Virtualization method of vertical-synchronization in graphics systems

摘要

Vertical synchronization (v-sync) in prior art prevents video tearing artifacts by keeping the video pipeline synchronized with the monitor. Such technique keeps the frame rate of the rendering engine equal to monitor's refresh rate. However, it suffers from two substantial shortcomings: performance limitations and input lag, both of which are critical in real-time applications such as video games and professional applications (e.g. 3D CAD). The different embodiments of present invention, termed virtual vertical-synchronization (Virtual v-sync), eliminate tearing artifacts, while solving the shortfall of performance by shortening or dropping undisplayed frames, and solving the input lags by removing frame blocking. Any frame rate is achievable, independently of the monitor refresh. Two additional uses of the virtual vertical-synchronization are cloud gaming improvement and power consumption control.

主权项

1. A method for enhancing frame rate in graphics systems comprising:
generating application frames independently of a monitor refresh rate, while actual frames are displayed at screen refresh rate; removing frame blocking; preventing excessive application-generated frames from being displayed, and; dropping undisplayed frames while resolving inter-frame dependency between the to-be-dropped frame and its successive frames, wherein:
(i) in the event of lack of inter-frame dependency between the to-be-dropped frame and its successive frames, the to-be-dropped frame is dropped without shortening; and(ii) in the event of inter-frame dependency between the to-be-dropped frame and its successive frames, the to-be-dropped frame is shortened while keeping relevant render target tasks such that artifacts due to the to-be-dropped frame will be prevented.