Patent ID: 7280112

Claim:
An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) in a graphics processor, said ALU comprising: circuitry for performing a first operation using a first set of pixel data that is received in a pipeline register of said ALU via a graphics pipeline executed by said graphics processor; a first temporary register coupled to said circuitry that receives a result of said first operation, wherein said result of said first operation is programmably selectable for use in a second operation with a second set of pixel data that resides in said pipeline register after said first set of pixel data, wherein said first temporary register allows a result generated using said first set of pixel data to be used with a subsequent second set of pixel data in said ALU, wherein said ALU is one of four series-coupled ALUs in said graphics pipeline, wherein outgoing pixel data from a first of said ALUs is the incoming pixel data for a second of said ALUs, outgoing pixel data from said second of said ALUs is the incoming pixel data for a third of said ALUs, and outgoing pixel data from said third of said ALUs is the incoming pixel data for a fourth of said ALUs, wherein said second, third and fourth of said ALUs each comprise a temporary register that allows a result using one set of pixel data to be used with a subsequent set of pixel data; and a second temporary register coupled to said circuitry, said second temporary register for receiving a result of a third operation performed by said circuitry using a third set of pixel data that resides in said pipeline register after said first set of pixel data, wherein said result of said third operation is programmably selectable for use in a fourth operation with a fourth set of pixel data that resides in said pipeline register after said third set of pixel data; wherein said first set of pixel data and said second set of pixel data are used in combination to determine an instance of a pixel value for a first pixel in a frame in a graphical display, and wherein said third set of pixel data and said fourth set of pixel data are used in combination to determine an instance of a pixel value for a second pixel in said frame; and wherein sideband information is associated with each of said first, second, third and fourth sets of pixel data, said sideband information comprising an indicator flag, wherein said first and second sets of pixel data are associated with said first pixel by setting said indicator flag to a first value and wherein said third and fourth sets of pixel data are associated with said second pixel by setting said indicator flag to a second value.