US6043821A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for rendering pixel information from blended texture maps
Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
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Filing: 1997-06-30
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2017-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for rendering pixel information from blended texture information is accomplished by generating first texture information and second texture information for a given pixel location. Having generated this information, the first and second texture information is blended, based on a blending function, to produce blended texture information. The blended texture information is then used to render the pixel information at the given pixel location. This process continues for each pixel location of an object element of an object, image, and/or scene.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Sprague
- 👤 Richard J. Fuller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/50; G06T15/503
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for rendering pixel information for a given pixel location, the method comprising the steps of: a) retrieving first texture information from at least a portion of a first texture map of a first image and second texture information from at least a portion of a second texture map of a second image for the given pixel location; b) blending the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and c) rendering the pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for rendering pixel information for a given pixel location, the method comprising the steps of: a) retrieving first texture information from at least a portion of a first texture map of a first image and second texture information from at least a portion of a second texture map of a second image for the given pixel location; b) blending the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and c) rendering the pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises: receiving vertex parameters which include primary and secondary texture parameters; and determining the first and second texture information based on the primary and secondary texture parameters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises determining the given pixel location based on x and y parameters of vertex parameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (b), utilizing, as the blending function, a function of (first texture information) *x+(second texture information)*(1-x), where x is at least one of: a constant, a variable, and a function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises utilizing at least one of: color, pattern, highlights, reflections, clouding, separate object, and shading as the first texture information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises utilizing at least one of: color, pattern, highlights, reflections, clouding, separate object, and shading as the second texture information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises repeating steps (a) through (c) for another pixel location of an object element.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for rendering pixel information for a given pixel location of an object element, the method comprising the steps of: a) retrieving a plurality of texels from at least two different texture maps of at least two different images for the given pixel location; b) blending the plurality of texels based on a blending function to produce a blended texel; and c) rendering the pixel information from the blended texel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for rendering pixel information for a given pixel location of an object element, the method comprising the steps of: a) retrieving a plurality of texels from at least two different texture maps of at least two different images for the given pixel location; b) blending the plurality of texels based on a blending function to produce a blended texel; and c) rendering the pixel information from the blended texel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 further comprises: receiving vertex parameters which include a plurality of texture parameters; and determining the plurality of texels based on the plurality of texture parameters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 8 further comprises, within step (b), utilizing, as the blending function, a function of: Σ(texel i ) *x i where Σx i =1 and where x is at least one of: a constant, a variable, and a function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 further comprises repeating steps (a) through (c) for another pixel location of the object element.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for morphing at least two images, at a given pixel location, to produce pixel information, the method comprising the steps of: a) retrieving first texture information for a first image of the at least two images and second texture information for a second image of the at least two images based on the given pixel location, wherein the first image is stored within at least a portion of a first texture map and the second image is stored within at least a portion of a second texture map; b) blending the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and c) rendering the pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for morphing at least two images, at a given pixel location, to produce pixel information, the method comprising the steps of: a) retrieving first texture information for a first image of the at least two images and second texture information for a second image of the at least two images based on the given pixel location, wherein the first image is stored within at least a portion of a first texture map and the second image is stored within at least a portion of a second texture map; b) blending the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and c) rendering the pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12 further comprises: receiving vertex parameters which include first and second image texture parameters; and determining the first and second texture information based on the first and second image texture parameters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 12 further comprises, within step (b), utilizing, as the blending function, a function of: (first texture information) *x+(second texture information)*(1-x), where x is at least one of: a constant, a variable, and a function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 further comprises repeating steps (a) through (c) for another pixel location of the at least two images.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
A video graphic processor comprising: a processing device; and memory operably coupled to the processing device, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to (a) retrieve first texture information from at least a portion of a first texture map of a first image and second texture information from at least a portion of a second texture map of a second image for the given pixel location; (b) blend the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and (c) render pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
A video graphic processor comprising: a processing device; and memory operably coupled to the processing device, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to (a) retrieve first texture information from at least a portion of a first texture map of a first image and second texture information from at least a portion of a second texture map of a second image for the given pixel location; (b) blend the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and (c) render pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
A video graphic processor comprising: a processing device; and memory operably coupled to the processing device, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to (a) retrieve a plurality of texels from at least two different texture maps of at least two different images for the given pixel location; (b) blend the plurality of texels based on a blending function to produce a blended texel; and (c) render pixel information from the blended texel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
A video graphic processor comprising: a processing device; and memory operably coupled to the processing device, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to (a) retrieve a plurality of texels from at least two different texture maps of at least two different images for the given pixel location; (b) blend the plurality of texels based on a blending function to produce a blended texel; and (c) render pixel information from the blended texel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
A video graphic processor comprising: a processing device; and memory operably coupled to the processing device, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to (a) retrieve first texture information for a first image of at least two images and second texture information for a second image of at least two images based on given pixel location, wherein the first image is stored within at least a portion of a first texture map and the second image is stored within at least a portion of a second texture map; (b) blend the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and (c) render pixel information from the blended texture information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
A video graphic processor comprising: a processing device; and memory operably coupled to the processing device, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to (a) retrieve first texture information for a first image of at least two images and second texture information for a second image of at least two images based on given pixel location, wherein the first image is stored within at least a portion of a first texture map and the second image is stored within at least a portion of a second texture map; (b) blend the first and second texture information based on a blending function to produce blended texture information; and (c) render pixel information from the blended texture information.
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) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |