System and method for conditionally calculating exponential valu

Details System and method for conditionally calculating exponential valu System and method for conditionally calculating exponential valu

1997-04-30

1999-06-15

Mai, Tan V.

Boots, shoes, and leggings

36474818, G06F 738

Patent

active

059128305

ABSTRACT:
A method computes exponentials of a lighting equation in a geometry accelerator. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of receiving values for a first term "a" and a second term "x" of an exponential in the form a.sup.x. The method then evaluates at least one of the first and second terms to determine whether it is an integer value. If the evaluating step determines that the at least one of the terms is an integer value, then the method sets a bit in a memory location. Thereafter, the method examines a bit in the memory location. If the bit is set, then the invention executes an integer exponentiation routine to calculate a.sup.x directly in the math core. If, however, the bit is not set, then the invention executes a floating point exponentiation routine to closely approximate the calculation of a.sup.x.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5177702 (1993-01-01), Lindsley
patent: 5195052 (1993-03-01), Karim

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