US 2003/0214512 A1 · Hardware method for sub-pixel anti-aliasing of text on an LCD display

Abstract

A graphics controller of the present invention is designed for use with or combined with a system that includes a display device having a plurality of pixels, each pixel being divided into a plurality of sub-pixels. A plurality of sub-pixel addresses may be stored in memory, each of the plurality of sub-pixels having an associated sub-pixel address. A processor has an anti-aliasing graphics control mode in which each of the plurality of sub-pixels may be addressed by its associated sub-pixel address. In one alternative preferred dual-mode embodiment, a plurality of pixel addresses may also be stored in memory, each of the plurality of pixels having an associated pixel address. In this dual-mode embodiment the processor also has a normal graphics control mode in which each of the plurality of pixels may be addressed by its associated pixel address. Control signals provided to the processor actuate the anti-aliasing and/or normal graphics control mode. The present invention also includes methods for using the graphics controller.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An anti-aliasing system for use with at least one input/output device and at least one display device, said display device having a plurality of pixels, each pixel divided into a plurality of sub-pixels, said anti-aliasing system comprising:

(a) a first graphics controller;
(b) a first graphics processor functionally associated with said first graphics controller, said first graphics controller suitable for receiving signals from said at least one input/output device and for sending instructions to said display device;
(c) a first graphics memory functionally associated with said first graphics controller;
(d) a plurality of sub-pixel addresses stored in said first graphics memory, each of said plurality of sub-pixels having an associated sub-pixel address;
and
(e) wherein signals provided to said first graphics controller control each of said plurality of sub-pixels using its associated sub-pixel address.

3 more elements

A graphics controller for use with an external system, wherein said external system includes at least one display device, said display device having a plurality of pixels, each pixel divided into a plurality of sub-pixels, said graphics controller comprising:

(a) a processor suitable for receiving control signals and for sending instructions to said display device;
(b) memory functionally associated with said processor;
(c) a plurality of sub-pixel addresses stored in said memory, each of said plurality of sub-pixels having an associated sub-pixel address;
and
(d) said processor having an anti-aliasing graphics control mode, each of said plurality of sub-pixels being addressed by its associated sub-pixel address in said anti-aliasing graphics control mode;
(e) wherein control signals provided to said processor actuate said anti-aliasing graphics control mode.

3 more elements

A method for processing a graphic display signal having plurality of graphic display signal components and displaying an image based on said graphic display signal on at least one display device, each of said plurality of graphic display signal components having an address and a luminance value, said display device having a plurality of pixels, each pixel divided into a plurality of sub-pixels, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a graphic display signal using a graphics control processor;
(b) determining if there is a mode selection signal;
(c) processing said graphic display signal components in a normal mode if said mode selection signal is absent;
(d) determining if said mode selection signal is an anti-aliasing selection signal;
(e) processing said graphic display signal components in an anti-aliasing mode if said mode selection signal is an anti-aliasing selection signal;
(f) determining if said mode selection signal is a combined selection signal;
and
(g) processing said graphic display signal components in a combined mode if said mode selection signal is a combined selection signal.

5 more elements

(a) processor means for receiving control signals and for sending instructions to said display device;
(b) memory means functionally associated with said processor;
(c) said memory means having a plurality of sub-pixel addressing means stored therein, each of said plurality of sub-pixels having an associated sub-pixel addressing means;
(d) said processor means having an anti-aliasing graphics control mode, each of said plurality of sub-pixels being addressed by its associated sub-pixel addressing means in said anti-aliasing graphics control mode;
and
(e) means for providing control signals to said processor to actuate said anti-aliasing graphics control mode.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hardware method for sub-pixel anti-aliasing of text on an LCD display

Life of this patent

Hardware method for sub-pixel anti-aliasing of text on an LCD display

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23