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:
May. 26, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2004
Larry D. Seiler, Boylston, MA (US);
Laurent Lefebvre, Lachenaie, CA;
Stephen L. Morein, Cambridge, MA (US);
Larry D. Seiler, Boylston, MA (US);
Laurent Lefebvre, Lachenaie, CA;
Stephen L. Morein, Cambridge, MA (US);
ATI International SRL, Christchurch, BB;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating hierarchical depth culling characteristics includes determining a first minimum depth value and a first maximum depth value for a first graphical element. The graphical element may be a primitive. The first minimum depth value may be a minimum Z-plane depth of a pixel within the primitive and a first maximum depth value is a maximum Z-plane value for a pixel within the primitive. The method and apparatus further includes determining a second minimum depth value and a second maximum depth value for a second graphical element, which may be a tile. The method and apparatus further includes calculating an intersection depth range having an intersection minimum depth value and an intersection maximum depth value based on the intersection of the first minimum depth value and the first maximum depth value and the second minimum depth value and the second maximum depth value.