Patent ID: 6133923
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A texture data reading apparatus for reading texture data to be mapped from a memory, comprising:means for comparing a memory address of a current pixel for which texture data has been previously accessed from the memory and a memory address of another pixel adjacent thereto;means for accessing new texture data from the memory only when the memory address of the current pixel is different from the memory address of the other pixel adjacent thereto, wherein said means for accessing the memory accesses only new texture data that is actually used for texture mapping;means for storing current-pixel texture data and new texture data; andmeans for reading new texture data from the storing means only when the memory address of the current pixel is different from the memory address of the pixel adjacent thereto, and for re-using current-pixel texture data rather than reading new texture data from the storing means when the memory address of the current pixel is the same as the memory address of the pixel adjacent thereto for as long as pixels with the same memory address continue, whereby enhanced efficiency is achieved.