Methods and apparatuses for processing cached image data
AssigneeMarvell International Ltd.
InventorsYunsen Chin, Haohong Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, software, and apparatuses for graphics processing, including caching pixel data of one or more tiles of a graphics surface. Methods generally include setting a caching bit corresponding to the surface, setting tile pattern bits corresponding to tiles in the surface, and when the caching bit is active, storing one or more pixel values in a cache memory. When at least one tile contains pixels having the same value for at least one predetermined parameter, the caching bit and the corresponding tile pattern bits may be active. Apparatuses generally include a pixel memory, a cache memory, and a controller including logic configured to reserve the caching bit, tile pattern bits, and same pixel values in cache memory when the caching bit is active.
Claims18
A method for processing a graphics surface, said surface having an array of T tiles, wherein each tile of the array of T tiles has a plurality of pixels, the method comprising:
- setting a state for a pattern caching bit associated with the graphics surface, wherein the state of the pattern caching bit is configured to provide an indication as to whether a caching operation is enabled for the graphics surface;
- setting P tile pattern bits, wherein each of the P tile pattern bits is associated with at least one of the T tiles;
- and
- responsive to the state of the pattern caching bit indicating that the caching operation is enabled for the graphics surface, storing V pixel values in a cache memory,
- wherein each of the V pixel values corresponds to at least one of the T tiles, and wherein the method further comprises
- determining whether all of the plurality of pixels of at least one of the T tiles of the graphics surface have a common pixel value,
- wherein responsive to all of the plurality of pixels of at least one of the T tiles of the graphics surface having a common pixel value,
- setting the pattern caching bit to an active state to provide an indication that the caching operation is enabled for the graphics surface,
- setting at least one of the P tile pattern bits associated with the at least one of the T tiles having the common pixel value to the active state, and
- setting at least one of the V pixel values corresponding to the at least one of the T tiles having the common pixel value to the common pixel value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.