Patent ID: 7724263

Claim:
A data write unit comprising: a first memory operable to store a pixel packet associated with a pixel, wherein said pixel packet comprises data related to surface characteristics of said pixel, and wherein a first plurality of rows of said pixel packet is interleaved in said first memory with a second plurality of rows of at least one other pixel packet; a plurality of cache memories coupled to said first memory operable to store pixel information associated with a plurality of surface characteristics of a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one cache memory of said plurality of cache memories is associated with a first surface characteristic of said plurality of pixels, and wherein said first surface characteristic is operable to be changed to associate said at least one cache memory with a second surface characteristic of said plurality of pixels; and a data write circuit coupled to said first memory and said plurality of cache memories, wherein said data write circuit is operable under program control to obtain portions of said pixel packet for storage into said plurality of cache memories, wherein said data write circuit is further operable to obtain said portions of said pixel packet in accordance with a first portion of an instruction, and wherein said data write circuit is further operable to store said portions of said pixel packet into said plurality of cache memories in accordance with a second portion of said instruction.