Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking accesses to virtual addresses are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of receiving a virtual address from a client requesting to access memory in a graphics context, updating access state information corresponding to a virtual page associated with the graphics context in which the virtual address resides, after the virtual address successfully maps to a physical memory location, and determining whether to evict a physical page associated with the graphics context based on the access state information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of displaying a first image on a display device with a plurality of pixels assigns one of a plurality of sample patterns to each pixel on the display device. Each pixel is assigned the one of a plurality of patterns based upon its unique location on the display device. Each sample pattern has at least one sample location. It then is determined if the first image intersects any of the sample locations on each pixel. Pixels determined to have at least one sample location that intersect the first image thus are illuminated.

Abstract: A system and method of maintaining a gradient in a plurality of pixels of a graphics display, such as a color or intensity gradient, where each pixel has an X coordinate, Y coordinate, and other pixel data that includes a fast-clear bit The pixels are filled on the display to create a gradient based upon the X or Y coordinates of the pixels, or a combination thereof, and when performing a pixel data operation, such as a read operation, the pixel data for a pixel with an activated fast-clear bit is ignored.

Abstract: A system and method for rasterization an image on a display through approximation, wherein the image is decomposed into a plurality of convex polygons, each convex polygon being defined by a plurality of original edges and each original edge being defined by two vertices. The coordinates of original vertices of an original edge are truncated, and the truncated coordinates are used to generate modified coordinates that define a modified edge. A plurality of modified edges defines a potentially changing region. If a selected region of a display device intersects this potentially changing region defined by the modified edges, then the first selected region is refreshed on the display device.

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: 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: 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: A device for storing pixel information for displaying a graphics image on a display includes a frame buffer and a processor. The information includes an intensity value and a value associated with each of a plurality of additional planes for each pixel. The frame buffer memory has a series of consecutive addresses for storing information to be output to the display. The frame buffer may be subdivided into a plurality of blocks, where each block corresponds to a region of the display having a plurality of contiguous pixels. The processor places the pixel information within the frame buffer memory so that in a given block there are placed at a first collection of consecutive addresses the intensity values for each of the pixels in the block.

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 device for storing pixel information for displaying a graphics image on a display includes a frame buffer and a processor. The information includes an intensity value and a value associated with each of a plurality of additional planes for each pixel. The frame buffer memory has a series of consecutive addresses for storing information to be output to the display. The frame buffer may be subdivided into a plurality of blocks, where each block corresponds to a region of the display having a plurality of contiguous pixels. The processor places the pixel information within the frame buffer memory so that in a given block there are placed at a first collection of consecutive addresses the intensity values for each of the pixels in the block.

Abstract: A device for storing pixel information for displaying a graphics image on a display includes a frame buffer and a processor. The information includes an intensity value and a value associated with each of a plurality of additional planes for each pixel. The frame buffer memory has a series of consecutive addresses for storing information to be output to the display. The frame buffer may be subdivided into a plurality of blocks, where each block corresponds to a region of the display having a plurality of contiguous pixels. The processor places the pixel information within the frame buffer memory so that in a given block there are placed at a first collection of consecutive addresses the intensity values for each of the pixels in the block.

Abstract: This invention relates to providing high-speed video graphics through use of single ported memory chips on the video card.