Mark S Sandford

US Patent:

6900811, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Jan 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/052707

Inventors:

Mark J. Sandford - Lake Forest CA, US

Assignee:

LightSurf Technologies, Inc. - Santa Cruz CA

International Classification:

G09G005/399

US Classification:

345539, 345536, 345543, 345548, 345562

Abstract:

A sliding window (block) system incorporating a methodology for providing a processor access to image data is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the system operates as follows. An image is received for processing that has a size that is too large for the processor to access directly. As a result, the sliding window system creates first, second, and third swappable windows (blocks) for accessing image data from the image; each windows is swappable so that any two are available within the memory space of the processor while a third is being loaded in a background memory. The system cycles through the three windows such that, at any given point in time, two of the three windows are affixed in the memory space of the processor as left and right adjacent windows, while the remaining or third window is being loaded in the background (e. g. , in a DRAM) as a temporary shadow or background window. After the shadow window is loaded with appropriate image data, it is brought into the foreground (i. e.

US Patent:

20020093508, Jul 18, 2002

Filed:

Jan 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/052700

Inventors:

Mark Sandford - Lake Forest CA, US

Assignee:

LightSurf Technologies, Inc.

International Classification:

G06F012/06
G09G005/39
G06F012/02

US Classification:

345/571000, 345/567000, 345/531000

Abstract:

An orthogonal memory is described that provides an improved method for converting image data into a bit plane format suitable for image compression operations, using a custom dual port memory. The memory comprises a matrix of memory cells that are addressable in orthogonal directions. Upon receipt of image information for storage, the image information is stored in the memory by storing each data word of the image information in a row of the matrix. Individual bit planes of the image information may be easily retrieved from the memory by retrieving individual columns of bits from the corresponding columns of the matrix, thus providing a highly efficient method for storing and accessing image information used to create bit planes.