Arm Limited

Joe D Tapply

Daren Croxford

Frode Heggelund

Jørn Nystad

Frank Klaeboe Langtind

Sean Tristram Ellis

Eivind Liland

Andreas Engh Halstvedt

Jean-Christophe Glas

Jean Christophe Glas

Jussi Henrik Makela

In a graphics processing pipeline, a primitive depth sorting stageis arranged prior to the rasterization stageand rendering stage. The primitive depth sorting stageoperates to sort successive sub-sets of primitives in a stream of primitivesreceived by the graphics processing pipelinebased on their depth values. The so-sorted primitives are then output from the primitive depth sorting stagein their sorted depth order to the rasterizer. This makes the depth test stagesof the graphics processing pipelinemore efficient in their hidden surface removal operations, because the primitives entering the rasterizerwill be in depth order.

Hidden surface removal in graphics processing systems

A primitive listing and sorting arrangement for a tile-based graphics rendering system in which primitive lists can be prepared for at least two different sets of sub-regions of the render target area. Two or more alternative solutions for listing the primitive for rendering using the sub-regions of at least two of the at least two different sets of sub-regions of the render target area that primitive lists can be prepared for are determined (S). A cost function is then used to assess the cost of listing the primitive for each determined alternative primitive listing solution (S) and the primitive listing arrangement to use is then selected based on the cost assessment (S). Embodiments use an adaptive cost function that can be modified in use based on analysis of the costs for the primitive listing process actually being experienced in use.

Method of and apparatus for processing graphics

In a tile-based graphics processor, primitive lists (bins) are prepared for 2&#xd7;2 blocks of tiles. The processor also determines and stores for each primitive in a bin, distribution information indicating the distribution of the primitive within the set of tiles that the bin corresponds to. Thus a primitivethat is found by its bounding boxto reside in two of the four tiles that make up the set of 2&#xd7;2 tilesis also associated with a tile coverage bitmap of the form '0101' to indicate that it lies in tiles 'and &#x201c;of the 2&#xd7;2 group of tiles. The graphics processor uses the coverage bitmap (information) to determine whether a primitive should be processed for the tile currently being processed.

Methods of and apparatus for processing graphics

A data compressor has a delta value calculator which receives data items and determines if a related data item to a received data item is stored in a data store. If the related item is stored, the delta value calculator retrieves the related data item from the data store and calculates a delta value from the received data item and the related data item. If the related item is not stored, then the delta value is calculated from the received data item and a predetermined value. A data store controller accesses the data store in response to receipt of a data item and determines if a storage location is allocated to the data item. If there is an allocated storage location for the data item, the data item is stored in the allocated storage location; and if not then a storage location is allocated to the data item.

Data compression and decompression using relative and absolute delta values

Growing community of inventors

Great Wilbraham, United Kingdom

Joe D Tapply