Graphics system having a super sampled-sample buffer with efficient storage of sample position information
October 6, 2019. 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 References 5117289 System and method for drawing antialiased polygons Method and apparatus for high resolution virtual reality systems using head tracked display Architecture and apparatus for image generation utilizing enhanced memory devices Graphics subsystem with coarse subpixel correction Filter circuit for use with real-time image converter Inexpensive interferometric eye tracking system Method and apparatus for anti-aliasing polygon edges in a computer imaging system Antialiasing of silhouette edges Floating point processor for a three-dimensional graphics accelerator which includes floating point, lighting and set-up cores for improved performance InventorApplicationNo. 413106 filed on 10/06/1999US Classes:345/419Three-dimensionExaminersPrimary: Zimmerman, MarkAssistant: Santiago, Enrique L Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassG07T 015/00AbstractA computer graphics system that utilizes a super-sampled sample buffer and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit for refreshing the display, wherein the graphics system may store sample position information as offsets to coordinates in the sample buffer. The graphics system may have a graphics processor, a super-sampled sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor renders samples into the sample buffer at computed positions or locations in the sample buffer. The sample positions may be computed using various sample positioning schemes. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit uses the position information to select the samples for filtering during generation of output pixels. In one embodiment, for each sample, the position information comprises one or more offset values, such as an x-offset and a y-offset, wherein the offset values are relative to pre-defined locations in the sample buffer, such as pre-determined pixel center coordinates or predetermined bin coordinates. The position information may be stored in the sample buffer with the samples, or may be stored in a separate sample position memory coupled to the graphics processor. The samples may also be stored according to a bin ordering, wherein the bin ordering indicates a position of the samples in the respective bin. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit may use the bin ordering of the samples in the bins to index into a look-up table memory to determine the position information of the samples. The graphics system may include double buffered sample position memories.Other References
Field of SearchThree-dimensionSolid modelling Hidden line/surface determining Z buffer (depth buffer) Tessellation Voxel Lighting/shading Space transformation Adjusting level of detail Attributes (surface detail or characteristic, display attributes) Color or intensity Anti-aliasing or image smoothing Save attributes for each object affecting a given pixel Subpixel processing Pixel fragment Convolving technique Merge or overlay Animation | |
