Patents by Inventor Tobias Berghoff

Tobias Berghoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11961159
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including generating information regarding a piece of geometry with respect to a first screen region for which a first GPU has a first division of responsibility, while rendering the piece of geometry at a second GPU for an image. The method including rendering the piece of geometry at the first GPU using the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11954760
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. First pieces of geometry are rendered at the GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame. Statistics are generated for the rendering of the previous image frame. Second pieces of geometry of a current image frame are assigned based on the statistics to the GPUs for geometry testing. Geometry testing at a current image frame on the second pieces of geometry is performed to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each screen region, the geometry testing performed at each of the GPUs based on the assigning. The information generated for the second pieces of geometry is used when rendering the geometry at the GPUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11869114
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering of geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions that are interleaved, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including assigning a GPU a piece of geometry of an image frame generated by an application for geometry pretesting. The method including performing geometry pretesting at the GPU to generate information regarding the piece of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions. The method including using the information at each of the plurality of GPUs when rendering the image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11847720
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for rendering geometry of the graphics between the GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the GPUs. The method including determining a Z-value for a piece of geometry during a pre-pass phase of rendering at a first GPU for an image, wherein the piece of geometry overlaps a first screen region for which the first GPU has a division of responsibility. The method including comparing the Z-value against a Z-buffer value for the piece of geometry. The method including generating information including a result of the comparing the Z-value against the Z-buffer value for use by the GPU when rendering the piece of geometry during a full render phase of rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20230237609
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including generating information regarding a piece of geometry with respect to a first screen region for which a first GPU has a first division of responsibility, while rendering the piece of geometry at a second GPU for an image. The method including rendering the piece of geometry at the first GPU using the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20230222620
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. First pieces of geometry are rendered at the GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame. Statistics are generated for the rendering of the previous image frame. Second pieces of geometry of a current image frame are assigned based on the statistics to the GPUs for geometry testing. Geometry testing at a current image frame on the second pieces of geometry is performed to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each screen region, the geometry testing performed at each of the GPUs based on the assigning. The information generated for the second pieces of geometry is used when rendering the geometry at the GPUs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20230100853
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for rendering geometry of the graphics between the GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the GPUs. The method including determining a Z-value for a piece of geometry during a pre-pass phase of rendering at a first GPU for an image, wherein the piece of geometry overlaps a first screen region for which the first GPU has a division of responsibility. The method including comparing the Z-value against a Z-buffer value for the piece of geometry. The method including generating information including a result of the comparing the Z-value against the Z-buffer value for use by the GPU when rendering the piece of geometry during a full render phase of rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20230077407
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for processing pieces of geometry of an image frame during an analysis pre-pass phase of rendering between the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the pieces of geometry is assigned to a corresponding GPU. The method including determining in the analysis pre-pass phase overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each screen regions. The method including generating information at the GPUs regarding the pieces of geometry and their relations to the screen regions based on the overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each of the screen regions. The method including assigning the screen regions to the GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the pieces of geometry during a subsequent phase of rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Tobias Berghoff, David Simpson
  • Patent number: 11605148
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. First pieces of geometry are rendered at the GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame. Statistics are generated for the rendering of the previous image frame. Second pieces of geometry of a current image frame are assigned based on the statistics to the GPUs for geometry testing. Geometry testing at a current image frame on the second pieces of geometry is performed to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each screen region, the geometry testing performed at each of the GPUs based on the assigning. The information generated for the second pieces of geometry is used when rendering the geometry at the GPUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11599967
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including generating information regarding a piece of geometry with respect to a first screen region for which a first GPU has a first division of responsibility, while rendering the piece of geometry at a second GPU for an image. The method including rendering the piece of geometry at the first GPU using the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11514549
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for rendering geometry of the graphics between the GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the GPUs. The method including determining a Z-value for a piece of geometry during a pre-pass phase of rendering at a first GPU for an image, wherein the piece of geometry overlaps a first screen region for which the first GPU has a division of responsibility. The method including comparing the Z-value against a Z-buffer value for the piece of geometry. The method including generating information including a result of the comparing the Z-value against the Z-buffer value for use by the GPU when rendering the piece of geometry during a full render phase of rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11508110
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for processing a plurality of pieces of geometry of an image frame during an analysis pre-pass phase of rendering between the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the plurality of pieces of geometry is assigned to a corresponding GPU. The method including determining in the analysis pre-pass phase overlap of each the plurality of pieces of geometry with each of a plurality of screen regions. The method including generating information at the plurality of GPUs regarding the plurality of pieces of geometry and their relations to the plurality of screen regions based on the overlap of each the plurality of pieces of geometry with each of the plurality of screen regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Tobias Berghoff, David Simpson
  • Publication number: 20220253968
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including generating information regarding a piece of geometry with respect to a first screen region for which a first GPU has a first division of responsibility, while rendering the piece of geometry at a second GPU for an image. The method including rendering the piece of geometry at the first GPU using the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20220188966
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering of geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions that are interleaved, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including assigning a GPU a piece of geometry of an image frame generated by an application for geometry pretesting. The method including performing geometry pretesting at the GPU to generate information regarding the piece of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions. The method including using the information at each of the plurality of GPUs when rendering the image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11321800
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including generating information regarding a piece of geometry with respect to a first screen region for which a first GPU has a first division of responsibility, while rendering the piece of geometry at a second GPU for an image. The method including rendering the piece of geometry at the first GPU using the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11302054
    Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to receive metadata specifying an active sample configuration for a particular region of a display device among a plurality of regions of the display device and receive pixel data for one or more pixels in the particular region. The pixel data specifies the same number of color samples for each pixel. For each pixel in the particular region, the GPU invokes a pixel shader only for color samples specified to be active samples by the configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE LIMITED, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventor: Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20220068004
    Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to receive metadata specifying an active sample configuration for a particular region of a display device among a plurality of regions of the display device and receive pixel data for one or more pixels in the particular region. The pixel data specifies the same number of color samples for each pixel. For each pixel in the particular region, the GPU invokes a pixel shader only for color samples specified to be active samples by the configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventor: Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 11263718
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering of geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions that are interleaved, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including assigning a GPU a piece of geometry of an image frame generated by an application for geometry pretesting. The method including performing geometry pretesting at the GPU to generate information regarding the piece of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions. The method including using the information at each of the plurality of GPUs when rendering the image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20220005148
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including using the plurality of GPUs in collaboration to render an image frame including a plurality of pieces of geometry. The method including during a pre-pass phase of rendering, generating information at the GPUs regarding the plurality of pieces of geometry and their relation to a plurality of screen regions. The method including assigning the plurality of screen regions to the plurality of GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the plurality of pieces of geometry in a subsequent phase of rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Tobias Berghoff, David Simpson
  • Publication number: 20210358075
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. First pieces of geometry are rendered at the GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame. Statistics are generated for the rendering of the previous image frame. Second pieces of geometry of a current image frame are assigned based on the statistics to the GPUs for geometry testing. Geometry testing at a current image frame on the second pieces of geometry is performed to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each screen region, the geometry testing performed at each of the GPUs based on the assigning. The information generated for the second pieces of geometry is used when rendering the geometry at the GPUs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff