Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-10
2003-12-16
Jankus, Almis R. (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
active
06664960
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to video graphics processing and more particularly to an apparatus for processing non-planar video graphics primitives and an associated method of operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Video graphics systems typically use planar primitives, such as triangles, to represent three-dimensional objects. The three-dimensional (3D) pipeline that processes the triangular primitives rasterizes these planar primitives to produce pixel data that is blended with additional pixel data stored in a frame buffer. The results produced in the frame buffer are then fetched and a display signal is generated such that the three-dimensional objects are shown on the display.
Some non-planar or curved surfaces or objects require a large number of planar video graphics primitives in order to be accurately represented. These curved surfaces are broken into a large number of planar primitives that are then provided to the three-dimensional graphics processing pipeline for rendering. Typically, the separation of the curved surfaces into planar primitives is performed in software. This requires a large amount of processing resources on the part of the central processor within the system. In addition, a large amount of data traffic results from the processor sending the vertex data corresponding to all of the planar triangles to the 3D pipeline for processing.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for processing non-planar video graphics data that offloads the central processor and reduces the bandwidth required to provide the primitive data from the central processor to the 3D pipeline.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5995109 (1999-11-01), Goel et al.
patent: 6462738 (2002-10-01), Kato
Sarraga, “A Variational Method to Model G1 Surfaces over Triangular Meshes of Arbitrary Topology in R3” ACM 2000.*
Ngo et al. “Accessible Animation and Customizable Graphics via Simplicial Configuration Modeling” ACM 2000.*
Kumar et al. “Scalable Parallel Algorithms For Interactive Visualization Of Curved Surfaces” IEEE 1996.*
C. W. A. M. Van Overveld “Phong Normal Interpolation Revisited” ACM 1997.
Goel Vineet
Hartog Robert S.
Mang Michael A.
ATI Technologies Inc.
Jankus Almis R.
Vedder Price Kaufman & Kammholz P.C.
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