Edge Alpha Registers for Sub-Pixel Image Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display technologies face challenges in smoothly translating images or video frames across a screen, particularly when the movement is fractional, leading to a sub-pixel rate that is not accurately represented due to rounding errors, resulting in a non-smooth translation.
Innovation Solution
A display pipe system that includes a blend unit with multiple blend stages and edge Alpha values to simulate fractional pixel movement by applying edge Alpha values to the pixels at the edges of the image, allowing for partial transparency and smoother motion by blending these pixels with adjacent pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the number of pixels of movement is rounded to the nearest integer and compensated with an extra pixel movement in certain frames, then the translation can be implemented using integer pixel rates, but the translation is not as smooth as desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different Alpha values to different regions of the image - specifically to edge pixels versus interior pixels. Edge pixels receive special Alpha values that enable sub-pixel translation effects, while interior pixels use standard Alpha values. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining implementation simplicity while achieving smooth translation through targeted pixel manipulation at edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the Alpha value parameter for edge pixels based on the fractional pixel movement distance. By dynamically adjusting the Alpha value according to the sub-pixel translation distance, the system achieves smooth fractional pixel movement effects while maintaining integer-based pixel rate implementation, thus resolving the smoothness vs. simplicity contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If edge Alpha values are applied to simulate fractional pixel movement, then smooth translation is achieved, but additional processing complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image pixels into edge pixels and interior pixels, applying different processing rules to each segment. Edge pixels receive special Alpha value treatment for sub-pixel translation, while interior pixels use standard processing. This segmentation approach achieves smooth translation while limiting complexity by restricting complex operations to only the necessary edge regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the computationally intensive edge Alpha value processing only to a partial subset of pixels - specifically only the edge pixels that are affected by translation. This partial action approach achieves the necessary smooth translation effect while avoiding the excessive complexity of processing all pixels, thus resolving the contradiction between smoothness and processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A video display pipe used for processing pixels of video and/or image frames may include edge Alpha registers for storing edge Alpha values corresponding to the edges of an image to be translated across a display screen. The edge Alpha values may be specified based on the fractional pixel value by which the image is to be moved in the current frame. The video pipe may copy the column and row of pixels that are in the direction of travel, and may apply the edge Alpha values to the copied column and row. The edge Alpha values may control blending of the additional column and row of the translated image with the adjacent pixels in the original frame, providing the effect of the partial pixel movement, simulating a sub-pixel rate of movement.