Graphics display system with video scaler
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a video scaling system comprising a scaler engine, a memory, and first, second and third multiplexers, a method of scaling a video image comprising:
- receiving the video image;
determining whether it requires less memory space to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory or after reading the video image from the memory;
if it requires less memory space to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory;
a) providing the video image to the first multiplexer, wherein an output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the scaler engine;
b) scaling the video image with the scaler engine to generate a first scaled video image;
c) providing the first scaled video image to the second multiplexer, wherein an output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the memory;
d) writing the first scaled video image to the memory;
e) reading the first scaled video image from the memory; and
f) providing the first scaled video image to the third multiplexer; and
if it requires less memory space to scale the video image after reading the video image from the memory;
g) providing the video image to the second multiplexer, wherein the output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the memory;
h) writing the video image to the memory;
i) reading the video image from the memory;
j) providing the video image to the first multiplexer, wherein the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the scaler engine;
k) scaling the video image with the scaler engine to generate a second scaled video image; and
l) providing the second scaled video image to the third multiplexer; and
outputting the first or second scaled video image from the third multiplexer as an output of the video scaling system.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, graphics input and audio input simultaneously. A video scaling system preferably conserves memory by downscaling video prior to capturing the video in memory and upscaling video after the video is called out of memory.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. In a video scaling system comprising a scaler engine, a memory, and first, second and third multiplexers, a method of scaling a video image comprising:
-
receiving the video image;
determining whether it requires less memory space to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory or after reading the video image from the memory;
if it requires less memory space to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory;
a) providing the video image to the first multiplexer, wherein an output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the scaler engine;
b) scaling the video image with the scaler engine to generate a first scaled video image;
c) providing the first scaled video image to the second multiplexer, wherein an output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the memory;
d) writing the first scaled video image to the memory;
e) reading the first scaled video image from the memory; and
f) providing the first scaled video image to the third multiplexer; and
if it requires less memory space to scale the video image after reading the video image from the memory;
g) providing the video image to the second multiplexer, wherein the output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the memory;
h) writing the video image to the memory;
i) reading the video image from the memory;
j) providing the video image to the first multiplexer, wherein the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the scaler engine;
k) scaling the video image with the scaler engine to generate a second scaled video image; and
l) providing the second scaled video image to the third multiplexer; and
outputting the first or second scaled video image from the third multiplexer as an output of the video scaling system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A video scaler comprising:
-
an input for receiving a video image;
a scaler engine capable of both downscaling the video image to generate a first scaled video image and upscaling the video image to generate a second scaled video image;
a memory capable of storing the video image or the first scaled video image;
means for determining whether the video image is to be downscaled or upscaled;
a second multiplexer capable of receiving the video image to be upscaled from the input, receiving the first scaled video image from the scaler engine, and providing the video image to be upscaled or the first scaled video image to the memory;
a first multiplexer capable of receiving the video image to be downscaled from the input, receiving the video image to be upscaled from the memory, and providing the video image to be downscaled or the video image to be upscaled to the scaler engine; and
a third multiplexer capable of receiving the first scaled video image from the memory, receiving the second scaled video image from the scaler engine, and outputting either the first scaled video image or the second scaled video image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. In a video scaling system comprising a scaler engine, a memory, and first, second and third multiplexers, a method of scaling a video image comprising:
-
receiving the video image;
determining whether it requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory or after reading the video image from the memory;
if it requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory;
a) providing the video image to the first multiplexer, wherein an output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the scaler engine;
b) scaling the video image with the scaler engine to generate a first scaled video image;
c) providing the first scaled video image to the second multiplexer, wherein an output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the memory;
d) writing the first scaled video image to the memory;
e) reading the first scaled video image from the memory; and
f) providing the first scaled video image to the third multiplexer; and
if it requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image after reading the video image from the memory;
g) providing the video image to the second multiplexer, wherein the output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the memory;
h) writing the video image to the memory;
i) reading the video image from the memory;
j) providing the video image to the first multiplexer, wherein the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the scaler engine;
k) scaling the video image with the scaler engine to generate a second scaled video image; and
l) providing the second scaled video image to the third multiplexer; and
outputting the first or second scaled video image from the third multiplexer as an output of the video scaling system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
Specification