Thomas Preston

Title: Innovations of Thomas Preston

Introduction

Thomas Preston is a notable inventor based in Middlebury, CT (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of graphics processing, holding a total of six patents. His work focuses on enhancing the efficiency and capabilities of graphics processing apparatuses.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is titled "Graphics processing apparatus having color expand operation for drawing." This invention presents a process for moving an array of pixel data representing an image from a source memory space to a destination memory space. The array is arranged in words containing multiple individual pixel data. The process involves transforming each pixel datum in the word fetched from the source memory space into a colorized pixel datum by attaching color information to each pixel datum. This transformation occurs in parallel for all pixel data in each word, allowing for the storage of commonly used images in a compressed form. The color expand operation enables monochrome images to be expanded into color images, which can then be combined with existing color images in the display memory.

Another significant patent is related to a graphics processor that performs bit-by-bit masking outside of the central processing unit (CPU). This device incorporates a mask bus that indicates whether data from the CPU should be written to memory or remain unaltered. The read-modify-write cycle allows for efficient data handling, ensuring that only the necessary bits are modified while maintaining the integrity of the unmasked bits.

Career Highlights

Thomas Preston is currently employed at Texas Instruments Corporation, where he continues to innovate in the field of graphics processing. His work has contributed to advancements in how graphics are rendered and displayed, making significant impacts in various applications.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Thomas has collaborated with notable colleagues, including Karl M Guttag and Michael D Asal. These partnerships have fostered a creative environment that has led to the development of groundbreaking technologies in graphics processing.

Conclusion

Thomas Preston's contributions to graphics processing technology through his patents and collaborations highlight his role as a significant inventor in the field. His innovative approaches continue to influence the way images are processed and displayed in modern technology.