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US 7,095,414 B2Granted
Blending system and method in an integrated computer graphics pipeline
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorsJohn Erik Lindholm, Simon Moy, David B. Kirk, Paolo E. Sabella
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for a hardware implementation of a blending technique during graphics processing in a graphics pipeline. During processing in the pipeline, a plurality of matrices and a plurality of weight values are received. Also received is vertex data to be processed. A sum of a plurality of products may then be calculated by the multiplication of the vertex data, one of the matrices, and at least one of the weights.
Claims30
A system for blending vertex data, comprising:
- a transform module adapted for receiving graphics data, the transform module being positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space;
- a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module for performing lighting operations on the graphics data;
- a set-up module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module and the lighting module for setting up the graphics data;
- a render module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module, and the set-up module for rendering the graphics data;
- and
- memory positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module, the set-up module, and the render module for storing the graphics data;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data.
4 more elements
A method for graphics processing utilizing a single semiconductor platform, comprising:
- transforming graphics data;
- lighting the graphics data;
- setting up the graphics data;
- and
- rendering the graphics data;
- wherein the graphics data is transformed, lighted, set up, and rendered on the single semiconductor platform;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data.
4 more elements
A graphics pipeline system for graphics processing, comprising:
- a transform module adapted for receiving graphics data, the transform module being positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space;
- a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module for performing lighting operations on the graphics data;
- a set-up module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module and the lighting module for setting up the graphics data;
- a render module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module, and the set-up module for rendering the graphics data;
- and
- memory positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module, the set-up module, and the render module for storing the graphics data;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of being coupled to a central processing unit for receiving instructions therefrom.
5 more elements
A method for graphics processing utilizing a single semiconductor platform, comprising:
- transforming graphics data;
- lighting the graphics data;
- setting up the graphics data;
- and
- rendering the graphics data;
- wherein the graphics data is transformed, lighted, set up, and rendered on the single semiconductor platform;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of being coupled to a central processing unit for receiving instructions therefrom.
5 more elements
A single-platform graphics pipeline system, comprising:
- a transform module positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming graphics data;
- a lighting module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module being for performing lighting operations on the graphics data;
- a set-up module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module and the lighting module, the set-up module being for setting up the graphics data;
- and
- a rendering module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module, and the set-up module, the rendering module being for 3-D rendering of the graphics data;
- memory positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module, the lighting module, the set-up module, and the render module for storing the graphics data;
- wherein a clipping operation is performed utilizing the single semiconductor platform;
- wherein a fog operation is performed on the graphics data utilizing the single semiconductor platform;
- wherein a sum of a plurality of products is calculated utilizing the single semiconductor platform, where each product is calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one model view matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform operates with an OpenGL and a Direct3D application program interface;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of being coupled to a central processing unit for receiving instructions therefrom.
8 more elements
A graphics pipeline system for graphics processing, comprising:
- a single semiconductor platform adapted to operate with a graphics application program interface, and in conjunction with a central processing unit;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data.
A graphics pipeline system for graphics processing, comprising:
- a single semiconductor platform adapted to transform and light graphics data;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data.
A system for graphics processing, comprising:
- a single semiconductor platform adapted to transform and light graphics data;
- and
- a central processing unit coupled to the single semiconductor platform;
- wherein the single semiconductor platform is capable of calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of vertex data associated with the graphics data, at least one matrix, and at least one weight for performing a blending operation on the vertex data.
1 more element
A system for performing a blending operation during graphics processing, comprising:
- a buffer for receiving a plurality of matrices, a plurality of weight values, and vertex data, wherein the weight values include blending weight values;
- a single integrated circuit coupled to the buffer for calculating a sum of a plurality of products with each product calculated by the multiplication of the vertex data, one of the matrices, and at least one of the weights for performing a blending operation on the vertex data;
- and
- a central processing unit coupled to the single integrated circuit;
- wherein the sum of products is outputted from the single integrated circuit for additional processing, the sum of products being calculated as Σwi*Mi*v for i=1 . . . x, where
- v=vertex data,
- w=weight value,
- M=matrix, and
- x=number of matrices.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.