System and method for improved pixel rendering performance
AssigneeEvans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
InventorsTerrence J. Coleman, Ken George
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for improving pixel rendering performance in a computer graphics system. The device includes a pixel resolution buffer containing a plurality of pixel storage locations to store pixel values. A depth value is provided for each pixel storage location in the pixel resolution buffer, to store a closest depth for polygons that cover the pixel. A subpixel resolution buffer is also included with a least two subpixels corresponding to each pixel storage location in the pixel resolution buffer.
Claims8
A device for improving pixel rendering performance in a computer graphics generation system, comprising:
- a pixel resolution buffer, having a plurality of pixels to store pixel data for incoming polygon fragments and a pixel depth value for each pixel;
- a polygon flag for each pixel in the pixel resolution buffer, where the flag indicates that the pixel contains one or multiple polygons;
- a subpixel resolution buffer with at least two subpixels corresponding to each pixel in the pixel resolution buffer;
- a processing module to determine whether an incoming fragment is closer than the stored pixel depth value and whether a given pixel is completely or partially covered by an incoming polygon fragment;
- and
- a selection processor configured to evaluate the polygon flag and copy RGBA data from a graphics pipeline into affected subpixels.
A method for improving pixel rendering performance in a computer graphics generation system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a polygon fragment from a geometry subsystem;
- determining whether a depth of the incoming polygon fragment is closer than a current depth of a current pixel;
- determining whether a current pixel is completely covered or partially covered by the polygon fragment received;
- identifying whether the current pixel contains one polygon;
- selecting whether to write the polygon fragment to a pixel resolution buffer or a subpixel resolution buffer based on whether the current pixel is completely or partially covered by the polygon fragment;
- writing the polygon fragment to the pixel resolution buffer if the pixel is covered by the polygon fragment or a subpixel resolution buffer if the pixel fragment is partially covered by the polygon fragment;
- and
- copying RGBA data from the pixel resolution buffer to the subpixel buffers representing subpixels not touched by the polygon fragment received.
A method for improving pixel rendering performance in a computer graphics generation system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a polygon fragment from a geometry subsystem;
- determining whether a depth of the incoming polygon fragment is closer than a current depth of a current pixel;
- determining whether a current pixel is completely covered or partially covered by the polygon fragment received;
- selecting whether to write the polygon fragment to a pixel resolution buffer or a subpixel resolution buffer based on whether the current pixel is completely or partially covered by the polygon fragment;
- writing the polygon fragment to the pixel resolution buffer if the pixel is covered by the polygon fragment or a subpixel resolution buffer if the pixel fragment is partially covered by the polygon fragment;
- and
- copying RGBA data from the pixel resolution buffer into the pixels not affected by the incoming polygon fragment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.