The Geometry Engine: A VLSI Geometry System for Graphics

ABSTRACT

The Geometry Engine[1] is a special-purpose VLSI processor for computer graphics. It is a four-component vector, floating-point processor for accomplishing three basic operations in computer graphics: matrix transformations, clipping and mapping to output device coordinates. This paper describes the Geometry Engine and the Geometric Graphics System it composes. It presents the instruction set of the system, its design motivations and the Geometry System architecture.

REFERENCES

• 1: Clark, J.H. "A VLSI Geometry Processor for Graphics." Computer 13, 7 (July 1980), 59-68.
• 2: Clark, J. H. Graphic Display Processing System and Processor. Patent Pending.
• 3: James H. Clark, Parametric curves, surfaces and volumes in computer graphics and computer-aided geometric design, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1981
• 4: William M. Newman , Robert F. Sproull, Principles of interactive computer graphics (2nd ed.), McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, NY, 1979

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.5 Computational Geometry and Object Modeling
          Subjects: Geometric algorithms, languages, and systems

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.5 COMPUTER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
      C.5.4 VLSI Systems

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
Arithmetic processing, Geometric processing, Real-time graphics, VLSI