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Sony patents game graphics that adjust quality based on hardware heat

Sony has patented a system that uses temperature sensors to monitor the heat of a graphics rendering device. If the temperature rises too quickly or stays high for too long, the system automatically lowers the visual quality of specific parts of the image to reduce the workload on the hardware.

Why it mattersThis approach helps prevent gaming consoles or computers from overheating by dynamically adjusting performance, which can extend hardware life and maintain stable gameplay without manual intervention.

In the filing’s own words

A graphics rendering system includes: a rendering unit configured to render image content for display; and one or more sensors respectively operable to detect a temperature within or proximate to at least a respective part of the graphics rendering system, where if a value of at least one of the detected temperatures meets or exceeds a respective threshold value, then the rendering unit is configured to render a first part of the image content at a first image quality and render a second part of the image content at a second image quality different from the first image quality.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system, comprising: one or more computers and one or more storage devices on which are stored instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising: rendering image content for display; detecting, using one or more sensors, a rate of temperature change for a set period of time within or proximate to at least a respective part of a graphics rendering system; comparing the detected rate of temperature change to a threshold value; determining that the detected rate of temperature change satisfies a rate threshold and the rate of temperature change continues over a threshold duration; and in response to determining the detected rate of temperature change satisfies the rate threshold and the rate of temperature change continues over a threshold duration, rendering a first part of the image content at a first image quality and a second part of the image content at a second image quality, the second image quality being different from the first image quality.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.)
Official title
Graphics rendering system and method
Patent number
US12731299B2
Application number
18411097
Filed
Jan 12, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

G06T 11/00 Physics & computingG01K 3/005 Physics & computingG06F 3/013 Physics & computingG06T 1/20 Physics & computingG06T 7/70 Physics & computingG06T 2207/30196 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.