Image Processing Apparatus Reducing Power via Transparency Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D graphics rendering methods incur high computational costs and power consumption due to increased computation and memory access when rendering frames, especially with transparent objects or primitives, as they often require redundant shading and texturing processes.
Innovation Solution
An image processing method and apparatus that determines if a draw command for a current frame is identical to a previous one, reusing transparency information from the previous frame to set transparency for equivalent objects or primitives in the current frame, and performing image processing efficiently by omitting unnecessary shading on hidden or opaque objects behind transparent ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rendering is performed on each frame with full computation, then image quality and accuracy are maintained, but computational load and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of draw command identity and transparency characteristics during previous frame rendering. By pre-identifying transparent objects and storing their transparency information, the system avoids redundant computation in subsequent frames while maintaining rendering accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies transparency information from previous frames when draw commands are identical. Instead of recalculating transparency for every frame, the system retrieves and reuses stored transparency data, significantly reducing computational load while preserving image quality.
2Measurement precision
If transparency information is recalculated for every frame, then rendering accuracy is maintained, but computational amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
Transparency information is determined in advance during previous frame rendering and stored for reuse. This preliminary calculation eliminates the need for redundant transparency computations in subsequent frames with identical draw commands.
Solution Approach 2:
Transparency information is copied from previous frames when draw commands match. The system retrieves stored transparency data instead of recalculating it, maintaining accuracy while improving rendering efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If full rendering processing is performed on every frame, then image quality is maintained, but the number of memory accesses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and stores only the essential transparency information from previous frames when draw commands are identical. By separating and reusing only the necessary data elements, the system reduces memory access frequency while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Relevant transparency data is copied from previous frames rather than accessing complete rendering data. This selective copying reduces the volume of memory accesses while preserving the quality needed for accurate rendering.
4Reliability
If redundant shading operations are performed on transparent objects, then rendering completeness is ensured, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of transparent objects during previous frame rendering and stores this information. By knowing in advance which objects are transparent, the system avoids performing redundant shading operations on them in subsequent frames.
Solution Approach 2:
Transparency characteristics are copied from previous frames for identical draw commands. This allows the system to skip redundant shading operations on transparent objects while ensuring rendering completeness through selective processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing method includes: determining whether a draw command that is identical to a previous draw command is input; obtaining information about a transparency of a previous frame that is performed with the previous draw command; and performing image processing on a current frame based on the information about the transparency.