Graphics processing architecture employing a unified shader

A unified shader, comprising:

• a general purpose register block for maintaining data;
• a processor unit;
• a sequencer, coupled to the general purpose register block and the processor unit, the sequencer maintaining instructions operative to cause the processor unit to execute vertex calculation and pixel calculation operations on selected data maintained in the general purpose register block;
• and
• wherein the processor unit executes instructions that generate a pixel color in response to the selected one of the plurality of inputs and generates vertex position and appearance data in response to a selected one of the plurality of inputs.

A unified shader comprising:

• a processor unit operative to perform vertex calculation operations and pixel calculation operations;
• and
• shared resources, operatively coupled to the processor unit;
• the processor unit operative to use the shared resources for either vertex data or pixel information and operative to perform pixel calculation operations until enough shared resources become available and then use the shared resources to perform vertex calculation operations.

A unified shader comprising:

• a processor unit operative to perform vertex calculation operations and pixel calculation operations;
• and
• shared resources, operatively coupled to the processor unit;
• the processor unit operative to use the shared resources for either vertex data or pixel information and operative to perform vertex calculation operations until enough shared resources become available and then use the shared resources to perform pixel calculation operations.