Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Patent
1994-12-15
1998-04-28
Oberley, Alvin E.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
345522, G06F 940
Patent
active
057457611
ABSTRACT:
Disclosed is a support architecture that facilitates use of display device drivers containing a minimum of hardware-specific software code. A driver need support only a relatively few common functions, which act as building blocks for the larger, more complex operations typically requested by graphics engines. In order to mediate between the limited-instruction-set device driver and the various higher-level graphics engines, the invention includes a series of translation modules that simplify engine-originated instructions into simpler graphic components. A video manager supervises routing of instructions to the specific drivers they designate, and serializes access to hardware components so that graphic commands execute atomically (i.e., without interruption). The invention also includes a graphics library containing device-level instruction sets, as well as the on-board capability to execute those commands, for a broad range of graphic operations; and allows driver capability to be expanded by means of add-on extension modules, which relieve the designers of the need to fully rewrite a driver to test or implement an expanded function set.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4855724 (1989-08-01), Yang
patent: 4893116 (1990-01-01), Henderson et al.
patent: 5027212 (1991-06-01), Marlton et al.
patent: 5097257 (1992-03-01), Clough et al.
patent: 5208908 (1993-05-01), Harrison et al.
patent: 5212770 (1993-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5214761 (1993-05-01), Barrett et al.
patent: 5226160 (1993-07-01), Waldron et al.
patent: 5257387 (1993-10-01), Richek et al.
patent: 5269021 (1993-12-01), Denio et al.
patent: 5291585 (1994-03-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5299307 (1994-03-01), Young
patent: 5313592 (1994-05-01), Buondonno et al.
patent: 5319751 (1994-06-01), Garney
patent: 5418962 (1995-05-01), Bodin et al.
patent: 5477242 (1995-12-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5491813 (1996-02-01), Bondy et al.
patent: 5513365 (1996-04-01), Cook et al.
Celi, Jr. Joseph
Louie Roger
Wagner Jonathan M.
Courtenay III St. John
Dillon Andrew J.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Oberley Alvin E.
Russell Brian F.
LandOfFree
Advanced graphics driver architecture with extension capability does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Advanced graphics driver architecture with extension capability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Advanced graphics driver architecture with extension capability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1542916