Video processor architecture with distance sorting capability
First Claim
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1. In a video processor, having as input a means for generating faces of objects, comprising:
- a frame buffer means for storing distance-related data, occlusion mask data, and color component data;
a pixel data processor means connected to the frame buffer means and having(i) means for receiving data from the face generating means;
(ii) connection means interfacing from the pixel processor means back with the face generating means by which the faces of objects are caused to be generated for an image to be displayed;
(iii) connection means interfacing from the frame buffer means back with the pixel processor means by which the data stored in the frame buffer means is computed and updated based upon an initial pass through the generated faces and upon at least one subsequent pass through the generated faces; and
a display interface connected to the frame buffer means for receiving subsequently scanned color component data from the frame buffer means and for generating signals to drive a visual display.
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Abstract
The specification describes a way of using distance sorting in order not to require a prioritization of those polygons that are to be rendered prior to a pixel-by-pixel construction of an image. The video processor recalls the input data into the pixel processor at least a number of times equal to the number of objects to be displayed.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a video processor, having as input a means for generating faces of objects, comprising:
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a frame buffer means for storing distance-related data, occlusion mask data, and color component data; a pixel data processor means connected to the frame buffer means and having (i) means for receiving data from the face generating means; (ii) connection means interfacing from the pixel processor means back with the face generating means by which the faces of objects are caused to be generated for an image to be displayed; (iii) connection means interfacing from the frame buffer means back with the pixel processor means by which the data stored in the frame buffer means is computed and updated based upon an initial pass through the generated faces and upon at least one subsequent pass through the generated faces; and a display interface connected to the frame buffer means for receiving subsequently scanned color component data from the frame buffer means and for generating signals to drive a visual display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification