Method for rasterizing non-rectangular tile groups in a raster stage of a graphics pipeline

摘要

In a raster stage of a graphics pipeline, a method for rasterizing non-rectangular tile groups. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor. The graphics primitive is rasterized at a first level by generating a non-rectangular footprint comprising a set of pixels related to the graphics primitive. The graphics primitive is then rasterized at a second level by accessing the set of pixels and determining covered pixels out of the set of pixels. The raster stage subsequently outputs the covered pixels for rendering operations in a subsequent stage of the graphics processor.

主权项

1. In a raster stage of a graphics pipeline, a method for rasterizing non-rectangular tile groups comprising:
receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor; rasterizing the graphics primitive at a first level by, in a single clock cycle, generating a non-rectangular group of tiles comprising a non-symmetrical conglomeration of pixels related to the graphics primitive; rasterizing the graphics primitive at a second level by accessing the set of pixels and determining covered pixels out of the set of pixels based on the non-rectangular group of tiles, wherein a first number of clock cycles is used to determine the covered pixels using the non-rectangular group of tiles but a second number of clock cycles would be used to determine the covered pixels if using a rectangular group of tiles, and wherein the first number of clock cycles is less than the second number of clock cycles; and outputting the covered pixels for rendering operations in a subsequent stage of the graphics processor, wherein rasterizing at the first level is implemented in a coarse raster unit and rasterizing at the second level is implemented in a fine raster unit.