Temporal split techniques for motion blur and ray intersection

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed relating to ray intersection in the context of motion blur. In some embodiments, a graphics processor includes time-oblivious ray intersect circuitry configured to receive coordinates for a ray and traverse a bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) data structure based on the coordinates to determine whether the ray intersects with one or more bounding regions of a graphics space. In some embodiments, in response to reaching a temporal branch element of the BVH data structure, the ray intersect circuitry initiates a shader program that determines a sub-tree of the BVH data structure for further traversal by the ray intersection circuitry, where the sub-tree corresponds to a portion of a motion-blur interval in which the ray falls. This may provide accurate ray tracing for motion blur while reducing area and power consumption of intersect circuitry, relative to time-aware implementations.