Graphics data accumulation for improved multi-layer texture performance
US6859209B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/005
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphics system applies multiple layers of texture information to triangles. The graphics system includes a hardware accelerator, a frame buffer and a video output processor. The hardware accelerator receives vertices of a triangle, identifies fragments of a sampling space which intersect the triangle, and applies the multiple layers of texture to the intersecting fragments. The multiple layers of textures may be stored in a texture memory external to the hardware accelerator. The hardware accelerator switches to a next texture layer after applying the textures of a current layer to all the fragments of the triangle. The hardware accelerator includes (or couples to) a texture accumulation buffer which stores color values associated with the triangle fragments between the application of successive texture layers. The frame buffer stores the samples and pixels generated from the samples by filtration. The video output processor transforms the pixels into a video signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.