EP0627699A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Command preprocessor for a high performance three dimensional graphics accelerator
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
•
Filing: 1994-04-05
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A command preprocessor for a high performance three dimensional graphics accelerator in a computer system is disclosed, wherein the command preprocessor translates geometry input data from differing formats. The command preprocessor contains a set of reformatting control registers that are preprogrammed with translation parameters by a host processor. The translation parameters in the reformatting control registers specify translation operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Deering
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T15/00; G06T15/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for preprocessing graphics geometry data in a graphics accelerator, comprising the steps of: receiving a set of translation parameters from a host processor over a host bus, the translation parameters specifying a format for a reformatted vertex packet and an output geometry packet; receiving an input vertex packet over the host bus, and storing the input vertex packet in a bucket buffer, the input vertex packet containing geometry input data that defines a geometry object; generating the reformatted vertex packet by reading the input vertex packet from the bucket buffer, translating the input vertex packet according to the translation parameters, and storing the reformatted vertex packet in a vertex buffer; generating the output geometry packet by reading the reformatted vertex packet from the vertex buffer, translating the reformatted vertex packet according to the translation parameters, and transferring the output geometry packet to a floating-point processor over a command to floating point processor bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an input vertex packet over the host bus comprises the step of performing a direct memory access over the host bus to read the input vertex packet from a geometry data array stored in a memory subsystem coupled to the host bus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify whether the reformatted vertex packet contains a primitive for a triangle, a vector, or a dot, such that the primitive for a triangle comprises three vertices in the reformatted vertex packet, the primitive for a vector contains two vertices in the reformatted vertex packet, and the primitive for a dot contains one vertex in the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify a set of tupples from the bucket buffer for the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify a source for a header of the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify a reordering of vertices contained in the input vertex packet in the bucket buffer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify at least one data conversion operation on the geometry input data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify at least one alternate tupple, such that the alternate tupples replace selected tupples from the geometry input data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify a micro-code dispatch parameter for the floating-point processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters specify a subelement pick ID value for the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for preprocessing graphics geometry data in a graphics accelerator, comprising: means for receiving a set of translation parameters from a host processor over a host bus, the translation parameters specifying a format for a reformatted vertex packet and an output geometry packet; means for receiving an input vertex packet over the host bus, and storing the input vertex packet in a bucket buffer, the input vertex packet containing geometry input data that defines a geometry object; means for generating the reformatted vertex packet by reading the input vertex packet from the bucket buffer, translating the input vertex packet according to the translation parameters, and storing the reformatted vertex packet in a vertex buffer; means for generating the output geometry packet by reading the reformatted vertex packet from the vertex buffer, translating the reformatted vertex packet according to the translation parameters, and transferring the output geometry packet to a floating-point processor over a command to floating point processor bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for receiving an input vertex packet over the host bus comprises means for performing a direct memory access over the host bus to read the input vertex packet from a geometry data array stored in a memory subsystem coupled to the host bus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies whether the reformatted vertex packet contains a primitive for a triangle, a vector, or a dot, such that the primitive for a triangle comprises three vertices in the reformatted vertex packet, the primitive for a vector contains two vertices in the reformatted vertex packet, and the primitive for a dot contains one vertex in the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies a set of tupples from the bucket buffer for the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies a source for a header of the reformatted vertex packet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies a reordering of vertices contained in the input vertex packet in the bucket buffer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies at least one data conversion operation on the geometry input data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies at least one alternate tupple, such that the alternate tupples replace selected tupples from the geometry input data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies a micro-code dispatch parameter for the floating-point processor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the translation parameters are stored in a register that specifies a sub-element pick ID value for the reformatted vertex packet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.