Abstract: Various approaches to performing non-divergent parallel traversal operations for a bounding volume hierarchy (“BVH”) during ray tracing are presented. For example, a computer system has a processing unit with threads that, collectively, perform ray tracing for a group of rays in parallel in a computer-represented environment, which includes geometric objects (such as triangles) enclosed in the BVH. Each of the threads receives parameters for a given ray and traverses the BVH to determine an intersection, if any, between the given ray and one of the geometric objects. The order of traversal of the BVH is synchronized between threads for the rays of the group, for example, using a cross-group operation such as a ballot operation. In this way, the overall speed of the BVH traversal can be improved in many cases, while avoiding code divergence and data divergence in extra-wide single-instruction, multiple data (“SIMD”) graphics processing unit (“GPU”) architectures.

Abstract: Among the various embodiments disclosed herein are example methods for using real-time raytracing in a hybrid approach along with screen space reflections. In certain implementations, the two approaches are combined in a process that decides whether to use screen space reflections or raytracing for a given pixel during a preliminary analysis (pre-pass) of the pixel to be rendered.

Abstract: Various approaches to performing ray-triangle intersection tests for single triangles or clusters of triangles are presented. In some example implementations, the triangles are organized in tetrahedral clusters, and the ray-triangle intersection tests use plane data for sets of planes of the tetrahedral clusters. A triangle can be represented as three bounding planes. Further, in some example implementations, the same three bounding planes of a tetrahedral cluster can be used to represent one, two, or three triangles that define faces of that tetrahedral cluster. With this configuration, overall memory costs are reduced when the same plane data is used to represent multiple triangles, and operations to check for ray-triangle intersections are still computationally efficient.

Abstract: Among the various embodiments disclosed herein are example methods for using real-time raytracing in a hybrid approach along with screen space reflections. In certain implementations, the two approaches are combined in a process that decides whether to use screen space reflections or raytracing for a given pixel during a preliminary analysis (pre-pass) of the pixel to be rendered.

Abstract: Among the various embodiments disclosed herein are example methods for using real-time raytracing in a hybrid approach along with screen space reflections. In certain implementations, the two approaches are combined in a process that decides whether to use screen space reflections or raytracing for a given pixel during a preliminary analysis (pre-pass) of the pixel to be rendered.

Abstract: Various approaches to performing ray-triangle intersection tests for single triangles or clusters of triangles are presented. In some example implementations, the triangles are organized in tetrahedral clusters, and the ray-triangle intersection tests use plane data for sets of planes of the tetrahedral clusters. A triangle can be represented as three bounding planes. Further, in some example implementations, the same three bounding planes of a tetrahedral cluster can be used to represent one, two, or three triangles that define faces of that tetrahedral cluster. With this configuration, overall memory costs are reduced when the same plane data is used to represent multiple triangles, and operations to check for ray-triangle intersections are still computationally efficient.

Abstract: Various approaches to performing non-divergent parallel traversal operations for a bounding volume hierarchy (“BVH”) during ray tracing are presented. For example, a computer system has a processing unit with threads that, collectively, perform ray tracing for a group of rays in parallel in a computer-represented environment, which includes geometric objects (such as triangles) enclosed in the BVH. Each of the threads receives parameters for a given ray and traverses the BVH to determine an intersection, if any, between the given ray and one of the geometric objects. The order of traversal of the BVH is synchronized between threads for the rays of the group, for example, using a cross-group operation such as a ballot operation. In this way, the overall speed of the BVH traversal can be improved in many cases, while avoiding code divergence and data divergence in extra-wide single-instruction, multiple data (“SIMD”) graphics processing unit (“GPU”) architectures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described herein for encoding, decoding, and otherwise processing in hardware and/or software a high dynamic range (HDR) color data structure. In one example, a method for encoding pixel data may include receiving pixel data comprising a red, green, and blue (RGB) value. The method may further include transforming the received pixel data to an intermediate color space data, such as transformed CIE AYB space data. The method may further include compressing the intermediate color space data into less than 64 bits, such as 32 bits. In some aspects, the 32 bits may be divided into luminance information and chrominance information, including, for example, 14 bits representing a floating point luminance value, and 9 bits each representing two fixed point chrominance channel values.