Steven K Yu

US Patent:

6654021, Nov 25, 2003

Filed:

May 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861461

Inventors:

Michael A. Wasserman - Redwood City CA
Michael G. Lavelle - Saratoga CA
David C. Kehlet - Los Altos CA
Nathaniel David Naegle - Pleasanton CA
Steven Te-Chun Yu - Fremont CA
Glenn Gracon - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 1318

US Classification:

345535, 345537

Abstract:

A graphics system that may be shared between multiple display channels includes a frame buffer, two arbiters, a pixel buffer, and several display output queues. The first arbiter arbitrates between the display channels requests for display information from the frame buffer and forwards a selected request to the frame buffer. The frame buffer outputs display information in response to receiving the forwarded request, and pixels corresponding to this display information are stored in the pixel buffer. Each display channel has a corresponding display output queue that provides data to a display and generates a request for pixels from the pixel buffer. A pixel request arbiter receives the pixel requests generated by the display output queues, selects one of the pixel requests, and forwards the selected request to the pixel buffer. In response, the pixel buffer outputs pixels to the display output queue that generated the selected pixel request.

US Patent:

6819327, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

May 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861469

Inventors:

Michael A. Wasserman - Redwood City CA
Steven Te-Chun Yu - Fremont CA
Justin M. Mahan - Newark CA
Michael W. Schimpf - Pacific Grove CA
Glenn Gracon - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345581, 714732, 714 37, 714 45

Abstract:

A signature capture and analysis system suitable for use in a high performance computer graphics system is described. The system employs a distributed network of signature analysis registers (SARs) which may be configured to capture and accumulate information from one or more channels of data over pre-defined periods of time. The SARs may be so distributed to allow for the isolation of faults to a sub-system level. The signature values developed in these SARs are, in some cases pre-seeded, and may include contributions from both data and control signals. Checking of the signature values against known good or expected outcomes is provided for. In some cases the SARs may be implemented as linear hybrid cellular automatons.