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AssigneeATI International SRL
InventorsSteven L. Morein, Michael T. Wright, Kin M. Yee
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A method and apparatus for managing compressed Z information in a video graphics system is described. Pixels in a display frame are grouped into a plurality of pixel blocks, where each pixel block includes a plurality of pixels. When possible, the Z information corresponding to the plurality of pixels in a pixel block is compressed and stored in a Z buffer in a compressed format. A Z mask value for each pixel block in the frame is stored in a Z mask memory, where the Z mask for each pixel block indicates a level of compression of the Z information for each of the pixel blocks. When Z information for a pixel block is required for processing operations, a cache is first examined to determine if the Z information for the pixel block is included in the cache. If the Z information is not included in the cache, the Z mask memory is consulted to determine the level of compression of the Z information for the particular pixel block. Based on the indication provided by the Z mask memory as to the level of compression, a predetermined amount of data is retrieved from the Z buffer, and when the Z information is in compressed format, it is decompressed. The fetched Z information is then stored in the cache for use in video graphics processing.
A method for controlling compressed Z information, comprising:
A processor for managing compressed Z information, comprising:
The processor 17, wherein the plurality of bits further comprises two bits, wherein encoded states of the two bits indicate four levels of compression.
A method for controlling compressed Z information, comprising:
A processor for managing compressed Z information, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.