Method and apparatus for providing image and graphics processing using a graphics rendering engine
AssigneeSilicon Graphics, Inc.
InventorsCarroll Philip Gossett, Nancy Cam Winget
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Abstract
A method an system provide that image processing operations and graphics processing are both performed by a graphics rendering system. The texture memory and a texture filter of the graphics rendering system are used to perform look-up table operations as well as multiply and accumulate operations typically associated with image processing.
Claims13
A method for providing image processing in a computing system that includes a graphics rendering engine and a plurality of arrays of linear interpolators (lerp arrays), the method comprising the steps of:
- determining an image processing operation is to be performed;
- adapting the graphics rendering engine to process image data in accordance with the determined image processing operation, wherein said adapting step comprises the step of selecting coefficients for one of the plurality of lerp arrays in accordance with the determined image processing operation;
- and
- executing the determined image processing operation with the adapted graphics rendering engine.
A system for providing both digital image processing and graphics rendering, the system comprising:
- a memory;
- an engine coupled to said memory, said engine used for both graphics rendering and image processing, wherein said engine comprises a plurality of arrays of linear interpolators (lerp arrays);
- a host computer;
- an interface;
- and
- software that selects coefficients for one of said plurality of lerp arrays to enable the performance of an image processing operation;
- wherein said memory acts as a texture memory for graphics rendering and the same said memory that acts as a texture memory is an image memory for image processing and said host selects said rendering engine to perform either image processing or graphics rendering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.