US5847717A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Data synchronization between a plurality of asynchronous data renderers
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1997-08-28
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2017-08-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for synchronizing sets of data words rendered by a plurality of asynchronous data renderers includes a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers. In addition, the apparatus includes a controller that prevents each asynchronous data renderer from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the corresponding data register is storing its word of data, in the first set of data words. Further, the controller, when each of the plurality of data registers has received its word of data for the first set of data words, controls the plurality of data registers to output a synchronized set of data words. Thus, in a computer graphic system, words of data rendered by a rasterizer or scan converter, a texture mapping circuit, and a depth cueing circuit can be synchronized, on a per pixel basis, for each pixel of a primitive to be displayed on a display screen. In addition, each word of data for a pixel of a primitive, which is not to be blended, can be passed to a next stage in the processing pipeline of the graphics system, without a need to flush the processing pipeline.
Inventors
- 👤 Kyle R. Berry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each word of data in a set of data words being rendered to the data synchronizer by one of a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the data synchronizer comprising: a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words upon assertion of a control signal; and a controller that prevents each asynchronous data renderer from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and that asserts the control signal when each of the data registers has received its word of data, in the first set of data words.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each word of data in a set of data words being rendered to the data synchronizer by one of a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the data synchronizer comprising: a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words upon assertion of a control signal; and a controller that prevents each asynchronous data renderer from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and that asserts the control signal when each of the data registers has received its word of data, in the first set of data words.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The data synchronizer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of multiplexers, each one of the plurality of multiplexers having an output coupled to an input of a corresponding one of the plurality of data registers, a first input coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers and a second input coupled to an output of the corresponding one of the plurality of data registers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
The data synchronizer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first input of a first one of the plurality of multiplexers and the first input of a second of the plurality of multiplexers are coupled to the output of a first one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, wherein a first word of data, provided by the first one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, is received by the first multiplexer and temporarily stored in a first data register in response to a first cycle of a clock signal, and wherein a second word of data, provided by the first one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, is received by the second multiplexer and temporarily stored in a second data register in response to a second cycle of the clock signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
237 words
A graphics system comprising: a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each asynchronous data renderer providing a word of data in a set of data words; a data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, the data synchronizer comprising: a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words upon assertion of a control signal; a controller that prevents each asynchronous data renderer from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and that asserts the control signal when each of the data registers has received its word of data in the first set of data words; and wherein a first of the plurality of asynchronous renderers is a pixel generator that receives rendering parameters, that calculates x, y, z coordinates and color values, for each pixel in a primitive, from the rendering parameters, and that outputs the x, y, z coordinates and the color values, as its word of data, to a corresponding one of the plurality of data registers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
237 words
A graphics system comprising: a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each asynchronous data renderer providing a word of data in a set of data words; a data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, the data synchronizer comprising: a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words upon assertion of a control signal; a controller that prevents each asynchronous data renderer from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and that asserts the control signal when each of the data registers has received its word of data in the first set of data words; and wherein a first of the plurality of asynchronous renderers is a pixel generator that receives rendering parameters, that calculates x, y, z coordinates and color values, for each pixel in a primitive, from the rendering parameters, and that outputs the x, y, z coordinates and the color values, as its word of data, to a corresponding one of the plurality of data registers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a texture mapping circuit that receives the rendering parameters, that calculates texel color values, for each pixel in a triangle primitive, from the rendering parameters, and that outputs the texel color values, as its word of data, to the corresponding one of plurality of data registers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit includes an identical edge stepping circuit that, from the rendering parameters, calculates the color values for each pixel along an edge of each triangle primitive so that the color values provided by the pixel generator and the texel color values provided by the texture mapping circuit are provided in a same order.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit includes an identical span stepping circuit that, from the rendering parameters, calculates the color values for each pixel along a span of each triangle primitive so that the color values provided by the pixel generator and the texel color values provided by the texture mapping circuit are provided in a same order.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a texel packing circuit, coupled between the texture mapping circuit and the data synchronizer, that receives the texel color values from the texture mapping circuit, that packs the texel color values for each of a red component, a green component, a blue component and an alpha component into a single texel color word, and that outputs the single texel color word as its word of data to the corresponding one of plurality of data registers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 8, wherein an interface between the texture mapping circuit and the texel packing circuit comprises eleven data signal lines.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for synchronizing sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each data word in a set of data words being rendered by one of a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first data word, in a first set of data words, from a first asynchronous data renderer; temporarily storing the first data word; awaiting receipt of a second data word; receiving the second data word; determining whether the first data word is to be blended with the second data word; outputting a synchronized set of data words, comprising the first data word and the second data word; and inhibiting the first asynchronous data renderer from sending a data word to a data synchronizer, in a second set of data words, until the synchronized set of data words has been output by the data synchronizer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for synchronizing sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each data word in a set of data words being rendered by one of a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first data word, in a first set of data words, from a first asynchronous data renderer; temporarily storing the first data word; awaiting receipt of a second data word; receiving the second data word; determining whether the first data word is to be blended with the second data word; outputting a synchronized set of data words, comprising the first data word and the second data word; and inhibiting the first asynchronous data renderer from sending a data word to a data synchronizer, in a second set of data words, until the synchronized set of data words has been output by the data synchronizer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a graphics system including a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, wherein one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a pixel generator that renders a data word for each pixel in a primitive, and another one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a texture mapping circuit that renders a data word for each pixel in a triangle primitive, a method for synchronizing sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each data word in a set of data words being rendered by one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first data word, in a first set of data words, from one of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit; temporarily storing the first data word; awaiting receipt of a second data word; receiving the second data word; outputting a synchronized set of data words, that includes the first data word and the second data word; and determining whether the first data word is to be blended with the second data word in one of a diffuse-only blending mode, a diffuse and specular blending mode, a diffuse and texture mapped blending mode, and a diffuse, specular and texture mapped blending mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a graphics system including a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, wherein one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a pixel generator that renders a data word for each pixel in a primitive, and another one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers is a texture mapping circuit that renders a data word for each pixel in a triangle primitive, a method for synchronizing sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, each data word in a set of data words being rendered by one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first data word, in a first set of data words, from one of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit; temporarily storing the first data word; awaiting receipt of a second data word; receiving the second data word; outputting a synchronized set of data words, that includes the first data word and the second data word; and determining whether the first data word is to be blended with the second data word in one of a diffuse-only blending mode, a diffuse and specular blending mode, a diffuse and texture mapped blending mode, and a diffuse, specular and texture mapped blending mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the first data word is to be blended with the second data word, the step of awaiting receipt of the second data word includes awaiting receipt of the second data word from one of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of inhibiting one of the pixel generator and the texture mapping circuit from sending a data word, in a second set of data words until the synchronized set of data words has been output.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of when the first data word is not to be blended with the second data word, providing a default data word as the second data word.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of determining whether the first data word is to be blended includes determining whether the first data word, rendered by the pixel generator, corresponds to a pixel of one of a point primitive, a vector primitive and a triangle primitive in the diffuse-only blending mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of determining whether the first data word is to be blended includes determining whether the first data word corresponds to a pixel of a triangle primitive in one of the diffuse and specular blending mode or the diffuse and texture mapped blending mode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the first data word is a diffuse color data word rendered by the pixel generator in the diffuse and specular blending mode: the step of storing the first data word includes storing the diffuse color data word; and the step of awaiting the second data word includes awaiting receipt of a specular color data word from the pixel generator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
189 words
The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of, when the first data word is in the diffuse and texture mapped blending mode: the step of receiving the first data word includes receiving one of a texel color data word from the texture mapping circuit, a diffuse color data word from the pixel generator, and both the texel color data word and the diffuse color data word within a single clock cycle, from the texture mapping circuit and the pixel generator, respectively; the step of storing the first data word includes storing one of the texel color data word, the diffuse color data word, and both the texel color data word and the diffuse color data word; when one of the texel color data word and the diffuse color data word is received, the step of awaiting receipt of the second data word includes awaiting receipt of one of the diffuse color data word and the texel color data word, respectively; and the step of outputting includes outputting the synchronized set of data words including the texel color data word and the diffuse color data word.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
178 words
A graphics system, comprising: a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each asynchronous data renderer providing a word of data in a set of data words; a data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, the data synchronizer comprising: a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words; and controlling means for preventing each of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and when each of the plurality of data registers has received its word of data, in the first set of data words, for outputting the first synchronized set of data words.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
178 words
A graphics system, comprising: a plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each asynchronous data renderer providing a word of data in a set of data words; a data synchronizer that synchronizes sets of data words to generate synchronized sets of data words, the data synchronizer comprising: a plurality of data registers, each data register receiving and temporarily storing a word of data, in a first set of data words, from a corresponding one of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, each data register outputting its stored word of data as one of a first synchronized set of data words; and controlling means for preventing each of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers from transferring a word of data, in a second set of data words, to its corresponding data register when the data register is storing its corresponding word of data, in the first set of data words, and when each of the plurality of data registers has received its word of data, in the first set of data words, for outputting the first synchronized set of data words.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controlling means further comprises means for determining whether a first word of data from a first asynchronous data renderer is to be blended with a second word of data from a second asynchronous data renderer, in one of a diffuse-only blending mode, a diffuse and specular blending mode, a diffuse and texture mapped blending mode, and a diffuse, specular and texture mapped blending mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the controlling means further comprises means for providing a default word of data, as the second word of data, to a corresponding data register when the means for determining determines that the first word of data is not to be blended with the second word of data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the determining means further includes means for determining whether the first word of data corresponds to a pixel of one of a point primitive, a vector primitive and a triangle primitive in the diffuse-only blending mode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means for determining includes a means for determining whether the first word of data corresponds to a pixel of a triangle primitive in one of the diffuse and specular blending mode or the diffuse and texture mapped blending mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means for determining includes a means for determining whether the first word of data corresponds to a pixel of a triangle primitive in the diffuse, specular and texture mapped blending mode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
76 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 19, wherein a first asynchronous data renderer, of the plurality of asynchronous renderers, comprises a pixel generating means for receiving rendering parameters, for calculating x, y, z coordinates and color values, for each pixel in a primitive, from the rendering parameters, and for outputting the x, y, z coordinates and the color values as the word of data to the corresponding data register of the plurality of data registers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
70 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 25, wherein a second asynchronous data renderer, of the plurality of asynchronous data renderers, comprises a texel generating means for receiving the rendering parameters, for calculating texel color values, for each pixel in a triangle primitive, from the rendering parameters and for outputting the texel color values as the word of data to the corresponding data register of the plurality of data registers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of the pixel generating means and the texel generating means includes an identical edge stepping means for calculating the color values, for each pixel along an edge of the triangle primitive, and providing the color values in a same order.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
50 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of the pixel generating means and texel generating means includes an identical span stepping means for calculating the color values for each pixel along a span of the triangle primitive, and for providing the color values in a same order.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
75 words
The graphics system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a texel packing means, disposed between the texel generating means and the corresponding data register, for receiving the texel color values, for packing the texel color values for each of a red component, a green component a blue component and an alpha component into single texel color word of data and for outputting the single texel color word of data to the corresponding data register.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |