Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100274080 | Remote Position Control For Surgical Apparatus - A system for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure includes a cannula, a surgical instrument for use through the cannula, and a remote positioning system to adjust the relative position between the surgical instrument and the cannula. By allowing a physician to perform the minimally invasive surgical procedure at a distance from the patient, the remote positioning system minimizes the radiation exposure of the physician while still providing accurate control over the procedure. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274180 | Digital syringe with compensation control - A syringe for performing a medical procedure includes a pressure sensor, a volume sensor, and a compensation circuit. The volume sensor measures a volume of a flowable material that is dispensed from the syringe, the pressure sensor measures a pressure being applied to the flowable material, and the compensation circuit calculates a delivered volume of the flowable material by accounting for system compliance (expansion) as the pressure is increased. By compensating for system compliance in this manner, a syringe can be used in high pressure procedures while still providing accurately controllable material delivery. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274255 | Minimally Invasive Cement Delivery System Retainer - A system for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprises a cannula, a bone filler material delivery nozzle for performing the procedure through the cannula, and a retainer for securing the delivery nozzle relative to the cannula. The retainer eliminates the need to manually stabilize and position the delivery nozzle during the procedure, thereby allowing the physician to perform the procedure outside of the fluoroscopic radiation field used to visualize the procedure location. The retainer can be attached to the cannula, and can provide either selective or constant clamping force onto the delivery nozzle. | 10-28-2010 |
20110024145 | SURGICAL APPARATUS WITH FORCE LIMITING CLUTCH - A force-limiting clutch for a surgical instrument includes a drive element and a transmission element. An actuator is coupled to the drive element, and a drive shaft is coupled to the transmission element for providing an output force. If the force input from the actuator to the clutch reaches a predetermined threshold, the force-limiting clutch “slips” and does not transfer the actuator force to the drive shaft to prevent excessive force/pressure output. Normally, drive features on the drive element engage with transmission features on the transmission element to transfer forces from the actuator to the drive shaft. When a threshold force is reached, the drive features slip past the transmission features. This clutch “breakpoint” determines the maximum loading that the surgical instrument can provide at its output. In various embodiments, multiple transmission features can be arranged in a serial manner, such that the force-limiting clutch provides multiple breakpoints. | 02-03-2011 |
20110028980 | HIGH PRESSURE SURGICAL SYSTEM - An instrument for performing a medical procedure includes a drive shafts a holding clutch, a drive clutch, and an actuator. The holding clutch only allows advancement of the drive shaft, while the drive clutch transfers an advancement force from the actuator to the drive shaft. The dual clutch system allows a lever to be used as the actuator so that a user can generate large actuation forces manually (and optionally remotely) without significant physical effort. This capability can beneficially improve the usability and effectiveness of percutaneous surgical systems, such as those for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. | 02-03-2011 |
20110270181 | Multi-Port Delivery System - A device for delivering material to multiple surgical target locations includes a pressure reservoir selectably coupled to two or more outlets. Coupling the pressure reservoir to a given one of the outlets and pressurizing the pressure reservoir causes flowable material (e.g., bone filler material) to be dispensed from that outlet. A diverter for selectably coupling the pressure reservoir one of the outlets can be configured to trigger a pressure release valve for the pressure reservoir upon switching, thereby preventing unexpected or uncontrolled material delivery from the new outlet in response to sudden high pressure exposure. | 11-03-2011 |
20110288523 | Digital Syringe With Compensation Control - A syringe for performing a medical procedure includes a pressure sensor, a volume sensor, and a compensation circuit. The volume sensor measures a volume of a flowable material that is dispensed from the syringe, the pressure sensor measures a pressure being applied to the flowable material, and the compensation circuit calculates a delivered volume of the flowable material by accounting for system compliance (expansion) as the pressure is increased. By compensating for system compliance in this manner, a syringe can be used in high pressure procedures while still providing accurately controllable material delivery. | 11-24-2011 |
20120197321 | INFLATABLE BONE TAMP WITH PREDETERMINED EXTENSIBILITY - An inflatable bone tamp for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure includes an inner shaft that incorporates a longitudinally extensible section. The predetermined longitudinally extensible section permits greater control over the elongation of the inflatable portion of the inflatable bone tamp, thereby allowing performance characteristics to be tailored to specific procedures and/or situations. The predetermined longitudinally extensible section can be implemented in various ways, such as a spring, elastomer, or mechanical linkage, among others. | 08-02-2012 |
20140335560 | Automated Microdissection Instrument - Systems and methods for automated laser microdissection are disclosed including automatic slide detection, position detection of cutting and capture lasers, focus optimization for cutting and capture lasers, energy and duration optimization for cutting and capture lasers, inspection and second phase capture and/or ablation in a quality control station and tracking information for linking substrate carrier or output microdissected regions with input sample or slide. | 11-13-2014 |
20150018834 | MULTI-PORT DELIVERY SYSTEM - A device for delivering material to multiple surgical target locations includes a pressure reservoir selectably coupled to two or more outlets. Coupling the pressure reservoir to a given one of the outlets and pressurizing the pressure reservoir causes flowable material (e.g., bone filler material) to be dispensed from that outlet. A diverter for selectably coupling the pressure reservoir one of the outlets can be configured to trigger a pressure release valve for the pressure reservoir upon switching, thereby preventing unexpected or uncontrolled material delivery from the new outlet in response to sudden high pressure exposure. | 01-15-2015 |
20150182274 | HIGH PRESSURE SURGICAL SYSTEM - An instrument for performing a medical procedure includes a drive shaft, a holding clutch, a drive clutch, and an actuator. The holding clutch only allows advancement of the drive shaft, while the drive clutch transfers an advancement force from the actuator to the drive shaft. The dual clutch system allows a lever to be used as the actuator so that a user can generate large actuation forces manually (and optionally remotely) without significant physical effort. This capability can beneficially improve the usability and effectiveness of percutaneous surgical systems, such as those for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. | 07-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140129686 | MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE CONFIGURED TO FILTER AND DETECT APPLICATION PROFILES, A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME AND AN EXTERNAL SOURCE FOR DELIVERING HIERARCHICAL FILTERED APPLICATION PROFILES TO MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES - A mobile computing device, a method of operating thereof, a method of manufacturing and an external source for dynamic profile settings for mobile computing devices. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device includes: (1) a settings reservoir configured to store dynamic sets of profile settings and static set of profile settings for the computing device and (2) a profile generator configured to generate coalesced sets of profile settings for applications on the computing device based on the dynamic sets of profiles and the static set of profiles. | 05-08-2014 |
20140130064 | METHOD OF DISSEMINATING UPDATED DRIVERS TO MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES AND A DISSEMINATION SYTEM THEREFOR - Disclosed herein are methods and systems that provide compatible device drivers to mobile computing devices. In one embodiment, a method of determining compatibility between different versions of device drivers and operating systems of a mobile computing device is disclosed that includes: (1) establishing a test environment employing a current operating system of a mobile computing device, (2) applying an updated driver to the test environment and (3) determining system compatibility of the updated driver with the current operating system employing the test environment, wherein the determining is based on both direct and implied compatibility of the updated driver with the current operating system. | 05-08-2014 |
20150154036 | METHOD OF DISSEMINATING UPDATED DRIVERS TO MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES AND A DISSEMINATION SYSTEM THEREFOR - Disclosed herein are mobile computing devices that employ compatible updated drivers. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device includes: (1) a processor, (2) a driver library configured to store original drivers and updated drivers for applications on the mobile computing device, and (3) a driver selector configured to determine at least one driver from the original drivers or the updated drivers to use for running one of the applications. | 06-04-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100311474 | WIRELESS ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH OPEN-LOOP AND CLOSED-LOOP OUTPUT POWER CONTROL - Wireless circuitry in an electronic device may contain radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and power amplifier circuitry that transmits radio-frequency signals through an antenna. A tap and power detector that are interposed in the radio-frequency signal path between the power amplifier circuitry and the antenna may be used to make output power measurements. Control circuitry may control the wireless circuitry in an open-loop control regime in which output power adjustments are based on a requested power without using the output power measurements. The control circuitry may also control the wireless circuitry in a closed-loop control regime in which the output power measurements serve as a source of real time feedback to determine whether to increase or decrease the output power. The output power may be controlled using linear transition zone power control curves in a transition zone between the open-loop regime and the closed-loop regime. | 12-09-2010 |
20110124364 | WIRELESS TRANSMITTER CALIBRATION USING ABSOLUTE POWER REQUESTS - Test systems are provided for performing testing and calibration operations on wireless circuitry in electronic devices. The electronic devices may include cellular telephones and other portable electronic devices. Wireless circuitry in a device may include a radio-frequency transceiver that is controlled based on radio-frequency transceiver control signals. The wireless circuitry may also include power amplifier circuitry. The power amplifier circuitry may receive radio-frequency signals from the transceiver and may produce correspondingly amplified radio-frequency output signals for wireless transmission with an antenna. The power amplifier circuitry may be powered by a bias voltage. The test systems may provide the electronic device with a transmit power request that directs the electronic device to produce a desired output power. The test systems may measure the actual resulting power. After sufficient measurements have been made, the test systems may calibrate the transceiver and power amplifier settings. | 05-26-2011 |
20110256838 | METHODS FOR DETERMINING OPTIMUM POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGES FOR RADIO-FREQUENCY POWER AMPLIFIER CIRCUITRY - Electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities are provided. The electronic device may include storage and processing circuitry, power amplifier circuitry, power supply circuitry, etc. The storage and processing circuitry may direct the power amplifier circuitry to operate using a desired gain mode, in a particular radio channel, and at a given output power level. The power supply circuitry may bias the power amplifier circuitry with a power supply voltage. The performance of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by an adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) margin. The power consumption of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by a current savings ratio. A cost function may be calculated by taking the product of the ACLR margin and current savings ratio. A minimum point for each cost function curve may be determined. It is desirable to bias the power amplifier circuitry with a supply voltage corresponding to the minimum point. | 10-20-2011 |
20120221277 | METHODS FOR CALIBRATING OVER-THE-AIR PATH LOSS IN OVER-THE-AIR RADIO-FREQUESNCY TEST SYSTEMS - Calibration equipment for calibrating multiple test stations in a test system is provided. Each test station may include a test unit, a test chamber with an over-the-air antenna, and a radio-frequency (RF) cable that connects the test unit to the test chamber. Reference devices under test (DUTs) may be used to calibrate uplink and downlink path loss (e.g., OTA path loss, RF cable path loss, and variations of the test unit) associated with each test station. The reference DUTs may calibrate each test station at desired frequencies to generate a path loss table. Once calibrated, the test chambers may be used during production testing to test factory DUTs. During production testing, the transmit/receive power efficiency of each factory DUT may be calculated based on values in the path loss table to determine whether a particular production DUT is a passing or failing DUT according to pass/fail criteria. | 08-30-2012 |
20130072129 | Methods for Determining Optimum Power Supply Voltages for Radio-Frequency Power Amplifier Circuitry - Electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities are provided. The electronic device may include storage and processing circuitry, power amplifier circuitry, power supply circuitry, etc. The storage and processing circuitry may direct the power amplifier circuitry to operate using a desired gain mode, in a particular radio channel, and at a given output power level. The power supply circuitry may bias the power amplifier circuitry with a power supply voltage. The performance of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by an adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) margin. The power consumption of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by a current savings ratio. A cost function may be calculated by taking the product of the ACLR margin and current savings ratio. A minimum point for each cost function curve may be determined. It is desirable to bias the power amplifier circuitry with a supply voltage corresponding to the minimum point. | 03-21-2013 |
20130336376 | Systems for Calibration of Wireless Electronic Devices - A calibration system may be provided for calibrating wireless communications circuitry in an electronic device during manufacturing. The calibration system may include data acquisition equipment and calibration computing equipment for receiving and processing test and calibration signals from wireless communications circuitry to be calibrated. During testing and calibration operations, a device may be provided with initial pre-distortion calibration values. The initial pre-distortion calibration values may be generated at least in part based on calibration operations performed for other wireless electronic devices. The device may generate a test signal using the initial pre-distortion calibration values. The calibration system may determine whether the test signal is within an acceptable range of a known reference signal. If the test signal is outside of the acceptable range, the calibration system may generate a set of corrected pre-distortion calibration values to be used in generating wireless communications signals during normal operation of the device. | 12-19-2013 |
20140073275 | Method for Determining Optimum Power Amplifier Configurations Using List Mode Testing - A calibration system for calibrating wireless circuitry in an electronic device is provided. The test system may include test equipment, a computer, and a device under test (DUT). The test equipment may measure the output power of the DUT. The DUT may include power amplifier circuitry that is provided with a power supply voltage supplied by power supply circuitry. A list mode sequence of commands may be provided to the DUT and the test equipment to calibrate the power amplifier circuitry. The list of commands may be processed by the DUT to produce radio-frequency signals. The list of commands may be simultaneously processed by the test equipment to perform measurements on the radio-frequency signals. The computer may retrieve measurement data from the test equipment after testing is complete. The computer may subsequently determine calibrated control settings for the DUT that reduce power consumption while ensuring satisfactory adjacent channel leakage performance. | 03-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090153605 | DOUBLE-SIDED PRINTING SYSTEM - A method for double-sided printing may include ejecting printing fluid from a fluid ejector to a platen configured to receive print media, the platen supporting a nonabsorbent substrate. In any sequence, a first print media side and a second print media side may be printed by ejecting printing fluid from the fluid ejector to the first print media side, and contacting the second print media side with the nonabsorbent substrate to transfer printing fluid from the nonabsorbent substrate to the second print media side. A method for double-side printing may further include increasing the contact between the second print media side with the nonabsorbent substrate to increase transfer of printing fluid. | 06-18-2009 |
20100277530 | DENSITY ERROR CORRECTION - A method for density error correction is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes a) calculating an average density error for at least one row of an image considering density errors for printhead elements employed to print the at least one row, and a number of passes that the printhead elements will utilize to print the at least one row, b) calculating a density error correction value for the at least one row considering the average density error, and c) applying the density error correction value to adjust ink flow from the printhead elements while printing the at least one row. | 11-04-2010 |
20130100192 | PRINTING NEAR SATURATION - A printer is disclosed. The printer prints colors near saturation using mostly a first ink and prints saturated colors using mostly a second ink. The second ink has a reduced loading of the colorant in the first ink. | 04-25-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120145150 | DRY POWDER INHALER - A dry powder inhaler includes a chamber holding an actuator to which a powdered medicament is adhered. Air is drawn into the chamber through an inlet flow channel and exits through an outlet flow channel. The actuator oscillates in response to the air flow, dislodging powdered medicament to be entrained in the air flow and delivered to the patient. A retaining member prevents the actuator from exiting the chamber. Thus, the medicament may be delivered to the patient without the use of carrier particles. | 06-14-2012 |
20120291780 | BEAD-CONTAINING DRY POWDER INHALER - A dry powder inhaler includes a chamber holding a bead-like actuator to which a powdered medicament is adhered. Air is drawn into the chamber through an inlet flow channel and exits through an outlet flow channel. The bead-like actuator oscillates in response to the air flow, dislodging powdered medicament to be entrained in the air flow and delivered to the patient. | 11-22-2012 |
20130340747 | POWDER DISPERSION DEVICES AND METHODS - A dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel. A geometry of the inhaler may be such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes an actuator to oscillate, enabling the actuator when oscillating to deaggregate powdered medicament within the dispersion chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to a patient through the outlet channel. | 12-26-2013 |
20130340754 | POWDER DISPERSION DEVICES AND METHODS - A dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel. A geometry of the inhaler may be such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes an actuator to oscillate, enabling the actuator when oscillating to deaggregate powdered medicament within the dispersion chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to a patient through the outlet channel. | 12-26-2013 |
20150246189 | POWDER DISPERSION DEVICES AND METHODS - A dry powder inhaler may include a powder storage, an inlet channel, a dispersion chamber, and an outlet channel. A geometry of the inhaler may be such that a flow profile is generated within the dispersion chamber that causes an actuator to oscillate, enabling the actuator when oscillating to deaggregate powdered medicament within the dispersion chamber to be aerosolized and entrained by the air and delivered to a patient through the outlet channel. | 09-03-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100217380 | FLEXIBLE STENT DESIGN - The present invention relates to tissue-supporting medical devices and drug delivery systems, and more particularly to tubular flexible stents that are implanted within a body lumen of a living animal or human to support the organ, maintain patency and/or deliver drugs or agents. The tubular flexible stent has a cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis and includes a helical section having of a plurality of longitudinally oriented strut members and a plurality of circumferentially oriented hinge members connecting circumferentially adjacent strut members to form a band. The band is wrapped about the longitudinal axis in a substantially helical manner to form a plurality of helical windings. At least one connector member extends between longitudinally adjacent helical windings of the band. | 08-26-2010 |
20130310833 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ACCESS ACROSS ADJACENT TISSUE LAYERS - Adjacent tissue layers can be accessed using a catheter device with a distal tip having a conductive portion including a first cutting feature and one or more projections extending from the first cutting feature towards an outer diameter of the distal tip. Electrical energy can be supplied to the conductive portion of the device to cut tissue. A stent can be delivered to form a fluid communication between the adjacent tissue layers. | 11-21-2013 |
20140236064 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR FORMING AN ANASTOMOSIS - Devices and methods for deploying an anastomotic stent between portions of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract are disclosed. The anastomotic stents are configured to atraumatically engage the tissue walls and to permit the flow of fluid, partially digested food, and food. The stents can be deployed using endoscopic catheter devices, laparoscopic tools, and combinations of both endoscopic tools and laparoscopic tools. Examples of anastomoses include anastomoses between the stomach and a portion of the intestines such as the jejunum. Anastomoses can also be formed between two closed ends of the intestines, such as two closed ends of the colon formed during a colon resection procedure. Anastomoses can also be formed between a fundal pouch formed during a gastric bypass procedure and the jejunum. Laparoscopic tools are disclosed to deploy a stent by selectively removing a radial restraint on a self expanding stent with the restraint removed through the laparoscopic access points. | 08-21-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110261740 | System And Method For Estimating Bandwidth Requirements Of And Allocating Bandwidth To Communication Devices Operating In A Network - A system including a base station and a plurality of stations. The base station is configured to estimate bandwidths used by the plurality of stations based on packets transmitted by the plurality of stations during a first period. The base station is further configured to selectively allocate timeslots to the plurality of stations for transmission of packets to the base station during a second period following the first period. Durations of the timeslots are based on the estimated bandwidths. The plurality of stations are configured to transmit packets to the base station in the timeslots during the second period. | 10-27-2011 |
20110292925 | Network Device For Implementing Access Points And Multiple Client Stations - A wireless network device includes N access point (AP) modules having N BSSID's, where N is an integer greater than 1. The wireless network device includes a control module that communicates with the N AP modules. The control module stores the N BSSID's, a BSSID of an (N+1) | 12-01-2011 |
20120057492 | Opportunistic 40 MHz Mode of Transmission in Wireless Transmitters - A system includes a signal processing module and a control module. The signal processing module receives a first clear channel assessment (CCA) signal for a first sub-channel of a communication channel, increases a pulse width of the first CCA signal by a predetermined period of time, and generates a second CCA signal. The control module receives the second CCA signal and a third CCA signal for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The control module transmits data via one of the second sub-channel and the communication channel based on the second and third CCA signals. | 03-08-2012 |
20130242928 | OPPORTUNISTIC 40 MHZ MODE OF TRANSMISSION IN WIRELESS TRANSMITTERS - A system including a physical layer module and a control module. The physical layer module is configured to generate a first clear channel assessment for a first sub-channel of a communication channel and generate a second clear channel assessment for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The first clear channel assessment indicates whether the first sub-channel is free or busy. The second clear channel assessment indicates whether the second sub-channel is free or busy. The control module is configured to, in response to the second sub-channel being busy, extend a duration of the second clear channel assessment by a predetermined period of time, and transmit data via (i) only the first sub-channel or (ii) both the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel based on (a) the first clear channel assessment, (b) the second clear channel assessment, and (c) the extended duration of the first clear channel assessment. | 09-19-2013 |
20130286915 | WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WLAN) TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXED (TDM) INTERFRAME SPACE (IFS) TIME SELECTION PROTOCOL - A wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices comprises an RF transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon. A control module communicates with the RF transceiver, determines a group identifier and a station identifier based on the beacon, and selects one of a default IFS time and a second IFS time based on a data packet received. | 10-31-2013 |
20140059374 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING A FREQUENCY OF A CLOCK SIGNAL FOR A BUS BASED ON A NUMBER OF REQUESTS ASSERTED TO TRANSFER DATA ON THE BUS - An integrated circuit includes a generator. The generator, based on a summation signal, generates a clock signal having a frequency. Multiple devices generate respective requests. Each of the requests requests transfer of data on a bus. Each of the devices is configured to, based on the frequency of the clock signal, transfer the data for the corresponding request on the bus. A summer receives the requests and based on a number of the requests being in an asserted state during a first period of time, generates the summation signal. A first module, based on the summation signal, increases a second period of time that a first request is in an asserted state. The second period of time is increased to include or overlap the first period of time. The summer, as a result of the increase, generates the summation signal further based on the first request. | 02-27-2014 |
20140169250 | WiMax Enhanced Sleep Mode - Enhancements are provided to lower power consumption in a wireless communication device. A traffic indicator message is designated to be positioned at or near a first burst to be transmitted to a subscriber station. Further, a clock signal provided to a decoder in the subscriber station has a variable frequency, the frequency being chosen based on the nature of the data to be decoded. Data needing immediate decoding is processed with a high speed clock. Other data are processed with a lower speed clock to reduce power consumption. Also, control information that is demodulated when the subscriber station is in sleep mode is batch processed when the subscriber station becomes active again. | 06-19-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080211827 | FILTERING UNIT FOR FLOATING-POINT TEXTURE DATA - Floating-point texture filtering units leverage existing fixed-point filter circuits. Groups of floating-point texture values are converted to products of a fixed-point mantissa and a scaling factor that is the same for each texture value in the group. The fixed-point mantissas are filtered using a fixed-point filter circuit, and the filtered mantissa is combined with the scaling factor to determine a floating-point filtered value. Multiple floating-point filter results may be combined in a floating-point accumulator circuit. The same fixed-point filter circuit may also be used to filter fixed-point texture data by providing fixed-point input path that bypasses the format conversion and a fixed-point accumulator. | 09-04-2008 |
20110090250 | ALPHA-TO-COVERAGE USING VIRTUAL SAMPLES - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for converting alpha values into pixel coverage masks. Geometric coverage is sampled at a number of “real” sample positions within each pixel. Color and depth values are computed for each of these real samples. Fragment alpha values are used to determine an alpha coverage mask for the real samples and additional “virtual” samples, in which the number of bits set in the mask bits is proportional to the alpha value. An alpha-to-coverage mode uses the virtual samples to increase the number of transparency levels for each pixel compared with using only real samples. The alpha-to-coverage mode may be used in conjunction with virtual coverage anti-aliasing to provide higher-quality transparency for rendering anti-aliased images. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090251 | ALPHA-TO-COVERAGE VALUE DETERMINATION USING VIRTUAL SAMPLES - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for converting alpha values into pixel coverage masks. Geometric coverage is sampled at a number of “real” sample positions within each pixel. Color and depth values are computed for each of these real samples. Fragment alpha values are used to determine an alpha coverage mask for the real samples and additional “virtual” samples, in which the number of bits set in the mask bits is proportional to the alpha value. An alpha-to-coverage mode uses the virtual samples to increase the number of transparency levels for each pixel compared with using only real samples. The alpha-to-coverage mode may be used in conjunction with virtual coverage anti-aliasing to provide higher-quality transparency for rendering anti-aliased images. | 04-21-2011 |
20110169850 | BLOCK LINEAR MEMORY ORDERING OF TEXTURE DATA - A method of organizing memory for storage of texture data, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes accessing a size of a mipmap level of a texture map. A block dimension may be determined based on the size the mipmap level. A memory space (e.g., computer-readable medium) may be logically divided into a plurality of whole number of blocks of variable dimension. The dimension of the blocks is measured in units of gobs and each gob is of a fixed dimension of bytes. A mipmap level of a texture map may be stored in the memory space. A texel coordinate of said mipmap level may be converted into a byte address of the memory space by determining a gob address of a gob in which the texel coordinate resides and determining a byte address within the particular gob. | 07-14-2011 |
20120084334 | DATA DECOMPRESSION WITH EXTRA PRECISION - Methods and systems for decompressing data are described. The relative magnitudes of a first value and a second value are compared. The first value and the second value represent respective endpoints of a range of values. The first value and the second value each have N bits of precision. Either the first or second value is selected, based on the result of the comparison. The selected value is scaled to produce a third value having N+1 bits of precision. A specified bit value is appended as the least significant bit of the other (non-selected) value to produce a fourth value having N+1 bits of precision. | 04-05-2012 |
20120176377 | BLOCK LINEAR MEMORY ORDERING OF TEXTURE DATA TECHNIQUES - A method of organizing memory for storage of texture data, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes accessing a size of a mipmap level of a texture map. A block dimension may be determined based on the size of the mipmap level. A memory space (e.g., computer-readable medium) may be logically divided into a plurality of whole number of blocks of variable dimension. The dimension of the blocks is measured in units of gobs and each gob is of a fixed dimension of bytes. A mipmap level of a texture map may be stored in the memory space. A texel coordinate of said mipmap level may be converted into a byte address of the memory space by determining a gob address of a gob in which the texel coordinate resides and determining a byte address within the particular gob. | 07-12-2012 |
20120213435 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTIZING AND SQUEEZING BASE VALUES OF ASSOCIATED TILES IN AN IMAGE - A method for performing image rendering. The method includes identifying a tile in an image, wherein the image comprises a plurality of tiles including color data that is displayed by a plurality of pixels. A quantized first base value and a quantized second base value are accessed from a block of memory, wherein the block is associated with the tile. Reverse quantization is performed on the quantized first and second base values to obtain a reproduced first base value, and a reproduced second base value corresponding to the tile for purposes of determining color values for corresponding pixels. | 08-23-2012 |
20130022265 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERPOLATING INDEX VALUES OF ASSOCIATED TILES IN AN IMAGE - A method for performing indexing in an image decoder. The method includes identifying a tile in an image, wherein the image comprises a plurality of tiles, and wherein each tile includes color data associated with a plurality of pixels. The method includes asymmetrically providing a plurality of indices throughout the tile. The method includes identifying a pixel in the tile. The method also includes determining a corresponding rectangular grid that includes the pixel, wherein the corresponding rectangular grid comprises at least one indices in a group of indices. The method includes determining an index for the pixel by bilinearly filtering the group of indices that is associated with the corresponding rectangular grid, wherein the filtering is performed in relation to the pixel. | 01-24-2013 |
20130308871 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMAGE COMPRESSION WHILE ENCODING AT LEAST ONE EXTRA BIT - A method for encoding at least one extra bit in an image compression and decompression system. The method includes accessing an input image, and compressing the input image into a compressed image using an encoder system, wherein said encoding system implements an algorithm for encoding at least one extra bit. The method further includes communicatively transferring the compressed image to a decoding system, and decompressing the compressed image into a resulting uncompressed image that is unaltered from said input image, wherein the algorithm for encoding enables the recovery of the at least one extra bit. | 11-21-2013 |
20150146993 | GENERALIZATION OF METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMAGE COMPRESSION WHILE ENCODING AT LEAST ONE EXTRA BIT - A method for encoding at least one extra bit in an image compression and decompression system. The method includes accessing an input image, and compressing the input image into a compressed image using an encoder system, wherein said encoding system implements an algorithm for encoding at least one extra bit. The method further includes communicatively transferring the compressed image to a decoding system, and decompressing the compressed image into a resulting uncompressed image that is unaltered from said input image, wherein the algorithm for encoding enables the recovery of the at least one extra bit. | 05-28-2015 |