Apparatus for processing non-planar video graphics primitives and associated method of operation
US6664960B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T17/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for processing a non-planar graphics primitive employs an associated method of operation and includes a controller, at least one computation engine, memory and at least one lookup table. Responsive to operation codes issued by the controller, the computation engine(s) determines a group of control points based on the position coordinates and normal vectors of the non-planar primitive vertices. The computation engine(s) then determines position coordinates of supplemental vertices defining multiple planar tessellated primitives based on the control points and stored weighting factors that provide a cubic relation between the control points and the position coordinates of the supplemental vertices. A first memory stores at least the control points and at least one lookup table stores the cubic weighting factors. A second memory stores the position coordinates of the non-planar primitive vertices and the supplemental vertices of the planar primitives generated through tessellation for further graphics processing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.