Reconfigurable Texture Pipeline Multi-Bank Cache Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current texture pipelines face inefficiencies in storing and retrieving texels for advanced filtering techniques like trilinear and anisotropic filtering, leading to slowed or degraded image processing due to inefficient cache memory performance.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable texture cache system that can output multiple bilerps per clock cycle, adaptively retrieving the necessary number of bilerps based on texel size and filtering type, and employing a multi-bank cache architecture with independent addressing to minimize conflicts and optimize data retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional cache memory is used for texture storage, then the system is simple to implement, but the image processing speed is slowed or degraded due to inefficient texel retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The cache memory is divided into multiple banks (first bank, second bank, third bank, fourth bank) that can be independently addressed and accessed. This segmentation allows parallel retrieval of texels from different banks, significantly improving image processing speed while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bank dimension to the cache memory architecture, transforming a single-dimension sequential access structure into a multi-dimension parallel access structure. By adding the bank level of organization, the system can retrieve multiple texels simultaneously from different banks, overcoming the speed limitation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
2Productivity
If more bilerps are retrieved per clock cycle to support advanced filtering, then the filtering performance is improved, but the cache conflict increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cache into multiple independently addressable banks, the patent enables simultaneous access to multiple texels without conflicts. Each bank can service a different memory address request in parallel, allowing the system to retrieve the necessary number of bilerps for advanced filtering (trilinear, anisotropic) per clock cycle while maintaining low conflict rates
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-bank cache architecture provides universal access capabilities that handle various filtering types (bilinear, trilinear, anisotropic) through the same parallel retrieval mechanism. The system can adaptively retrieve different numbers of bilerps depending on the filtering requirement, maintaining high productivity across all filtering operations without increasing conflict probability
3Reliability
If the cache retrieves fewer bilerps per clock cycle to reduce conflicts, then the cache conflict is minimized, but the image processing throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation into multiple banks allows the cache to retrieve multiple bilerps simultaneously by accessing different banks in parallel. This maintains high productivity while minimizing conflicts, as each bank operates independently and can service requests without interfering with other banks
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel bank architecture enables continuous useful action by allowing multiple texel retrieval operations to proceed simultaneously without waiting for sequential completion. Each bank can continuously service its assigned addresses, maintaining high throughput while the independent addressing prevents action conflicts
Data Source
AI summary
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide texture caches and related circuits that store and retrieve texels in a fast and efficient manner. One such texture circuit provides an increased number of bilerps for each pixel in a group of pixels, particularly when trilinear or aniso filtering is needed. For trilinear filtering, texels in a first and second level of detail are retrieved for a number of pixels during a clock cycle. When aniso filtering is performed, multiple bilerps can be retrieved for each of a number of pixels during one clock cycle.