Graphics system and method for minimizing idle time of a controller of the graphics system
US5678036A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T1/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for minimizing idle time of a controller in a graphics system, which includes a graphics memory and a graphics accelerating device that interconnects the controller and the graphics memory, is disclosed. The graphics accelerating device includes a command register for storing command signals from the controller therein, and a graphics engine for receiving and executing the command signals stored in the command register one at a time. The method includes the steps of: detecting whether number of the command signals in the command register which are yet to be executed by the graphics engine has reached a predetermined threshold number; transferring the command signals, which are yet to be executed by the graphics engine, from the command register to a reserved space of the graphics memory when the predetermined threshold number is reached so as to permit the controller to store continuously the command signals in the command register in order to minimize idle time of the controller; and determining whether the reserved space of the graphics memory contains the command signals transferred from the command register, and providing the command signals in the reserved space of th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.