Graphics primitive size estimation and subdivision for use with a texture accumulation buffer

US6914610B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sun Microsystems Inc. · US

Inventors

• Michael G. Lavelle · Saratoga, US
• Wayne Morse · Fremont, US
• Rangit S. Oberoi · Saratoga, US
• David Kehlet · Los Altos, US
• Michael A. Wasserman · Redwood City, US
• Brian D. Emberling · San Francisco, US
• Roger Swanson · معلمی نژاد, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 18, 2001
• Grant date: Jul 5, 2005
• Expiry date: Mar 9, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G09G5/363
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A graphics system configured to apply multiple layers of texture information to primitives. The graphics system receives parameters defining a primitive and performs a size test on the primitive. If the size test cannot guarantee that a fragment size of the primitive is less than or equal to a fragment capacity of a texture accumulation buffer, the primitive is divided into subprimitives, and the graphics system applies the multiple layers of texture to fragments which intersect the primitive. The graphics system switches from a current layer to the layer next when it has applied textures corresponding to the current layer to all the fragments intersecting the primitive. The graphics system stores color values associated with the primitive fragments in the texture accumulation buffer between the application of successive texture layers.