US5844576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tiled linear host texture storage
Assignee: Nvidia Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-30
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2016-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A process and implementing computer system for graphics applications in which polygon information, including transparency, color and other polygon characteristics, is organized, stored and transferred in terms of areas or tiled blocks of information in a matrix configuration. The polygon bytes of texel information are organized in an exemplary 8×8 matrix row and column format in the graphics subsystem for improved cache-hit efficiency and translated to and from the linear addressing scheme of a host storage device when the host storage is accessed to refill the graphics cache. The bytes comprising the memory tiles of polygon information are arranged such that a complete tile of information is transferred in one burst-mode host memory access to minimize normal multi-line access arbitration and other typical access delays.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel P. Wilde
- 👤 Timothy J. McDonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T15/00; G06T15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for organizing blocks of display-related information, said display-related information being representative of at least one characteristic of a plurality of image pixels defining an image to be presented on a screen of a display device, said display device being operated in conjunction with an information processing system, said method including the steps of: dividing said image pixels into image pixel blocks, each of said image pixel blocks being comprised of a first predetermined number of lines of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, and a second predetermined number of columns of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, said first predetermined number being greater than one, each of said image pixel blocks containing data capable of describing a block section covering a predetermined horizontal portion of at least two vertically displaced lines of a texture image; and designating said image pixel blocks into rows of image pixel blocks, said rows being displaced vertically to cover said screen of said display device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for organizing blocks of display-related information, said display-related information being representative of at least one characteristic of a plurality of image pixels defining an image to be presented on a screen of a display device, said display device being operated in conjunction with an information processing system, said method including the steps of: dividing said image pixels into image pixel blocks, each of said image pixel blocks being comprised of a first predetermined number of lines of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, and a second predetermined number of columns of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, said first predetermined number being greater than one, each of said image pixel blocks containing data capable of describing a block section covering a predetermined horizontal portion of at least two vertically displaced lines of a texture image; and designating said image pixel blocks into rows of image pixel blocks, said rows being displaced vertically to cover said screen of said display device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including: determining said first predetermined number in accordance with an information transfer bandwidth of said information processing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including: determining said second predetermined number in accordance with an information transfer bandwidth of said information processing system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including: caching said image pixel blocks in a cache unit for requested data points contained within said image pixel blocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second predetermined numbers are determined such that a single information transfer within said information processing system includes at least one evenly divisible portion of said image pixel blocks of said image pixel bytes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second predetermined numbers are determined such that each information transfer includes at least one entire image pixel block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first predetermined number of lines of said display-related information is equal to said second predetermined number of columns of said display-related information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first predetermined number of lines of said display-related information is equal to said second predetermined number of columns of said display-related information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second predetermined numbers are equal to a multiple of the integer 8.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first predetermined number of lines of said display-related information is related to said second predetermined number of columns of said display-related information such that a product of said first predetermined number and said second predetermined number equals a constant predetermined product number, said constant predetermined product number being equal to said number of image pixel bytes in one of said image pixel blocks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
234 words
A graphics station, including an information processing system comprising a main bus and a display device, and a graphics subsystem, said graphics subsystem comprising a graphics processor device connected to said main bus and to said display device, said graphics subsystem further including a graphics memory coupled to said graphics processor, said graphics subsystem being selectively operable for storing and processing information representative of an object to be drawn on the display device, said graphics subsystem being selectively operable for organizing blocks of display-related information, said display-related information being representative of at least one characteristic of a plurality of image pixels defining an image to be presented on a screen of said display device, said graphics subsystem being selectively operable to accomplish the steps of: dividing said image pixels into image pixel blocks, each of said image pixel blocks being comprised of a first predetermined number of lines of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, and a second predetermined number of columns of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, said first predetermined number being greater than one, each of said image pixel blocks containing data capable of describing a block section covering a predetermined horizontal portion of at least two vertically displaced lines of a texture image; and designating said image pixel blocks into rows of image pixel blocks, said rows being displaced vertically to cover said screen of said display device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
234 words
A graphics station, including an information processing system comprising a main bus and a display device, and a graphics subsystem, said graphics subsystem comprising a graphics processor device connected to said main bus and to said display device, said graphics subsystem further including a graphics memory coupled to said graphics processor, said graphics subsystem being selectively operable for storing and processing information representative of an object to be drawn on the display device, said graphics subsystem being selectively operable for organizing blocks of display-related information, said display-related information being representative of at least one characteristic of a plurality of image pixels defining an image to be presented on a screen of said display device, said graphics subsystem being selectively operable to accomplish the steps of: dividing said image pixels into image pixel blocks, each of said image pixel blocks being comprised of a first predetermined number of lines of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, and a second predetermined number of columns of image pixel bytes of said display-related information, said first predetermined number being greater than one, each of said image pixel blocks containing data capable of describing a block section covering a predetermined horizontal portion of at least two vertically displaced lines of a texture image; and designating said image pixel blocks into rows of image pixel blocks, said rows being displaced vertically to cover said screen of said display device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 11 and further including: determining said first predetermined number in accordance with an information transfer bandwidth of said information processing system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 11 and further including: determining said second predetermined number in accordance with an information transfer bandwidth of said information processing system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 11 and further including: caching said image pixel blocks in a cache unit for requested data points contained within said image pixel blocks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second predetermined numbers are determined such that a single information transfer within said information processing system includes at least one evenly divisible portion of said image pixel blocks of said image pixel bytes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first and second predetermined numbers are determined such that each information transfer includes at least one entire image pixel block.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first predetermined number of lines of said display-related information is equal to said second predetermined number of columns of said display-related information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first predetermined number of lines of said display-related information is equal to said second predetermined number of columns of said display-related information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first and second predetermined numbers are equal to a multiple of the integer "8".
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
The graphics station as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first predetermined number of lines of said display-related information is related to said second predetermined number of columns of said display-related information such that a product of said first predetermined number and said second predetermined number equals a constant predetermined product number, said constant predetermined product number being equal to said number of image pixel bytes in one of said image pixel blocks.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |