2011年11月14日 星期一

HTC用S3 Graphics專利對抗Apple

HTC買了「自家」威盛的S3 Graphics/S3 Incorporated專利
顯然是希望借助S3的計算與圖形處理技術的專利優勢對抗Apple

S3 Graphics/S3 Incorporated的美國專利約有150件,就主要分類來看,集中於類別345的電腦圖形處理與顯示(這確實是S3的強項)與類別711的數位處理系統




九月份提出ITC與聯邦地方法院的訴訟專利即屬於主類別345的專利:

US 5,945,997

US 5,945,997為一種立體幾何的演算方法,專利涉及一種區塊與波段為主的立體三角形轉動表現技術,也就是將一個立體轉動的三角形透過分區處理,於顯示器上展現出立體影像的方法,畫面轉動時,不是每個畫素都做一次3D演算,而以區塊為處理主體,因此可以改善立體影像處理的速度。

雖然我不是這方面專業人士,但是就立體處理的效能要求來看,一般都是用這類概念處理3D影像(如線上遊戲),此類技術更應該較適用於效能較一般電腦系統低的行動裝置上!


獨立項範圍如:
1. In a graphics system, a computer-implemented method of traversing and rendering a graphic primitive represented in screen space, comprising the steps of:

a) determining a block dimension;
b) subdividing the screen space according to the block dimension to define a plurality of blocks;
c) for each block containing at least a portion of the graphic primitive:
c.1) defining a plurality of spans within the block, the spans collectively providing a representation of the portion of the graphic primitive corresponding to the block; and
c.2) performing a texture mapping operation on each defined span.
權利範圍頗廣,就有限的知識內感覺,範圍擴及多數的影像處理方式!
範圍包括先決定一區塊尺寸;根據區塊尺寸切割螢幕空間,定義出多個區塊;每個區塊包括有影像基本元素(如多邊形);決定各區塊內多個代表各多邊形的跨距(span);每個跨距內執行構造描繪(成形)

US 5,581,279
US 5,581,279揭露一種影像控制器電路,也就是提出一個包括產生影像記憶體時脈的可程式化類比時脈電路的積體電路(控制器),數位影像處理時,RAM的運作將根據這些記憶體時脈產生視訊串,並在執行數位類比轉換為輸出的影像

獨立範圍如:
1. A monolithic integrated circuit comprising:

programmable clock circuit means for producing a video memory clock signal and a video dot clock signal;
a video controller coupled to said programmable clock circuit means for receiving the video memory clock signal and the video dot clock signal and for producing a video information data stream;
random-access memory means, coupled to said video controller, for receiving the video information data stream and producing a video display information data stream; and
digital-to-analog converter means, coupled to both said random-access memory and to said video controller, for selectively receiving either the video information data stream or the video display information data stream as received data and for converting the received data to analog video signals.
此積體電路包括有:提供視訊記憶體時脈訊號的可程式化時脈電路、產生視訊串的視訊控制器、隨機存取記憶體、數位類比轉換器。此主要權利範圍確實頗為基礎!

Ron

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