Graphics system interface
AssigneeNintendo Co., Ltd.
InventorsVimal Parikh, Robert Moore, Howard Cheng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interface for a graphics system includes simple yet powerful constructs that are easy for an application programmer to use and learn. Features include a unique vertex representation allowing the graphics pipeline to retain vertex state information and to mix indexed and direct vertex values and attributes; a projection matrix value set command; a display list call object command; and an embedded frame buffer clear/set command.
Claims4
A graphics system command stream for use in a graphics system, wherein the graphics system comprises a main processor, a main memory, and a graphics and audio processor, wherein the graphics and audio processor is an application specific integrated circuit, wherein the application specific integrated circuit comprises:
- a processor interface which provides a data control between the main processor and the graphics and audio processor;
- a memory interface which provides a data control and interface between the graphics and audio processor and the main memory;
- a 3D graphics processor which performs graphics processing tasks;
- and a display controller which accesses information from the main memory and provides it to a video encoder;
- and wherein the graphics system command stream is operable upon execution to call a display list, the command stream comprising:
- a bit pattern “01000000”, followed by
- a first pad, followed by
- a first 25-bit value indicating an address of the display list in the main memory, followed by
- a second pad, followed by
- a second 25-bit value indicating a count or size of the display list in 32-byte chunks,
- wherein upon execution of the command stream by said graphics and audio processor the display list is called.
A computer readable storage medium encoded with executable instructions for calling a display list for use in a graphics system, wherein the graphics system comprises a main processor, a main memory, and a graphics and audio processor, wherein the graphics and audio processor is an application specific integrated circuit, wherein the application specific integrated circuit comprises:
- a processor interface which provides a data control between the main processor and the graphics and audio processor;
- a memory interface which provides a data control and interface between the graphics and audio processor and the main memory;
- a 3D graphics processor which performs graphics processing tasks;
- and a display controller which accesses information from the main memory and provides it to a video encoder;
- and wherein the executable instructions comprise:
- a bit pattern “01000000”, followed by
- a pad, followed by
- a first 25-bit value indicating an address of the display list in the main memory, followed by
- a pad, followed by
- a second 25-bit value indicating a count or size of the display list in 32-byte chunks,
- wherein upon execution of the encoded instructions by said graphics and audio processor the display list is called.
A graphics command stream decoder for use in a graphics system, wherein the graphics system comprises a main processor, a main memory, and a graphics and audio processor, wherein the graphics and audio processor is an application specific integrated circuit, wherein the application specific integrated circuit comprises:
- a processor interface which provides a data control between the main processor and the graphics and audio processor;
- a memory interface which provides a data control and interface between the graphics and audio processor and the main memory;
- a 3D graphics processor which performs graphics processing tasks;
- and a display controller which accesses information from the main memory and provides it to a video encoder;
- and wherein the decoder comprises:
- a first decoding section decoding a bit pattern “01000000”, followed by
- a second decoding section decoding a first pad, followed by
- a third decoding section decoding a first 25-bit value indicating an address of a display list in the main memory, followed by
- a fourth decoding section decoding a second pad, followed by
- a fifth decoding section decoding a second 25-bit value indicating a count or size of the display list in 32-byte chunks.
A method of calling a display list in a graphics system using a graphics command stream, wherein the graphics system comprises a main processor, a main memory, and a graphics and audio processor, wherein the graphics and audio processor is an application specific integrated circuit, wherein the application specific integrated circuit comprises:
- a processor interface which provides a data control between the main processor and the graphics and audio processor;
- a memory interface which provides a data control and interface between the graphics and audio processor and the main memory;
- a 3D graphics processor which performs graphics processing tasks;
- and a display controller which accesses information from the main memory and provides it to a video encoder;
- and wherein the method comprises:
- generating a bit pattern “01000000”, then
- generating a first pad, then
- generating a first 25-bit value indicating an address of the display list in the main memory, then
- generating a second pad, then
- generating a second 25-bit value indicating a count or size of the display list in 32-byte chunks,
- wherein the command stream is operable upon execution to call a display list.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.