Data synchronization between a plurality of asynchronous data renderers

A graphics system comprising:

• a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each asynchronous data renderer providing a word of data in a set of data words;
• a data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, the data synchronizer comprising:
• a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words upon assertion of a control signal;
• a controller that prevents each asynchronous data renderer from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and that asserts the control signal when each of the data registers has received its word of data in the first set of data words;
• and
• wherein a first of the plurality of asynchronous renderers is a pixel generator that receives rendering parameters, that calculates x, y, z coordinates and color values, for each pixel in a primitive, from the rendering parameters, and that outputs the x, y, z coordinates and the color values, as its word of data, to a corresponding one of the plurality of data registers.

A method for synchronizing sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each data word in a set of data words being rendered by one of a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first data word, in a first set of data words, from a first asynchronous data renderer;
• temporarily storing the first data word;
• awaiting receipt of a second data word;
• receiving the second data word;
• determining whether the first data word is to be blended with the second data word;
• outputting a synchronized set of data words, comprising the first data word and the second data word;
• and
• inhibiting the first asynchronous data renderer from sending a data word to a data synchronizer, in a second set of data words, until the synchronized set of data words has been output by the data synchronizer.

In a graphics system including a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, wherein one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a pixel generator that renders a data word for each pixel in a primitive, and another one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a texture mapping circuit that renders a data word for each pixel in a triangle primitive, a method for synchronizing sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each data word in a set of data words being rendered by one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first data word, in a first set of data words, from one of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit;
• temporarily storing the first data word;
• awaiting receipt of a second data word;
• receiving the second data word;
• outputting a synchronized set of data words, that includes the first data word and the second data word;
• and
• determining whether the first data word is to be blended with the second data word in one of a diffuse-only blending mode, a diffuse and specular blending mode, a diffuse and texture mapped blending mode, and a diffuse, specular and texture mapped blending mode.

A graphics system, comprising:

• a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each asynchronous data renderer providing a word of data in a set of data words;
• a data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, the data synchronizer comprising:
• a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words;
• and
• controlling means for preventing each of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and when each of the plurality of data registers has received its word of data, in the first set of data words, for outputting the first synchronized set of data words.