Patrick A Harkin

Title: Innovations of Patrick A Harkin

Introduction

Patrick A Harkin is a notable inventor based in Austin, TX (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of graphics processing, holding a total of 8 patents. His work focuses on enhancing the performance and accuracy of graphics rendering technologies.

Latest Patents

One of Harkin's latest patents is related to error correction in a graphics processor. This innovation allows a graphics processor to render three-dimensional polygons with color, shading, and other visual effects while correcting interpolation errors that occur during the mapping of polygons to a pixel grid display. The processor employs an Incremental Line-Drawing algorithm and features an error correction circuit that adjusts the initial and incremental gradient parameters for each pixel characteristic. This ensures that each scan line is rendered with the proper orthogonal adjustment. The error correction circuit includes an ortho correction engine for correcting errors in pixel parameters and an ortho adjust engine to manage overflows in x-coordinate calculations. As a result, the processor can render polygons with monotonic gradients in color, shading, depth, and other visual characteristics without interpolation errors.

Another significant patent by Harkin involves arbitration for shared graphics processing resources. This graphics system includes a graphics processor that renders graphics primitives based on a display list generated by a host processor. The graphics processor features an arbitration logic device that enables it to temporarily manage shared resources among dissimilar graphics drawing engines. This arbitration logic prioritizes data from different drawing engines based on the configuration of the underlying computer system, allowing for efficient access to shared resources.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Patrick A Harkin has worked with prominent companies such as Cirrus Logic Inc. and Compaq Computer Corporation. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in graphics processing technologies.

Collaborations

Harkin has collaborated with notable individuals in the field, including Stuart Hecht and Michael K Larson. These collaborations have further enriched his work and innovations in graphics processing.

Conclusion

Patrick A Harkin's contributions to graphics processing through his patents and collaborations highlight his significant role in advancing technology in this field. His innovations continue to impact the way graphics are rendered, ensuring higher accuracy and performance.