Shader that conditionally updates a framebuffer in a computer graphics system
US7876332B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G5/363
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer-implemented graphics system that includes a rasterizer and a shader has a mode of operation in which primitive coverage information is generated for real sample locations and virtual sample locations for use in anti-aliasing. An individual pixel includes a single real sample location and at least one virtual sample location. In some instances, a primitive may cover only virtual sample locations and does not cover a real sample location. These instances can be identified in the coverage information sent from the rasterizer to the shader, so that the shader can determine whether or not it can write color information, depth information and/or stencil information for the real sample location to a framebuffer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.