Shadow buffer control module method and software construct for adjusting per pixel raster images attributes to screen space and projector features for digital wrap, intensity transforms, color matching, soft-edge blending and filtering for multiple projectors and laser projectors

摘要

The Shadow Buffer method can be characterized as control of multiple reusable parallel buffers that have utility in mapping digital transformations to improve formation of composite images for single displays or multiple projected images. This method can be described analogously as innovative extensions to current software and hardware solutions that use multiple allocation of pixel memory space to color, alpha and Z-depth functions. The Shadow Buffers are additional pixel and sub-pixel memory maps of screen space and projector attributes (e.g., gamma, contrast, intensity, color, position, stretching, warping, soft-edge blending) that improve the final overall composite image. The improved composite images include but are not limited to: Multiple Projected Images digitally soft-edge blended into a seamless tiled image displays Single or Multiple Projected Images digitally warped into a seamless tiled image for curved screen displays Single or Multiple Projected Images digitally warped for geometric corrections for optical keystone and pin cushion effects. Single or Multiple Images digitally corrected for defects in the projector or monitor display device Single or Multiple Images digitally corrected for defects in the display screen(s) Single or Multiple Images digitally combined or subtracted for sensor fusion, synthetic visions and augmented reality Further, the parallel nature of the Shadow Buffer supports combinations for custom applications. For example up to the memory limitations of a particular device the Shadow Buffers can be utilized to soft-edge blend, digitally warp projected image tiles and simultaneously corrects for defects in the projector and screen. Additional combinations and other extensions are obvious to others familiar with the current state of the art. It is important to emphasize that the Shadow Buffer method is a software construct and method that digitally controls the images within the image generation device and does not require additional custom hardware. Hardware acceleration of the Software Construct and Shadow Buffer Method is possible but not required.