Intersection testing in a ray tracing system using multiple ray bundle intersection tests

A computer-implemented method of performing intersection testing in a ray tracing system, the method comprising:

• receiving a bundle of rays to be tested for intersection with a box;
• performing a first bundle intersection test to determine whether or not all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box, wherein if the first bundle intersection test determines that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box, an intersection testing result for the bundle with respect to the box is that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box;
• and
• if the first bundle intersection test does not determine that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box, using a result of performing a second bundle intersection test, which determines whether or not all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, to determine the intersection testing result for the bundle with respect to the box,
• wherein if the result of performing the second bundle intersection test indicates that all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, the intersection testing result for the bundle with respect to the box is that all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, and
• wherein if the first bundle intersection test does not determine that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box and if the result of performing the second bundle intersection test does not indicate that all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, then the method further comprises:
• splitting the bundle of rays up into individual rays;
• and
• performing intersection tests for the individual rays with respect to the box to determine which of the individual rays intersect the box.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon an integrated circuit definition dataset that, when processed in an integrated circuit manufacturing system, configures the integrated circuit manufacturing system to manufacture a ray tracing system which comprises:

• a tester module configured to receive a bundle of rays to be tested for intersection with a box, wherein the tester module comprises:
• a first testing block configured to perform a first bundle intersection test to determine whether or not all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box, wherein if the first bundle intersection test determines that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box, an intersection testing result for the bundle with respect to the box is that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box;
• and
• a second testing block configured to perform a second bundle intersection test to determine whether or not all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, wherein if the second bundle intersection test determines that all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, the intersection testing result for the bundle with respect to the box is that all of the rays of the bundle miss the box, and
• wherein the tester module is configured to, if the first bundle intersection test does not determine that all of the rays of the bundle intersect the box and if the second bundle intersection test does not determine that all of the rays of the bundle miss the box:
• split the bundle of rays up into individual rays;
• and
• perform intersection tests for the individual rays with respect to the box to determine which of the individual rays intersect the box.