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:
Apr. 04, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 27, 2002
Douglas A. Voorhies, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Edward C. Greene, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Emmett M. Kilgariff, San Jose, CA (US);
Svetoslav Tzvetkov, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Douglas A. Voorhies, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Edward C. Greene, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Emmett M. Kilgariff, San Jose, CA (US);
Svetoslav Tzvetkov, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
NVIDIA Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method are provided for accelerating graphics processing utilizing multiple-pass rendering. Initially, geometry operations are performed on graphics data, and the graphics data is stored in memory. During a first rendering pass, various operations take place. For example, the graphics data is read from the memory, and the graphics data is rasterized. Moreover, first z-culling operations are performed utilizing the graphics data. Such first z-culling operations maintain a first occlusion image. During a second rendering pass, the graphics data is read from memory. Still yet, the graphics data is rasterized and second z-culling operations are performed utilizing the graphics data and the first occlusion image. Moreover, visibility operations are performed utilizing the graphics data and a second occlusion image. Raster-processor operations are also performed utilizing the graphics data, during the second rendering pass.