Graphics system having a super-sampled sample buffer which utilizes a window ID to specify pixel characteristics
First Claim
1. A graphics system comprising:
- a graphics processor operable to receive 3D graphics data, wherein the graphics processor is operable to render a plurality of samples from the 3D graphics data;
a sample buffer coupled to said graphics processor for storing said samples; and
a sample-to-pixel calculation unit coupled to said sample buffer, wherein the sample-to-pixel calculation unit is operable to select and filter stored samples to generate output pixels to a display, wherein the graphics system is operable to display a plurality of windows on the display, wherein the graphics systems maintains a window ID value for at least a subset of the windows displayed on the display device, wherein, for a respective window, the window ID value specifies a sample mode for pixels displayed in the respective window, and wherein the sample mode indicates a number of samples used in generating the output pixels to the display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer graphics system that utilizes a super-sampled sample buffer and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit for refreshing the display. The graphics system may have a graphics processor, a super-sampled sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor renders samples into the sample buffer and may utilize a window ID that specifies attributes of pixels on a per object basis. The window ID may specify one or more of a sample mode, filter type, color attributes, or source attributes. The sample mode may include single sample per pixel mode and multiple samples per pixel mode. The graphics system may be further operable to generate a single sample per pixel for certain windows of the screen in order to provide backwards compatibility with legacy systems.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. A graphics system comprising:
-
a graphics processor operable to receive 3D graphics data, wherein the graphics processor is operable to render a plurality of samples from the 3D graphics data;
a sample buffer coupled to said graphics processor for storing said samples; and
a sample-to-pixel calculation unit coupled to said sample buffer, wherein the sample-to-pixel calculation unit is operable to select and filter stored samples to generate output pixels to a display, wherein the graphics system is operable to display a plurality of windows on the display, wherein the graphics systems maintains a window ID value for at least a subset of the windows displayed on the display device, wherein, for a respective window, the window ID value specifies a sample mode for pixels displayed in the respective window, and wherein the sample mode indicates a number of samples used in generating the output pixels to the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for generating pixels for display in a graphics system, the method comprising:
-
receiving 3D graphics data;
rendering a plurality of samples into a sample buffer in response to the 3D graphics data; and
generating output pixels in response to the samples stored in the sample buffer, wherein said generating includes selecting and filtering stored samples to generate the output pixels to the display, wherein at least one of said rendering and said generating operates according to a sample mode, wherein, for a respective window, said sample mode is determined according to a window ID of the respective window. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. A graphics system comprising:
-
a graphics processor operable to receive 3D graphics data, wherein the graphics processor is operable to render a plurality of samples from the 3D graphics data;
a sample buffer coupled to said graphics processor for storing said samples; and
a sample-to-pixel calculation unit coupled to said sample buffer, wherein the sample-to-pixel calculation unit is operable to select and filter stored samples to generate output pixels to a display, wherein the graphics system is operable to display a plurality of windows on the display, wherein the graphics systems maintains a window ID value for at least a subset of the windows displayed on the display device, wherein, for a respective window, the window ID value specifies one or more of a filter type or a sample mode for pixels displayed in the respective window, and wherein the sample mode indicates a number of samples used in generating the output pixels to the display. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
Specification