Patent ID: 6806886
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method for converting color data into floating point values in a graphics processor, comprising:receiving color data; separating the color data into a plurality of components each including an integer; and converting the components of color data into floating point values by dividing at least a portion of the components by predetermined numbers; wherein the components include the components (red, green, blue) which are signed integers on [âˆ’128,127], and the components of color data are converted into the floating point values (d,e,f) using the following equations d=red/128.0, e=green/128.0, and f=blue/128.0, such that the floating point values (d,e,f) are on [âˆ’1,1); wherein the method is performed utilizing a programmable graphics pipeline system capable of handling components of a size selected from the group consisting of 8 bits and 16 bits, comprising: a shading module for performing a programmable shading calculation in order to generate output, and a texture look-up module coupled to the shading module for retrieving texture information using texture coordinates associated with the output, wherein another programmable shading calculation is performed by the shading module using the texture information from the texture look-up module in order to generate further output, such that the programmable graphics pipeline system performs a first shading calculation in order to generate a first output, retrieves first texture information using texture coordinates associated with the first output, performs a second shading calculation using the first texture information in order to generate a second output, retrieves second texture information using texture coordinates associated with the second output, performs a third shading calculation using the second texture information in order to generate a third output, retrieves third texture information using texture coordinates associated with the third output, and performs a fourth shading calculation using the third texture information in order to generate a fourth output.