Abstract: A graphics processing system can divide a render output into plural larger patches, with each larger patch encompassing plural smaller patches. A rasteriser of the system tests a larger patch against a primitive to be processed to determine if the primitive covers the larger patch. When it is determined that the primitive only partially covers the larger patch, the larger patch is sub-divided into plural smaller patches and at least one of the smaller patches is re-tested against the primitive. Conversely, when it is determined that the primitive completely covers the larger patch, the larger patch is output from the rasteriser in respect of the primitive for processing by a subsequent stage, of the graphics processing system. The system can provide efficient, hierarchal, processing of primitives, whilst helping to prevent the output of the rasteriser from becoming blocked.

Abstract: To perform a graphics processing operation for the entirety of an area of a render output being generated by a graphics processor, a command to draw a primitive occupying the entire area of the render output is issued to the graphics processor. The graphics processor draws the primitive by determining the vertices to use for the primitive from the area of the render output. In a tile-based graphics processor at least, the graphics processor in an embodiment also determines whether it is unnecessary to process the graphics processing command for a rendering tile and when it is determined that processing the graphics processing command for the rendering tile is unnecessary, the graphics processor omits processing the graphics processing command for the rendering tile.

Abstract: A graphics processing system maintains a fragment tracking record that stores metadata relating to one or more previously received primitives. The metadata can indicate that the one or more previously received primitives are suitably covered by a subsequently received primitive such that one or more fragment processing operations need not be performed in respect of those one or more previously received primitives. The metadata stored for the one or more previously received primitives can then later be queried by one or more later stages of the graphics processing system to determine whether one or more fragments for the one or more previously received primitives can be at least partially discarded or “killed”.

Abstract: To perform a graphics processing operation for the entirety of an area of a render output being generated by a graphics processor, a command to draw a primitive occupying the entire area of the render output is issued to the graphics processor. The graphics processor draws the primitive by determining the vertices to use for the primitive from the area of the render output. In a tile-based graphics processor at least, the graphics processor in an embodiment also determines whether it is unnecessary to process the graphics processing command for a rendering tile and when it is determined that processing the graphics processing command for the rendering tile is unnecessary, the graphics processor omits processing the graphics processing command for the rendering tile.

Abstract: A graphics processing system maintains a fragment tracking record that stores metadata relating to one or more previously received primitives. The metadata can indicate that the one or more previously received primitives are suitably covered by a subsequently received primitive such that one or more fragment processing operations need not be performed in respect of those one or more previously received primitives. The metadata stored for the one or more previously received primitives can then later be queried by one or more later stages of the graphics processing system to determine whether one or more fragments for the one or more previously received primitives can be at least partially discarded or “killed”.

Abstract: A tile-based graphics processing system comprises a graphics processing pipeline comprising a plurality of processing stages, including at least a rasteriser that rasterises input primitives to generate graphics fragments to be processed, and a renderer that processes fragments generated by the rasteriser to generate rendered fragment data, and a tile buffer configured to store data locally to the graphics processing pipeline. The graphics processing system is operable to cause data for use when performing graphics processing operations for each tile of a set of plural tiles of a plurality of tiles to be loaded into the tile buffer before causing graphics processing operations to be performed for any of the tiles of the set of plural tiles.

Abstract: A graphics processing system can divide a render output into plural larger patches, with each larger patch encompassing plural smaller patches. A rasteriser of the system tests a larger patch against a primitive to be processed to determine if the primitive covers the larger patch. When it is determined that the primitive only partially covers the larger patch, the larger patch is sub-divided into plural smaller patches and at least one of the smaller patches is re-tested against the primitive. Conversely, when it is determined that the primitive completely covers the larger patch, the larger patch is output from the rasteriser in respect of the primitive for processing by a subsequent stage, of the graphics processing system. The system can provide efficient, hierarchal, processing of primitives, whilst helping to prevent the output of the rasteriser from becoming blocked.

Abstract: A tile-based graphics processing system comprises a graphics processing pipeline comprising a plurality of processing stages, including at least a rasteriser that rasterises input primitives to generate graphics fragments to be processed, and a renderer that processes fragments generated by the rasteriser to generate rendered fragment data, and a tile buffer configured to store data locally to the graphics processing pipeline. The graphics processing system is operable to cause data for use when performing graphics processing operations for each tile of a set of plural tiles of a plurality of tiles to be loaded into the tile buffer before causing graphics processing operations to be performed for any of the tiles of the set of plural tiles.

Abstract: A tile-based graphics processing system generates a render output by dividing it into a plurality of larger patches, each of which encompass a set of smaller patches. A rasterizer tests primitives against patches of the render output. When a primitive is found to completely cover a larger patch, depth function data for that primitive is stored in an entry of a depth buffer in respect of that largest patch position. When a subsequently-processed primitive is found to cover that same larger patch, the depth function data stored in the buffer is used to calculate depth range values for smaller patches that the larger patch encompasses. These depth range values, representative of the first primitive, are used to perform depth tests in respect of the second primitive. The depth function data stored in entry is then marked as invalid in respect of the smaller patches.