Deferred scanline conversion architecture

A method of writing a plurality of primitive object data to a primitive object buffer in a graphics processing system, each primitive object data associated with a primitive object that is used to render an image to an output device, comprising steps:

• defining a coverage mask, the coverage mask serving to limit the number of primitive objects competing to be displayed at any given pixel location of the output device;
• receiving a plurality of primitive object data associated with a plurality of primitive objects from a front end graphics system;
• defining a bounding box for each primitive object;
• determining the number of non-overlapping coverage masks that are needed to cover each bounding box;
• issuing as many primitive object data as there are coverage masks that are needed to cover each bounding box;
• and
• writing each primitive object data into at least one memory location in the primitive object buffer, wherein a primitive object data associated with a primitive object is written to at most one memory location within the confines of its coverage mask upon satisfaction of a set of primitive object buffer write conditions.

A method of generating pixels from primitive object data in a graphics processing system, the primitive object data associated with a primitive object for rendering an image on an output device, comprising steps:

• defining a coverage mask having particular dimensions, the coverage mask serving to limit the number of primitive objects competing to be displayed at any given pixel location of the output device;
• receiving a new primitive object data associated with a primitive object from a front end graphics system, the primitive object associated with any location on the output device;
• writing the new primitive object data into a memory location in the primitive object buffer within the confines of the coverage mask upon satisfaction of a set of primitive object buffer write conditions, the coverage mask providing a bounded set of possible memory locations for storage of the new primitive object data in the primitive object buffer;
• and
• generating a pixel based on the stored primitive object data in the primitive object buffer using a limited set of processors that are based on the particular dimensions of the coverage mask.