Shader program execution techniques for use in graphics processing

Abstract

The disclosure describes techniques for executing shader programs in a graphics processing unit (GPU). In some examples, the techniques for executing shader programs may include executing, with a shader unit of a graphics processor, a shader program that performs vertex shader processing and that generates multiple output vertices for each input vertex that is received by the shader program. In further examples, the techniques for executing shader programs may include executing a merged vertex / geometry shader program using a non-replicated mode of execution. The non-replicated mode of execution may involve assigning each of a plurality of primitives to one merged vertex / geometry shader program instance per primitive and causing each of the instances to output a plurality of vertices. In additional examples, the techniques for executing shader programs may include techniques for selecting one of a non-replicated mode and a replicated mode for executing a merged vertex / geometry shader program.

Description

Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to graphics processing systems, and more specifically, to the execution of shader programs in graphics processing systems. Background technique [0002] Computing devices generally utilize a graphics processing unit (GPU) to accelerate the rendering of graphics data for display. Such computing devices may include, for example, computer workstations, mobile phones (eg, so-called smart phones), embedded systems, personal computers, tablet computers, and video game consoles. The GPU typically executes a graphics processing pipeline that includes multiple processing stages that operate together to execute graphics processing commands. Traditionally, GPU includes a fixed-function graphics processing pipeline, where each processing stage in the pipeline is implemented by fixed-function hardware (for example, as hardware that is hard-wired to perform a certain set of specialized functions and cannot execute user-downloadable programs...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Implementing these different types of programmable processing stages in a GPU with limited resources can pose considerable challenges

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