Patent US5138699A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5138699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hardware utilization of color interpolation capability in a color imaging system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-02-13
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2010-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and means are provided for utilizing, in a color imaging environment, such as ray tracing, display adapter hardware which is capable of interpolating color values for pixels lying in an area between previously color imaged pixels. A computer system CPU performs ray tracing calculations, or the like for a predetermined number of the total pixels, rather then each pixel, as is the case with conventional ray trace image systems. The system CPU then turns over the color imaged pixels to a display adapter, capable of color interpolating therebetween. In this way, previously idle display adapter hardware can be utilized to determine pixel color values and allow the system CPU to continue color imaging other more critical areas of a scene to be displayed. Therefore, an image can be rendered at a much faster rate than possible with conventional systems, with relatively no visible loss in quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry L. Minor
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Wilkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; G06F17/10; G06F17/17; G06F17/175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of displaying color images on a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter by interpolating pixel color values, said method comprising the steps of: determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; computing, by said central processing unit, color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; and interpolating, by said display adapter, color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of displaying color images on a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter by interpolating pixel color values, said method comprising the steps of: determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; computing, by said central processing unit, color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; and interpolating, by said display adapter, color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining further comprises the step of determining a particular configuration area for a portion of the determined number of pixels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of interpolating further comprises the step of assigning a color value for only those pixels included within said determined configuration area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of interpolating further comprises the steps of: interpolating color values for only those pixels contained within said determined configuration area; and displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels included within said determined configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of computing color values comprises the step of performing ray tracing operations.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of displaying color images on a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter by interpolating pixel color values, said method comprising the steps of: determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; computing color, by said central processing unit, imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; determining a particular configuration area for a portion of said predetermined number of pixels, said configuration area being bound by said color imaged pixels; interpolating color, by said display adapter, color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels; and displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels, included within said determined configuration.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of displaying color images on a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter by interpolating pixel color values, said method comprising the steps of: determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; computing color, by said central processing unit, imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; determining a particular configuration area for a portion of said predetermined number of pixels, said configuration area being bound by said color imaged pixels; interpolating color, by said display adapter, color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels; and displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels, included within said determined configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A computer program being executed in conjunction with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for causing said central processing unit to compute color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; and means for instructing said display adapter to interpolate color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A computer program being executed in conjunction with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for causing said central processing unit to compute color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; and means for instructing said display adapter to interpolate color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program according to claim 7 wherein said means for determining comprises second means for determining a particular configuration area for a portion of the determined number of pixels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program according to claim 8 wherein said means for instructing further comprises means for assigning a color value for only those pixels included within said determined configuration area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer program according to claim 9 wherein said means for instructing further comprising: means for interpolating only those color values for pixels contained within said determined configuration area; and means for displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels included within said determined configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program according to claim 10 wherein said central processing unit comprises means for performing ray tracing operations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
132 words
A computer program being executed in conjunction with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for causing said central processing unit to compute color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; means for determining a particular configuration area for a portion of said determined number of pixels, said configuration area being bound by said color imaged pixels; means for instructing said display adapter to interpolate color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels; and means for displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels, included within said determined configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
A computer program being executed in conjunction with a computer system having a central processing unit and display adapter for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for causing said central processing unit to compute color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; means for determining a particular configuration area for a portion of said determined number of pixels, said configuration area being bound by said color imaged pixels; means for instructing said display adapter to interpolate color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels; and means for displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels, included within said determined configuration.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
61 words
A system for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for computing color imaged values for each of sad pixels included within said determined number; and means for interpolating color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
61 words
A system for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for computing color imaged values for each of sad pixels included within said determined number; and means for interpolating color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said means for interpolating comprises means for invoking display hardware capable of performing color interpolation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein said means for determining comprises second means for determining a particular configuration area for a portion of the determined number of pixels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein said means for interpolating further comprises means for assigning a color value for only those pixels included within said determined configuration area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 16 wherein said means for interpolating further comprises: second means for interpolating only those color values for pixels contained within said determined configuration area; and means for displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels included within said determined configuration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for computing color values comprises means for performing ray tracing operations.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for computing color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; means for determining a particular configuration area for a portion of said determined number of pixels, said configuration area being bound by said color imaged pixels; means for interpolating color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels, by invoking display hardware capable of performing color interpolation; and means for displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels, included within said determined configuration.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for displaying color images by interpolating pixel color values, comprising: means for determining a number of pixels to be color imaged; means for computing color imaged values for each of said pixels included within said determined number; means for determining a particular configuration area for a portion of said determined number of pixels, said configuration area being bound by said color imaged pixels; means for interpolating color values for each pixel not included within said determined number based upon the computed color imaged pixels, by invoking display hardware capable of performing color interpolation; and means for displaying the color imaged pixels and the color interpolated pixels, included within said determined configuration.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |