Reduced-complexity graphics

Author

Voorhies, Douglas

Author_Institution

Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, MA, USA

Volume

9

Issue

4

fYear

1989

fDate

7/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

63

Lastpage

70

Abstract

RISC (reduced-instruction-set-computer) CPU design concepts are used as the basis for a more general design philosophy applicable to graphics. The 3D graphics subsystem for the Apollo DN10000 is based on applying a RISC philosophy to the rendering problem. All structure-walking and floating-point computations are handled in the general-purpose CPU(s), and a simple, fast-cycle-time drawing engine synthesizes pixels and writes them into the bitmap. In the control and pixel-addressing logic, RISC ideas are applied directly and effectively; in color synthesis, however, they did not prove as useful. Several RISC concepts were ultimately fundamental to achieving design simplifications and allowed a better utilization of VLSI CMOS technology.<>

Keywords

VLSI; computer graphic equipment; computer graphics; reduced instruction set computing; 3D graphics subsystem; Apollo DN10000; RISC CPU design; RISC concepts; RISC ideas; RISC philosophy; VLSI CMOS technology; bitmap; color synthesis; design simplifications; fast-cycle-time drawing engine; floating-point computations; general design philosophy; pixel-addressing logic; reduced-complexity graphics; reduced-instruction-set-computer; rendering problem; structure-walking; Clocks; Computer graphics; Delay; Displays; Engines; Explosions; Hardware; Reduced instruction set computing; Rendering (computer graphics); Workstations;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer Graphics and Applications, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1716

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/38.31465

Filename

31465