Towards a Z-Buffer and Ray-Tracing Multimode System based on Parallel Architecture and VLSI chips

Abstract

After the hidden surfaces algorithms for 3D rastergraphics, hardware design isthe main problem, for many applicat ions, such as : Audiovisual animat ions. CADCAM,and simulation. After a short description of our CUBI 7 system (a 3D real-time Z-buffer system), and its CRISTAL module which increases RAY-TRACING computations, we present ourhardware project based on : - Parallel architecture for RAY-TRACING, special effects ; This module is alsouseful for pre-processing the image : (rotations, clipping, perspective transform... ). - A or Z-BUFFER which will be designed on VLSI chips polygon filling will be alsodesigned with pipe-lined chips.