Via Technologies, Inc.

S3 Graphics Co., Ltd.

Mark Zheng

Yijung Su

Fred Liao

Yiping Chen

Dong-Ying Kuo

Mike Hong

Provided are methods for managing texture data. The methods include preloading a first plurality of texture descriptor values from a memory location in a first buffer located in a first logic block, wherein the first buffer is further configured to receive data corresponding to non-texture functions performed in the first logic block and preloading the first plurality of texture descriptor values from a memory location into a second buffer in a second logic block if the first buffer is full. The methods further include utilizing the first plurality of texture descriptor values, within the second logic block, to perform a shader calculation, and loading, dynamically, a second plurality of texture descriptor values from memory into the first buffer, wherein the first logic block requires additional data. Additionally, the methods can include writing, if the first buffer is full, the second plurality of texture descriptor values over a portion of the first plurality of texture descriptor values.

Systems and methods for managing texture descriptors in a shared texture engine

Provided are methods for managing texture data in Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The methods include receiving, into an arbiter, a preload request configured to request processing of texture data in advance of shader processing and receiving, into the arbiter, a dependent read request configured to request processing of texture data after shader processing. The methods also include receiving, into the arbiter, a capacity signal from a texture buffer and determining, utilizing the virtual buffer capacity signal, a selected request corresponding which of the preload request and the dependent read request is granted. The methods further include processing, in a texture processor, texture data corresponding to the selected request.

Systems and methods for managing texture data in a computer

A lighting evaluation unit in a graphics processing system. The lighting evaluation unit includes a calculation unit having dot product circuitry used in determining specular, diffuse, spot, and attenuation components of a lighting equation in parallel. In one embodiment, the lighting evaluation unit is constructed in a pipeline manner, and includes multi-use circuitry for performing dot product calculations.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Mark Zheng