Patent ID: 7525549

Claim:
A method for processing a sequence of images for display using a display device comprising: operating a plurality of graphics devices, each capable of processing images by performing rendering operations to generate pixel data, including at least one first graphics device and at least one second graphics device, each graphics device of the plurality of graphics devices including an internal switching feature configurable to select between outputting pixel data generated by the graphics device and receiving and forwarding pixel data of another graphics device, wherein the at least one first graphics device is configured to assert a synchronization signal and the at least one second graphics device is configured to monitor the synchronization signal, and wherein the at least one first graphics device controls, at least in part, the operation of the at least one second graphics device by asserting or deasserting the synchronization signal; using the plurality of graphics devices to process the sequence of images, wherein the at least one first graphics device processes certain ones of the sequence of images, including a first image, and the at least one second graphics device processes certain other ones of the sequence of images, including a second image; delaying processing of the second image by the at least one second graphics device, by a specified duration, relative to processing of the first image by the at least one first graphics device, to stagger pixel data output for the first image and pixel data output for the second image, wherein the specified duration is based on an estimate of processing time for an image, wherein the estimate of processing time is based on at least one measured processing time for an image, wherein the at least one measured processing time corresponds to time elapsed between processing of a command for an image and processing of a similar command for a subsequent image, and wherein the graphics devices are configured to execute a plurality of different commands, wherein delaying processing of the second image by the at least one graphics device further comprises: deasserting the synchronization signal for the specified duration to delay processing of the second image by the at least one second graphics device; and after deasserting the synchronization signal for specified duration, asserting the synchronization signal to signal the at least one second graphics device to resume processing of the second image by the at least one second graphics device; and selectively providing output from the at least one first graphics device and the at least one second graphics device to the display device, to display pixel data for the sequence of images, wherein the plurality of graphics devices are arranged in a daisy chain configuration wherein pixel data from each of plurality of pixel devices is directed to the display device along the daisy chain configuration via the internal switching feature included in the plurality of graphics devices.