US 6,184,887 B2 · Method and apparatus for clamping image gradients

Abstract

A system for avoiding overflow and underflow of image variables by clamping image gradients. The method is described with respect to a triangular polygon to be rendered, and a function for that polygon such as color. First the delta x and delta y values between each of the vertices of the triangle are computed. Using the delta x and delta y values, the area of the triangle is computed. The sign of the triangle area is used to determine whether the triangle is visible. If the triangle is visible then the method determines whether the width of the triangle in the x-direction, dx_min, is at least equal to a minimum threshold. To make this determination, first the vector with the largest delta y is selected. Using the largest delta y value, dx_min is computed. If dx_min is less than the threshold value, then a correction value is computed. The position of the vertex that is not part of the vector with the largest delta y is then corrected using the correction value. Making dx_min greater than or equal to the minimum threshold ensures that the dfx function gradients do not exceed the dynamic range of the system variables. The new triangle area is then computed. A similar method is performed to correct the height of the triangle, dy_min, if it is less than the minimum threshold. The area of the new triangle, which includes any required vertex position corrections, is used to compute the function gradients. Lastly, the function gradients are used to compute the function value at a reference point. Additional function values are then obtained by extrapolating from the reference point.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In gradient computation hardware having a memory for storing a plurality of image variables, each image variable being assocaited with a predetermined number of bits capable of representing data within a dynamic range, a method of clamping, by the gradient computation hardware, gradients in a computer graphics image, the method comprising steps of:

computing, by the gradient computation hardware, the area of a polygon comprising a plurality of vectors, the polygon being associated with the computer graphics image;
selecting, by the gradient computation hardware, a vector of said plurality of vectors that has a largest first coordinate delta;
determining, by the gradient computation hardware, a maximum second coordinate delta using said polygon area and said largest first coordinate delta, wherin the second coordinate delta comprises a distance from a selected vertex of the polygon to an opposing side of the polygon along a line parallel to a coordinate axis;
comparing, by the gradient computation hardware, the second coordinate delta to a threshold number of pixels;
resolving, by the gradient computation hardware, a second coordinate delta correction value, when the second coordinate delta is less than the threshold;
and,
when the second coordinate delta is less than the threshold:
moving a vertex of the polygon, by the gradient computation hardware, so as to increase the second coordinate delta by the correction value to a corrected second coordinate delta value, wherein the corrected second coordinate delta value is at least equal to the threshold;
computing, by the gradient computation hardware, the area of a new polygon using the vertex, the new polygon being associated with vertex data;
storing, by the gradient computation hardware, the vertex data into at least a subset of the plurality of image variables, each vertex datum having a magnitude that is within the dynamic range of the at least a subset;
and,
outputting the vertex data to a display device.

9 more elements

An apparatus for clamping gradients in a computer graphics image comprising:

a computation unit;
a vertex buffer coupled to said computation unit, the vertex buffer for receiving vertex data associated with the computer graphics image;
a delta vertex buffer coupled to said computation unit, the delta vertex buffer for storing computed gradient values;
a code buffer coupled to said computation unit, for storing a look-up table;
wherein said computation unit computes the area of a triangle defined by a first, a second, and a third vector, the triangle being associated with the computer graphics image;
selects the vector that has a largest first coordinate delta;
computes a maximum second coordinate delta using said polygon area and said largest first coordinate delta, wherein the second coordinate delta comprises the distance from a selected vertex of the triangle to the opposing side of the triangle along a line parallel to a coordinate axis;
compares the second coordinate delta to a threshold number of pixels;
computes a second coordinate delta correction value, when the second coordinate delta is less than the threshold;
moves a vertex, when the second coordinate delta is less than the threshold, so as to increase the second coordinate delta by the correction value to a corrected second coordinate delta value, wherein the corrected second coordinate delta value is at least equal to the threshold, computes the area of the new triangle, the new triangle being associated with vertex data defining one or more reference points, the vertex data being associated with a plurality of image variables having a dynamic range, the reference points having function gradients that are within the dynamic range of at least a subset of the image variables, and, outputting the vertex data to a display device.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for clamping image gradients

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for clamping image gradients

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12