Buffer-Free Chroma Downsampling Unit for Mobile Graphics Pipelines

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices with limited memory resources and power constraints face challenges in performing chroma downsampling due to the high silicon area and power consumption requirements of traditional buffer-based graphics hardware.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an inline, buffer-free chroma downsampling unit within a graphics processing pipeline that performs horizontal and vertical downsampling of chroma pixel components, allowing for programmable downsampling modes and efficient data processing without the need for line buffers, thereby reducing power consumption and silicon area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional buffer-based chroma downsampling is used, then chroma downsampling can be performed, but silicon area and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbuffer-based hardware structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the buffer component from the chroma downsampling hardware structure. By eliminating the line buffers that traditionally store pixel data for downsampling operations, the design achieves buffer-free chroma downsampling that reduces both silicon area and power consumption while maintaining the essential downsampling functionality through alternative computational approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by having the chroma downsampling unit process data in real-time as it flows through the graphics processing pipeline, without requiring external buffer storage. The unit performs downsampling operations on-the-fly using incoming pixel streams, eliminating the need for separate buffer memory structures and their associated power and area costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Area of stationary object

If buffers are used to store pixel data for chroma downsampling, then downsampling can be performed, but silicon area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesilicon areaVSAvoidbuffer-based hardware structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the buffer component from the chroma downsampling hardware structure. By eliminating the line buffers that traditionally store pixel data for downsampling operations, the design achieves buffer-free chroma downsampling that reduces both silicon area and power consumption while maintaining the essential downsampling functionality through alternative computational approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the chroma downsampling function directly into the graphics processing pipeline stages, combining what were previously separate buffer storage and processing functions into an integrated unit. This consolidation eliminates the need for dedicated buffer memory structures and reduces overall silicon area by co-locating processing logic with data flow paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Use of energy by moving object

If buffers are used for chroma downsampling, then downsampling can be performed, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbuffer memory resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the buffer component from the chroma downsampling hardware structure. By eliminating the line buffers that traditionally store pixel data for downsampling operations, the design achieves buffer-free chroma downsampling that reduces both silicon area and power consumption while maintaining the essential downsampling functionality through alternative computational approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by having the chroma downsampling unit process data in real-time as it flows through the graphics processing pipeline, without requiring external buffer storage. The unit performs downsampling operations on-the-fly using incoming pixel streams, eliminating the need for separate buffer memory structures and their associated power and area costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9123278B2Performing inline chroma downsampling with reduced power consumption

Publication Date: 2015.09.01 APPLE INC

AI summary

Methods and graphics processing pipelines for performing inline chroma downsampling of pixel data. The graphics processing pipeline includes a chroma downsampling unit for performing buffer-free downsampling of chroma pixel components. A vertical column of chroma pixel components is received in each clock cycle by the chroma downsampling unit, and downsampled chroma pixel components are generated on every clock cycle or every other clock cycle. Vertical, horizontal, and vertical and horizontal downsampling can be performed without buffers by the chroma downsampling unit. A programmable configuration register in the chroma downsampling unit determines the type of downsampling that is implemented.