Abstract: A method for rendering an object including receiving a pixel tile representing a portion of a primitive to be rendered, determining attributes of a reference pixel within the pixel tile, and determining the attributes of neighboring pixels within the pixel tile based on barycentric differences relative to the reference pixel is disclosed. A circuit for calculating at least one attribute of an object to be rendered includes an initial calculation circuit providing full precision reference pixel attribute data in response to a pixel tile that defines at least a portion of the object; and a derivative circuit, operatively coupled to the initial calculation circuit, providing reduced precision neighboring pixel attribute data in response to the pixel tile. The derivative circuit includes a plurality of pixel attribute sub-circuits or components, which determine the attribute values of neighboring pixels within the pixel tile at a precision less than that of the precision used to define the reference pixel.

Abstract: A method for rendering an object including receiving a pixel tile representing a portion of a primitive to be rendered, determining attributes of a reference pixel within the pixel tile, and determining the attributes of neighboring pixels within the pixel tile based on barycentric differences relative to the reference pixel is disclosed. A circuit for calculating at least one attribute of an object to be rendered includes an initial calculation circuit providing full precision reference pixel attribute data in response to a pixel tile that defines at least a portion of the object; and a derivative circuit, operatively coupled to the initial calculation circuit, providing reduced precision neighboring pixel attribute data in response to the pixel tile. The derivative circuit includes a plurality of pixel attribute sub-circuits or components, which determine the attribute values of neighboring pixels within the pixel tile at a precision less than that of the precision used to define the reference pixel.

Abstract: A volume rendering integrated circuit includes a plurality of interconnected pipelines having stages operating in parallel. The stages of the pipelines are interconnected in a ring, with data being passed in only one direction around the ring. The volume integrated circuit also includes a render controller for controlling the flow of volume data to and from the pipelines and for controlling rendering operations of the pipelines. The integrated circuit may further include interfaces for coupling the integrated circuit to various storage devices and to a host computer.

Abstract: A remote appliance for supporting a tool for performing work at a worksite on a substantially circular bore of a workpiece and for providing video signals of the worksite to a remote monitor comprising: a baseplate having an inner face and an outer face; a plurality of rollers, wherein each roller is rotatably and adjustably attached to the inner face of the baseplate and positioned to roll against the bore of the workpiece when the baseplate is positioned against the mouth of the bore such that the appliance may be rotated about the bore in a plane substantially parallel to the baseplate; a tool holding means for supporting the tool, the tool holding means being adjustably attached to the outer face of the baseplate such that the working end of the tool is positioned on the inner face side of the baseplate; a camera for providing video signals of the worksite to the remote monitor; and a camera holding means for supporting the camera on the inner face side of the baseplate, the camera holding means being adj