Abstract: A method comprises receiving scene model data including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene. The method generates a primary ray based on a selected first pixel data. In the event the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, the method determines primary hit color data and generates a plurality of secondary rays. The method groups the secondary packets and arranges the packets in a queue based on the octant of each direction vector in the secondary ray packet. The method generates secondary color data based on the secondary ray packets in the queue and generates a pixel color based on the primary hit color data, and the secondary color data. The method generates an image based on the pixel color for the pixel data.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving scene model data including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene. The method generates a primary ray based on a selected first pixel data. In the event the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, the method determines primary hit color data and generates a plurality of secondary rays. The method groups the secondary packets and arranges the packets in a queue based on the octant of each direction vector in the secondary ray packet. The method generates secondary color data based on the secondary ray packets in the queue and generates a pixel color based on the primary hit color data, and the secondary color data. The method generates an image based on the pixel color for the pixel data.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving scene model data including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene. The method generates a primary ray based on a selected first pixel data. In the event the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, the method determines primary hit color data and generates a plurality of secondary rays. The method groups the secondary packets and arranges the packets in a queue based on the octant of each direction vector in the secondary ray packet. The method generates secondary color data based on the secondary ray packets in the queue and generates a pixel color based on the primary hit color data, and the secondary color data. The method generates an image based on the pixel color for the pixel data.

Abstract: Embodiments may comprise logic such as hardware and/or code within a heterogeneous multi-core processor or the like to coordinate reading from and writing to buffers substantially simultaneously. Many embodiments include multi-buffering logic for implementing a procedure for a processing unit of a specialized processing element. The multi-buffering logic may instruct a direct memory access controller of the specialized processing element to read data from some memory location and store the data in a first buffer. The specialized processing element can then process data in the second buffer and, thereafter, the multi-buffering logic can block read access to the first buffer until the direct memory access controller indicates that the read from the memory location is complete. In such embodiments, the multi-buffering logic may then instruct the direct memory access controller to write the processed data to other memory.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving scene model data including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene. The method generates a primary ray based on a selected first pixel data. In the event the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, the method determines primary hit color data and generates a plurality of secondary rays. The method groups the secondary packets and arranges the packets in a queue based on the octant of each direction vector in the secondary ray packet. The method generates secondary color data based on the secondary ray packets in the queue and generates a pixel color based on the primary hit color data, and the secondary color data. The method generates an image based on the pixel color for the pixel data.

Abstract: Embodiments may logic such as hardware and/or code within heterogeneous multi-core processor or the like to coordinate reading from and writing to buffers substantially simultaneously. Many embodiments include multi-buffering logic for implementing a procedure for a processing unit of a specialized processing element. The multi-buffering logic may instruct a direct memory access controller of the specialized processing element to read data from some memory location and store the data in a first buffer. The specialized processing element can then process data in the second buffer and, thereafter, the multi-buffering logic can block read access to the first buffer until the direct memory access controller indicates that the read from the memory location is complete. In such embodiments, the multi-buffering logic may then instruct the direct memory access controller to write the processed data to other memory.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to perform volume rendering via composited texture-mapped convex polyhedra. This is accomplished by generating a sequence of z polygons defined by the intersection of a sequence of z planes parallel to the view plane with the convex polyhedron. The vertices of the convex polyhedron are numbered sequentially based on z-axis depth and this defines a sequence of slabs that are bounded by z planes intersecting the vertices. The edges of the convex polyhedron are numbered based on viewing the polyhedron along an axis from the closest vertex to the furthest vertex. A data structure maintains a list of active edges for each slab, where an edge is “active” if the edge intersects any z plane in the slab. Each vertex in the z polygon is defined by the intersection of an active edge with the z plane. The z polygon is rendered by connecting adjacent vertices, where the ordering is determined by the order of the active edges in the slab.

Abstract: A graphics system that performs fast interpolation of depth buffer values is provided within a host data processing system that includes a host processor executing a graphics application having graphics data that includes depth data. The graphics system comprises a memory/graphics controller that converts graphics data to pixel data, wherein the memory/graphics controller includes means for receiving an initial depth buffer value from the host processor in a floating-point format having a sign bit, an exponent and a mantissa, means for generating an accumulator value from the mantissa, means for receiving a delta depth value from the host processor, means for performing an integer addition of the accumulator value to the delta depth value to produce a sum, and means for generating a floating-point depth buffer value for a display pixel from the sum, the sign bit and the exponent of the initial depth value.

Abstract: A computer graphics system, that manipulates the vertices contained within a group of possibly self intersecting, free space, over lapping polygons, into simple, convex polygons. A normal axis to the complex polygon is determined such that the surface of the polygon is viewed along this normal axis. The polygon surface is then bounded by a rectangle and subdivided into a group of slabs, or smaller rectangles, each rectangular slab being bounded by a pair of interior vertices of the complex polygon. An active edge table is used to store values corresponding to the edges crossing through the slabs, which are used to determine if these edges cross are another at any point within the slab. If a crossing point does exist, the slabs are divided at the crossing point into rectangular sub-slabs until it is determined that no edge intersects another edge within the sub-slabs, of the original slab being considered.

Abstract: A method, in a computer graphics system, manipulates the vertices contained within a group of possibly self intersecting, free space, over lapping polygons, into simple, convex polygons. A normal axis to the complex polygon is determined such that the surface of the polygon is viewed along this normal axis. The polygon surface is then bounded by a rectangle and subdivided into a group of slabs, or smaller rectangles, each rectangular slab being bounded by a pair of interior vertices of the complex polygon. An active edge table is used to store values corresponding to the edges crossing through the slabs, which are used to determine if these edges cross are another at any point within the slab. If a crossing point does exist, the slabs are divided at the crossing point into rectangular sub-slabs until it is determined that no edge intersects another edge within the sub-slabs, of the original slab being considered.

Abstract: A system and method in a graphics environment ensures that a line drawn upon the surface of a polygon is always visible to a user of the graphics system. In a Z-buffered environment the range of depth values contained therein are set to the 75% of the total capacity which is considered closest to the surface of a display screen. The line is then drawn into this 75% set of Z-buffer depth values. A shift is then computed, based upon the normal to the polygon in device coordinates. This shift is then added to the previously set 75% range of Z-buffer depth values. The polygon is then drawn at a depth equal to the previously set range plus the shift. Thus, the line will always be visible since, the polygon surface will always be considered by a graphics adapter to be deeper than the line contained on the surface thereof.

Abstract: An improved computer graphics system allows a single pass, or set of operations to draw specific polygons contained within an image being displayed. The computer graphics system includes a multiple bit frame buffer, a write mask which can disable at least two bits of the frame buffer, a z-buffer capable of being turned off and a color map which is loaded with a background, a visible line and a hidden line color. With the z-buffer turned off, and the first bit plane of the frame buffer enabled and the second bit plane of the frame buffer disabled, the hidden line color is selected. The z-buffer is then turned on and with one bit plane disabled and another bit plane enabled, the background color is then selected. The polygon interior is then drawn with the background color, however any pixels corresponding to previously drawn lines will not be painted with the background color because of the disablement of bit plane one. The visible line color is then selected and the polygon being considered is drawn.