Abstract: A system and method for generating random coverage masks for rendering images with transparent objects. The system uses shuffle tables for addresses of a pixel to index into a transparency table and to obtain a transparency mask, which is then ANDed with a coverage mask to obtain a new coverage mask.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a polygon on a horizontal scan display device having a plurality of pixels includes first and second rasterizers that each process respective first and second sets of pixels. Each set of pixels includes vertical stripes that are transverse to the horizontal scan of the display. To that end, the first rasterizer has an input for receiving polygon data relating to the polygon. The first rasterizer determines a first set of pixels that are to be lit for display of the polygon, and also determines display characteristics of the first set of pixels. Similar manner, the second rasterizer also includes an input for receiving polygon data relating to the polygon. The second rasterizer similarly determines a second set of pixels that are to be lit for display of the polygon, and also determines display characteristics of the second set of pixels.

Abstract: A system and method for generating random coverage masks for rendering images with transparent objects. The system uses shuffle tables for addresses of a pixel to index into a transparency table and to obtain a transparency mask, which is then ANDed with a coverage mask to obtain a new coverage mask.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a polygon on a horizontal scan display device having a plurality of pixels includes first and second rasterizers that each process respective first and second sets of pixels. Each set of pixels includes vertical stripes that are transverse to the horizontal scan of the display. To that end, the first rasterizer has an input for receiving polygon data relating to the polygon. The first rasterizer determines a first set of pixels that are to be lit for display of the polygon, and also determines display characteristics of the first set of pixels. In a similar manner, the second rasterizer also includes an input for receiving polygon data relating to the polygon. The second rasterizer similarly determines a second set of pixels that are to be lit for display of the polygon, and also determines display characteristics of the second set of pixels.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a polygon on a horizontal scan display device having a plurality of pixels includes first and second rasterizers that each process respective first and second sets of pixels. Each set of pixels includes vertical stripes that are transverse to the horizontal scan of the display. To that end, the first rasterizer has an input for receiving polygon data relating to the polygon. The first rasterizer determines a first set of pixels that are to be lit for display of the polygon, and also determines display characteristics of the first set of pixels. In a similar manner, the second rasterizer also includes an input for receiving polygon data relating to the polygon. The second rasterizer similarly determines a second set of pixels that are to be lit for display of the polygon, and also determines display characteristics of the second set of pixels.

Abstract: A graphics request stream is transferred from a host processor to a graphics card via a host bus so that the stream traverses the host bus no more than once. To that end, the graphics card has a graphics card memory, and the host processor has a host memory configured in a first memory configuration. The graphics card memory may be configured in the first memory configuration, and the graphics request stream is received directly in a message from the host processor (via the host bus). Upon receipt by the graphics card, the graphics request stream is written to the graphics card memory.

Abstract: A graphics processing accelerator has a plurality of digital signal processors that each have an output, and an input in communication with a request bus. The digital signal processors are arranged in a peer-to-peer configuration to process, on a cyclical basis, each of a successive series of graphics requests received over a request bus. The graphics processing accelerator also may have a sequencer in communication with each digital signal processor output for ordering graphics requests processed by the digital signal processors.