Alpha Blending Using Concatenated Binary Codes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Alpha-blending of graphical images is a computationally expensive process that consumes a large number of processor clock cycles, making it inefficient for achieving graphical effects like translucency.
Innovation Solution
A computationally inexpensive technique that alpha-blends pixels of multiple images using binary codes with red, green, and blue sub-codes in concatenated form, without operating on the sub-codes individually, to produce a blended pixel, which reduces processing overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional alpha-blending is used to achieve translucency effects, then graphical effects like translucency are achieved, but processing time and computational cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alpha-blending operation with bitwise operations by processing pixels as 32-bit integers containing RGB values and alpha channel in a single concatenated binary code. This allows the alpha-blending calculation to be performed simultaneously for all color channels in parallel using a single arithmetic operation, rather than processing each channel separately, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining graphical effect quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the traditional separate channel processing approach into a unified dimensional approach by packing RGB and alpha values into a single 32-bit integer representation. This dimensional consolidation enables batch processing of multiple operations in parallel, reducing the total number of processor clock cycles required while achieving the same translucency effects
2Manufacturing precision
If individual sub-code operations are performed for alpha-blending, then precise color blending is achieved, but processing complexity and computational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate sub-code operations into a single integrated alpha-blending operation. By processing the concatenated binary code as a whole rather than individually processing red, green, and blue sub-codes, the system achieves the same color blending precision with reduced processing complexity and fewer computational steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal alpha-blending operation that simultaneously handles all color channels (red, green, blue) and the alpha channel through a single arithmetic operation on the concatenated binary code. This multi-functional approach maintains precise color blending while eliminating the need for separate processing steps for each channel, thereby reducing overall processing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system including storage comprising a first graphical pixel and a second graphical pixel. Each of the first and second graphical pixels is associated with binary codes having red, green and blue sub-codes. The system also comprises processing logic coupled to the storage and adapted to alpha-blend the first and second graphical pixels to produce a blended pixel. The processing logic performs this alpha-blend using the binary codes having red, green and blue sub-codes in concatenated form and without operating on the sub-codes individually. The processing logic displays the blended pixel.