Method and apparatus for processing graphics primitives in multiple modes using reconfigurable hardware
US5949440A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 25, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/005
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphics processor is disclosed having two processing units and two dual-port RAMs for passing data between the processing units. The hardware is configured to process two graphics primitives simultaneously in a first mode, and to use both processing units simultaneously to process a single primitive in a second mode. One of the dual-port RAMs may function as a FIFO buffer in the second mode. A method for processing graphics primitives is disclosed in which one processing unit generates a set of intermediate results for a first primitive and stores them in a first RAM, and then generates a set of intermediate results for a second primitive and stores them in a second RAM while another processing unit reads the first RAM and completes calculations for the first primitive. Afterwards, the second processing unit reads the second RAM and completes calculations for the second primitive. Another method for processing graphics primitives is disclosed in which the first processing unit generates two sets of intermediate results for the same primitive, and in which the second processing unit generates final results for the primitive in two parts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.