Graphics generation device comprising means for monitoring its operation

• US 8,009,163 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Filliatre, Eric, Capircio, Patrice
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHU K
• Application Number:
  US11/912,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/633, 345/157, 345/419, 345/505, 701/14, 701/16, 713/187, 713/189, 715/851
• US Class Current: 345/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

A device for the graphical generation of symbologies intended for a display screen, the device having functions for the generation of symbology elements and means for monitoring its correct operation. The monitoring of correct operation allowing the use of certain of the functions for the generation of symbology elements to be prohibited and micro-images dedicated to the monitoring of the functions to be generated and controlled.

Claims

1. A graphics generation device for graphical generation of symbologies intended for a display screen, the said graphics generation device comprising:

functions for generation of symbology elements; and

a means for monitoring correct operation of the graphics generation device, comprising;

a first means allowing use of a portion of the said functions for the generation of the symbology elements to be prohibited; and

a second monitoring means allowing micro-images dedicated to monitoring of the said functions to be generated and controlled.

2. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein the prohibited functions are functions that are capable of generating recurrent symbol elements.

3. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein the prohibited functions are macro-functions comprising a plurality of elementary functions for generating symbology elements.

4. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, comprising a memory comprising a first region intended for storage of the symbology elements and a second region, the micro-images being generated in the second region.

5. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, comprising a memory comprising a first region intended for storage of the symbology elements, the second monitoring means allowing micro-images to be generated in the first region during a short period of time compared with refresh time of the symbology elements on the display screen.

6. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, comprising a third monitoring means allowing a portion of internal state variables of the graphics generation device to be monitored.

7. The graphics generation device according to claim 6, wherein the said third monitoring means comprise means for computing the said internal state variables independent of internal state variables of the graphics generation device.

8. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, the said graphics generation device being Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).

9. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein the functions for generation of symbology elements and the monitoring means are integrated with a reception structure comprising a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

10. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein the functions for generation of symbology elements are written in an OpenGL language, acronym for Open Graphics Language.

11. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) type.

12. The graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein the symbology is of an aeronautics type and represents symbols useful at least for piloting and navigation of aircraft.

13. A method for monitoring correct operation of a graphics generation device, comprising the following steps:

tracing of a micro-image within a first region of a memory, the first region for storage of symbology elements, the micro-image based on a function for generation of a symbology element;

calculating a mathematical signature for the micro-image;

comparing the calculated mathematical signature with an expected signature;

erasing the micro-image form the first region; and

tracing of an operational image based on the micro-image into a second region of the memory, the operational image in the second region being displayed.