Patent ID: 7446780

Claim:
A method for generating a multisampled pixel in a multi-dimensional space, the method comprising: (a) receiving geometry data representing a primitive in the multi-dimensional space, wherein the multi-dimensional space includes two dimensions corresponding to an image plane, and wherein the multi-dimensional space further includes a time dimension, the time dimension extending between a starting time of a frame and an ending time of a frame; (b) generating a set of boundary equations from the geometry data, the boundary equations representing boundary surfaces of the primitive in the multi-dimensional space; (c) selecting a plurality of coverage sample points within a pixel volume in the multi-dimensional space; (d) computing a single shading value for the pixel using the primitive; and (e) for each of the plurality of coverage sample points: (i) determining from the set of boundary equations whether the coverage sample point is inside the primitive, wherein determining whether the coverage sample point is inside of the primitive further comprises: (1) computing a starting facedness value for the primitive at the starting time of the frame and an ending facedness value for the primitive at the ending time of the frame from the geometry data; (2) comparing the starting and ending facedness values to detect a change in facedness; and (3) in response to detecting a change in facedness: interpolating between the starting and ending facedness values to identify a crossover time; and during the act of determining whether the coverage sample point is inside the primitive, applying a test that depends on whether a time coordinate of the coverage sample point is before or after the crossover time; and (ii) in response to determining that the coverage sample point is inside the primitive, storing the single shading value for the coverage sample point.