Graphics Primitive Rendering via Adjusted Scissor Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer graphics rendering systems waste system resources and perform redundant calculations when dealing with user-defined clipping planes, as they do not efficiently utilize clipping information during the Z-testing and attribute interpolation processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining a second scissor window based on the spatial relationship between the default scissor window, clipping planes, and graphics primitives, which allows for the removal of pixels out of range and reduces unnecessary calculations by using a vertex shader, scissor window adjustment module, pixel interpolation module, and pixel shader to identify and render only the pixels meeting the clipping criterion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional rendering systems process all pixels through Z-testing and attribute interpolation, then complete rendering coverage is achieved, but system resources are wasted on pixels outside the clipping plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the adjusted scissor window before the main rendering process. The vertex shader calculates clipping distances for all vertices against the clipping plane, and the scissor window adjustment module computes the adjusted scissor window boundaries in advance. This preliminary computation identifies which pixels will ultimately be rendered, allowing the system to skip Z-testing and attribute interpolation for pixels outside the adjusted scissor window, thereby reducing wasted system resources while maintaining complete rendering coverage.
2Loss of time
If the scissor window is adjusted to exclude pixels outside the clipping plane, then redundant calculations are reduced, but the complexity of the rendering pipeline increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - the scissor window adjustment module - that acts as a mediator between the vertex shader and the pixel interpolation module. This module receives vertex clipping distances from the vertex shader, computes the adjusted scissor window boundaries, and passes this adjusted window information to the pixel interpolation module. This intermediary approach enables the system to reduce redundant calculations by excluding out-of-range pixels while managing pipeline complexity through a dedicated, focused adjustment module rather than分散 modifications throughout the pipeline.
3Manufacturing precision
If clipping information is utilized during Z-testing, then rendering accuracy is improved, but the complexity of clipping operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the clipping operation into distinct stages: vertex-level clipping distance calculation in the vertex shader, adjusted scissor window determination in the scissor window adjustment module, and pixel-level filtering in the pixel interpolation module. This segmentation allows clipping information to be utilized effectively at each stage without overwhelming complexity in any single operation. The vertex shader computes clipping distances for all vertices, the adjustment module segments the scissor window based on these distances, and the pixel module applies the segmented window to exclude irrelevant pixels, thereby improving rendering accuracy while managing complexity through staged processing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a method for rendering a computer graphics primitive intersected with one or more user-defined clipping planes. The method includes receiving a primitive, a clipping plane and a default scissor window; determining a second scissor window according to the spatial relationship among a first scissor window, the clipping plane and the vertices of the primitive; determining a group of pixels to be rendered by eliminating pixels not covered by an adjusted scissor window from the primitive; and determining a group of actually rendered pixels, in which the actually rendered pixels determining step includes removing the pixels meeting a clipping criterion from the group of pixels to be rendered. The present invention also includes an apparatus for performing the method.