Input output connector for accessing graphics fixed function units in a software-defined pipeline and a method of operating a pipeline
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorAlbert Meixner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An input output connector for a graphics processing unit having a graphics pipeline including fixed function units and programmable function units is disclosed. Additionally, a graphics processing unit and a method of operating a graphics pipeline are disclosed. In one embodiment, the input output connector includes: (1) a request arbiter configured to connect to each of the programmable function units, receive fixed function requests therefrom and arbitrate the requests and (2) fixed unit converters, wherein each of the fixed unit converters is dedicated to a single one of the fixed function units and is configured to convert the requests directed to the single one to an input format for the single one.
Claims20
An input output connector for a graphics processing unit having a graphics pipeline including fixed function units and programmable function units, comprising:
- a request arbiter configured to connect to each of said programmable function units, receive fixed function requests therefrom and arbitrate said requests;
- and
- fixed unit converters, wherein each of said fixed unit converters is dedicated to a single one of said fixed function units and is configured to convert said requests directed to said single one to an input format for said single one.
A method of operating a graphics pipeline having fixed function units and programmable function units, comprising:
- receiving a request from one of said programmable function units for one of said fixed function units to generate a response;
- obtaining parameters and state information for said request;
- routing said request including said parameters and said state information to one of multiple interface logic, wherein each of said multiple interface logic is dedicated for a single one of said fixed function units;
- and
- converting said request, employing said interface logic, to a unit specific input format for said one of said fixed function units.
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein each step of said method is performed by a single input output connector coupled to each of said programmable function units and each of said fixed function units.
A graphics processing unit, comprising:
- fixed function units;
- programmable function units;
- and
- a single input output connector configured to connect each of said programmable function units to each of said fixed function units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.