HIDDEN SURFACE REMOVAL IN GRAPHICS PROCESSING SYSTEMS

摘要

The early depth test stages 4, 13 of a graphics processing pipeline 1 are configured to broadcast information 9, 10, 11, 14 about fragments, etc., that pass those early depth tests to other stages 3, 4, 6, 12 in the pipeline. The other stages in the pipeline then use the early depth test pass information to determine if the processing of any fragments that they are currently processing can be stopped.

主权项

1. A method of operating a graphics processing pipeline that includes a plurality of processing stages including a rasteriser that rasterises input primitives to generate graphic fragments to be processed, each graphics fragment having one or more sampling points associated with it, and a renderer that processes fragments generated by the rasteriser to generate output fragment data, the method comprising:
performing an early culling test in respect of at least one sampling point associated with a fragment generated by the rasteriser before the fragment is sent to the renderer for processing; and if the at least one sampling point passes the early culling test, sending the fragment onwards for processing and determining if the processing of another sampling point that is in the graphics processing pipeline can be stopped as a consequence of the at least one sampling point passing the early culling test.