Abstract: A graphics processor executes a graphics processing pipeline in which one or more of a sequence of one or more geometry processing stages of the graphics processing pipeline generate vertex packets for subsequent processing. When the graphics processing pipeline is being executed to render a scene from a plurality of viewpoints, at least some of the geometry processing stages of the sequence of one or more geometry processing stages are performed to generate initial vertex packets comprising vertices for assembled primitives for the scene being rendered. A respective viewpoint vertex packet for each viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints is then generated for and using each initial vertex packet. The viewpoint vertex packets are then provided to a further stage or stages of the graphics processing pipeline for rendering the scene from the plurality of viewpoints.

Abstract: When generating binning data structures for identifying primitives to be processed for respective rendering tiles for a render output being generated using tile-based rendering, for one or more primitives to be included in a binning data structure, a depth of the primitive at one or more sampling positions that are covered by the primitive is determined and included in the binning data structure with respect to the primitive.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for storing primitive state data associated with primitives within a sequence of primitives using variable format commands in which the command format that is used is selected based on which properties (attributes) are enabled for the sequence of primitives in question. Thus, a same opcode command can be used to store different types of state data corresponding to different ones of the properties (attributes) that can be enabled for a sequence of primitives based on which properties (attributes) are actually enabled for the sequence of primitives in question.

Abstract: A tile-based graphics processor that generates and traverses a hierarchy of bounding boxes is disclosed. A hierarchy of bounding boxes is generated by generating group bounding boxes that bound respective groups of primitives. Primitives are added to the groups by selecting a group to add a primitive to based on a comparison of a position of the primitive with a position of any group currently under construction.

Abstract: A tile-based graphics processing system is disclosed. The graphics processing system is operable to generate a render output by generating and storing bounding box information representative of bounding boxes representing positions of primitives to be processed to generate the render output, and reading and using the bounding box information to identify primitives to process to generate a rendering tile of the render output. The tile-based graphics processing system may store the bounding box information in a linked list of one or more blocks of memory space.

Abstract: A tile-based graphics processing system is disclosed. The graphics processing system is operable to generate a render output by generating and storing primitive information representative of positions of primitives to be processed to generate the render output, and reading and using the primitive information to identify primitives to process to generate a rendering tile of the render output. The tile-based graphics processing system stores primitive information in a set of linked blocks of memory space, at least one block of which comprises links to at least two other blocks, at least one of which does not comprise any links to any other blocks.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tile-based rendering systems. In particular comprises a method for encoding primitive metadata into a primitive list in which a primitive metadata command is included into the primitive list that is able to indicate types of primitive metadata from a set of different types of primitive metadata that can be indicated by the primitive metadata command are included into the primitive list in association with the primitive metadata command. The indicated primitive metadata can then be included in the primitive list following the primitive metadata command. Corresponding primitive list formats and graphics processing systems using such primitive metadata command are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tile-based rendering systems. In particular there is provided a new primitive list format in which a sequence of commands generated for the primitive list includes a number of different respective types of commands including ‘primitive’ type commands storing primitive data, ‘state’ type commands storing state data and ‘configuration’ type commands for storing configuration data, wherein the primitive, state and configuration data can accordingly be stored separately in the primitive list, using the different respective types of commands. Also disclosed are techniques for encoding the data into the respective different types of commands.

Abstract: When preparing and storing primitive lists in a tile-based graphics processing system, one or more primitive list pointer arrays store pointers, each pointer indicating a location in storage of one or more of the primitive lists. A further pointer array stores further pointers, each further pointer indicating a location in storage of one or more of the primitive list pointer arrays.

Abstract: A graphics processing system in which a render output is sub-divided into a plurality of tiles for rendering. The graphics processing system includes a memory system, a tiling circuit and a primitive list preparation circuit. The tiling circuit determines which primitives are to be rendered for regions into which the render output is sub-divided. The regions form a plurality of rows and columns of regions. The primitive list preparation circuit prepares and stores primitive lists for regions of the render output identifying the primitives that are to be rendered for the regions. The primitive list preparation circuit also stores a groups of pointers, each group pointing to respective primitive lists. The regions of the render output corresponding to the primitive lists that are pointed to by the pointers of the group of pointers comprise adjacent regions spanning a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of regions.

Abstract: When processing primitives in a tile-based graphics processing system in which a render output is sub-divided into a plurality of tiles for rendering, before a primitive is written to a primitive list corresponding to a region of the render output, it is first determined whether the primitive can be grouped with one or more previous primitives based on the set of regions of the render output that primitive covers relative to the set of regions of the render output that one or more previous primitives cover. When it is determined that the primitive can be grouped with one or more previous primitives, the primitive is added to a group (i.e. grouped) with the one or more previous primitives. The grouped primitives are then later written together to one or more primitive lists, in a single primitive list write cycle.

Abstract: When processing primitives in a tile-based graphics processing system in which a render output is sub-divided into a plurality of tiles for rendering, before a primitive is written to a primitive list corresponding to a region of the render output, it is first written to one or more primitive queues allocated to respective regions of the render output. To write the primitives to primitive lists, primitives are written together from a primitive queue allocated to a region of the render output to the primitive list for that region of the render output, in a single primitive list write cycle.

Abstract: There is provided a computer-implemented method of defining bounding boxes for a primitive in a tile-based graphics processing pipeline comprising determining a part-way point on the primitive, wherein, for each pair of vertices, a part-way point is part-way between that pair of vertices, and defining a plurality of bounding boxes, wherein each bounding box intersects a part-way point. Also provided is a bounding box generation circuit comprising a part-way point calculation circuit to determine a part-way point on the primitive, wherein, for each pair of vertices, a part-way point is part-way between that pair of vertices, wherein the bounding box generation circuit to define a plurality of bounding boxes based upon the determined part-way point, wherein each bounding box intersects a part-way point. A method of defining bounding boxes for a point primitive is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tile-based rendering systems. In particular there is provided a new primitive list format in which a sequence of commands generated for the primitive list includes a number of different respective types of commands including ‘primitive’ type commands storing primitive data, ‘state’ type commands storing state data and ‘configuration’ type commands for storing configuration data, wherein the primitive, state and configuration data can accordingly be stored separately in the primitive list, using the different respective types of commands. Also disclosed are techniques for encoding the data into the respective different types of commands.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tile-based rendering systems. In particular comprises a method for encoding primitive metadata into a primitive list in which a primitive metadata command is included into the primitive list that is able to indicate types of primitive metadata from a set of different types of primitive metadata that can be indicated by the primitive metadata command are included into the primitive list in association with the primitive metadata command. The indicated primitive metadata can then be included in the primitive list following the primitive metadata command. Corresponding primitive list formats and graphics processing systems using such primitive metadata command are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a graphics processor that executes a graphics processing pipeline that can generate a render output using different shading rates is disclosed. First and second input shading rates are combined prior to rasterisation, and a combined shading rate may be propagated through the pipeline instead of the first and second input shading rates. The combined shading rate may then be combined with a third input shading rate at or after the rasterisation stage. This can reduce bandwidth, hardware and energy requirements.