S3 Graphics Co., Ltd.

Fred Liao

Konstantine I Iourcha

Dong-Ying Kuo

Mike Hong

Michael Hong

A token-based buffer system for a geometry pipeline in three-dimensional graphics comprises: a buffer control initialization (BCI) unit, a new token or index module, a geometry control pipeline, a vertex buffer, and a processing engine. The token-based buffer system provides a shared resource environment in which tokens are assigned for blocks of data. Each block of data includes that data necessary for each unit or stage in the geometry pipeline to perform its computation. The use of tokens is advantageous because it optimizes the storage efficiency for storing the blocks of data and ensures the correctness of the data as it is passed between stages.

Token-based buffer system and method for a geometry pipeline in three-dimensional graphics

A trilinear texture filtering system and method that improves the locality of texture map accesses in a multum in parvo (MIP) map so as to reduce page breaks and provide improved performance. The present invention includes a texture cache having a unique addressing and accessing scheme that allows localized reads of the texture map from each of four banks in the texture cache. This is coupled with a unique texture-mapping unit that includes a first level generator, a second level generator and an interpolator. In generating the lower-resolution texture map version, the present invention filters neighboring texels from the higher-resolution version. Thus, an n&times;n (e.g. 2&times;2) square of texels at the higher-resolution level is reduced to a single texel at the lower-resolution level. This technique permits the lower-resolution level to be derived without requiring additional read operations from texture memory with potentially poor locality. Furthermore, the generation of the lower-resolution level texel according to the present invention is performed in less time than required to retrieve the texel from memory. Interpolation can then be performed using the higher-resolution version and the derived lower-resolution version.

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Union City, CA, United States of America

Fred Liao