Pixel Fragment Patents (Class 345/614)
  • Patent number: 11869119
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that determines a stencil value and uses the stencil value to control, via a stencil buffer, a coarse pixel size of a graphics pipeline. Additionally, the stencil value may include a first range of bits defining a first dimension of the coarse pixel size and a second range of bits defining a second dimension of the coarse pixel size. In one example, the coarse pixel size is controlled for a plurality of pixels on a per pixel basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Vaidyanathan, Prasoonkumar Surti, Hugues Labbe, Atsuo Kuwahara, Sameer Kp, Jonathan Kennedy, Murali Ramadoss, Michael Apodaca, Abhishek Venkatesh
  • Patent number: 11521494
    Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to detect a moving object in video stream data based on determining an eccentricity map. The instructions can further include instructions to determine a magnitude and direction of motion of the moving object, transform the magnitude and direction to global coordinates and operate a vehicle based on the transformed magnitude and direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Sielly Jales Costa, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius
  • Patent number: 11521348
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive first data from a first set of sensors arranged in a first configuration. The instructions configure the processor to transform the first data to a second data to train a model to recognize third data captured by a second set of sensors arranged in a second configuration. The second configuration is different than the first configuration. The instructions configure the processor to train the model based on the second set of sensors sensing the second data to recognize the third data captured by the second set of sensors arranged in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Jacob A. Bond
  • Patent number: 10706824
    Abstract: The instant application discloses receiving a command via a processor to initiate a window creation operation on a client computing device, retrieving at least one image tile pre-allocated in a memory of the client computing device, performing a draw operation that places at least one image overplayed onto the at least one image tile and displaying the image overplayed onto the at least one image tile on a display of the client computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: OPEN INVENTION NETWORK LLC
    Inventors: Matteo Lanzi, Piergiorgio Niero
  • Patent number: 10354365
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing hybrid anti-aliasing operations are disclosed. The hybrid anti-aliasing resolve operation combines multi-sampling anti-aliasing (MSAA) and post-processing anti-aliasing to generate higher-quality images in a computationally efficient manner. In one embodiment, a processor detects a request to perform an anti-aliasing resolve operation on an image stored in the memory. Responsive to detecting the request, the processor expands dimensions of the image and then filters the image with a post-processing anti-aliasing filter. After filtering the image, the processor performs an averaging of the image which becomes the result of the anti-aliasing resolve operation. Expanding dimensions of the image involves converting sub-pixels of the image into regular pixels. The processor can also rotate the image to align the sub-pixels into a vertical and horizontal grid pattern prior to filtering the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Adavanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Evgene Fainstain
  • Patent number: 10223826
    Abstract: A system that displays a set of polygons is described. This system obtains a set of line segments that defines the set of polygons. The system forms a horizontal index that keeps track of where line segments vertically project onto a horizontal reference line and similarly forms a vertical index for horizontal projections onto a vertical reference line. The system obtains a clip rectangle that defines a view into the set of polygons and uses the horizontal and vertical indexes to determine intersections between borders of the clip rectangle and line segments in the set of line segments. Next, the system uses the determined intersections to clip polygons in the set of polygons that intersect the clip rectangle. Finally, the system transfers the clipped polygons, and also unclipped polygons that fit completely within the clip rectangle, to a display device that displays the view into the set of polygons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SPLUNK INC.
    Inventor: Geoffrey R. Hendrey
  • Patent number: 9836874
    Abstract: A system that displays a set of polygons is described. This system obtains a set of line segments that defines the set of polygons. The system forms a horizontal index that keeps track of where line segments vertically project onto a horizontal reference line and similarly forms a vertical index for horizontal projections onto a vertical reference line. The system obtains a clip rectangle that defines a view into the set of polygons and uses the horizontal and vertical indexes to determine intersections between borders of the clip rectangle and line segments in the set of line segments. Next, the system uses the determined intersections to clip polygons in the set of polygons that intersect the clip rectangle. Finally, the system transfers the clipped polygons, and also unclipped polygons that fit completely within the clip rectangle, to a display device that displays the view into the set of polygons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey R. Hendrey
  • Patent number: 9643085
    Abstract: An object arranged in a virtual world is caused to move in accordance with data based on a load applied to a load detection device. Then, based on attitude data outputted from a portable display device and a position of the object in the virtual world, a first virtual camera for generating an image of the virtual world is controlled, and a first image representing the virtual world viewed from the first virtual camera is displayed on the portable display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsunaga, Yugo Hayashi, Kazuya Sumaki, Keiichi Minato
  • Patent number: 9473548
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for determining and distributing pre-fetch data associated with streaming of content to a media device. Transport control data associated with user navigation within the content during consumption of the content is acquired. The transport control data is processed to determine one or more points of interest in the content. Pre-fetch content associated with these one or more points of interest may be delivered to the media device. Presentation is expedited with low or no latency during navigation to one of the points of interest having the pre-fetched content, which may be presented while the content is being made available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sreeram Raju Chakrovorthy, Sapna Jayaram Rai
  • Patent number: 9183667
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprising grouping by a processor primitives that comprise a scene into plural clusters, each cluster comprising a subset of the primitives that are proximal to each other relative to the other of the primitives; and allocating an equal size memory block for each respective cluster for the plural clusters, wherein all the plural clusters comprise one scene representation, wherein each cluster can contain up to M primitives, where M is an integer number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Kirill Garanzha
  • Patent number: 9153008
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, caching may be improved for tiles on shared edges between triangles. In some embodiments, the technique may be used for either color and depth caches or both caches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tomas G. Akenine-Moller, Jon N. Hasselgren, Jim K. Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20150084981
    Abstract: Visibility may be analytically resolved rather than using point-sampling, thereby entirely avoiding geometric aliasing and the need to store multiple samples per pixel. By relying on existing techniques for shading, i.e., by shading once per fragment and focusing on visibility, visual results may be equivalent to multi-sampled anti-aliasing (MSAA) using an infinite sampling rate in some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Franz P. Clarberg
  • Patent number: 8928690
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for implementing antialiasing including independently operating different portions of a graphics pipeline at different sampling rates in accordance with pixel color details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Jude Brennan
  • Patent number: 8878864
    Abstract: Information to be sent over a network, such as the Ethernet, is packetized by using a graphics processing unit (GPU). The GPU performs packetization of data with much higher throughput than a typical central processing unit (CPU). The packetized data may be output through an Ethernet port, video port, or other port of an electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Barco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Baxter, Chris S. Byrne
  • Patent number: 8860742
    Abstract: A technique for caching coverage information for edges that are shared between adjacent graphics primitives may reduce the number of times a shared edge is rasterized. Consequently, power consumed during rasterization may be reduced. During rasterization of a first graphics primitive coverage information is generated that (1) indicates cells within a sampling grid that are entirely outside an edge of the first graphics primitive and (2) indicates cells within the sampling grid that are intersected by the edge and are only partially covered by the first graphics primitive. The coverage information for the edge is stored in a cache. When a second graphics primitive is rasterized that shares the edge with the first graphics primitive, the coverage information is read from the cache instead of being recomputed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Shebanow, Anjul Patney
  • Patent number: 8854365
    Abstract: A method for rendering parametric surface patches on a display screen includes receiving, at a processing unit, a computer-implemented representation of a first parametric surface patch, wherein the first parametric surface patch is a portion of a three-dimensional computer-implemented model that is desirably displayed at a first viewing perspective on the display screen. The first parametric patch is subdivided in the parameter domain to generate a plurality of subpatches, which are stored as quadtree coordinates in a memory. Thereafter, at least one pixel on the display screen is rendered based at least in part upon the quadtree coordinates in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Teorell Loop, Christian Eisenacher
  • Patent number: 8842121
    Abstract: A single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processor with a given width may operate on registers of the same width completely filled with fragments. A parallel set of registers are loaded and tested. The fragments that fail are eliminated and the register set is refilled from the parallel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tomas Akenine-Möller, Jon N. Hasselgren, Carl J. Munkberg, Robert M. Toth, Franz P. Clarberg
  • Patent number: 8817046
    Abstract: Color channel optical marker techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a plurality of color channels obtained from a camera are examined, each of the color channels depicting an optical marker having a different scale than another optical maker depicted in another one of the color channels. At least one optical marker is identified in a respective one of the plurality of color channels and an optical basis is computed using the identified optical marker usable to describe at least a position or orientation of a part of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Sugden, Thomas G. Salter
  • Patent number: 8767005
    Abstract: A blend unit in a display pipe for processing pixels of video and/or image frames may include multiple blend stages, where each blend stage may include multiple levels for blending pixels according to a blend equation. The blending operation includes blending pixel color values and Alpha values. A multiplication may be performed at each blend level, necessitating Alpha value normalizations in the form of divisions to obtain pixel color values having a specified bit-length. Color value normalizations are not needed when the desired result is an actual color value. In order to reduce the compounding of errors that may result from the introduction of an error at each division, Alpha value normalizations may not be performed at each blend level, carrying the intermediate results forward in fractional form—through one or multiple blend stages—until the end of the blending operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Holland, Vaughn T. Arnold
  • Publication number: 20140146073
    Abstract: A method of determining a coverage area of a pixel covered by a scalable path definition for a character, is disclosed. An edge direction for each edge of the scalable path definition intersecting the pixel is received. A fragment area is determined for each of the intersecting edges, each of the fragment areas representing an area of the pixel located to a side of a corresponding edge. The side of the corresponding edge is selected according to a direction of the corresponding edge. The coverage area of the pixel is determined based on a sum of the fragment areas, the sum of the fragment areas having a value greater than a total area of the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Albert CHANG, Michael Gerard MCCOSKER
  • Patent number: 8711165
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image quality improvement processing unit which is supplied with an image signal corresponding to an original image from an image supply device, executes image quality improvement processing to first image data based on the image signal and thus generates second image data; a resolution deciding unit which compares the first image data with the second image data and thus decides resolution of the original image; and a control unit which controls the image quality improvement processing unit according to the resolution of the original image decided by the resolution deciding unit and thus adjusts the image quality improvement processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuya Ota
  • Patent number: 8704830
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for improving path rendering on computer systems by efficiently representing and computing sub-pixel coverage for path objects. A stencil buffer is configured to store multiple stencil samples per pixel stored in an image buffer. The stencil samples undergo stencil testing to produce a set of Boolean values per pixel, which collectively define a geometric coverage percentage for the pixel. The coverage percentage is used to modulate a color value for the pixel. The modulated color value is then blended into the image buffer as an anti-aliased pixel. This technique advantageously enables efficient anti-aliasing for path rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Kilgard, Patrick R. Brown
  • Patent number: 8704836
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for parallel distribution of primitives to multiple rasterizers. Multiple, independent geometry units perform geometry processing concurrently on different graphics primitives. A primitive distribution scheme delivers primitives from the multiple geometry units concurrently to multiple rasterizers at rates of multiple primitives per clock. The multiple, independent rasterizer units perform rasterization concurrently on one or more graphics primitives, enabling the rendering of multiple primitives per system clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny S. Rhoades, Steven E. Molnar, Emmett M. Kilgariff, Michael C. Shebanow, Ziyad S. Hakura, Dale L. Kirkland, James Daniel Kelly
  • Patent number: 8692844
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for antialiased rendering a plurality of pixels in a computer system. The method and system comprise providing a fixed storage area and providing a plurality of sequential format levels for the plurality of pixels within the fixed storage area. The plurality of format levels represent pixels with varying degrees of complexity in subpixel geometry visible within the pixel. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides at least the following format levels: one-fragment format, used when one surface fully covers a pixel; two-fragment format, used when two surfaces together cover a pixel; and multisample format, used when three or more surfaces cover a pixel. The method and system further comprise storing the plurality of pixels at a lowest appropriate format level within the fixed storage area, so that a minimum amount of data is transferred to and from the fixed storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Molnar, David B. Kirk, John Stephen Montrym, Douglas A. Voorhies
  • Patent number: 8687011
    Abstract: Techniques to sample texels efficiently for an image effect may include determining a number of texels (kernel size) needed to compute a weighted average for an image effect on an image. The technique may further include selecting at least one mipmap generated by a graphics processing unit (GPU) according to a function of the determined kernel size. The function may also consider a threshold kernel size. The technique may further sampling texels, with the GPU, from the selected mipmap(s), and calculate the weighted average of the sampled texels to produce the image effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Minmin Gong, Sergei Shinkevich
  • Patent number: 8670004
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a pixel driving circuit comprises: one or more source drivers for enabling a first subpixel of a subpixel pair to receive first data and a second subpixel of the subpixel pair to receive second data; one or more source drivers for driving the first data to the first subpixel and the second data to the second subpixel, wherein the first data is different than the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Pixel Qi Corporation
    Inventors: Carlin J. Vieri, Michael Bolotski
  • Patent number: 8654144
    Abstract: A 3D /2D multiprimary color image device is provided with an optical unit to direct one image to the left eye and another image to the right eye. Each color dot of the multiprimary color image device comprises at least two color sections controlled independently. To display a 3D image, one section of a color dot is for displaying a left eye image while another section of the same color dot is for displaying a right eye image. To display a 2D image, both sections of a color dot for the left eye and for the right eye displaying the same image independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: VP Assets Limited (British Virgin Islands)
    Inventors: Gia Chuong Phan, Hon Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 8654050
    Abstract: A multi-primary-color liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is adapted to conduct a display operation in at least four primary colors. The device has a plurality of pixels that form at least two different types of subsets. The device can perform rendering processing in which at least one of the pixels that form a first one of the at least two different types of subsets lends a luminance to a second type of subset. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel that could have mutually different luminance. The second type of subset borrows a luminance from one of the first and second sub-pixels of the at least one pixel that has the higher luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shun Ueki, Kohzoh Nakamura, Akiko Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8605086
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting the pixel sampling rate during primitive shading can improve image quality or increase shading performance. Hybrid antialiasing is performed by selecting a number of shaded samples per pixel fragment. A combination of supersample and multisample antialiasing is used where a cluster of sub-pixel samples (multisamples) is processed for each pass through a fragment shader pipeline. The number of shader passes and multisamples in each cluster can be determined dynamically for each primitive based on rendering state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Cass W. Everitt, Steven E. Molnar
  • Patent number: 8605087
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting the pixel sampling rate during primitive shading can improve image quality or increase shading performance. Hybrid antialiasing is performed by selecting a number of shaded samples per pixel fragment. A combination of supersample and multisample antialiasing is used where a cluster of sub-pixel samples (multisamples) is processed for each pass through a fragment shader pipeline. The number of shader passes and multisamples in each cluster can be determined dynamically for each primitive based on rendering state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Cass W. Everitt, Steven E. Molnar
  • Patent number: 8587609
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and associated architecture of accuracy adaptive and scalable vector graphics rendering including rendering a graphic comprising a plurality of line segments by processing each of the plurality of line segments in a first pass, and processing each of a plurality of pixels through which the plurality of line segments pass in a second pass, automatically detecting one or more rendering errors of the graphic, and correcting the one or more rendering errors. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Haohong Wang, Yunsen Chin, Li Sha, Shuhua Xiang
  • Patent number: 8553081
    Abstract: When images of vehicle surroundings are captured by cameras and are displayed together with an image of a vehicle, surrounding images within a predetermined distance from the vehicle are displayed at the same scale as the scale of the vehicle image, and surrounding images outside the predetermined distance are displayed at a larger scale than the scale of the vehicle image. The surrounding images may be displayed at a progressively larger scale as the distance from the vehicle increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 8553044
    Abstract: A graphic rendering apparatus includes a processing unit and a storage unit. The storage unit is stored with a piece of information. The piece of information defines a virtual area on a display. A pixel of the display overlaps a part of the virtual area, and the part corresponds to a color. The pixel defines a first boundary, a second boundary, a third boundary, and a fourth boundary. The processing unit decides a first coverage rate, a second coverage rate, a third coverage rate, and a fourth coverage rate of the virtual area on the first boundary, the second boundary, the third boundary, and the fourth boundary, respectively. The processing unit decides a display color of the pixel with reference to the color and the first coverage rate, the second coverage rate, the third coverage rate, and the fourth coverage rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Institute for Information Industry
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Chang, Yi-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 8531468
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in image processing is set forth that comprises a pixel processor, context memory, and a context memory controller. The pixel processor is adapted to execute a pixel processing operation on a target pixel using a context of the target pixel. The context memory is adapted to store context values associated with the target pixel. The context memory controller may be adapted to control communication of context values between the pixel processor and the context memory. Further, the context memory controller may be responsive to a context initialization signal or the like provided by the pixel processor to initialize the content of the context memory to a known state, even before the pixel processor has completed its image processing operations and/or immediately after completion of its image processing operations. In one embodiment, the pixel processor executes a JBIG coding operation on the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Joshi, Akash Sood, Rakesh Pandey
  • Patent number: 8511829
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data corresponding to a display image. The image processing apparatus includes M image processing sections which have a function of processing image data of M (where M is an integer equal to or greater than 2) images segmented from the image and an image processing control section which, when an image corresponding to input image data is an image which has a resolution being of size to be processable by N (where N is an integer equal to or smaller than M?1) image processing sections, causes L image processing sections from among the M image processing sections to process image data corresponding to L (where L is an integer equal to or greater than N+1 and equal to or smaller than M) partial images segmented from image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Taniguchi, Yuki Yamabe
  • Publication number: 20130176330
    Abstract: A method and system for smooth rasterization of graphics primitives. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a processor, rasterizing the graphics primitive by generating a plurality of fragments related to the graphics primitive, and determining a coverage value for each of the plurality of fragments. If one edge of the graphics primitive lies within a predetermined inter-pixel distance from a pixel center, the one edge is used to calculate the coverage value by using a distance to the pixel center. If two edges of the graphics primitive lie within the predetermined inter-pixel distance from the pixel center, a distance to the pixel center of each edge is used individually to calculate the coverage value. The resulting coverage values for the plurality of fragments are output to a subsequent stage of the processor for rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Franklin C. Crow
  • Patent number: 8421794
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an adaptive multi-shader within a processor that uses one or more high-precision arithmetic logic units (ALUs) and low-precision ALUs to process data based on the type of the data. Upon receiving a stream of data, the adaptive multi-shader first determines the type of the data. For example, the adaptive multi-shader may determine whether the data is suitable for high-precision processing or low-precision processing. The adaptive multi-shader then processes the data using the high-precision ALUs when the data is suitable for high-precision processing, and processes the data using the high-precision ALUs and the low-precision ALUs when the data is suitable for low-precision processing. The adaptive multi-shader may substantially reduce power consumption and silicon size of the processor by implementing the low-precision ALUs while maintaining the ability to process data using high-precision processing by implementing the high-precision ALUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Yun Du, Guofang Jiao, Chun Yu
  • Patent number: 8421821
    Abstract: A 3D graphics rendering pipeline is used to carry out data comparisons for motion estimation in video data encoding. Video data for the pixel block of the video frame currently being encoded is loaded into the output buffers of the rendering pipeline. The video data for the comparison pixel blocks from the reference video frame is stored as texture map values in the texture cache of the rendering pipeline. Once the sets of pixel data for comparison have been stored, the rendering pipeline is controlled to render a primitive having fragment positions and texture coordinates corresponding to the data values that it is desired to compare. As each fragment is rendered, the stored and rendered fragment data is compared by fragment compare unit and the determined differences in the data values are accumulated in an error term register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Arm Norway AS
    Inventors: Jorn Nystad, Edvard Sorgard, Borgar Ljosland, Mario Blazevic
  • Patent number: 8390645
    Abstract: A method for rendering a plurality of line primitives. The method includes the step of accessing a first line primitive and a second line primitive of a line strip. For a junction between the first line primitive and the second line primitive, the first line primitive and the second line primitive are geometrically modified to generate an abutting edge between the first line primitive and the second line primitive. A majority status is assigned to a pixel on the abutting edge. A first color of the first line primitive or a second color of the second line primitive is allocated to the pixel in accordance with the majority status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Franklin C. Crow, John S. Montrym, David K. McAllister, Craig M. Wittenbrink
  • Patent number: 8384732
    Abstract: A method for adjusting color saturation is adapted for color adjustment of a pixel in a color space. The method includes: determining a color cube in the color space; selecting one from a plurality of diagonals of the color cube as a primary diagonal, and setting the primary diagonal at a vertical axis of the color space; determining a hue azimuth angle and a height in the color cube desired by the pixel; determining a reference point at an outermost periphery of the color cube corresponding to the azimuth angle, and obtaining a reference height and a reference horizontal distance of the reference point distant from the primary diagonal; and obtaining a color saturation value of the pixel by multiplying the reference horizontal distance with a ratio between the reference height and the height of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chun-Hung Lien, Dong-Yang Lin, Ching-Hsung Wang
  • Patent number: 8379046
    Abstract: A rendering method and apparatus capable of allowing power to be efficiently used and rendering to be quickly completed. The rendering method includes: performing texture mapping of a transparency value of a fragment; testing whether or not the fragment can be expressed as a pixel after the performing of the texture mapping; and selectively performing texture mapping of the color value of the fragment according to the test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-yoon Jung, Sang-oak Woo, Kwon-teak Kwon
  • Patent number: 8379050
    Abstract: A rendering method, medium and apparatus for sequentially performing one or more third raster operations to test whether a fragment can be displayed as a pixel after sequentially performing one or more second raster operations to test whether the fragment can be displayed as the pixel, so as to provide efficient power consumption and rapid completion of rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Yonsei University Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Seok-yoon Jung, Sang-duk Kim, Il-san Kim, Jae-ho Nah, Woo-chan Park, Tack-don Han
  • Patent number: 8368693
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for the efficient rendering of multiple light sources, each controlled individually, in a single pass. An example embodiment encodes the light sources in a texture map, such as DXT. Each channel of the multi-channel texture map encodes data associated with a light source. The pixel shader then renders multiple light sources according to the multiple channels of the texture. Additionally, the pixel shader may render multiple textures, and thus render an even greater number of individual light sources. In a further embodiment, the rendering of a plurality of individually controlled light sources is accomplished in a single pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Take Two Interactive Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Rowan Wyborn, Mathi Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 8325203
    Abstract: In a graphics pipeline of a graphics processor, a method for caching pixel data. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor and rasterizing the graphics primitive to generate a plurality of tiles of pixels related to the graphics primitive. A subpixel sample group related to each of the plurality of tiles is determined. The plurality of tiles and the corresponding plurality of subpixel sample groups are stored into a frame buffer memory. A set of tiles and a set of corresponding subpixel sample groups from the frame buffer memory are stored in a rasterization cache, wherein the rasterization cache is configured for access by the raster stage to enable a subpixel anti-aliasing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher D. S. Donham
  • Patent number: 8314812
    Abstract: A dual image source display system with an anti-aliased textual foreground and graphic image background, where display information from each source is combined, but only after the intensity level for each given pixel color component in the graphical image background is dimmed by an amount which is equal to the highest intensity level of any pixel color component in the same pixel as the given pixel color component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. Eckel
  • Patent number: 8294730
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Tremblay
  • Patent number: 8253729
    Abstract: Techniques for improving the conversion of 2D images to 3D stereoscopic images, including trimming of portions of depth information to achieve improved processing at object boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: David M. Geshwind
  • Patent number: 8237738
    Abstract: A method and system for smooth rasterization of graphics primitives. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a processor, rasterizing the graphics primitive by generating a plurality of fragments related to the graphics primitive, and determining a coverage value for each of the plurality of fragments. If one edge of the graphics primitive lies within a predetermined inter-pixel distance from a pixel center, the one edge is used to calculate the coverage value by using a distance to the pixel center. If two edges of the graphics primitive lie within the predetermined inter-pixel distance from the pixel center, a distance to the pixel center of each edge is used individually to calculate the coverage value. The resulting coverage values for the plurality of fragments are output to a subsequent stage of the processor for rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventor: Franklin C. Crow
  • Patent number: 8189016
    Abstract: A display system uses a post-scaling module for producing a single scaling factor. A post-scaling unit for scaling image data values is constructed as a function of scaling requirements, such as backlight illumination, saturation of the image data values, and out-of-gamut correction. This single scaling factor may be a function of the scaling requirements. Some of these scaling requirements could be selected from a group scaling considerations, such as saturation based scaling, out-of-gamut scaling, and non-linear scaling. A non-linear scale module could be used to enhance dark color values and may depend on the luminance value of image data values. Once these scaling requirements are determined, there are ways of combining them to create the single scaling factor. These ways may include multiplying the scaling requirements, taking the minimum of them, or taking a combination of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Francis Higgins, Anthony Botzas
  • Patent number: 8128237
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for utilizing a plurality of self-activating display shaping devices to provide shape adjustment information for a digital image projected on a display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plurality of display shaping devices are automatically activated, the plurality of display shaping devices defining a desired digital image shape for a display. In addition, the plurality of display shaping devices is utilized to identify an actual projected digital image shape. The actual projected digital image shape is then compared with the desired digital image shape for the display. Correction information is then provided for adjusting the actual projected digital image shape to approximate the desired digital image shape for the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cobene, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Glen E. Montgomery