Method and system for a general instruction raster stage that generates programmable pixel packets

摘要

A method and system for a general instruction capable raster stage that generates flexible pixel packets is disclosed. In one embodiment, the rasterizing of a geometric primitive comprising a plurality of vertices wherein each vertex comprises a respective color value, is performed by a rasterization module of a graphics pipeline. The rasterizing includes a plurality of programmable interpolators for computing pixel parameters for pixels of a geometric primitive. The rasterizing module further includes a memory for storing a first instruction associated with a first programmable interpolator for indicating a first parameter on which said first programmable interpolator is to operate and for indicating a first portion of a pixel packet in which to store its results. The rasterizing module additionally includes a memory for storing a second instruction associated with a second programmable interpolator for indicating a second parameter on which said second programmable interpolator is to operate and also for indicating a second portion of said pixel packet in which to store its results.