Nvidia Granted Patent For Hybrid Graphics Systems

News
By Wolfgang Gruener
published

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved a patent application by Nvidia that described a switch between integrated and discrete graphics in a single computer system -- or what we know as Optimus.

Of course, it is not new technology, but we should remember that patents can take an eternity to make their way through the patent approval process. Nvidia originally filed the patent application in November 2007. For those who keep track, this was about the time when Nvidia was releasing GeForce 8800 series GPUs based on the G92 core.

The patent explains that switching between an IGPU (integrated GPU) and a DGPU (discrete GPU) could deliver greater graphics performance when needed, but save power in general applications: "While in the hybrid graphics mode, the DGPU performs the graphics processing, and the graphics driver transmits the rendered images from the DGPU to the IGPU local memory and, then, to the IGPU DAC. This image transmission allows applications to fully exploit the processing capabilities of the DGPU, while using the display device connected to the IGPU."

The first graphics chip that supported this technology were launched on September 11, 2008 and arrived as the GeForce 9M series GPUs.

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Wolfgang Gruener
35 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cuecuemore
    Another patent granted, another blow to technological progress.
    Reply
  • snowzsan
    Not really... I mean, I like AMD cards and whatnot but I don't see how this is holding anyone back.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    snowzsanNot really... I mean, I like AMD cards and whatnot but I don't see how this is holding anyone back.Mmm.... if they wanted to be pricks they could go after AMD for their implementation of this. Not sure how far they would get, but it is something to keep in mind.
    Reply
  • christarp
    but... amd has been doing this for years
    Reply
  • markem
    in two years this patent wouldn't even be worth a dollar as the intel, ARM and AMD APU`s will kill this patent before it even comes to court.

    Already we are seeing less and less discreet GPU`s, apart from gamers laptops, even that is a very small market
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    What was that one company that was developing a software that allowed the motherboard to switch between the discrete Nivida/AMD GPU and integrated Intel GPU?
    Reply
  • tntom
    This is not your vague Apple patent. AMD uses a different technology to do graphics switching. So no worry. Although I believe Nvidia's is slightly better than AMD's.
    Reply
  • darkavenger123
    Will it affect LucidTechnology and their implementation on Intel internal GPU with discrete GPU? I hope not...
    Reply
  • nukemaster
    darkavenger123Will it affect LucidTechnology and their implementation on Intel internal GPU with discrete GPU? I hope not...+1 this is exactly what Virtu does. And it does work far better then I had guessed it would.
    Reply
  • _Cubase_
    cuecuemoreAnother patent granted, another blow to technological progress.
    At least Nvidia has the means and intent to actually produce this technology. This is not what I would call patent trolling because it is quite obviously a patent specific to the company's intended development roadmap, and does not prevent any other company's existing technology from being produced or innovated upon.
    Reply