Subpixel Processing Patents (Class 345/613)
  • Patent number: 8144168
    Abstract: An image display apparatus that displays an image on the basis of input image signals corresponding to sub-pixels forming one pixel includes a shift-amount storing unit that stores shift amounts of display positions of the sub-pixels relative to given reference positions in a display image, an image-signal correcting unit that corrects the input image signals according to the shift amounts, and an image display unit that displays an image on the basis of the image signals corrected by the image-signal correcting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Aragaki, Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8115802
    Abstract: An image processing system for stereoscopic view using a parallax barrier method includes an image information generating unit that generates image information of a lower resolution than an actual resolution for each of a first to an nth viewpoints. A receiving unit reconfigures the image information, which is stored in a buffer. A combining/transmitting unit generates an image signal for displaying as one stereoscopic image by combining the image information transferred to a unique area of a screen buffer and transmits the image signal to a liquid crystal panel. A transmission speed of the generated signal transmitting unit is set to be at least n times faster than that of the combining/transmitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Nakaya
  • Patent number: 8115780
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an image on a display. The display includes a plurality of pixels from a vector description of a scene. The data is sampled from the vector description to provide data samples at locations defined in relation to the pixels. For example, the locations may include a first and second locations at the edges of the pixels, a third location at the corner of the pixels and a fourth location at the center of the pixels. The data samples are stored in a buffer and processed for each of the pixels to give an averaged data value. The image is then generated the image on the display by applying the averaged data value to each of the pixels. The calculation of the weighted averaged color value is repeated for each of the fragments in the buffer until all of the samples have been averaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Simon Goda, Stephen Hill
  • Patent number: 8102404
    Abstract: A method for enabling near unity scaling of printer video data to provide compensation for paper shrinkage caused during duplex printing. To achieve high quality image output, near neighbor interpolation may be used at very high resolutions. However, the insertion of extra interpolated subpixels may cause an edge transition to be shifted away from its original subpixel location with respect to an applied anti-aliasing rendering screen thereby causing ragged edges. The method aligns the edge position and the anti-aliasing rendering screen by applying a cyclical rotation of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart Alan Schweid
  • Patent number: 8098262
    Abstract: A technique is provided for displaying pixels of an image at arbitrary subpixel positions. In accordance with aspects of this technique, interpolated intensity values for the pixels of the image are derived based on the arbitrary subpixel location and an intensity distribution or profile. Reference to the intensity distribution provides appropriate multipliers for the source image. Based on these multipliers, the image may be rendered at respective physical pixel locations such that the pixel intensities are summed with each rendering, resulting in a destination image having suitable interpolated pixel intensities for the arbitrary subpixel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Ünsal, Aram Lindahl
  • Patent number: 8068119
    Abstract: A method and system for performing multi-sample, antialiased rendering of images by performing multi-sample antialiasing at the primitive level. Geometric primitives used to represent a graphics environment are set-up, and then shifted by a sub-pixel offset and rendered to generate values for pixels of an intermediate image. The shifting and rendering is repeated for the geometric primitive, each time generating values for pixels of another intermediate image. The values for the pixels of the intermediate images are combined to produce values for the respective pixels of the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Hunter
  • Publication number: 20110285747
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for rendering anti-aliased paths by first generating an alpha buffer representing coverage data. To generate the alpha buffer, jittered versions of the rendered path are rendered and corresponding stencil buffers indicating sub-pixel samples of the path that should be covered are generated. After each stencil buffer is generated, the jittered path is rasterized to convert the sub-pixel coverage into coverage weights that are stored in the alpha component of a frame buffer. As each jittered path is rasterized, the coverage weights are accumulated. Finally, geometry representing the union of the jittered versions of the path is rendered to shade pixels based on the accumulated coverage weights. The anti-aliased rendered paths may be filled or stroked without tessellating the paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Mark J. KILGARD
  • Patent number: 8063913
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing color error bands occurring due to the abrupt difference in brightness between sub-pixels. In the method of displaying an image signal of an apparatus for displaying the image signal, the apparatus includes a plurality of pixels each having at least two sub-pixels, and the method includes detecting pixels that belong to an edge of an input image, changing pixel values of the sub-pixels constituting the pixels belonging to the edge, and driving a display in accordance with the new pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-hee Choe, Du-sik Park
  • Patent number: 8063914
    Abstract: Anti-aliased output based on a scene comprising a plurality of objects may be generated. In one embodiment, a number of samples for an anti-aliasing operation is determined. For each of the samples: each of the objects may be translated in space according to jitter values; the objects may be multiplied by a fractional alpha value for the respective sample; a fractional alpha value stored in a buffer may be modified by a transparency value for each transparent object; and the objects may be rendered to the buffer by blending the objects with existing contents of the buffer. The fractional alpha values may vary from sample to sample. In one embodiment, the plurality of objects comprises one or more opaque objects and one or more transparent objects. In one embodiment, the objects may be rendered directly to a screen buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Gavin S. P. Miller, Radomir Mech
  • Patent number: 8063903
    Abstract: The edge evaluation technique, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology, includes determining a number of edges of a given primitive to be evaluated. The technique also includes sequencing evaluation of a first edge by a first edge evaluation circuit and a second edge by a second edge evaluation circuit during a first clock cycle. The technique further includes sequencing evaluation of a third edge by the first edge evaluation circuit and a fourth edge by the second edge evaluation circuit during a second clock cycle if three or more edges are to be evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Blaise A. Vignon, Franklin C. Crow
  • Patent number: 8055101
    Abstract: Sub pixel image alignment includes mapping first pixels from a first image and second pixels from a second image to a coordinate system and applying one or more sub-pixel shifts to the mapped first pixels. For each sub-pixel shift, an overall energy is calculated and is based on a plurality of gradients that represent changes in a channel value among the shifted first pixels and the mapped second pixels. The sub-pixel alignment further includes determining the sub-pixel shift that provides the lowest overall energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Chintan Intwala
  • Patent number: 8044956
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for improving antialiasing quality, while minimizing performance degradation, by adaptively selecting between multisampling and supersampling on a per pixel basis. The resulting performance may be generally comparable to multisampling. At the same time, however, the resulting quality may be generally comparable to supersampling. The antialiasing technique disclosed herein determines whether to use multisampling or supersampling on a particular pixel being rendered, based on the specific coverage of the associated geometry primitive. Because many pixel centers are covered by a geometry primitive, a statistical performance advantage is gained when pixels in a rendered image can be generating using multisampling rather than supersampling. The cases where pixel centers are not covered tend to be less frequent, but are very significant to image quality. High image quality is maintained by rendering these cases using supersampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Kilgard
  • Patent number: 8031205
    Abstract: Various imaging processing techniques for displaying a pre-subpixel rendered image. The pre-subpixel rendered image can be transmitted directly to a display capable of displaying a subpixel rendered image. The pre-subpixel rendered image can also be stored for later transmission for output to the display. Additionally, the pre-subpixel rendered image can be embedded in an image data stream and later extracted and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 8026910
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided including assets defining 3D models, including 3D icons and scenes, and animations of the 3D models. An offline optimization engine is provided to process data to be acted upon by a graphics engine of a target embedded device. A graphics engine simulator is provided to simulate, on a computer platform other than a target embedded device, select functions of a target embedded device running a graphics engine including API calls that directly calls API functions of a hardware level API of the target embedded device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, James Ritts, David L. Durnil, Maurya Shah
  • Patent number: 7973803
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for rendering an artwork comprising a plurality of surfaces, wherein the plurality of surfaces comprises a plurality of sets of semi-transparent surfaces. Each of the sets of semi-transparent surfaces may be rendered to a multi-sampling image buffer comprising an array of sub-pixels, wherein each sub-pixel in the array of sub-pixels is indexed to a corresponding one of the semi-transparent surfaces in the set. Each of the sets of rendered semi-transparent surfaces may be multiplied by one or more transparency values of one or more surfaces that occlude the respective sub-pixel in the corresponding semi-transparent surface. Each of the sets of rendered and attenuated semi-transparent surfaces may be added to a second image buffer comprising an array of pixels at a display resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Gavin S. P. Miller, Nathan A. Carr
  • Patent number: 7969448
    Abstract: A method of converting image signals for a display device including six-color subpixels is provided, which includes: classifying three-color input image signals into maximum, middle, and minimum; decomposing the classified signals into six-color components; determining a maximum among the six-color components; calculating a scaling factor; and extracting six-color output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chol Yang, Seong-Deok Lee, Chang-Yeong Kim, Mun-Pyo Hong, Nam-Seok Roh, Won-Hee Choe, Hyun-Wook Ok, Ho-Young Lee, Du-Sik Park, Keun-Kyu Song
  • Publication number: 20110148913
    Abstract: A graphics processing platform includes a rasteriser 50 that receives primitives representing an image to be displayed for processing. The rasteriser 50 determines which sets of sampling points of the image include sampling points that are covered by a given primitive, and then generates a fragment for rendering for each set of sampling points found to include a sampling point that is covered by the primitive and passes those fragments to a renderer 51 for rendering. The renderer 51 carries out rendering operations on the fragments that it receives, and stores the rendered fragment data in tile buffers 52. The rendered fragment data is stored in multiple copies in the appropriate sample positions in the tile buffers 52, so as to provide a separate set of fragment data for each individual sample position taken of the image. The data from the tile buffers 52 is input to a downsampling unit 53, and thence output to a frame buffer 54 of a display device 55 for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ARM Norway AS
    Inventors: Jørn Nystad, Mario Blazevic, Borgar Ljosland, Edvard Sørgard
  • Patent number: 7965305
    Abstract: A full color display system comprised of: a) a display which is formed from a two-dimensional array of three or more differently colored light-emitting elements arranged in a repeating pattern forming a first number of full-color two-dimensional groups of light-emitting elements, each full-color group of light-emitting elements being formed by more than one luma-chroma sub-group of light-emitting elements, wherein the display has a peak white luminance and each luma-chroma sub-group comprising at least one distinct high-luminance light-emitting element having a peak output luminance value that is 40 percent or greater of the peak white luminance of the display device; and b) a processor for providing a signal to drive the display by receiving a three-or-more color input image signal, which specifies three-or-more color image values at each of a two-dimensional number of sampled addressable spatial locations within an image to be displayed; wherein the processor dynamically forms re-sampling functions for imag
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 7944442
    Abstract: The system includes a shape buffer manager configured to store coverage data in the shape buffer. The coverage data indicates whether each mask pixel is a covered pixel or an uncovered pixel. A mask pixel is a covered pixel when a shape to be rendered on a screen covers the mask pixel such that one or more coverage criteria is satisfied and is an uncovered pixel when the shape does not cover the mask pixel such that the one or more coverage criteria are satisfied. A bounds primitive rasterizer is configured to rasterize a bounds primitive that bounds the shape. The bounds primitive is rasterized into primitive pixels that each corresponds to one of the mask pixels. A pixel screener is configured to employ the coverage data from the shape buffer to screen the primitive pixels into retained pixels and discarded pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Angus M. Dorbie, Alexei V. Bourd, Chun Yu
  • Patent number: 7940283
    Abstract: A method and a device for generating a pixel value from a plurality of sample values being generated from a plurality of sample points. The method comprises generating a plurality of sample values; and weighting said plurality of sample values for determining said pixel value. Each sample value is generated from one of a plurality of candidate sample points within a sample region. The sample region is positioned at a corner of two intersecting borders of the pixel. The size of the sample region is smaller than the size of the pixel. The device is arranged to carry out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Jacob Ström, Tomas Akenine-Möller
  • Patent number: 7920295
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ono, Takashi Sawazaki, Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 7920139
    Abstract: A graphics processing platform includes a rasteriser 50 that receives primitives representing an image to be displayed for processing. The rasteriser 50 determines which sets of sampling points of the image include sampling points that are covered by a given primitive, and then generates a fragment for rendering for each set of sampling points found to include a sampling point that is covered by the primitive and passes those fragments to a renderer 51 for rendering. The renderer 51 carries out rendering operations on the fragments that it receives, and stores the rendered fragment data in tile buffers 52. The rendered fragment data is stored in multiple copies in the appropriate sample positions in the tile buffers 52, so as to provide a separate set of fragment data for each individual sample position taken of the image. The data from the tile buffers 52 is input to a downsampling unit 53, and thence output to a frame buffer 54 of a display device 55 for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Arm Norway AS
    Inventors: Jørn Nystad, Mario Blazevic, Borgar Ljosland, Edvard Sørgård
  • Patent number: 7920959
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for determining the velocity vector, speed, and direction of moving vehicles traveling on roadways which change elevation and have curves. A camera mounted above a roadway observes at least one vehicles traveling in different directions on different roads. Each pixel in the two-dimensional optical image is mapped into a three-dimensional real world location to enable the moving vehicles to be analyzed in the three-dimensional real world as they travel on roads, which may change elevation and may have curves. The estimated vehicle velocities may be displayed on an image near the moving vehicle. Individual images with vehicle velocities may be posted on an Internet site. The sequence of optical images, or streaming video, with the displayed vehicle velocities may also be used for television news programs that show traffic moving on the roadways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher Reed Williams
  • Patent number: 7916155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing anti-aliased images use a sub-pixel sample pattern set that includes two or more unique sub-pixel sample patterns that are complementary. The sub-pixel sample patterns are offset from each pixel center and used to produce images that are combined to produce the anti-aliased image. In addition to providing sub-pixel coverage information, the sub-pixel sample pattern sets may be used to produce sub-pixel shading information. Furthermore, the sub-pixel sample pattern sets may be used in single processor systems or in multiprocessor systems to produce anti-aliased images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Henry Packard Moreton
  • Patent number: 7916156
    Abstract: A method of determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in a source pixel data specified in a first sub-pixel format is used for sub-pixel rendering an image on a display specified in a second sub-pixel format. Each of the first and second sub-pixel formats comprises a plurality of colored sub-pixels. The method comprises determining a geometric center of each colored sub-pixel of the first format to define a sampling point; and defining each implied sample area by forming lines that are substantially equidistant between the sampling point of one colored sub-pixel and the sampling point of another neighboring same color colored sub-pixel. A similar technique may be used for determining resample areas for computing color values for rendering an image specified in a first sub-pixel format on a display substantially comprising a plurality of colored sub-pixels arranged in a second sub-pixel format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Helen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 7911487
    Abstract: Sub-pixel rendering with gamma adjustment allows the luminance of the sub-pixel arrangement to match the non-linear gamma response of the human eye's luminance channel. For each of a subset of input sampled data indicating a region of an input image, a gamma-adjusted data value is generated for each input image data value in the subset using a local average of at least two input image data values. A sub-pixel rendering operation uses the subset of gamma-adjusted data values and the subset of input image data values to produce an output data value for each sub-pixel element on the display panel. A plurality of output data values collectively indicates an output image. The gamma adjustment allows the sub-pixel rendering to operate independently of the actual gamma of a display device. The sub-pixel rendering techniques with gamma adjustment may improve image contrast in high spatial frequency portions of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Helen Brown Elliott, Seok Jin Han, Moon Hwan Im, In Chul Baek, Michael Francis Higgins, Paul Higgins
  • Patent number: 7898552
    Abstract: An editing processor includes a storage unit to store a document file that includes an object group in which objects are arranged according to an implementation order at each page of an electric document, a reading unit to read the object group from the storage unit in response to a read request for a target page of the electric document, an encapsulation processing unit to encapsulate a graphics object in the object group in response to an information input of the graphics to be added, and an editing unit to generate a graphics object from the information of the graphics and to add the generated graphics object to a position following the end of the object group arranged according to the implementation order in response to the encapsulation of the graphics object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Niimura
  • Patent number: 7893944
    Abstract: In a first embodiment, a display system comprises a display panel with 4 or more colored subpixels. The display system receives input image data specified in a first color space and outputs image data specified in a second color space. The display system further comprises a gamut mapping module for mapping the input image data specified in the first color space to image data specified in the second color space. The gamut mapping module clamps out-of-gamut colors using at least a first clamping system and a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems yield first and second clamped values. A weighting module produces a resulting clamped value from the first and second clamped values. A final output image value is derived from the resulting clamped value. Other embodiments of the display system include pre-reduction modules and adjustable GMA modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Francis Higgins, Anthony Botzas, Candice Hellen Brown Elliott
  • Patent number: 7893947
    Abstract: A method for extracting edge with subpixel accuracy in photogrammetry, comprising steps of: a. capturing into a computer a picture, of which the edge is to be extracted; b. defining as a cell four neighboring pixels that form a square; c. recognizing the type of each cell composed of the four pixels; d. finding out side or sides of the cell that intersect with, the edge and figuring out the subpixel accuracy coordinates of the intersection points by linear interpolation; and e. connecting the intersection points to extract the edge. By this method edge curve is extracted rapidly and accurately. The edge determined in this way can be subpixel accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Beijing Union University
    Inventor: Xin Fang
  • Patent number: 7889215
    Abstract: A method of determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in a source pixel data specified in a first sub-pixel format is used for sub-pixel rendering an image on a display specified in a second sub-pixel format. Each of the first and second sub-pixel formats comprises a plurality of colored sub-pixels. The method comprises determining a geometric center of each colored sub-pixel of the first format to define a sampling point; and defining each implied sample area by forming lines that are substantially equidistant between the sampling point of one colored sub-pixel and the sampling point of another neighboring same color colored sub-pixel. A similar technique may be used for determining resample areas for computing color values for rendering an image specified in a first sub-pixel format on a display substantially comprising a plurality of colored sub-pixels arranged in a second sub-pixel format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 7876332
    Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics system that includes a rasterizer and a shader has a mode of operation in which primitive coverage information is generated for real sample locations and virtual sample locations for use in anti-aliasing. An individual pixel includes a single real sample location and at least one virtual sample location. In some instances, a primitive may cover only virtual sample locations and does not cover a real sample location. These instances can be identified in the coverage information sent from the rasterizer to the shader, so that the shader can determine whether or not it can write color information, depth information and/or stencil information for the real sample location to a framebuffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. S. Donham, Edward A. Hutchins, Gary C. King, Michael J. M. Toksvig
  • Patent number: 7868901
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention sets forth a method and system for reducing memory bandwidth requirements for an anti-aliasing operation. The first virtual coverage information for a pixel involved in an anti-aliasing operation is maintained in memory. If a certain operating condition of the anti-aliasing operation deterministically implies the second virtual coverage information for this pixel, the second virtual coverage information, as opposed to the first virtual coverage information, is used in the anti-aliasing operation. In such situations, since the virtual coverage information is implied, it does not have to be accessed from memory, thereby improving overall system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Edmondson, Steven E. Molnar, Bengt-Olaf Schneider, Gary C. King, Michael J. M. Toksvig, Peter B. Holmqvist, James M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 7864194
    Abstract: Methods and systems for motion adaptive filtering detect movement of text or areas of high spatial frequency in one frame to another frame of an image. When such movement is detected and meets a certain level or threshold, the subpixel rendering processing of such text or areas of high spatial frequency may be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Lloyd Credelle, Stuart Philip Kaler
  • Publication number: 20100289816
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for sampling images using edge detection are presented herein. A gradient component can calculate at least one gradient of a luminance of a block of pixels based on at least one direction; and select a minimum gradient of the at least one gradient of the luminance. Further, a direction component can determine a direction of the block based on a direction of the minimum gradient of the at least one gradient of the luminance. Moreover, a sampling component can alternately select subpixels of the block based on the direction of the block. In addition, a filter component can calculate at least one gradient of a color of a subpixel of the subpixels based on the at least one direction; determine a direction of the subpixel based on the at least one gradient of the color; and filter the subpixels based on the direction of the subpixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Oscar Chi Lim Au, Lu Fang
  • Patent number: 7825923
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality of a computer-generated image including a number of different objects. The apparatus includes a graphics display system which identifies objects to be rendered into a graphic display at either ones to which anti-aliasing is to be applied, or ones to which anti-aliasing is not to be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Simon James Fenney, Alex Joseph William Walters
  • Patent number: 7817165
    Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics system has a mode of operation in which primitive coverage information is generated for real sample locations and virtual sample locations for use in anti-aliasing. An individual pixel includes a single real sample location and at least one virtual sample location. A block of real sample locations can be selected to delineate and encompass a region containing a number of virtual sample locations. Pixel attribute values (e.g., z-depth or stencil values) associated with the block of selected real sample locations can be used to associate each virtual sample location within the region with one of the selected real sample locations. The virtual sample location assumes the pixel attribute value of the real sample location with which it is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. S. Donham, Edward A. Hutchins, Gary C. King, Michael J. M. Toksvig
  • Patent number: 7786962
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image/two-dimensional image display device includes a plurality of display pixels, and a lenticular lens for three-dimensional display. Each display pixel is consisted of M×N number of sub-pixels to be viewed from N view points. A pitch a of sub-pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction of ridge projection of the lenticular lens and a pitch b of the sub-pixels arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lenticular lens satisfy the following expression. The M×N number of sub-pixels included in each of said display pixels are formed within a square area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Naoyasu Ikeda, Nobuaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 7758799
    Abstract: A solid imaging apparatus and method employing sub-pixel shifting in multiple exposures of the digitally light projected image of a cross-section of a three-dimensional object on a solidifiable liquid medium. The multiple exposures provide increased resolution, preserving image features in a three-dimensional object and smoothing out rough or uneven edges that would otherwise be occur using digital light projectors that are limited by the number of pixels in an image projected over the size of the image. Algorithms are used to select pixels to be illuminated within the boundary of each image projected in the cross-section being exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Hull, Jouni P. Partanen, Charles R. Sperry, Patrick Dunne, Suzanne M. Scott, Dennis F. McNamara, Chris R. Manners
  • Patent number: 7755649
    Abstract: Sub-pixel rendering with gamma adjustment allows the luminance for the sub-pixel arrangement to match the non-linear gamma response of the human eye's luminance channel, while the chrominance can match the linear response of the human eye's chrominance channels. The gamma correction allows the sub-pixel rendering to operate independently of the actual gamma of a display device. The sub-pixel rendering techniques with gamma adjustment may be optimized for the gamma transfer curve of a display device in order to improve response time, dot inversion balance, and contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, SeokJin Han, MoonHwan Im, InChul Baek, Michael Francis Higgins, Paul Higgins
  • Patent number: 7746307
    Abstract: A LCD includes at least a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel with different area. Each sub-pixel displays luminance according to a positive or a negative data voltage corresponding to a grey value. When the grey values of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are equal, an average value of the positive and negative data voltages of the first sub-pixel is not equal to an average value of the positive and negative data voltages of the second sub-pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Chih-Yung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7737993
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and programming for producing and displaying a scaled-down representation of subpixel-optimized images and digital content including such images that is represented by a mark-up language. Some embodiments display the text in such digital content using a different subpixel optimization than that used for the images. Others produce the subpixel-optimized images by calculating the luminosity of a subpixel as a function of the length of a plurality of coverage lines within a window in a source image corresponding to the subpixel that is covered by source image pixels having the subpixel's color. Some embodiments calculate the luminosity of a subpixel in such a subpixel-optimized image as a function both of the average luminosity of pixels in the subpixel's source image window and as a function of any color balancing distribution between resulting subpixel luminosities necessary to reduce color imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Sampo J. Kaasila, John S. Collins, Edward W. Porter
  • Publication number: 20100141677
    Abstract: A method and system for performing multi-sample, antialiased rendering of images by performing multi-sample antialiasing at the primitive level. Geometric primitives used to represent a graphics environment are set-up, and then shifted by a sub-pixel offset and rendered to generate values for pixels of an intermediate image. The shifting and rendering is repeated for the geometric primitive, each time generating values for pixels of another intermediate image. The values for the pixels of the intermediate images are combined to produce values for the respective pixels of the resulting image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Kevin Hunter
  • Patent number: 7705844
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image/two-dimensional image display device includes a plurality of display pixels, and a lenticular lens for three-dimensional display. Each display pixel is consisted of M×N number of sub-pixels to be viewed from N view points. A pitch a of sub-pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction of ridge projection of the lenticular lens and a pitch b of the sub-pixels arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lenticular lens satisfy the following expression. The M×N number of sub-pixels included in each of said display pixels are formed within a square area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Naoyasu Ikeda, Nobuaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 7701467
    Abstract: A character display apparatus of the present invention is a character display apparatus for displaying a character on a screen based on stroke data containing character information, comprising a control section for setting a color element level for a subpixel overlapping a basic portion of the character, based on both or either a distance between a center of the subpixel and at least one dot contained in a stroke or a line width set for the stroke. According to the present invention, the resolution of subpixels can be apparently improved and the line width of a character can be freely changed without a large amount of working memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Sakuta, Noriyuki Koyama
  • Patent number: 7697012
    Abstract: Provided is a method for rendering image signals, which represent a predetermined number of colors, in an apparatus used for rendering an image signal that has a plurality of pixels composed of three different sub-pixels among four or more different sub-pixels. The method for rendering image signals comprises (a) selecting three-color signals out of the four or more color signals to be outputted according to a type of sub-pixel, which forms a predetermined pixel, (b) obtaining values of the selected three-color signals in peripheral pixels of the pixels, (c) calculating brightness values of each sub-pixel of the pixel by using the values of the selected three-color signals and corresponding color signal values of the peripheral pixels, and (d) driving a display, which controls brightness of an image that is represented in the display according to the calculated brightness values of sub-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-deok Lee, Chang-yeong Kim, Won-hee Choe
  • Patent number: 7697010
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus to provide flexible texture filtering. A programmable texture filtering module is introduced into the graphics processing pipeline of a graphic coprocessor and graphic processor integrated with the host. A program from a defined instruction set may then be loaded into texture processing cores to process texture data consistent with the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Kim Pallister
  • Patent number: 7688335
    Abstract: A method of determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in a source pixel data specified in a first sub-pixel format is used for sub-pixel rendering an image on a display specified in a second sub-pixel format. Each of the first and second sub-pixel formats comprises a plurality of colored sub-pixels. The method comprises determining a geometric center of each colored sub-pixel of the first format to define a sampling point; and defining each implied sample area by forming lines that are substantially equidistant between the sampling point of one colored sub-pixel and the sampling point of another neighboring same color colored sub-pixel. A similar technique may be used for determining resample areas for computing color values for rendering an image specified in a first sub-pixel format on a display substantially comprising a plurality of colored sub-pixels arranged in a second sub-pixel format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 7671862
    Abstract: An enhanced graphics pipeline is provided that enables common core hardware to perform as different components of the graphics pipeline, programmability of primitives including lines and triangles by a component in the pipeline, and a stream output before or simultaneously with the rendering a graphical display with the data in the pipeline. The programmer does not have to optimize the code, as the common core will balance the load of functions necessary and dynamically allocate those instructions on the common core hardware. The programmer may program primitives using algorithms to simplify all vertex calculations by substituting with topology made with lines and triangles. The programmer takes the calculated output data and can read it before or while it is being rendered. Thus, a programmer has greater flexibility in programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amar Patel, Charles N. Boyd, David R. Blythe, Jeff M. J. Noyle, Michael A. Toelle, Stephen Harry Wright
  • Patent number: 7656417
    Abstract: A method for determining the appearance of a pixel includes receiving fragment data for a pixel to be rendered; storing the fragment data; and determining an appearance value for the pixel based on the stored fragment data, wherein a portion of the stored fragment data is dropped when the number of fragment data per pixel exceeds a threshold value enabling large savings in memory footprint without impacting perceivably on the image quality. A graphics processor includes a rasterizer operative to generate fragment data for a pixel to be rendered in response to primitive information; and a render back end circuit, coupled to the rasterizer, operative to determine a pixel appearance value based on the fragment data by dropping the fragment data having the least effect on pixel appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Larry D. Seiler, Laurent Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 7652674
    Abstract: A method of interdigitation for display of an autostereoscopic source image to a screen comprising a plurality of pixels having sub-pixels and sub-pixel components and apparatus for interdigitation is provided. The method comprises generating a texture memory coordinate at each pixel location on the screen of the source image, calculating screen pixel location based on the texture memory coordinate of each pixel, computing view numbers based on screen pixel location, wherein view numbers comprise one value for each sub-pixel component, mapping proportional pixel locations in tiles from multiple tile perspective views of the autostereoscopic image to a resultant image using the view numbers, and extracting one subpixel component from each proportional pixel location to represent color for the pixel in the resultant image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Real D
    Inventors: Mark Feldman, Bob Akka