Method and system for efficient edge blending in high fidelity multichannel computer graphics displays

In a multichannel display system including at least a first computer system for generating video information for a first channel and a second computer system for generating video information for a second channel, a method for implementing edge blending between the first and second channels to create a seamless multichannel display, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

• a) using the first computer system, rendering a first video frame for display on the first channel;
• b) using the second computer system, rendering a second video frame for display on the second channel;
• c) rendering a first overlap region onto the first video frame to obtain a first blended video frame within a frame buffer of the first computer system;
• d) rendering a second overlap region onto the second video frame to obtain a second blended video frame within a frame buffer of the second computer system, wherein the first overlap region and the second overlap region are implemented by producing a first polygon to define the first overlap region and a second polygon to define the second overlap region, and mapping a first texture having a first color sample over the first polygon and a second texture having a second color sample over the second polygon such that the first and second textures modulate a brightness level within the first and second overlap regions;
• e) projecting the first blended video frame from the first channel onto a first screen;
• and
• f) projecting the second blended video frame from the second channel onto a second screen, the first and second screens being directly adjacent, such that the first overlap region and the second overlap region correspond to form a seamless junction between the first blended video frame and the second blended video frame whereby the use of dedicated blending hardware external to one or more of the first computer system and the second computer system is not required.

A multichannel display system, comprising:

• a first computer system for generating video information coupled to a first channel;
• and
• a second computer system for generating video information coupled to a second channel, the first and second computer systems including respective processors coupled to respective memories, wherein the first and second computer systems execute software causing the first and second computer systems to implement a method for edge blending between the first and second channels to create a seamless multichannel display, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
• a) using the first computer system, rendering a first frame for display on the first channel;
• b) using the second computer system, rendering a second frame for display on the second channel;
• c) rendering a first overlap region onto the first frame to obtain a first blended frame within a frame buffer of the first computer system;
• d) rendering a second overlap region onto the second frame to obtain a second blended frame within a frame buffer of the second computer system, wherein the first overlap region and the second overlap region are implemented by producing a first polygon to define the first overlap region and a second polygon to define the second overlap region, and mapping a first texture having a first color sample over the first polygon and a second texture having a second color sample over the second polygon such that the first and second textures modulate a brightness level within the first and second overlap regions;
• e) outputting the first blended frame from the first channel to a first projector for projection onto a first screen;
• and
• f) outputting the second blended frame from the second channel to a second projector for projection onto a second screen, the first and second screens being directly adjacent, such that the first overlap region and the second overlap region correspond to form a seamless junction between the first blended video frame and the second blended video frame whereby the use of dedicated blending hardware external to one or more of the first computer system and the second computer system is not required.

In a multichannel display system, a method for implementing edge blending between a first and second video frame to create a seamless multichannel display system, comprising:

• storing a first transparency mask, having a first color sample, within a first frame buffer;
• rendering a first video frame into the first frame buffer for display on a first channel, the first transparency mask operable to modulate the brightness level to implement a first overlap region;
• storing a second transparency mask, having a second color sample, within a second frame buffer;
• rendering a second video frame into the second frame buffer for display on a second channel, the second transparency mask operable to modulate the brightness level to implement a second overlap region;
• and
• projecting the first channel and the second channel such that the first overlap region and the second overlap region correspond, thereby forming a seamless junction between the first blended video frame and the second blended video frame.

In a multichannel display system, a method for implementing edge blending between a first and second video frame to create a seamless multichannel display system, comprising:

• a) rendering a first video frame for display on a first channel;
• b) rendering a second video frame for display on a second channel;
• c) rendering a first overlap region onto the first video frame to obtain a first blended video frame;
• d) rendering a second overlap region onto the second video frame to obtain a second blended video frame, wherein the first overlap region and the second overlap region are implemented by producing a first polygon to define the first overlap region and a second polygon to define the second overlap region, and mapping a first texture having a first color sample over the first polygon and a second texture having a second color sample over the second polygon such that the first and second textures modulate a brightness level within the first and second overlap regions;
• and
• e) combining the first blended video frame from the first channel and the second blended video frame from the second channel such that the first overlap region and the second overlap region correspond, thereby forming a seamless junction between the first blended video frame and the second blended video frame.

A multichannel display system, comprising:

• a first computer system capable of rendering a first frame and a first overlap region onto the first frame to obtain a first blended frame within a first frame buffer for generating video information coupled to a first channel;
• a second computer system capable of rendering a second frame and a second overlap region onto the second frame to obtain a second blended frame within a second frame buffer for generating video information coupled to a second channel for projection by a second projector onto a second screen;
• a first projector capable of projecting the first blended frame onto a first screen;
• and
• a second projector capable of projecting the second blended frame onto a second screen;
• wherein:
• the first and second screens are directly adjacent, such that the first overlap region and the second overlap region correspond to form a seamless junction between the first blended video frame and the second blended video frame whereby the use of dedicated blending hardware external to one or more of the first computer system and the second computer system is not required;
• and
• the first overlap region and the second overlap region are implemented by producing a first polygon to define the first overlap region and a second polygon to define the second overlap region, and mapping a first texture having a first color sample over the first polygon and a second texture having a second color sample over the second polygon such that the first and second textures modulate a brightness level within the first and second overlap regions.