Programmable Pixel Blending Pipeline with Warp Overlap Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pixel blending technologies lack flexibility and scalability, as they do not allow for arbitrarily setting blending equations, leading to limited adaptability and increased power consumption due to the need for complex hardware redesigns to support various blending operation formulas.
Innovation Solution
A programmable pixel blending pipeline that includes a raster unit, output and merge unit, warp assembly unit, interpolation unit, execution unit, warp overlap check unit, and pixel operation unit, which allows for adaptable and efficient execution of blending operations by checking for pixel overlaps and sorting warps to ensure proper execution order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed-function pixel blending is used, then hardware implementation is simple, but flexibility and adaptability for various blending operation formulas are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic pixel blending pipeline where the blending operation can be programmatically configured at runtime. The execution unit receives blending parameters and dynamically adjusts the blending equation based on input parameters, allowing the same hardware to adapt to different blending formulas (e.g., additive, multiply, screen, softlight) without physical reconfiguration. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by providing high adaptability while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from hardcoding different blending operations with different hardware circuits to using parameter-driven configuration. By passing blending parameters (such as operation type, source/destination factors) to the execution unit, the system can support multiple blending formulas through parameter variation rather than structural complexity, thus improving flexibility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hardware is redesigned to support complex blending operations, then adaptability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal pixel blending execution unit that can perform multiple blending operations through software configuration rather than dedicated hardware circuits for each operation. The execution unit uses a single set of computational resources that can be dynamically programmed to execute different blending formulas, eliminating the need for multiple parallel hardware paths. This multi-functionality approach provides broad adaptability while consuming power only for the currently active operation, not for all possible operations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of implementing multiple physical hardware copies for different blending operations, the patent uses a single execution unit that copies the blending logic through parameter passing and programmable control. The same hardware circuit is reused across different operations by loading different blending parameters, significantly reducing power consumption compared to having separate hardware instances for each blending mode.
3Speed
If pixel overlaps are not checked, then processing speed is faster, but rendering correctness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a warp overlap check unit that performs preliminary checking of pixel overlaps before the main blending execution. By detecting overlapping pixels in advance at the warp level, the system can prepare appropriate handling strategies (such as depth testing, blending order adjustment) before committing to the blending operation. This preliminary action ensures rendering correctness for overlapping pixels while minimizing impact on overall processing speed through efficient early detection rather than exhaustive checking.
Solution Approach 2:
The warp overlap check unit acts as an intermediary between the rasterization stage and the pixel blending execution. It receives warp information, checks for overlaps, and provides control signals to the execution unit to adjust processing accordingly. This intermediary layer ensures that correctness issues are handled through control logic rather than requiring complex reprocessing, maintaining speed while ensuring reliability through coordinated oversight.
Data Source
AI summary
Programmable pixel blending method and apparatus, computer device, storage medium and computer program product are provided. The method includes: performing rasterization on a first triangle, a second triangle, and a third triangle via the raster unit to obtain triangle coverage information of each triangle; sending the triangle coverage information to the warp assembly unit and the warp reorder unit respectively; assembling, by the warp assembly unit, the first triangle and the second triangle into a first warp, and requesting a warp from a warp request interface based on information of the first warp; executing the first warp based on a warp information cache, a warp synchronization unit, the warp reorder unit, the pixel operation unit, the interpolation unit, and the execution unit; after the first warp is executed, continuing to assemble, by the warp assembly unit, the third triangle and completing a rendering of the third triangle.