Flexible dram access in a frame buffer memory and system

• US 5,544,306 A
• Filed: 05/03/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Deering, Michael F., Lavelle, Michael G., Schlapp, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUHAN, ULKA J
• Application Number:
  US08/237,307
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 395/162-166
• US Class Current: 345/545
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0875 with dedicated cache, e.g. instruction or stack
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/405 using Z-buffer
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/121 using a cache memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/123 using interleaving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/126 The frame memory having additional data ports, not inclusive of standard details of the output serial port of a VRAM
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/39 Control of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

A frame buffer dynamic random access memory (FBRAM) is disclosed that enables accelerated rendering of Z-buffered graphics primitives. The FBRAM converts read-modify-write transactions such as Z-buffer compare and RBG alpha blending into a write only operation. The FBRAM also implements two levels of internal pixel caches, and a four-way interleaved frame buffer.

Claims

1. A frame buffer memory, comprising:

memory array for buffering a set of pixel data that defines an image for display on a display device, the memory array arranged as a set of memory banks, each memory bank comprising a set of memory cells and a set of sense amplifiers coupled to access the memory cells;

pixel cache coupled to access the sense amplifiers of each memory bank, the pixel cache comprising a plurality of pixel cache blocks and a set of dirty tag bits corresponding to each pixel cache block;

pixel ALU coupled to the pixel cache and coupled to a rendering bus;

memory access circuit coupled to the memory array and to the pixel cache, the memory access circuit coupled to receive a memory access request that specifies a memory access function and one of the memory banks, the memory access circuit having circuitry for initiating the memory access function according to the memory access request;

pixel access circuit coupled to the pixel cache and coupled to receive a pixel access request that specifies one of the pixel cache blocks, the pixel access circuit having circuitry for initiating a pixel access over the rendering bus to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request.

2. The frame buffer memory of claim 1, wherein the memory access circuit initiates the memory access function while the pixel access circuit initiates the pixel access.

3. The frame buffer memory of claim 2, wherein the memory access function is a precharge bank operation that precharges the sense amplifiers of the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

4. The frame buffer memory of claim 2, wherein the memory access function is a duplicate page operation that transfers data from the sense amplifiers to the memory cells of a page of the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

5. The frame buffer memory of claim 2, wherein the memory access function is an access page operation that transfers data from the memory cells of a page of the memory bank specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

6. The frame buffer memory of claim 2, wherein the memory access function is an unmasked write block operation that transfers data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

7. The frame buffer memory of claim 2, wherein the memory access function is a read block operation that transfers data from the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request to a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request.

8. The frame buffer memory of claim 2, further comprising a plane mask register coupled to receive and store a set of plane mask bits.

9. The frame buffer memory of claim 8, wherein the memory access function is a masked write block operation that transfers data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that the plane mask bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

10. The frame buffer memory of claim 9, wherein the memory access function is a video transfer operation that transfers a portion of a raster display scan line from the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request to a serial video buffer that shifts the portion of the raster display scan line to a raster display device.

11. The frame buffer memory of claim 9, wherein the serial video buffer comprises a pair of serial video buffers each coupled to receive the portion of the raster display scan line from different memory banks.

12. The frame buffer memory of claim 8, further comprising a dirty tags memory for storing a set of dirty tag bits corresponding to each pixel cache block.

13. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the pixel access function merges a set of new dirty tag bits with a set of old dirty tag bits in the pixel cache.

14. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the memory access function is an unmasked write block operation that transfers data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that the dirty tag bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

15. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the memory access function is a masked write block operation that transfers data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that the plane mask bits and the dirty tag bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

16. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the pixel access is a read operation that reads a data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and transfers the data value over the rendering bus.

17. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the pixel access is a stateless initial data write operation that writes a data value received over the rendering bus into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and that sets the dirty tag bits specified by an address of the pixel access request and by a set of write enable signals received with the data value and that clears a set of remaining dirty tag bits in the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

18. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the pixel access is a stateless normal data write operation that writes a data value received over the rendering bus into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and that sets the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request according to a set of write enable signals received with the data value.

19. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the pixel access is a statefull initial data write operation that generates a new pixel data value by combining a data value received over the rendering bus with an old pixel data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and that writes the new pixel value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and that sets the dirty tag bits specified by an address of the pixel access request and by a set of write enable signals received with the data value and that clears a set of remaining dirty tag bits in the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

20. The frame buffer memory of claim 10, wherein the pixel access is a statefull normal data write operation that generates a new pixel data value by combining a data value received over the rendering bus with an old pixel data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and that writes the new pixel value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and that sets the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request according to set of write enable signals received with the data value.

21. A method for accessing pixel data in a frame buffer random access memory device including, comprising the steps of:

receiving a memory access request that specifies a memory access function and one of a set of memory banks of a memory array, each memory bank comprising a set of memory cells for buffering a set of pixel data that defines an image for display on a display device;

receiving a pixel access request that specifies one of a plurality of pixel cache blocks in a pixel cache;

performing the memory access function according to the memory access request while performing a pixel access to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the memory access function is a precharge bank operation that precharges a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing a duplicate page operation by transferring data from a set of sense amplifiers to the memory cells of a page of the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing an access page operation by transferring data from the memory cells of a page of the memory bank specified by the memory access request to a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing an unmasked write block operation by transferring data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing a read block operation by transferring data from a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request to a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing a masked write block operation by transferring data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that a set of plane mask bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing an unmasked write block operation by transferring data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that a set of dirty tag bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing the memory access function according to the memory access request comprises the step of performing a masked write block operation by transferring data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to a set of sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that a set of plane mask bits and a set of dirty tag bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing a pixel access to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request comprises the step of performing a read operation by reading a data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing a pixel access to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request comprises the step of performing a stateless initial data write operation by writing a data value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and setting the dirty tag bits specified by an address of the pixel access request and by a set of write enable signals received with the data value and clearing a set of remaining dirty tag bits in the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing a pixel access to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request comprises the step of performing a stateless normal data write operation by receiving a data value and a set of write enables signals for the data value, and by Writing the data value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and setting a set of dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request according to the write enable signals.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing a pixel access to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request comprises the step of performing a statefull initial data write operation by receiving a data value and generating a new pixel value by combining the data value with an old pixel data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request, and then writing the new pixel value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and setting the dirty tag bits specified by an address of the pixel access request and by a set of write enable signals received with the data value and clearing a set of remaining dirty tag bits in the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of performing a pixel access to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request comprises the step of performing a statefull normal data write operation by receiving a data value and generating a new pixel value by combining the data value with an old pixel data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and then writing the new pixel value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and setting the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request according to a set of write enable signals received with the data value.

35. A computer system, comprising:

processor coupled to transfer a set of graphics data over a system bus, the graphics data corresponding to an image for display on a display device;

rendering controller coupled to receive the graphics data over the system bus, the rendering controller coupled to transfer a memory access request, a pixel access request, and a pixel value over a rendering bus;

frame buffer memory device comprising a memory array arranged as a set of memory banks, and a pixel cache comprising a plurality of pixel cache blocks, the frame buffer memory device coupled to receive the memory access request that specifies one of the memory banks, and coupled to receive the pixel access request that specifies one of the pixel cache blocks, the frame buffer memory device having circuitry for performing a memory access function according to the memory access request, and circuitry for performing a pixel access over the rendering bus to the pixel cache according to the pixel access request.

36. The computer system of claim 35, wherein each memory bank comprises a set of memory cells and a set of sense amplifiers coupled to access the memory cells, and wherein the pixel cache further comprises a set of dirty tag bits corresponding to each pixel cache block.

37. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the frame buffer memory device performs the memory access function while performing the pixel access.

38. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the memory access function is a precharge bank operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to precharge the sense amplifiers of the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

39. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the memory access function is a duplicate page operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from the sense amplifiers to the memory cells of a page of the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

40. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the memory access function is an access page operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from the memory cells of a page of the memory bank specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

41. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the memory access function is an unmasked write block operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request.

42. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the memory access function is a read block operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request to a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request.

43. The computer system of claim 36, wherein the frame buffer memory device further comprises a plane mask register coupled to receive and store a set of plane mask bits from the rendering controller over the rendering bus.

44. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the memory access function is a masked write block operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that the plane mask bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

45. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the frame buffer memory device further comprises a dirty tags memory for storing a set of dirty tag bits corresponding to each pixel cache block.

46. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the memory access function is an unmasked write block operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that the dirty tag bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

47. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the memory access function is a masked write block operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to transfer data from a pixel cache block specified by the memory access request to the sense amplifiers for the memory bank specified by the memory access request such that the plane mask bits and the dirty tag bits determine a bitwise write mask into the sense amplifiers.

48. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the pixel access is a read operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to read a data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and transfer the data value over the rendering bus.

49. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the pixel access is a stateless initial data write operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to write a data value received over the rendering bus into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and clear the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

50. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the pixel access is a stateless normal data write operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to write a data value received over the rendering bus into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and set the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request according to a set of write enable signals received with the data value over the rendering bus.

51. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the pixel access is a statefull initial data write operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to generate a new pixel data value by combining a data value received over the rendering bus with an old pixel data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and by writing the new pixel value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and by clearing the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request.

52. The computer system of claim 45, wherein the pixel access is a statefull normal data write operation that causes the frame buffer memory device to generate a new pixel data value by combining a data value received over the rendering bus with an old pixel data value from the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and by writing the new pixel value into the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request and by setting the dirty tag bits corresponding to the pixel cache block specified by the pixel access request according to set of write enable signals received with the data value over the rendering bus.

53. A frame buffer memory device, comprising:

dynamic random access memory (DRAM) array comprising a plurality of DRAM cells for buffering a set of pixel data that defines an image for display on a display device;

sense amplifiers coupled to the DRAM cells of the DRAM array

circuitry for transferring the pixel data from a first page of the DRAM array to the sense amplifiers according to an access page command received over a rendering bus;

circuitry for transferring the pixel data from the sense amplifiers to a second page of the DRAM array according to a duplicate page command received over the rendering bus.

54. The frame buffer memory device of claim 53, wherein the first and second pages are specified by a set of pixel address signals received by the frame buffer memory device over the rendering bus.

55. The frame buffer memory device of claim 53, wherein the DRAM array is arranged as a set of DRAM banks.

56. The frame buffer memory device of claim 55, wherein the first and second pages are located in the DRAM banks that are specified by the pixel address signals.

57. A method for performing block fill operations in a frame buffer, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access page command over a rendering bus, the access page command specifying a first page of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) array;

transferring a set of pixel data from the first page of the DRAM array to a set of sense amplifiers;

receiving duplicate page command over the rendering bus, the duplicate page command specifying a second page of the DRAM array;

transferring the pixel data from the sense amplifiers to the second page of the DRAM array.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the DRAM array comprises a plurality of DRAM banks and wherein the access page command specifies one of the DRAM banks.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of transferring a set of pixel data from the first page of the DRAM array to a set of sense amplifiers comprises the step of transferring the pixel data from the first page in the DRAM bank specified by the access page command to the sense amplifiers.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the DRAM array comprises a plurality of DRAM banks and wherein the duplicate page command specifies one of the DRAM banks.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of transferring the pixel data from the sense amplifiers to the second page of the DRAM array comprises the step of transferring the pixel data from the sense amplifiers to the second page in the DRAM bank specified by the duplicate page command.