Patent ID: 6750867
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
An image processing apparatus comprising:means for supplying surface data defining a group of surfaces representing each object in an image to be displayed; sub-division means coupled to said supply means and having a plurality of output ports for: sub-dividing the image into a plurality of sub-regions; receiving the surface data from said supply means; based on the surface data, determining which of the surfaces fall into each sub-region; and forwarding the surface data for each sub-region to at least one said output port, wherein: each said output port is associated with a separate one of the image sub-regions; if said sub-division means determines a specific surface falls into a single sub-region, said sub-division means forwards the data for the surface to only the output port associated with the sub-region; and if said sub-division means determines a specific surface falls into a plurality of sub-regions, said sub-division means forward the data for the surface to the outputs associated with the sub-regions in which that contain the surface; a plurality of rendering devices, each said rendering device coupled to a separate one of said sub-division means output ports, each said rendering device configured to receive the surface data for the sub-region with which said rendering device is associated and, based on the received surface data, generate, for the sub-region, image-defining data; and combining means coupled to said plurality of rendering devices to receive from each said rendering device the sub-region image defining data for combining the sub-region image-defining data from said plurality devices into unified image data for application to a display.