Method and apparatus for performing object sorting and edge calculation in a graphics system

摘要

In a real-time object (RTO) graphics system, an RTO processor is disclosed which incorporates an object sort unit and an edge calculation unit. Object fragment data for each graphic object is received by the RTO processor, and is temporarily stored in memory. The sort unit sorts the fragment data for each scan line by first decomposing the fragment data into ordered sets, and then, commencing with the first active pixel for each fragment that commences on a line, sorting the data within the set and linking the sorted set with the next ordered set. Once sorted, the edge calculation unit reads the fragment data in line and pixel order from memory and calculates object edge intersections for each fragment on the current line being rendered while updating the memory with data for the respective fragment for the next scan line. The edge intersections are output in real-time and displayed on a display device.