Primitive Testing for Ray Intersection at Multiple Precisions

Organization Name

Inventor(s)

Casper R. W. Van Benthem of Abbots Langley (GB)

Primitive Testing for Ray Intersection at Multiple Precisions - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240281951 titled 'Primitive Testing for Ray Intersection at Multiple Precisions

Simplified Explanation

The patent application discusses techniques for testing whether a ray intersects a graphics primitive, such as for ray tracing. In some cases, a reduced-precision conservative intersection test is performed first, followed by an original-precision intersection test if a hit is indicated. This approach aims to improve performance and reduce power consumption by minimizing unnecessary original-precision tests.

Intersection circuitry performs a reduced-precision conservative intersection test.
Shader circuitry conducts an original-precision intersection test if the intersection circuitry detects a hit.
Quantization of the ray and primitive data is used to determine the intersection result for the reduced-precision test.
The techniques aim to reduce the number of original-precision intersection tests that do not result in hits.
The innovation targets enhancing efficiency and reducing power consumption in graphics rendering processes.

Key Features and Innovation

Combination of reduced-precision and original-precision intersection tests.
Quantization of ray and primitive data for improved performance.
Reduction of unnecessary original-precision intersection tests.
Focus on optimizing graphics rendering processes for efficiency and power consumption.

Potential Applications

The technology can be applied in various fields such as:

Computer graphics rendering
Video game development
Virtual reality applications
Animation production

Problems Solved

Minimizing unnecessary original-precision intersection tests.
Improving performance and efficiency in graphics rendering.
Reducing power consumption in graphics processing.

Benefits

Enhanced performance in ray tracing and graphics rendering.
Reduced power consumption in graphics processing.
Improved efficiency in intersection testing for graphics primitives.

Commercial Applications

Title: Enhanced Graphics Rendering Technology for Efficiency and Power Savings This technology can be utilized in:

Graphics processing units (GPUs)
Rendering software development
Virtual reality systems
Animation studios

Questions about the Technology

How does the combination of reduced-precision and original-precision intersection tests improve efficiency in graphics rendering?

The combination allows for a conservative initial test to quickly determine potential hits, followed by a more precise test only when necessary, reducing the overall computational load.

What impact can this technology have on the development of video games and virtual reality applications?

This technology can lead to more efficient rendering processes, enabling smoother graphics and improved performance in demanding applications like video games and virtual reality experiences.

Original Abstract Submitted

techniques are disclosed relating to testing whether a ray intersects a graphics primitive, e.g., for ray tracing. in some embodiments, intersection circuitry performs a reduced-precision conservative intersection test and shader circuitry performs an original-precision intersection test if the intersection circuitry indicates a hit. the intersection circuitry may quantize the ray (and may quantize the primitive or may receive a quantized representation of the primitive). the intersection circuitry then determines an intersection result for the reduced-precision test based on the quantized primitive data and quantized ray data. in various embodiments, disclosed techniques may improve performance or reduce power consumption by reducing the number of original-precision intersection tests that do not result in hits.