International Business Machines Corporation

Javier A Rodriguez

Thomas Winters Fox

Jeffrey Allan Whaley

Mark Ernest Van Nostrand

A method and apparatus in a data processing system for processing graphics data in a processing element. A command is received. A determination is then made as to whether the command affects processing of current graphics data within the processing element. The command is sent to a subsequent processing element if the processing element is unaffected by the command. The command is held without affecting the processing element if the command affects processing of the current graphics data within the processing element until processing of the current graphics data has completed.

Method and apparatus for attribute processing with an active pipeline stage in a data processing system

A normalization circuit suitable for use in a graphics adapter is disclosed. The circuit is configured to receive vertex data and includes a set of multiplexer circuits, a set of functional units, and a control circuit. The outputs of the set of multiplexer circuits provide inputs to the set of function units and the control circuit is configured to control the select inputs of the set of multiplexer units to calculate a unit normal vector and a unit eye vector from the received vertex data. The set of functiontional units may include a pair of floating point multipliers and a floating point adder. The inputs of the first floating point multiplier may be connected to outputs of first and second mulitplexers such that the first multiplier is enabled to generate square values for x, y, and z components of the vertex data. The inputs of the floating point adder may be connected to outputs of third and fourth multiplexers, wherein the floating point adders is enabled to generate a sum of squares values. The output of the floating point adder may be coupled to the input of an inverse square circuit. A first input to the second floating point multiplier may be connected to a fifth multiplexer circuit and a second input to the second floating point multiplier may be coupled to the output of the inverse square root circuit such that the second floating point multiplier is enabled to generate x, y, and z components of the unit normal vector and the unit eye vector.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Javier A Rodriguez