Primitive shader
US11379941B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2200/04
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Improvements in the graphics processing pipeline are disclosed. More specifically, a new primitive shader stage performs tasks of the vertex shader stage or a domain shader stage if tessellation is enabled, a geometry shader if enabled, and a fixed function primitive assembler. The primitive shader stage is compiled by a driver from user-provided vertex or domain shader code, geometry shader code, and from code that performs functions of the primitive assembler. Moving tasks of the fixed function primitive assembler to a primitive shader that executes in programmable hardware provides many benefits, such as removal of a fixed function crossbar, removal of dedicated parameter and position buffers that are unusable in general compute mode, and other benefits.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.