Patent ID: 6457034
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
An accumulation buffering system, comprising:a Z buffer that stores Z data for each pixel of a frame; a drawing buffer that stores a color data set for each pixel of the frame, wherein each color data set includes color data and a valid indication; a mask buffer, wherein the mask buffer includes a plurality of pixel block indicators, wherein each of the plurality of pixel block indicators corresponds to a plurality of pixels of the frame, wherein when a pixel block indicator is set, pixels included in a corresponding plurality of pixels that have set valid indications in the drawing buffer have valid color data stored in the drawing buffer and valid Z data stored in the Z buffer; a first accumulation buffer, wherein the first accumulation buffer stores an accumulation data set for each pixel of the frame, wherein each accumulation data set includes accumulated color data and a counter value; a rendering block operably coupled to the mask buffer, the drawing buffer, and the Z buffer, wherein the rendering block renders images into the drawing buffer and the Z buffer, wherein the rendering block sets valid indications and pixel block indicators to indicate valid color data and valid Z data resulting from rendering operations; and a controller operably coupled to the rendering block, the drawing buffer, the mask buffer, and the first accumulation buffer, wherein when rendering of an image by the rendering block is completed, valid color data for pixels in pixel blocks corresponding to pixel block indicators that are set is blended by the controller with accumulated color data for corresponding pixels in the first accumulation buffer, wherein when blending of color data occurs for a pixel in the first accumulation buffer, the counter value for that pixel is incremented.