Small primitive detection to optimize compression and decompression in a graphics processor
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorsSteven E. Molnar, Franklin C. Crow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for selective enablement of tile compression. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for processing in a set-up unit of a graphics processor and determining a primitive characteristic that indicates a probability of whether a final compression of a tile related to the primitive will be retained. Compression for the tile related to the primitive is allowed when the characteristic indicates the final compression will be retained. Compression for the tile related to the primitive is disallowed in the characteristic indicates the final compression will not be retained.
Claims20
A method for selective enablement of tile compression, comprising:
- receiving a graphics primitive for processing in a set-up unit of a graphics processor;
- determining a primitive characteristic related to a compression threshold that indicates a probability of whether a final compression of a tile related to the primitive will be retained;
- allowing compression for the tile related to the primitive when the characteristic indicates the final compression will be retained;
- and
- disallowing compression for the tile related to the primitive when the characteristic indicates the final compression will not be retained.
A method for selective enablement of tile based compression, comprising:
- receiving a graphics primitive for processing in a set-up unit of a graphics processor;
- evaluating a plurality of edges of the primitive;
- determining whether one edge of the plurality of edges is below a compression threshold;
- tagging the primitive with a value in accordance with the compression threshold;
- implementing compression for a tile related to the primitive if the tagging indicates all edges of the primitive above the compression threshold;
- and
- processing the tile uncompressed if the tagging indicates the one edge is below the compression threshold.
A computer system, comprising:
- a system memory;
- a central processor unit coupled to the system memory;
- and
- a graphics processor unit communicatively coupled to the central processor unit;
- a set-up unit within the graphics processor unit for evaluating a plurality of edges of a primitive and for determining whether one edge of the plurality of edges is below a compression threshold;
- a raster unit within the graphics processor unit and coupled to the set-up unit for rasterizing the primitive for determining at least one tile related to the primitive;
- and
- a raster operations unit within the graphics processor unit and coupled to the raster unit for implementing compression for the at least one tile if all edges of the at least one primitive are above a value related to the compression threshold, and for processing the at least one tile uncompressed if the one edge is below the compression threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.