Ray Bundle Differential Data Without Redundant Tracker Rays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graphics processing systems face inefficiencies in computing differential data for ray tracing, leading to redundant computations and increased resource utilization due to the need for redundant tracker rays and intersection testing.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of ray bundling, where groups of rays are kept together during emission and intersection testing, allowing for shared differential data computation and reducing the need for redundant tracker rays and intersection testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate tracker rays are processed to obtain differential data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential data accuracyVSAvoidray processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple tracker rays into a single bundle and processes them together using a unified shader program. Instead of processing each tracker ray separately to obtain differential data, the system processes the entire bundle simultaneously, extracting differential information from the combined results. This reduces the number of separate processing operations while maintaining the accuracy of differential measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shader program is designed to handle multiple ray types (primary rays, secondary rays, and tracker rays) within a single execution context. The universal shader can process different ray kinds and extract various types of data (position, normal, differential information) from the same code path, eliminating the need for separate processing pipelines for different ray types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If separate tracker rays are processed to obtain differential data, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential data accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple tracker rays into a single bundle and processes them together using a unified shader program. Instead of processing each tracker ray separately to obtain differential data, the system processes the entire bundle simultaneously, extracting differential information from the combined results. This reduces the number of separate processing operations while maintaining the accuracy of differential measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shader program continuously processes all rays in the bundle through a single execution pass, maintaining continuous computation without the interruptions and overhead of multiple separate processing steps. The differential data is extracted continuously from the ray bundle during the single shader execution, eliminating the need for subsequent separate processing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple shader programs are used for different ray types, then processing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveray processing flexibilityVSAvoidshader program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shader program is designed to handle multiple ray types (primary rays, secondary rays, and tracker rays) within a single execution context. The universal shader can process different ray kinds and extract various types of data (position, normal, differential information) from the same code path, eliminating the need for separate processing pipelines for different ray types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The shader program dynamically adapts its behavior based on the ray kind identifier. Within the single shader execution, the system can switch between processing primary rays, secondary rays, or tracker rays based on the input data, allowing flexible handling of different ray types without requiring separate dedicated shader programs for each type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4276762B1Methods and graphics processing units for determining differential data for rays of a ray bundle
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 IMAGINATION TECH LTD
  • EP4276762B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4276762B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4276762B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Graphics processing system configured to perform ray tracing. Rays are bundled together and processed together. When differential data is needed by a shader, the data of a true ray in the bundle can be used rather than processing separate tracker rays.