System and method for use in a computerized imaging system to efficiently transfer graphics information to a graphics subsystem employing masked span
April 22, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesDynamic comprehensive distortion correction in a real time imaging system Texture range controls for improved texture mapping Filling processing apparatus and method Apparatus and method for controlling storage of display information in a computer system Method for resolving priority between a calligraphically-displayed point feature and both raster-displayed faces and other calligraphically-displayed point features in a CIG system Fast graphics control system capable of simultaneously storing and executing graphics commands Apparatus and method for generating point sample masks in a graphics display system Apparatus and method for controlling storage of display information in a computer system Patent #: 5394170 InventorsApplicationNo. 636093 filed on 04/22/1996US Classes:345/629, Merge or overlay345/581Attributes (surface detail or characteristic, display attributes)ExaminersPrimary: Zimmerman, MarkAssistant: Cao, Huedung X. Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassG06T 011/00AbstractGraphics information is efficiently transferred from a host computer to a graphics subsystem in which rendering and pixel data is generated by the host system. A masked span operation provides an assist for 3D rendering performed by the system processor of the host and other system resources. Storage of depth, alpha, stencil, and other pixel data is in system memory including one or more ancillary graphics buffers. The main processor of the host system generates pixel data associated with an image. This data is checked against the buffers. As a result of such checking, a mask is generated by the host system. The mask is transferred in burst mode across the host-graphic subsystem PCI bus to the graphics subsystem in combination with span width, and in the case of interpolated color, color base and color increment data, and X,Y coordinate of the first pixel. In the graphics subsystem the mask is employed with the other data to load the frame buffer with the portion of pixel data defined by the mask.Field of SearchSpace transformation | |
