Method and apparatus for storing display lists of 3D primitives
US6172684A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T11/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating a display list permitting multiple states of the same type for a single primitive. By introducing a plurality of state variables of the same type in a predetermined order in a display list before a primitive description, different state variables of the same type are applied to different vertex descriptors of the primitive. In one embodiment, the state variables introduced are starting addresses of the groups of vertices addressable by vertex indices of the primitive. In a case where the primitive is a triangle, up to three different starting addresses might be introduced into the display list (one corresponding to each vertex of the triangle). By introducing multiple starting addresses, the vertex indices of the triangle description can be significantly shortened, the concern about variable length inputs can be eliminated, and each index is independent of its predecessor in the master display list. Moreover, these advantages can be achieved without significantly increasing the hardware complexity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.