Scanout Timing Adjustment for Variable Frame Rate Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graphics processing systems face challenges in maintaining synchronized frame rates with display refresh rates, leading to visual artifacts like tearing and stuttering, especially when compressing and streaming graphics over networks, where resource inefficiencies and poor image quality occur due to fluctuating frame rates.

Innovation Solution

Adjusting the timing of frame scanout and compression to match detected fluctuations in the source frame rate by modifying the vertical blanking interval, allowing for dynamic synchronization with the frame rate, thereby preventing unnecessary frame duplication and improving image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the frame rate of source content fluctuates, then the system must dynamically adjust scanout timing to maintain synchronization, but this increases system complexity and control difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rate synchronizationVSAvoidscanout timing control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the frame rate of source content and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the vertical blanking interval and scanout timing. This closed-loop control ensures that the output frame rate remains synchronized with the display refresh rate even when source frame rate fluctuates, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by implementing adaptive feedback control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the previously fixed vertical blanking interval dynamic by allowing it to be adjusted in response to source frame rate changes. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt to varying frame rates while maintaining synchronization, transforming a static parameter into a flexible control variable that resolves the synchronization reliability issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If frames are compressed and streamed over networks with fluctuating frame rates, then resource utilization becomes inefficient and image quality deteriorates, but maintaining strict frame rate synchronization increases processing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidframe rate management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs frame rate detection and vertical blanking interval adjustment before the compression and streaming processes. By pre-synchronizing the frame rate and timing, the patent ensures that frames are ready for compression at optimal intervals, improving compression efficiency and resource utilization without adding complexity during the actual compression and streaming operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the vertical blanking interval is adjusted to match source frame rate fluctuations, then frame rate synchronization improves, but the stability of the display timing may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rate matchingVSAvoiddisplay timing stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback control to monitor both source frame rate and display timing, adjusting the vertical blanking interval only when necessary to maintain synchronization. This selective adjustment approach preserves display timing stability while achieving frame rate matching, resolving the contradiction by making adjustments only when deviations occur rather than continuously changing parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11741916B2Video frame rate compensation through adjustment of timing of scanout

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are configured to adjust the timing of rendered frame scanout in response to fluctuations in a variable frame rate at which source frames are rendered.