Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from object space to screen space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the vertex data received from the lighting module.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from object space to screen space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the vertex data received from the lighting module.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from object space to screen space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the vertex data received from the lighting module.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from a first space to a second space. Further, the transform module of the graphics pipeline system is capable of carrying out a blending operation. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. During use, the lighting module of the graphics pipeline system is capable of carrying out a fog operation.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from object space to screen space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the vertex data received from the lighting module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing display data including methods for predicting compression results and correcting compression ratios prior to the compression of object data. The compressed objects are then decompressed using a related decompression mechanism and sent directly to a driver in the output display device for printing or display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing storage requirements for display data on a computer system. Data objects to be displayed are organized into display lists and each data object includes an object type, such as text, graphic, and image. The data objects are rasterized into an uncompressed band buffer and divided into non-intersecting bitmap regions each identified with one or more object types. Each non-empty region is assigned a compression algorithm dependent upon the type of the region and specified compression constraints. The regions are combined with each other into larger regions if appropriate, and each region is compressed using its assigned compression algorithm into a compressed band buffer, thus reducing the required storage space for the data objects. The compressed data is decompressed in scan line order with a selected decompression algorithm corresponding to the assigned compression algorithms to produce uncompressed output data.