Vertex processing unit supporting vertex texture mapping
US7339590B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/80
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphics processing subsystem includes a vertex processing unit that allows vertex shader programs to arbitrarily access data stored in vertex texture maps. The vertex processing unit includes a vertex texture fetch unit and vertex processing engines. The vertex processing engines operate in parallel to execute vertex shader programs that specify operations to be performed on vertices. In response to a vertex texture load instruction, a vertex processing engine dispatches a vertex texture request to the vertex texture fetch unit. The vertex texture fetch unit retrieves the corresponding vertex texture map data. While the vertex texture fetch unit is processing a vertex texture request, the requesting vertex processing engine is adapted to evaluate whether instructions that follow the vertex texture load instruction are dependent on the vertex texture map data, and if the instructions are not dependent on the vertex texture map data, to execute the additional instructions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.