Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for boustrophedonic rasterization
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorsDouglas A. Voorhies, Nicholas J. Foskett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for performing rasterization using alternating sense point traversal. Upon receipt of a primitive, i.e. a triangle, a plurality of points are positioned on or near the primitive. Such points define an enclosed convex region and may be located at corners of the convex region. In operation, the points and convex region are moved in an alternating manner for the purpose of identifying an area in the primitive for rendering pixels therein. In particular, the points are moved in a boustrophedonic manner.
Claims35
A method for performing rasterization using alternating point traversal, comprising:
- receiving a primitive;
- positioning a plurality of points on or near the primitive, wherein the points define an enclosed convex region;
- defining at least one boundary which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions;
- and
- moving the points in an alternating manner in the portions via at least one of a plurality of contiguous rows and a plurality of contiguous columns for the purpose of identifying an area in the primitive.
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for performing rasterization using alternating point traversal, comprising:
- a code segment for receiving a primitive;
- a code segment for positioning a plurality of points on or near the primitive, wherein the points define an enclosed convex region;
- a code segment for defining at least one boundary which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions;
- and
- a code segment for moving the points in an alternating manner in the portions via at least one of a plurality of contiguous rows and a plurality of contiguous columns for the purpose of identifying an area in the primitive.
A system for performing rasterization using alternating point traversal, comprising:
- (a) a set-up module for receiving a primitive, and positioning a plurality of points on or near the primitive, wherein the points define an enclosed convex region;
- and
- (b) a traversal module coupled to the set-up module for moving the points in an alternating manner for the purpose of identifying an area in the primitive;
- wherein at least one boundary is defined which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions,:and the points are moved in the portions via at least one of a plurality of contiguous rows and a plurality of contiguous columns.
A method for performing rasterization, comprising:
- receiving a primitive;
- identifying pixels in the primitive for rendering purposes by stepping along adjacent strings of adjacent pixels;
- and
- limiting a length of the strings of pixels which are stepped;
- wherein the length of the strings is limited by defining at least one boundary which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions each including at least one of a plurality of contiguous rows and a plurality of contiguous columns.
A system for performing rasterization, comprising:
- (a) a set-up module for receiving a primitive;
- and
- (b) a traversal module coupled to the set-up module for identifying pixels in the primitive for rendering purposes by stepping along adjacent strings of adjacent pixels, wherein a length of the strings is limited;
- wherein the length of the strings is limited by defining at least one boundary which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions each including at least one of a plurality of contiguous rows and a plurality of contiguous columns.
A method for performing rasterization, comprising:
- receiving a primitive;
- identifying pixels in the primitive for rendering purposes by stepping along adjacent strings of adjacent pixels;
- and
- limiting a length of the strings of pixels which are stepped;
- wherein a length of the strings is limited by defining at least one boundary which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions, and a boundary spacing is defined based on a memory size.
A system for performing rasterization using alternating point traversal, comprising:
- (a) a set-up module for receiving a primitive, and positioning a plurality of points on or near the primitive, wherein the points define an enclosed convex region;
- and
- (b) a traversal module coupled to the set-up module for moving the points in an alternating manner for the purpose of identifying an area in the primitive;
- wherein a length of the strings is limited by defining at least one boundary which divides the primitive into a plurality of portions, and a boundary spacing is defined based on a memory size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.