Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphic processing system – Interface
Patent
1998-02-02
2000-10-31
Chauhan, Ulka J.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphic processing system
Interface
345511, G06F 1316
Patent
active
06141025&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image generating apparatus and, more particularly, to an image generating apparatus used in a video equipment employing a computer, such as a graphics computer, a special effect device or a video game machine.
2. Related Art
In an equipment employing computer graphics, such as a video game machine, a personal computer or a graphics computer, geometry processing or rendering processing is carried out for generating data of a picture or an image outputted to and displayed on a television receiver, a monitor receiver or a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device. A geometry processing unit performs coordinate transformation, clipping or light source calculations, while a rendering processing unit takes account of colors and Z-values of all pixels making up a polygon, from the color data of apex points and Z-values indicating the depth, for writing pixel data in an image memory.
For performing such processing, in particular the above-mentioned rendering processing, a drawing processing circuit or a drawing engine is used. The drawing engine generally employs a method of writing a generated pixel directly in an image memory.
Meanwhile, the image drawing speed is influenced by the speed of writing from the drawing engine to the image memory, such that, with a slow image memory accessing speed, the drawing speed is lowered. Therefore, if an expensive high-speed memory is used as a large-capacity image memory for increasing the drawing speed, the system cost is prohibitively increased. However, if an inexpensive dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is used, the drawing speed of the system is lowered.
It may be envisaged to provide a buffer memory corresponding to a DRAM page between the drawing engine and the image memory, and to make image memory accessing only for high-speed burst transfer. However, if drawing data occurs in a sequence of bridging the page boundary within the range of the buffer memory capacity, the lowered efficiency results.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides an image generating apparatus whereby a high drawing speed may be maintained even with the use of an inexpensive memory, such as a DRAM.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a picture generating apparatus for generating pixel data for picture display responsive to the picture information by drawing processing means and for writing generated pixels on a picture memory corresponding to a display screen, including a memory for transient storage of data from the drawing processing means, a cache memory provided between the memory and the picture memory and cache controlling means for controlling read/write for the cache memory responsive to the contents of the memory.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the cache controlling means collectively loads data in the same page of the picture memory responsive to the contents of the memory.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, an operating device is provided between the memory and the cache memory for carrying out operations responsive to an output of the drawing processing means.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the memory is a FIFO memory.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the picture memory is a frame memory.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the operating device performs Z-buffer processing responsive to an output of the drawing processing means.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the operating device performs anti-aliasing processing responsive to an output of the drawing processing means.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the operating device performs filtering processing responsive to an output of the drawing processing means.
In the picture generating apparatus of the present invention, the operating device performs .alpha.-blending responsive to an output of the drawing processing
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patent: 5574847 (1996-11-01), Eckart et al.
patent: 5586234 (1996-12-01), Sakuraba et al.
patent: 5673422 (1997-09-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 5808617 (1998-09-01), Kenworthy et al.
Hiroi Toshiyuki
Oka Masaaki
Chauhan Ulka J.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
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