Graphics system having a super-sampled sample buffer which utilizes a window ID to specify pixel characteristics

Abstract

A computer graphics system that utilizes a super-sampled sample buffer and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit for refreshing the display. The graphics system may have a graphics processor, a super-sampled sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor renders samples into the sample buffer and may utilize a window ID that specifies attributes of pixels on a per object basis. The window ID may specify one or more of a sample mode, filter type, color attributes, or source attributes. The sample mode may include single sample per pixel mode and multiple samples per pixel mode. The graphics system may be further operable to generate a single sample per pixel for certain windows of the screen in order to provide backwards compatibility with legacy systems.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60 / 190223, filed on Mar. 17, 2000, titled "A Graphics System Having a Super-Sampled Sample Buffer that Utilizes a Window ID to Specify Pixel Characteristics" and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 175,384, filed on Jan. 11, 2000, and titled "Photorealistic Hardware Antialiasing".[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of computer graphics and, more particularly, to high performance graphics systems.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] A computer system typically relies upon its graphics system for producing visual output on the computer screen or display device. Early graphics systems were only responsible for taking what the processor produced as output and displaying it on the screen. In essence, they acted as simple translators or interfaces. Modern graphics systems, however, incorporate graphics processors with a great...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Modern graphics systems, however, incorporate graphics processors with a great deal of processing power.

This change is due to the recent increase in both the complexity and amount of data being sent to the display device.

Similarly, the images displayed are now more complex and may involve advanced techniques such as anti-aliasing and texture mapping.

As a result, without considerable processing power in the graphics system, the CPU would spend a great deal of time performing graphics calculations.

This could rob the computer system of the processing power needed for performing other tasks associated with program execution and thereby dramatically reduce overall system performance.

While this extra performance may be useable in multiple-viewer environments, it may be wasted in more common primarily single-viewer environments.

For example, an image with a high pixel density may still appear unrealistic if edges within the image are too sharp or jagged (also referred to as "aliased").

More specifically, anti-aliasing entails removing higher frequency components from an image before they cause disturbing visual artifacts.

While the techniques listed above may dramatically improve the appearance of computer graphics images, they also have certain limitations.

In particular, they may introduce their own aberrations and are typically limited by the density of pixels displayed on the display device.

Prior art graphics systems have generally fallen short of these goals.

These systems, however, have generally suffered from limitations imposed by the conventional frame buffer and by the added latency caused by the render buffer and filtering.

While super-sampling may create a more realistic final image, the effects of super-sampling may not always be desired.

In addition, super-sampling may not be compatible with existing windowing systems such as the X-Windows system.

The anti-aliasing effects of multi-sampling may not be desired, for example, where additional sharpness and contrast are expected in the graphics data.

Images