bit streams output from the converter to generate a bit stream having the bit length defined for a single writing process with the memory, and outputs the genera
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ono, Takashi Sawazaki, Akira Saito
  • Publication number: 20080218528
    Abstract: An edge direction determination method for a pixel of a display picture. The display picture has a corresponding edge map. The pixel has corresponding pixel direction pairs. First, in step (a), it is judged whether the pixel is an edge pixel according to the edge map. Next, in step (b), it is judged whether the pixel has a right-inclined edge direction or a left-inclined edge direction when the pixel is the edge pixel. Then, in step (c), the edge direction of the pixel is determined according to specific pixel direction pairs corresponding to the same inclined edge direction if a judged result in step (b) is affirmative. Finally, in step (d), if the judged result in step (b) is negative, it is judged whether the pixel has a horizontal edge direction or a vertical edge direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Fang-Chen Chang
  • Patent number: 7411593
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for rotating a first image in an image buffer such that the resulting, rotated image is substantially free of an aliasing error, i.e., broken lines, stair stepped edges, etc., is disclosed. An algorithm is applied to the first image that uses weighted sums of data points of the first image to create the rotated image. The weighting is based on the skew angle and data point location of the first image. The resulting rotated image also has a reduced data storage space requirement compared to rotated images created by prior art techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Prakash, Clair Frederick Rohe, Robert E. Shirley