System and method for occlusion testing with deferred rendering
US7425956B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/40
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for implementing occlusion testing prior to processing a primitive command. The method includes the steps of determining that an occlusion test should be performed on an enclosed primitive, saving the primitive command on a deferred list, and disabling a rendering functionality in hardware. The method also includes the step of performing an occlusion query on the enclosed primitive where a pixel count is generated that indicates how many pixels within a bounding volume defined around the enclosed primitive are visible. One advantage of this method is that it provides occlusion testing functionality for graphics applications that do not use the occlusion testing functionality provided by graphics APIs. Implementing occlusion testing functionality in this fashion reduces rendering time, thereby increasing rendering performance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.