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US Patent 6664955 - Graphics system configured to interpolate pixel values
US Patent Issued on December 16, 2003
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
March 15, 2020Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
March 15, 2020Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractA method and computer graphics system capable of super-sampling and performing real-time convolution are disclosed. In one embodiment, the computer graphics system may comprise a graphics processor, a sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor may be configured to generate a plurality of samples. The sample buffer, which is coupled to the graphics processor, may be configured to store the samples. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit is programmable to generate a first subset of pixels by filtering using the rendered samples and a second subset of the output pixels by interpolating using the first subset of pixels and/or the rendered samples. By interpolating a subset of the output pixels, the graphics system may be able to operate at higher resolutions and/or refresh rates since filtering of the samples is computationally intensive. Any ratio of the number of first subset of pixels to the number of the second subset of pixels may be used, and furthermore, a different ratio may be used for different regions of the display screen. A higher ratio of the number of first subset of pixels to the number of second subset of pixels may be used for regions of the screen where a higher quality image is desired and a lower ration may be used for regions where a lower quality image may be sufficient. For example, a higher quality image may be desired close to and around the foveation point where the eye of an observer is focused. | InventorApplicationNo. 09/526327 filed on 03/15/2000US Classes:345/418, COMPUTER GRAPHICS PROCESSING345/428, Adjusting level of detail345/545, Frame buffer345/606, Interpolation of attribute values across object surface345/613, Subpixel processing345/615Convolving techniqueField of Search345/501, COMPUTER GRAPHIC PROCESSING SYSTEM345/502, Plural graphics processors345/505, Parallel processors (e.g., identical processors)345/506, Pipeline processors345/418, COMPUTER GRAPHICS PROCESSING345/419, Three-dimension345/420, Solid modelling345/421, Hidden line/surface determining345/426, Lighting/shading345/427, Space transformation345/428, Adjusting level of detail345/581, Attributes (surface detail or characteristic, display attributes)345/582, Texture345/589, Color or intensity345/592, Transparency (mixing color values)345/606, Interpolation of attribute values across object surface345/610, Linear345/611, Anti-aliasing or image smoothing345/522, Graphic command processing345/538, Data transfer between system memory display memory345/545Frame bufferExaminersPrimary: Bella, Matthew C.Assistant: Sajous, Wesner Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References5117289, 5481275, Resolution enhancement for video display using multi-line interpolationIssued on: 01/02/1996 Inventor: Mical, et al.5619438, Filter circuit for use with real-time image converter Issued on: 04/08/1997 Inventor: Farley, et al.5757375, Computer graphics system and method employing frame buffer having subpixel field, display fields and a control field for relating display fields to the subpixel field Issued on: 05/26/1998 Inventor: Kawase5771046, Image processing system and method including perspective transformation of three-dimensional objects utilizing clipping plane positions Issued on: 06/23/1998 Inventor: Izawa, et al.5790125, System and method for use in a computerized imaging system to efficiently transfer graphics information to a graphics subsystem employing masked span Issued on: 08/04/1998 Inventor: Bui, et al.5841447, System and method for improving pixel update performance Issued on: 11/24/1998 Inventor: Drews6188394, Method and apparatus for video graphics antialiasing Issued on: 02/13/2001 Inventor: Morein, et al.6268875, Deferred shading graphics pipeline processor Issued on: 07/31/2001 Inventor: Duluk, Jr., et al.6362818, System and method for reducing the rendering load for high depth complexity scenes on a computer graphics display Issued on: 03/26/2002 Inventor: Gardiner, et al.6417861, Graphics system with programmable sample positions Issued on: 07/09/2002 Inventor: Deering, et al.6424343, Graphics system with programmable real-time sample filtering Issued on: 07/23/2002 Inventor: Deering, et al.6426755, Graphics system using sample tags for blur Issued on: 07/30/2002 Inventor: Deering6459428, Programmable sample filtering for image rendering Issued on: 10/01/2002 Inventor: Burk, et al.6466206, Graphics system with programmable real-time alpha key generation Issued on: 10/15/2002 Inventor: Deering6483504, Graphics system having a super sampled-sample buffer with efficient storage of sample position information Issued on: 11/19/2002 Inventor: Deering6489956, Graphics system having a super-sampled sample buffer with generation of output pixels using selective adjustment of filtering for implementation of display effects Issued on: 12/03/2002 Inventor: Deering6496186, Graphics system having a super-sampled sample buffer with generation of output pixels using selective adjustment of filtering for reduced artifacts Issued on: 12/17/2002 Inventor: Deering6496187, Graphics system configured to perform parallel sample to pixel calculation Issued on: 12/17/2002 Inventor: Deering, et al.6525723, Graphics system which renders samples into a sample buffer and generates pixels in response to stored samples at different rates Issued on: 02/25/2003 Inventor: Deering6577312Graphics system configured to filter samples using a variable support filter Issued on: 06/10/2003 Inventor: Deering, et al. International ClassesG06T 15/00 (20060101)G06T 3/40 (20060101) |
