Method and apparatus for determining graphical object visibility
First Claim
1. An apparatus for rendering visible a plurality of different graphical objects on a display, comprising:
- means for scan converting each graphical object into a plurality of pixels, each pixel having depth information, each pixel being provided an object identifier of said graphical object;
means for storing in an array in memory the depth information and object identifier of each visible pixel after determining which pixel has a pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored depth for a given pixel location; and
means for thereafter rendering graphical objects having object identifiers stored in said array in said memory, said means for rendering operating after said depth information has been stored and including calculations of color of each pixel, such that calculations of color are not performed unless a pixel has pixel depth closer than previously stored for a given pixel location and is thus visible.
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Abstract
An apparatus for rendering visible graphical objects on a display including apparatus for scan converting each graphical object into multiple pixels with depth, each pixel being provided an object identifier of the object, apparatus for storing in memory the depth and object identifier of each pixel which has a pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored depth for a given pixel location, and apparatus for rendering graphical objects having object identifiers stored in memory. In addition, a method of rendering visible graphical objects on a display, including the steps of scan converting each graphical object into multiple pixels with depth, each pixel being provided an object identifier of the object, storing in memory the depth and object identifier of each pixel which has a pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored depth for a given pixel location, and rendering graphical objects having object identifiers stored in memory.
43 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for rendering visible a plurality of different graphical objects on a display, comprising:
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means for scan converting each graphical object into a plurality of pixels, each pixel having depth information, each pixel being provided an object identifier of said graphical object; means for storing in an array in memory the depth information and object identifier of each visible pixel after determining which pixel has a pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored depth for a given pixel location; and means for thereafter rendering graphical objects having object identifiers stored in said array in said memory, said means for rendering operating after said depth information has been stored and including calculations of color of each pixel, such that calculations of color are not performed unless a pixel has pixel depth closer than previously stored for a given pixel location and is thus visible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of rendering visible a plurality of different graphical objects on a display, comprising the steps of:
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scan converting each graphical object into a plurality of pixels, each pixel having depth information, each pixel being provided an object identifier of said graphical object; storing in an array in memory the depth information and object identifier of each visible pixel after determining which pixel has a pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored depth for a given pixel location; and thereafter rendering graphical objects having object identifiers stored in said array in said memory, said step of rendering being performed after said determining of depth information and including calculations of color of each pixel, such that calculations of color are not performed unless a pixel has pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored for a given pixel location and is thus visible. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A data processing system comprising:
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a memory for storing data to be processed; a processor for processing data stored in memory; and a graphics processing apparatus for rendering visible a plurality of different graphical objects on a display, including; means for scan converting each graphical object into a plurality of pixels, each pixel having depth information, each pixel being provided an object identifier of said graphical object; means for storing in an array in memory the depth information and object identifier of each visible pixel after determining which pixel has a pixel depth closer to a viewer than previously stored depth for a given pixel location; and means for thereafter rendering graphical objects having object identifiers stored in said array in said memory, said means for rendering operating after said depth information has been stored and including calculations of color of each pixel, such that calculations of color are not performed unless a pixel has pixel depth closer than previously stored for a given pixel location and is thus visible. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification