Nvidia Corporation

Kevin Dawallu

John Erik Lindholm

John Stephen Montrym

Simon S Moy

Matthew Nicholas Papakipos

David B Kirk

Douglas A Voorhies

Paolo Enrique Sabella

Nicholas J Foskett

Mingjian Yang

A graphics pipeline system and method are provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming graphics data from object space to screen space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for lighting the graphics data. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the graphics data.

Single semiconductor graphics platform

A graphics pipeline system and associated method are provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for receiving graphics data. The transform module serves to transform the graphics data from a first space to a second space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for lighting the graphics data. During use, the graphics pipeline system is capable of carrying out a fog and blending operation.

Single semiconductor graphics platform with blending and fog capabilities

A graphics pipeline system with an integrated masking operation is provided. Included is a transform module adapted for being coupled to a buffer to receive graphics data therefrom. Such transform module is positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space. Also included is a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module. The lighting modules serves for performing lighting operations on the graphics data received from the transform module. In use, a masking operation is further performed on the single semiconductor platform.

Masking system and method for a graphics processing framework embodied on a single semiconductor platform

A graphics pipeline system and associated method are provided with an integrated clipping operation. First included is a transform module positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming graphics data from a first space to a second space. Also provided is a lighting module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module. The lighting module is adapted for performing lighting operations on the graphics data. A clipping operation is also performed utilizing the single semiconductor platform.

Clipping system and method for a single graphics semiconductor platform

A graphics hardware system and method are provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming graphics data. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for lighting the graphics data. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the graphics data. As an option, the graphics hardware system may further be equipped with skinning, swizzling and masking capabilities.

Single semiconductor graphics platform system and method with skinning, swizzling and masking capabilities

A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for sequencing graphics processing in a transform or lighting operation. A plurality of mode bits are first received which are indicative of the status of a plurality of modes of process operations. A plurality of addresses are then identified in memory based on the mode bits. Such addresses are then accessed in the memory for retrieving code segments which each are adapted to carry out the process operations in accordance with the status of the modes. The code segments are subsequently executed within a transform or lighting module for processing vertex data.

Sequencer system and method for sequencing graphics processing

Graphics system and method for processing multiple independent execution threads

A graphics pipeline system is provided with an integrated scissor operation. First provided is a transform module adapted for being coupled to a buffer to receive graphics data therefrom. Such transform module is positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space. Associated therewith is a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module for performing lighting operations on the graphics data received from the transform module. A scissor operation is performed on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module and the lighting module.

System, method and computer program product for performing a scissor operation in a graphics processing framework embodied on a single semiconductor platform

A graphics pipeline system is provided with a transform module positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming graphics data. Also included is a lighting module positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module for lighting the graphics data. In use, various operations may be performed utilizing the single semiconductor platform such as rendering, fog operations, blending, coloring operations, etc.

System and method for a graphics processing framework embodied utilizing a single semiconductor platform

Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for a sequencer in a transform/lighting module capable of processing multiple independent execution threads

A graphics pipeline system is provided with an integrated clipping operation. First included is a transform module adapted for being coupled to a buffer to receive graphics data therefrom. Such transform module is positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space. Also provided is a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module. The lighting module is adapted for performing lighting operations on the graphics data received from the transform module. A range clamp inversion function and a clipping operation are performed on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module and the lighting module.

Clipping system and method for a graphics processing framework embodied on a single semiconductor platform

A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from a first space to a second space. Further, the transform module of the graphics pipeline system is capable of carrying out a blending operation. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. During use, the lighting module of the graphics pipeline system is capable of carrying out a fog operation.

Graphics processing unit with an integrated fog and blending operation

A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from object space to screen space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the vertex data received from the lighting module.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Kevin Dawallu