Maximizing performance in a hardware image scaling module

A digital logic apparatus for scaling image data, comprising:

• (a) a first one-dimensional scaling processor for scaling a line of input image data in a first dimension in response to a user-input scaling percentage (SP) to produce a one-dimensionally scaled line;
• (b) a buffer memory for storing the one-dimensionally scaled line;
• (c) a second one-dimensional scaling processor having an input coupled to the buffer memory;
• and
• (d) scaling control logic for causing the first one-dimensional scaling processor to scale lines of input image data until a number of lines have been stored in the buffer memory sufficient to perform scaling by SP in two dimensions, and for causing the second one-dimensional scaling processor to scale all lines of the input image data stored in the memory in a second dimension to produce two-dimensionally scaled image data.

A method for scaling image data, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a user-input scale percentage (SP);
• (b) receiving input image data;
• and
• (c) scaling the input image in first and second dimensions to produce a two-dimensionally scaled image data by performing a first scaling method if SP exceeds a predetermined threshold value and performing a second scaling method if SP does not exceed the predetermined threshold value.

A system for scaling image data, comprising:

• (a) control means for receiving a user-input scale percentage (SP);
• (b) memory means for receiving input image data;
• and
• (c) scaling processor means for scaling the input image in first and second dimensions to produce a two-dimensionally scaled image data by performing a first scaling method if SP exceeds a predetermined threshold value and performing a second scaling method if SP does not exceed the predetermined threshold value.