Patents by Inventor Dale Kirkland
Dale Kirkland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10453168Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Ziyad Hakura, Eric Lum, Dale Kirkland, Jack Choquette, Patrick R. Brown, Yury Y. Uralsky, Jeffrey Bolz
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Patent number: 10430989Abstract: A multi-pass unit interoperates with a device driver to configure a screen space pipeline to perform multiple processing passes with buffered graphics primitives. The multi-pass unit receives primitive data and state bundles from the device driver. The primitive data includes a graphics primitive and a primitive mask. The primitive mask indicates the specific passes when the graphics primitive should be processed. The state bundles include one or more state settings and a state mask. The state mask indicates the specific passes where the state settings should be applied. The primitives and state settings are interleaved. For a given pass, the multi-pass unit extracts the interleaved state settings for that pass and configures the screen space pipeline according to those state settings. The multi-pass unit also extracts the interleaved graphics primitives to be processed in that pass. Then, the multi-pass unit causes the screen space pipeline to process those graphics primitives.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Ziyad Hakura, Cynthia Allison, Dale Kirkland, Jeffrey Bolz, Yury Uralsky, Jonah Alben
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Patent number: 10332310Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique for distributing work slices associated with a graphics processing unit for processing. A primitive distribution system receives a draw command related to a graphics object associated with a plurality of indices. The primitive distribution system creates a plurality of work slices, where each work slice is associated with a different subset of the indices included in the plurality of indices. The primitive distribution system scans a first subset of indices to identify a first set of characteristics that is needed to process a second subset of indices. The primitive distribution system processes the second subset of indices based at least in part on the one or more characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Niket Agrawal, Amit Jain, Dale Kirkland, Karim Abdalla, Ziyad Hakura, Haren Kethareswaran
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Publication number: 20180374185Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Ziyad Hakura, Eric Lum, Dale Kirkland, Jack Choquette, Patrick R. Brown, Yury Y. Uralsky, Jeffrey Bolz
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Patent number: 10147222Abstract: A multi-pass unit interoperates with a device driver to configure a screen space pipeline to perform multiple processing passes with buffered graphics primitives. The multi-pass unit receives primitive data and state bundles from the device driver. The primitive data includes a graphics primitive and a primitive mask. The primitive mask indicates the specific passes when the graphics primitive should be processed. The state bundles include one or more state settings and a state mask. The state mask indicates the specific passes where the state settings should be applied. The primitives and state settings are interleaved. For a given pass, the multi-pass unit extracts the interleaved state settings for that pass and configures the screen space pipeline according to those state settings. The multi-pass unit also extracts the interleaved graphics primitives to be processed in that pass. Then, the multi-pass unit causes the screen space pipeline to process those graphics primitives.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Ziyad Hakura, Cynthia Allison, Dale Kirkland, Jeffrey Bolz, Yury Uralsky, Jonah Alben
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Patent number: 10055806Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Ziyad Hakura, Eric Lum, Dale Kirkland, Jack Choquette, Patrick R. Brown, Yury Y. Uralsky, Jeffrey Bolz
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Patent number: 10032245Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Ziyad Hakura, Eric Lum, Dale Kirkland, Jack Choquette, Patrick R. Brown, Yury Y. Uralsky, Jeffrey Bolz
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Patent number: 10019776Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATIONInventors: Ziyad Hakura, Eric Lum, Dale Kirkland, Jack Choquette, Patrick R. Brown, Yury Y. Uralsky, Jeffrey Bolz
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Publication number: 20170178401Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique for distributing work slices associated with a graphics processing unit for processing. A primitive distribution system receives a draw command related to a graphics object associated with a plurality of indices. The primitive distribution system creates a plurality of work slices, where each work slice is associated with a different subset of the indices included in the plurality of indices. The primitive distribution system scans a first subset of indices to identify a first set of characteristics that is needed to process a second subset of indices. The primitive distribution system processes the second subset of indices based at least in part on the one or more characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Niket Agrawal, Amit Jain, Dale Kirkland, Karim Abdalla, Ziyad Hakura, Haren Kethareswaran
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Publication number: 20170148204Abstract: A multi-pass unit interoperates with a device driver to configure a screen space pipeline to perform multiple processing passes with buffered graphics primitives. The multi-pass unit receives primitive data and state bundles from the device driver. The primitive data includes a graphics primitive and a primitive mask. The primitive mask indicates the specific passes when the graphics primitive should be processed. The state bundles include one or more state settings and a state mask. The state mask indicates the specific passes where the state settings should be applied. The primitives and state settings are interleaved. For a given pass, the multi-pass unit extracts the interleaved state settings for that pass and configures the screen space pipeline according to those state settings. The multi-pass unit also extracts the interleaved graphics primitives to be processed in that pass. Then, the multi-pass unit causes the screen space pipeline to process those graphics primitives.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Ziyad HAKURA, Cynthia ALLISON, Dale KIRKLAND, Jeffrey BOLZ, Yury URALSKY, Jonah ALBEN
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Publication number: 20170148203Abstract: A multi-pass unit interoperates with a device driver to configure a screen space pipeline to perform multiple processing passes with buffered graphics primitives. The multi-pass unit receives primitive data and state bundles from the device driver. The primitive data includes a graphics primitive and a primitive mask. The primitive mask indicates the specific passes when the graphics primitive should be processed. The state bundles include one or more state settings and a state mask. The state mask indicates the specific passes where the state settings should be applied. The primitives and state settings are interleaved. For a given pass, the multi-pass unit extracts the interleaved state settings for that pass and configures the screen space pipeline according to those state settings. The multi-pass unit also extracts the interleaved graphics primitives to be processed in that pass. Then, the multi-pass unit causes the screen space pipeline to process those graphics primitives.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Ziyad HAKURA, Cynthia ALLISON, Dale KIRKLAND, Jeffrey BOLZ, Yury URALSKY, Jonah ALBEN
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Publication number: 20170116699Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: ZIYAD HAKURA, ERIC LUM, DALE KIRKLAND, JACK CHOQUETTE, PATRICK R. BROWN, YURY Y. URALSKY, JEFFREY BOLZ
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Publication number: 20170116700Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: ZIYAD HAKURA, ERIC LUM, DALE KIRKLAND, JACK CHOQUETTE, PATRICK R. BROWN, YURY Y. URALSKY, JEFFREY BOLZ
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Publication number: 20170116698Abstract: A tile coalescer within a graphics processing pipeline coalesces coverage data into tiles. The coverage data indicates, for a set of XY positions, whether a graphics primitive covers those XY positions. The tile indicates, for a larger set of XY positions, whether one or more graphics primitives cover those XY positions. The tile coalescer includes coverage data in the tile only once for each XY position, thereby allowing the API ordering of the graphics primitives covering each XY position to be preserved. The tile is then distributed to a set of streaming multiprocessors for shading and blending operations. The different streaming multiprocessors execute thread groups to process the tile. In doing so, those thread groups may perform read-modify-write operations with data stored in memory. Each such thread group is scheduled to execute via atomic operations, and according to the API order of the associated graphics primitives.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: ZIYAD HAKURA, ERIC LUM, DALE KIRKLAND, JACK CHOQUETTE, PATRICK R. BROWN, YURY Y. URALSKY, JEFFREY BOLZ
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Patent number: 6948087Abstract: A graphics accelerator includes a vertex input for receiving vertex data, an output for forwarding processed data, and a processor coupled with the vertex input and output. The graphics accelerator also includes an instruction input that receives instructions for processing the vertex data received from the vertex input. The processor is responsive to wide word instructions.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: 3DLabs, Inc., Ltd.Inventors: Vernon Brethour, Dale Kirkland, William Lazenby, Gary Shelton
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Publication number: 20050004862Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the invention for monitoring a market for a predetermined behavior by a market participant (a) receive textual information from a source, (b) extract targeted information from the received information, storing the extracted information in an organized form in a database, (c) compute summary and profile information describing the activity on an issue in the market, storing the summary and profile information in the database, (d) solve a selected equation using targeted information stored in the database relating to the market participant to produce a solution representing a probability that the predetermined behavior has occurred, and (e) adjusting the probability that the behavior has occurred based on the application of one or more expert rules to the targeted information.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Dale Kirkland, Cameron Funkhouser, Dipak Thakker, Steve Luparello, Holly Lokken
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Patent number: 6700576Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a circle with a radius on a display device comprises (a) providing a set of vertex points; (b) selecting a subset of vertex points from the set of vertex points based on the radius of the circle; (c) scaling each vertex point in the subset of vertex points to produce scaled vertex points; and, (d) connecting the scaled vertex points to approximate the circle. The subset of vertex points may be utilized to determine scaled vertex points for all four quadrants of the circle. The subset of vertex points may be selected by determining the number of vertex points required to render the circle with an error less than a predetermined error threshold. The subset of vertex points is then selected so that the number of members in the subset of vertex points is equivalent to the number of vertex points required to render the circle with an error less than the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2000Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: 3Dlabs, Inc., Ltd.Inventors: William R. Lazenby, Jr., Dale Kirkland, Steven J. Heinrich
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Patent number: 6677954Abstract: A method for caching graphics-related data in one or more graphics request buffers wherein duplicative graphics-related data is not written to the graphics request buffers. In the preferred method the graphics-related data is sent in frames, and each frame contains frame setup data and graphical model data, and the model data is compared between the stored frame and the new frame to determine if there is new model data to be written to the graphics request buffers.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: 3Dlabs, Inc., LtdInventors: Allen Jensen, Dale Kirkland, Harald Smit
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Patent number: 6674440Abstract: A method, computer program product, and graphics processor for stereoscopically displaying a primitive on a display device adds a row of pixels to the primitive to improve its appearance on the display device. To that end, it first is determined if the primitive is to be stereoscopically displayed on the display device. After it is determined that the primitive is to be stereoscopically displayed, then a row of pixels is added to the primitive. The primitive preferably is a point primitive or a line primitive.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2000Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: 3Dlabs, Inc., Inc. Ltd.Inventors: Dale Kirkland, James Deming
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Publication number: 20030221137Abstract: A graphics accelerator includes a vertex input for receiving vertex data, an output for forwarding processed data, and a processor coupled with the vertex input and output. The graphics accelerator also includes an instruction input that receives instructions for processing the vertex data received from the vertex input. The processor is responsive to wide word instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2003Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Vernon Brethour, Dale Kirkland, William Lazenby, Gary al Shelton