Interface for a high performance low cost video game system with coprocessor providing high speed efficient 3D graphics and digital audio signal processing

• US 6,166,748 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.), Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Shepard, Stephen J., Anderson, Harold S., Princen, John, Doughty, Jeffrey C., Pooley, Nathan F., Van Hook, Timothy J., Sheppard, Byron, Cheng, Howard H., Takeda, Genyo, DeLaurier, Anthony P., Kato, Shuhei, Gossett, Carroll P., Moore, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sealey, Lance W.
• Application Number:
  US08/990,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 345/422, 345/431, 345/153, 345/155, 345/136, 345/506, 345/522, 345/432
• US Class Current: 345/522
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining

Abstract

A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system is disclosed that can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set.

The richly featured high performance low cost system is intended to give consumers the chance to interact in real time right inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications. Numerous features provide flexibility and capabilities in a system that is intended to be within the cost range of most consumers.

Claims

1. A process for generating at least one display mode control command for processing by a 3D graphics system, the process including the step of generating at least one set mode command having:

a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, and

the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare, and

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare.

2. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode of 1 cycle per pixel mode, 2 cycles per pixel mode, copy mode and fill mode.

3. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating a texture look up table type mode field that between:

(1) storing texels in a color look up table in RGBA format of 5 bits red, 5 bits green, 5 bits blue and 1 bit alpha, and

(2) storing texels in a color look up table in intensity alpha format providing an 8 bit intensity value and an 8 bit alpha value.

4. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating a sample type mode field that selects between:

(1) point sampling, and

(2) 2×

2 array sampling.

5. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating an rgb dither select mode field that selects between dithering based on:

(1) a magic square matrix,

(2) a bayer matrix,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

6. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating an alpha dithering select mode field that specifies dithering based on:

(1) a predetermined pattern,

(2) the negative of the predetermined pattern,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

7. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating a coverage destination mode field that selects between the following coverage destination modes:

(1) clamp,

(2) wrap,

(3) force to full coverage, and

(4) save.

8. A process as in claim 1 including the step of generating a z mode select mode field that selects one of the following z buffering modes:

(1) opaque,

(2) interpenetrating,

(3) transparent, and

(4) decal.

9. A process for generating at least one display mode control command for processing by a 3D graphics system, the process including the step of generating at least one set mode command having:

a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, and

at least one of the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare, and

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare,

including the step of generating a plurality of blend modeword that specify blender parameters specifying;

selectively multiplying a first blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the first blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a second blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the second blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a third blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the third blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 1.

10. A system for generating at least one 3D display mode control command for processing by a 3D graphics system, the system including:

at least one processor,

at least one memory, and

circuitry coupled to the processor and to the memory for providing at least one set mode command having;

a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, and the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare, and

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare.

11. A system as in claim 10 including means for generating a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode of 1 cycle per pixel mode, 2 cycles per pixel mode, copy mode and fill mode.

12. A system as in claim 10 including means for providing a texture look up table type mode field that selects between:

(1) storing texels in a color look up table in RGBA format of 5 bits red, 5 bits green, 5 bits blue and 1 bit alpha, and

(2) storing texels in a color look up table in intensity alpha format providing an 8 bit intensity value and an 8 bit alpha value.

13. A system as in claim 10 including circuitry for providing a sample type mode field that selects between:

(1) point sampling, and

(2) 2×

2 array sampling.

14. A system as in claim 10 including circuitry for providing an rgb dither select mode field that selects between dithering based on:

(1) a magic square matrix,

(2) a bayer matrix,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

15. A system as in claim 10 including means for generating an alpha dithering select mode field that specifies dithering based on:

(1) a predetermined pattern,

(2) the negative of the predetermined pattern,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

16. A system as in claim 10 including circuitry for generating a coverage destination mode field that selects between the following coverage destination modes:

(1) clamp,

(2) wrap,

(3) force to full coverage, and

(4) save.

17. A system as in claim 10 including circuitry for providing a z mode select mode field that selects one of the following z buffering modes:

(1) opaque,

(2) interpenetrating,

(3) transparent, and

(4) decal.

18. A system for generating at least one 3D display mode control command for processing by a 3D graphics system, the system including:

at least one processor,

at least one memory, and

circuitry coupled to the processor and to the memory for providing at least one set mode command having;

a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, and

at least one of the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare, and

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare,

including means for generating a plurality of blend modeword that specify blender parameters specifying;

selectively multiplying a first blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the first blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a second blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the second blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a third blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the third blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 1.

19. In a 3D graphics system, a process for interpreting at least one set mode command including the steps of:

(a) interpreting a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111,

(b) interpreting the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare,

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare, and

(c) generating an image based at least in part on step (b).

20. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode of 1 cycle per pixel mode, 2 cycles per pixel mode, copy mode and fill mode.

21. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting a texture look up table type mode field that selects between:

(1) storing texels in a color look up table in RGBA format of 5 bits red, 5 bits green, 5 bits blue and 1 bit alpha, and

(2) storing texels in a color look up table in intensity alpha format providing an 8 bit intensity value and an 8 bit alpha value.

22. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting a sample type mode field that selects between:

(1) point sampling, and

(2) 2×

2 array sampling.

23. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting an rgb dither select mode field that selects between dithering based on:

(1) a magic square matrix,

(2) a bayer matrix,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

24. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting an alpha dithering select mode field that specifies dithering based on:

(1) a predetermined pattern,

(2) the negative of the predetermined pattern,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

25. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting a coverage destination mode field that selects between the following coverage destination modes:

(1) clamp,

(2) wrap,

(3) force to full coverage, and

(4) save.

26. A process as in claim 19 including the step of interpreting a z mode select mode field that selects one of the following z buffering modes:

(1) opaque,

(2) interpenetrating,

(3) transparent, and

(4) decal.

27. In a 3D graphics system, a process for interpreting at least one set mode command including the steps of:

(a) interpreting a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111,

(b) interpreting at least one of the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control modes,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameter,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare,

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare, and

(c) generating an image based at least in part on step (b),

including the step of interpreting a plurality of blend modeword that specify blender parameters specifying;

selectively multiplying a first blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the first blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a second blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the second blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a third blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the third blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 1.

28. A 3D graphics system for interpreting at least one set mode command having a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, the system including:

a first decoder that interprets a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111,

(k) circuitry for interpreting an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) circuitry for interpreting a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) circuitry for interpreting a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) circuitry for interpreting a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) circuitry for interpreting a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) circuitry for interpreting a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) circuitry for interpreting an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) circuitry for interpreting a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) circuitry for interpreting a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) circuitry for interpreting a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) circuitry for interpreting a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) circuitry for interpreting a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) circuitry for interpreting a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) circuitry for interpreting a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) circuitry for interpreting an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) circuitry for interpreting an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) circuitry for interpreting a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) circuitry for interpreting a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) circuitry for interpreting an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) circuitry for interpreting a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) circuitry for interpreting a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) circuitry for interpreting a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) circuitry for interpreting a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) circuitry for interpreting an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) circuitry for interpreting a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) circuitry for interpreting a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) circuitry for interpreting an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) circuitry for interpreting a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) circuitry for interpreting a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare,

(A) circuitry for interpreting an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare, and

(c) circuitry coupled to above-mentioned circuitry (a)-(k), (A)-(M), (V1), (V2) and (W)-(Z) for generating an image.

29. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode of 1 cycle per pixel mode, 2 cycles per pixel mode, copy mode and fill mode.

30. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting a texture look up table type mode field that selects between:

(1) storing texels in a color look up table in RGBA format of 5 bits red, 5 bits green, 5 bits blue and 1 bit alpha, and

(2) storing texels in a color look up table in intensity alpha format providing an 8 bit intensity value and an 8 bit alpha value.

31. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting a sample type mode field that selects between:

(1) point sampling, and

(2) 2×

2 array sampling.

32. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting an rgb dither select mode field that selects between dithering based on:

(1) a magic square matrix,

(2) a bayer matrix,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

33. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting an alpha dithering select mode field that specifies dithering based on:

(1) a predetermined pattern,

(2) the negative of the predetermined pattern,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

34. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting a coverage destination mode field that selects between the following coverage destination modes:

(1) clamp,

(2) wrap,

(3) force to full coverage, and

(4) save.

35. An apparatus as in claim 28 including means for interpreting a z mode select mode field that selects one of the following z buffering modes:

(1) opaque,

(2) interpenetrating,

(3) transparent, and

(4) decal.

36. A 3D graphics system for interpreting at least one set mode command having a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, the system including:

a first decoder that interprets a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111,

(k) circuitry for interpreting an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) circuitry for interpreting a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) circuitry for interpreting a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) circuitry for interpreting a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) circuitry for interpreting a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) circuitry for interpreting a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) circuitry for interpreting an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) circuitry for interpreting a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) circuitry for interpreting a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) circuitry for interpreting a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) circuitry for interpreting a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) circuitry for interpreting a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) circuitry for interpreting a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) circuitry for interpreting a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) circuitry for interpreting an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) circuitry for interpreting an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) circuitry for interpreting a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) circuitry for interpreting a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) circuitry for interpreting an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) circuitry for interpreting a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) circuitry for interpreting a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) circuitry for interpreting a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) circuitry for interpreting a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) circuitry for interpreting an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) circuitry for interpreting a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) circuitry for interpreting a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) circuitry for interpreting an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) circuitry for interpreting a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) circuitry for interpreting a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare,

(A) circuitry for interpreting an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare, and

(c) circuitry coupled to above-mentioned circuitry (a)-(k), (A)-(M), (V1), (V2) and (W)-(Z) for generating an image,

said system further including circuitry for interpreting a plurality of blend modeword that specify blender parameters specifying;

selectively multiplying a first blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the first blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a second blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the second blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a third blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the third blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 1.

37. A storage medium for use with a 3D graphics system, the storage medium storing at least one 3D display mode control command including:

a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, and

storage space reserved for at least the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare, and

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare.

38. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode of 1 cycle per pixel mode, 2 cycles per pixel mode, copy mode and fill mode.

39. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing a texture look up table type mode field that selects between:

(1) storing texels in a color look up table in RGBA format of 5 bits red, 5 bits green, 5 bits blue and 1 bit alpha, and

(2) storing texels in a color look up table in intensity alpha format providing an 8 bit intensity value and an 8 bit alpha value.

40. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing a sample type mode field that selects between:

(1) point sampling, and

(2) 2×

2 array sampling.

41. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing an rgb dither select mode field that selects between dithering based on:

(1) a magic square matrix,

(2) a bayer matrix,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

42. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing an alpha dithering select mode field that specifies dithering based on:

(1) a predetermined pattern,

(2) the negative of the predetermined pattern,

(3) noise, or

(4) no dithering.

43. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing a coverage destination mode field that selects between the following coverage destination modes:

(1) clamp,

(2) wrap,

(3) force to full coverage, and

(4) save.

44. A storage medium as in claim 37 including means for storing a z mode select mode field that selects one of the following z buffering modes:

(1) opaque,

(2) interpenetrating,

(3) transparent, and

(4) decal.

45. A storage medium for use with a 3D graphics system, the storage medium storing at least one 3D display mode control command including:

a command identifier field including a six-bit binary value of 101111, and

at least one of the following mode control fields;

(k) an atomic primitive mode field that specifies whether to force writing a primitive to a frame buffer before reading a following primitive,

(i) a cycle type mode field that selects a display pipeline cycle control mode,

(h) a perspective texture enable mode field that selectively enables perspective texture correction,

(g) a texture detail mode field that selectively enables texture detail processing,

(f) a texture sharpen enable mode field that selectively enables texture sharpening,

(e) a texture detail enable mode field that selectively enables texture level-of-detail processing,

(d) an enable look up table mode field that selectively enables lookup of texture values from a color look up table,

(c) a texture look up table type mode field that specifies type of texels in the color look up table,

(b) a sample type mode field that specifies how texels should be sampled,

(a) a mid texel mode field that specifies whether texels should be filtered using a 2×

2 half texel interpolation,

(Z) a first bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 0,

(Y) a second bilerp mode field that specifies whether a texture filter should bilinearly interpolate texels in pipeline cycle 1,

(X) a texel convert mode field that specifies whether a texel outputted by the texture filter during pipeline cycle 0 should be color converted,

(W) a chroma key enable mode field that selectively enables chroma keying,

(V2) an rgb dither select mode field that selects type of rgb dithering,

(V1) an alpha dither select mode field that selects type of alpha dithering,

(V) a plurality of blend modewords that specify blender parameters,

(M) a force blend enable mode field that specifies whether the blender should be force enabled,

(L) an alpha coverage select mode field that specifies whether coverage should be used to determine pixel alpha,

(K) a coverage times alpha select mode field that specifies whether coverage multiplied by alpha should be used to determine pixel alpha and coverage,

(J) a z mode select mode field that specifies z buffering mode,

(I) a coverage destination mode field that specifies coverage destination,

(H) a color on coverage mode field that specifies whether color should be updated only on coverage overflow,

(G) an image read enable mode field that selectively enables color and/or coverage read/modify/write frame buffer memory access,

(F) a z update enable mode field that selectively enables z buffer writing conditioned on whether color write is enabled,

(E) a z compare enable mode field that specifies conditional color write enable on depth comparison,

(D) an anti-alias enable mode field that allows blend enable using coverage,

(C) a z source select mode field that chooses between primitive depth and pixel depth,

(B) a dither alpha enable mode field that specifies whether random noise should be used in alpha compare, and

(A) an alpha compare enable mode field that enables conditional color write on alpha compare,

including memory locations for storing a plurality of blend modeword that specify blender parameters specifying;

selectively multiplying a first blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the first blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a second blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the second blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a third blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the third blender input during pipeline cycle 1,

selectively multiplying a fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 0,

selectively multiplying the fourth blender input during pipeline cycle 1.