The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 05, 1996
Anthony C Barkans, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An antialiasing system is implemented in a graphics system of a computer. A memory control is associated with graphics system for controlling a frame buffer. The antialiasing system is situated in the memory control and is configured to receive from steppers (edge and span) new color values and new depth dimensions z at a plurality of subpixel locations. In turn, the antialiasing system analyzes color data pertaining to each pixel in the frame buffer, and if necessary, updates the color data. The color data is unique and minimizes memory requirements and accesses. Specifically, the color data includes a current display value that corresponds to the pixel, a reference color value that corresponds to one subpixel location, a reference depth dimension that corresponds with the one subpixel location, and reconstruction indicia that correspond with other subpixel locations and that can be utilized to derive respective depth dimensions and colors for the other subpixel locations. The reconstruction indicia include a hint and a depth dimension difference. The hint indicates color informationm, and the depth dimension difference represents a difference between the reference depth dimension and a respective depth dimension.