Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110090250 | ALPHA-TO-COVERAGE USING VIRTUAL SAMPLES - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for converting alpha values into pixel coverage masks. Geometric coverage is sampled at a number of “real” sample positions within each pixel. Color and depth values are computed for each of these real samples. Fragment alpha values are used to determine an alpha coverage mask for the real samples and additional “virtual” samples, in which the number of bits set in the mask bits is proportional to the alpha value. An alpha-to-coverage mode uses the virtual samples to increase the number of transparency levels for each pixel compared with using only real samples. The alpha-to-coverage mode may be used in conjunction with virtual coverage anti-aliasing to provide higher-quality transparency for rendering anti-aliased images. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090251 | ALPHA-TO-COVERAGE VALUE DETERMINATION USING VIRTUAL SAMPLES - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for converting alpha values into pixel coverage masks. Geometric coverage is sampled at a number of “real” sample positions within each pixel. Color and depth values are computed for each of these real samples. Fragment alpha values are used to determine an alpha coverage mask for the real samples and additional “virtual” samples, in which the number of bits set in the mask bits is proportional to the alpha value. An alpha-to-coverage mode uses the virtual samples to increase the number of transparency levels for each pixel compared with using only real samples. The alpha-to-coverage mode may be used in conjunction with virtual coverage anti-aliasing to provide higher-quality transparency for rendering anti-aliased images. | 04-21-2011 |
20140104267 | LOW-POWER PROCESSING IN DEPTH READ-ONLY OPERATING REGIMES - Techniques are disclosed for suppressing access to a depth processing unit associated with a graphics processing pipeline. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive from a first pipeline stage associated with the graphics processing pipeline. The method further includes determining that the graphics primitive is visible over one or more graphics primitives previously rendered to a frame buffer, and determining that the depth buffer is in a read-only mode. The method further includes suppressing an operation to transmit the graphics primitive to the depth processing unit. One advantage of the disclosed technique is that power consumption is reduced within the GPU by avoiding unnecessary accesses to the depth processing unit. | 04-17-2014 |
20140176568 | PROGRAMMABLE BLENDING IN MULTI-THREADED PROCESSING UNITS - A technique for efficiently rendering content reduces each complex blend mode to a series of basic blend operations. The series of basic blend operations are executed within a recirculating pipeline until a final blended value is computed. The recirculating pipeline is positioned within a color raster operations unit of a graphics processing unit for efficient access to image buffer data. | 06-26-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140105513 | Z-PLANE COMPRESSION WITH Z-PLANE PREDICTORS - A method for compressing graphics data comprises selecting z-planes from a plurality of z-planes. The selected z-planes are predictor z-planes. A residual is determined for each sample not covered by one of the predictor z-planes. A sample is covered by one of the predictor z-planes when the predictor z-plane correctly defines a z-value of the sample. A residual comprises a value that is a difference between a predicted z-value provided by one of the predictor z-planes and an actual z-value for the sample. The predictor z-planes and the residuals are stored in a z-buffer. | 04-17-2014 |
20140184601 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FRAME BUFFER DECOMPRESSION AND/OR COMPRESSION - A system and method for decompressing compressed data (e.g., in a frame buffer) and optionally recompressing the data. The method includes determining a portion of an image to be accessed from a memory and sending a conditional read corresponding to the portion of the image. In response to the conditional read, an indicator operable to indicate that the portion of the image is uncompressed may be received. If the portion of the image is compressed, in response to the conditional read, compressed data corresponding to the portion of the image is received. In response to receiving the compressed data, the compressed data is uncompressed into uncompressed data. The uncompressed data may then be written to the memory corresponding to the portion of the image. The uncompressed data may then be in-place compressed for or during subsequent processing. | 07-03-2014 |
20140354634 | UPDATING DEPTH RELATED GRAPHICS DATA - Updating depth related graphics data is described. Geometric primitives are processed. Pixels are generated from the primitives based on the processing, each of which has at least one corresponding depth value. Culling is performed on a first group of the pixels, based on a representation of the at least one depth related value corresponding to each. Pixels may be discarded based on the culling and upon which a second group of pixels remain. A depth related raster operations function is performed, in which data is transacted with a depth buffer. The culling function is updated in relation to the transacting. The updating is performed on the basis of a granularity, which characterizes the culling function. | 12-04-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150070380 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR USING COMPRESSION WITH PROGRAMMABLE SAMPLE LOCATIONS - A system, method, and computer program product are provided for using compression with programmable sample locations, where the compression is a function of the programmable sample locations. The method includes the steps of storing a first value specifying a programmed sample location within a pixel in a sample pattern table and storing, in a memory, geometric surface parameters corresponding to a first attribute at the programmed sample location within a first pixel of a display surface. An instruction to store a second value specifying the programmed sample location within the pixel in the sample pattern table is received. The attribute is reconstructed based on the geometric surface parameters and the first value. | 03-12-2015 |
20150070381 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR USING COMPRESSION WITH PROGRAMMABLE SAMPLE LOCATIONS - A system, method, and computer program product are provided for using compression with programmable sample locations, where the compression is a function of the programmable sample locations. The method includes the steps of storing a first value specifying a programmed sample location within a pixel in a first sample pattern table that is associated with a first display surface and storing, in a memory, geometric surface parameters corresponding to a first attribute at the programmed sample location within a first pixel of the first display surface. A second value specifying the programmed sample location within the pixel in a second sample pattern table that is associated with a second display surface is also stored and the first attribute is reconstructed based on the geometric surface parameters and the first value. | 03-12-2015 |