Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphic processing system – Plural graphics processors
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-22
2001-02-06
Chauhan, Ulka J. (Department: 2776)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphic processing system
Plural graphics processors
C345S441000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184903
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rendering method and a rendering system in general and more particularly to a rendering method and a rendering system for drawing pixels corresponding to a predetermined graphic by dividing a two-dimensional image coordinate system into N pixel areas in a first direction and M pixel areas in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, i.e. N×M pixel areas in total, and by allocating N×M computing sections respectively to the N×M pixels in each of the divided areas.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the progress of the resent semiconductor technology, the processability of an image processing system is also increasing.
In so-called computer graphics, there is a case when a plurality of two-dimensional graphics (polygons) having a predetermined fundamental shape (e.g. triangle) is used in displaying a three-dimensional object on a display screen.
A rendering process is then implemented on such polygons by a predetermined arithmetic circuit to calculate a value of brightness of each pixel within the polygon and to render the polygon in correspondence to the value of brightness.
Some system for rendering polygons as described above implements the polygon rendering process at high speed by operating a plurality of arithmetic circuits in parallel.
In utilizing such a plurality of rendering circuits, a display screen
71
is divided as shown in
FIG. 1
into a same number of areas with the rendering circuits
61
through
64
(four in
FIG. 1
) so that each rendering circuit implements the rendering process in the corresponding area.
For instance, the rendering circuit
61
implements the rendering process in a quarter of area (area A) at the upper left corner of the display screen
71
and the rendering circuit
62
implements the rendering process in a quarter of area (area B) at the upper right corner of the display screen
71
.
Further, the rendering circuit
63
implements the rendering process in a quarter of area (area C) at the lower left corner of the display screen
71
and the rendering circuit
64
implements the rendering process in a quarter of area (area D) at the lower right corner of the display screen
71
.
However, when the display screen is divided as such, there has been a problem that when a polygon to be rendered is contained only within an area allocated to any one of the rendering circuits for example, a time required for processing it is not shortened even though the plurality of rendering circuits are provided because the rendering process is implemented on the polygon only by that one rendering circuit.
There has been also another problem that although it is conceivable to implement an interleave process for implementing the rendering process by allocating pixels per predetermined number to each rendering circuit, it is difficult to render in the definition of sub-pixel level.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rendering system and a rendering method which allow the time required for rendering polygons to be shortened and to render in the definition of sub-pixel level by providing a plurality of rendering circuits.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, the rendering system for processing pixels corresponding to a predetermined graphic in parallel by dividing a two-dimensional image coordinate system into areas each composed of a plurality of pixels of N pixels in a first direction and M pixels in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, i.e. N×M pixels in total, and by allocating N×M computing sections respectively to the N×M pixels contained in that area, comprises a calculating section for calculating variations of the rendering data with respect to the first and second directions necessary for interpolating values of the rendering data in each pixel within a predetermined graphic from predetermined apex data of the predetermined graphic and an initial value of the rendering data with respect to the coordinate in the first direction which becomes the reference for computing the rendering data with respect to the second direction by means of interpolation by using the value of the predetermined apex data and the variation of the rendering data with respect to the first direction; and N×M computing sections for calculating the rendering data of the pixel in the second direction by means of interpolation by using the above-mentioned initial value and the variation of the rendering data with respect to the second direction.
Further, the rendering method for processing pixels corresponding to a predetermined graphic in parallel by dividing a two-dimensional image coordinate system into areas each composed of a plurality of pixels of N pixels in a first direction and M pixels in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, i.e. N×M pixels in total, and by allocating N×M rendering circuits respectively to the N×M pixels contained in that area, comprises a first step of calculating variations of the rendering data with respect to the first and second directions necessary for interpolating values of the rendering data in each pixel within a predetermined graphic from predetermined apex data of the predetermined graphic; a second step of calculating an initial value of the rendering data with respect to the coordinate in the first direction which becomes the reference for computing the rendering data with respect to said second direction by means of interpolation by using the value of the predetermined apex data and the variation of the rendering data with respect to the first direction; and a third step of calculating the rendering data of the pixel in the second direction by means of interpolation by using the above-mentioned initial value and the variation of the rendering data with respect to the second direction by utilizing N×M rendering circuits in parallel.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5392385 (1995-02-01), Evangelisti et al.
patent: 5422991 (1995-06-01), Powler
patent: 5440682 (1995-08-01), Deering
patent: 5457775 (1995-10-01), Johnson, Jr. et al.
patent: 5701405 (1997-12-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 5704025 (1997-12-01), Berry
patent: 5706415 (1998-01-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 5821950 (1998-10-01), Rentschler et al.
patent: 5872902 (1999-02-01), Kuchkuda et al.
Chauhan Ulka J.
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht LLP
Sony Corporation
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