Method and apparatus for dynamically reconfiguring the order of hidden surface processing based on rendering mode

• US 6,636,214 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Fouladi, Farhad, Leather, Mark M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/726,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345/506, 345/532, 345/536, 345/421, 345/422, 345/502, 345/582
• US Class Current: 345/422
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/40 Hidden part removal

Abstract

A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. A reconfigurable graphics pipeline has a hidden surface removal stage that may be placed at different locations within the pipeline depending on pipeline rendering mode. When the pipeline operates in certain rendering modes, the hidden surface removal operation can be performed early in the pipeline—allowing the pipeline to avoid wasting its time imaging obstructed surfaces. For other (e.g., alpha based) rendering modes, the hidden surface removal operation is performed near the end of the pipeline—when the pipeline has developed sufficient additional information required by the particular rendering mode to resolve depth comparisons.

Claims

1. A graphics pipeline comprising:

a z and edge rasterizer having a first input;

a texture unit having a second input;

at least one z compare unit; and

an arrangement coupled to the at least one z compare unit that selectively, alternatively couples the z compare unit to the first input or the second input.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises switches to switch said z compare unit between the first and second inputs.

3. A graphics pipeline having at least first and second alternate rendering modes, and comprising:

a z an edge rasterizer having a first input;

a texturing stage having a second input;

a hidden surface removal stage; and

a reconfiguration arrangement that selectively connects the hidden surface removal stage alternately to the first input or to the second input within the graphics pipeline depending upon the graphics pipeline rendering mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the texturing stage also has an output and the reconfiguration arrangement includes switches that switch the hidden surface removal stage between the texturing stage input and the texturing stage output.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the texturing unit includes an alpha channel, and the reconfiguration arrangement activates the hidden surface removal stage at the texturing stage output when the alpha channel is active.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hidden surface removal stage includes a z comparator.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hidden surface removal stage includes a z buffer.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the reconfiguration arrangement is controlled in response to a register.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the reconfiguration arrangement flushes the graphics pipeline before moving the hidden surface removal stage.

10. A method of reconfiguring a graphics pipeline including a pixel engine the method comprising:

receiving a command;

stalling a graphics pipeline in response to the received command;

inserting a synchronization token into the graphics pipeline that chases pixels within the graphics pipeline while the pipeline is stalled;

detecting with the pixel engine, when the synchronization token has reached a predetermined point in the graphics pipeline to confirm the graphics pipeline has been flushed;

the pixel engine reconfiguring the graphics pipeline in response to such detection of the token by the pixel engine to reposition a hidden surface removal stage within the pipeline; and

releasing the stall.

11. A graphics pipeline comprising:

at least one processing stage including selectively activatable alpha thresholding, said processing stage including a z and edge rasterizer having a first input and a texture unit having a second input; and

a hidden surface removal stage that is selectively alternately coupled to said first input or to said second input based at least in part on whether alpha thresholding is activated.

12. A pixel engine comprising:

a first input coupled to a z and edge rasterizer;

a second input coupled to a texture environment unit; and

a z unit that is selectively, alternately coupled to said first input or said second input.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said pixel engine couples the z unit to the first input or to the second input based on rendering mode.