Time-Adjusted Frame Interpolation to Reduce Screen Tearing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graphics applications reduce framerate to conserve processing resources, leading to visual distortions like screen tears and blurring due to delayed rendering and interpolation of frames at inconsistent framerates.

Innovation Solution

A processing system generates interpolated frames and uses timing circuitry to determine optimal presentation times based on rendering metrics, ensuring frames are displayed at the target framerate, reducing visual distortions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frame interpolation is implemented to increase framerate, then the framerate is increased, but visual distortions such as screen tears and blurring occur due to inconsistent presentation timing

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveframerateVSAvoidvisual quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by monitoring actual frame presentation timing and using this information to adjust the interpolation process. The timing circuitry continuously tracks when frames are actually displayed and feeds this information back to the frame generation system, allowing dynamic adjustment of interpolation timing to maintain synchronization with the display refresh rate and prevent visual distortions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating optimal presentation times for interpolated frames based on predicted timing data. The timing circuitry determines when interpolated frames should be presented relative to rendered frames, preparing the timing schedule in advance to ensure that frames will be displayed at the correct moments, thereby preventing screen tears and blurring before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If rendering and interpolation delays are introduced to generate interpolated frames, then frame interpolation can be performed, but the interpolated frames are presented at a different framerate causing visual distortions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveframerateVSAvoidtiming accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the frame presentation timing adaptive rather than fixed. The timing circuitry dynamically adjusts the presentation time of interpolated frames based on actual rendering and interpolation completion times. This dynamic timing adjustment ensures that frames are always presented at the correct moment regardless of processing delays, maintaining synchronization with the display refresh rate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the timing parameter of frame presentation by calculating adjusted presentation times based on actual processing durations. The timing circuitry modifies the presentation timestamp of interpolated frames according to the actual time taken for rendering and interpolation, ensuring that frames are displayed at the correct framerate despite variations in processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If the framerate is reduced to conserve processing resources, then processing resources are saved, but the visual smoothness of motion is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing resourcesVSAvoidmotion smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates copies of rendered frames through frame interpolation. By generating interpolated frames that are copies or variations of the original rendered frames, the system can increase the apparent framerate and improve motion smoothness without requiring additional rendering operations. The interpolated frames are synthesized from existing frame data, conserving processing resources while enhancing visual quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250299287A1Time-adjusted interpolated frame display

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES INC

AI summary

To improve the framerate of a set of rendered frames, a processing system is configured to generate and display one or more interpolated frames. To this end, the processing system includes an accelerator unit (AU) configured to generate an interpolated frame from a first rendered frame and a second rendered frame of the set of rendered frames. The AU then determines a timing to display the interpolated frame based on tracked rendering metrics associated with the interpolated frame, first rendered frame, and the second rendered frame. The AU then provides the interpolated frame to a display based on the determined timing.