Adaptive Graphics Processing via Depth Complexity Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current graphics processing techniques, particularly tile-based rendering, face inefficiencies in power consumption and performance under certain operating conditions, especially when dealing with high depth complexity and translucent primitives, as they require costly visibility calculations that may not significantly impact overdraw reduction.

Innovation Solution

A graphics processing method that estimates depth complexity adaptively before rendering, selectively performing visibility calculations based on a threshold value, and using sub-tiles to approximate overlap, thereby optimizing rendering operations and reducing unnecessary calculations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If visibility calculations are performed for all tiles, then overdraw reduction is improved, but power consumption and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidrendering performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of depth complexity threshold to dynamically determine whether visibility calculations should be performed. By comparing the estimated depth complexity against a threshold value, the system adapts its processing behavior to match the actual rendering needs, avoiding unnecessary calculations in low-complexity scenarios while maintaining overdraw reduction in high-complexity scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability by making the visibility calculation process conditional rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the estimated depth complexity of each tile, selectively performing visibility calculations only when necessary (when depth complexity exceeds the threshold), thereby optimizing the balance between power consumption and rendering performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If visibility calculations are performed on all primitives, then overdraw reduction is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidrendering throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the depth complexity threshold parameter to control the execution of visibility calculations. By changing this threshold parameter, the system can adjust the number of visibility calculations performed, thereby controlling processing time while maintaining adequate overdraw reduction for the given rendering scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing visibility calculations only on a subset of tiles (specifically, tiles where depth complexity exceeds the threshold) rather than on all tiles. This selective approach reduces unnecessary processing while still achieving sufficient overdraw reduction for the most critical rendering scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If depth complexity estimation is performed for all tiles, then rendering optimization is improved, but hardware usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering efficiencyVSAvoidhardware resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of estimation scope by limiting depth complexity calculations to only those tiles that require optimization. By using the threshold parameter, the system determines which tiles warrant full depth complexity estimation and which can be processed with simpler methods, thereby reducing hardware resource consumption while maintaining rendering efficiency where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3346448B1Graphics processing method and system
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3346448B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3346448B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3346448B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A graphics processing method including: estimating a depth complexity of a tile (310) generated by dividing a frame. Visibility calculations are selectively performed with respect to at least one primitive (301, 302, 303) included in the tile (310) based on the estimated depth complexity of the tile (310); and performing rendering on the tile (310). A graphics processing apparatus includes one or more processors which determine a depth complexity of primitives input to a current tile and whether translucent primitives exist. The apparatus may operate adaptively in a Tile Based Rendering (TBR) mode or a Tile Based Rendering Deferred (TBDR) mode according to the determination of depth complexity and a presence of translucent primitives.