Dynamic Tear Line Placement for Display Frame Transitions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for reducing screen tearing in display devices often result in performance throttling and introduction of undesirable visual artifacts like judder and video lag, which degrade the gaming experience.
Innovation Solution
The system determines and allows frame transitions only within designated regions of the display where tear lines are permitted, dynamically identifying important video objects to maintain their integrity while delaying transitions in other areas, thus reducing screen tearing without throttling the graphics card output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Vsync function is implemented to synchronize graphics card output with display refresh rate, then screen tearing is reduced, but graphics card output is throttled and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display area into multiple scanline regions and applies different tear line policies to different regions. By segmenting the display vertically into scanline zones, the system allows tear lines in certain regions while preventing them in others, thus avoiding the need to throttle the entire graphics card output to prevent tearing everywhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by allowing tear lines in specific display regions (such as peripheral areas) while maintaining strict anti-tear measures in important regions (such as central gameplay areas). This selective approach preserves graphics card performance while reducing tearing where it matters most to the user experience.
2Reliability
If Vsync function is implemented to synchronize graphics card output with display refresh rate, then screen tearing is reduced, but other visual artifacts like judder and video lag are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the display into scanline regions with different tear policies, the system eliminates the need for global Vsync throttling. This prevents the introduction of judder and video lag artifacts while still addressing tearing in critical regions through localized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically determines whether to allow tear lines based on the current scanline position and region. This dynamic approach adapts to the display refresh cycle in real-time, allowing the system to prevent tearing when scanlines are in critical regions while permitting it in less critical regions, thereby avoiding the static artifacts introduced by traditional Vsync.
3Reliability
If frame transition is delayed to prevent tear lines, then screen tearing is reduced, but performance and responsiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display refresh cycle into different scanline regions and applies selective frame transition policies. By allowing frame transitions when scanlines are in regions where tear lines are permitted, the system eliminates unnecessary delays while still preventing tearing in critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preliminarily determines allowable tear line regions based on the display refresh cycle before frame transitions occur. This advance planning allows the graphics card to proceed with frame transitions at optimal moments without causing tearing in important areas, eliminating the need for conservative delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for selecting locations of tear lines when displaying visual content. The technique includes receiving coordinates for one or more portions of a display where a tear is permitted and determining if a frame transition is to occur while rendered content is being scanned out for display within the one or more portions of the display where tear is permitted. If the frame transition is to occur while the scanline for the display is in the one or more portions of the display where tear is permitted, then the technique further includes allowing the frame transition to occur. If the frame transition is to occur while the scanline for the display is not in the one or more portions of the display where tear is permitted, then the technique further includes delaying the frame transition until at least when the scanline for the display is in the one or more portions of the display where tear is permitted.