Patent ID: 7023437

Claim:
A method for accelerating graphics processing utilizing multiple-pass rendering, comprising: performing geometry operations on graphics data; storing the graphics data in memory; during a first pass, reading the graphics data from the memory during the first pass, rasterizing the graphics data during the first pass, and performing first z-culling operations utilizing the graphics data during the first pass, wherein the first z-culling operations maintain a first occlusion image; during a second pass, reading the graphics data from memory during the second pass, rasterizing the graphics data during the second pass, performing second z-culling operations utilizing the graphics data and the first occlusion image during the second pass, performing visibility operations utilizing the graphics data and a second occlusion image during the second pass, and performing raster-processor operations utilizing the graphics data during the second pass; and monitoring a performance of the first z-culling operations utilizing counters.