An image generating apparatus used in the field of image processing such as Computer Graphics. The image generating apparatus comprises an input unit for setting data related to a shape of each polygon, an attribute-data-setting unit for setting physical-property attribute data of the polygons, a view-point-data setting unit for setting data related to a view point, a boundary-box-dividing unit for dividing a boundary box enclosing all the polygons into a set of voxels of equal-size with parameters for the boundary box and a linear conditional expression, a segment buffer for registering intersection data per segment for each light source consisting of a thread of a processor assigned for each segment on one polygon and a ray-intercepting polygon at the time of intensity computation per pixel, and an intensity computing unit for checking an intersection with the registered ray-intercepting polygon first when computing an adjacent pixel in the same segment.

A computer graphics system stores graphics data the represents one or more three dimensional objects. The objects are represented by one or more primitives each defined by a plurality of vertices. The graphics systems renders the objects to generate a two dimensional image for display. During the rendering operation, coordinates of vertices of said primitives are subjected to a perspective transformation. The present invention provides a method and apparatus that uses at least one look-up table for mapping a texture function to pixels covered by at least one of said primitives.

Methods and apparatus for generating image data are provided. A memory and a data processor are coupled with a system bus. In certain embodiments a data expanding apparatus is also coupled to the system bus and compressed data are transferred to the data expanding apparatus via the system bus and decompressed data are transferred therefrom to the memory without passing the compressed data through the data processor. Also in certain embodiments, an image data generation command string is transferred from the memory to an image data generation device via the system bus without passing the image data generation command string through the data processor.

An image display apparatus for displaying a plurality of objects in a space using a simplified and efficient structure. The apparatus includes a first storing section having areas for scanning lines, and for each scanning line, has an area that stores the object numbers of the objects having that scanning line as the display start scanning line for the objects. In addition, other sections store a display end scanning line and an object information set for each of the objects. A display end determining section reads the object numbers of the current scanning line, and reads the display end scanning line for the objects of the read object numbers to determine whether the current scanning line is the display end scanning line for these objects. For each such object, if the current scanning line is the display end scanning line for an object, then no operation is performed; while if the current scanning line is not the display end scanning line, then the display end determining section adds the read object number to the area in the first storing section that stores the object numbers of the next scanning line. In addition, a display data generating section generates a display image for the current scanning line, and a display displays the display image.

A method and system for providing antialiasing of a graphical image on a display from data describing at least one object is disclosed. The display includes a plurality of pixels. The method and system include providing a plurality of fragments for the at least one object. A portion of the plurality of fragments intersects a pixel of the plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of fragments includes a depth value, a slope of the depth value, and an indication of a portion of a corresponding pixel that is intersected. The method and system include calculating a plurality of subpixel depth values for a fragment of the plurality of fragments. The plurality of subpixel depth values is calculated using the depth value and the slope of the depth value of the fragment. The method and system include determining whether to store a portion of the fragment based on the plurality of subpixel depth values for the fragment and the indication of the extent the corresponding pixel is intersected by the fragment. The method and system also include storing the portion of the fragment if it has been determined that the portion of the fragment is to be stored. The method and system also include repeating the calculating, determining, and storing steps for each remaining fragment in the portion of the plurality of fragments. The method and system also include providing antialiased data for the pixel based on a second portion of the plurality of fragments that have been stored.