Synchronization Circuitry for Low-Latency Image Passthrough

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Content generation and delivery architectures for image passthrough in extended reality environments suffer from significant latency due to multiple frame buffers and asynchronous operations among image capture, processing, and display components.

Innovation Solution

Implement a master synchronization generator to synchronize clocks across the content generation and delivery architecture by using a reference rate and temporal offset, potentially removing or reducing the number of frame buffers, and dynamically allocating memory based on the reference rate to minimize photon-to-photon latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple frame buffers are used in the content generation and delivery architecture, then image processing reliability is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage processing reliabilityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes one or more frame buffers from the content generation and delivery architecture. By eliminating unnecessary buffering stages, the system reduces the time images spend in memory queues while maintaining sufficient reliability through the remaining buffer infrastructure. This directly addresses the contradiction by removing time-consuming elements while preserving essential processing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a synchronization circuitry that performs preliminary clock synchronization before image processing operations. By pre-synchronizing the clocks of image capture devices, ISP pipelines, and display devices, the system ensures that image data flows through the architecture without unnecessary waiting time, reducing latency while maintaining processing reliability through coordinated operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If asynchronous operations are used among image capture, processing, and display components, then operational flexibility is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism through synchronization circuitry that continuously monitors and adjusts the timing of image capture, processing, and display operations. The circuitry uses feedback from clock signals to coordinate these previously asynchronous operations, reducing latency by ensuring that each stage is ready to receive and process data at the optimal moment while maintaining operational flexibility through dynamic timing adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of time

If frame buffers are reduced or removed, then latency is reduced, but memory allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidmemory allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces synchronization circuitry as an intermediary component that manages memory allocation and timing coordination. This intermediary handles the complexity of dynamic memory allocation for the reduced buffer infrastructure, freeing other system components from managing timing and memory resources. The circuitry acts as a mediator that simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling low-latency operation through intelligent resource management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of time

If clock synchronization is implemented across the architecture, then latency is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the clock synchronization function into an integrated circuitry that combines timing generation, distribution, and coordination in a single unified component. By consolidating these previously separate functions into one synchronization circuitry block, the system reduces latency through coordinated operations while minimizing the increase in system complexity through functional integration rather than adding multiple separate synchronization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12610151B2Synchronization circuitry for reducing latency associated with image passthrough
Publication Date: 2026.04.21 APPLE INC
  • US12610151B2 patent drawing
  • US12610151B2 patent drawing
  • US12610151B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In some implementations, a method of synchronizing a content generation and delivery architecture to reduce the latency associated with image passthrough. The method includes: determining a temporal offset associated with the content generation and delivery architecture to reduce a photon-to-photon latency across the content generation and delivery architecture; obtaining a first reference rate associated with a portion of the content generation and delivery architecture; generating, via synchronization circuitry, a synchronization signal for the content generation and delivery architecture based at least in part on the first reference rate; and operating the content generation and delivery architecture according to the synchronization signal and the temporal offset.