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Abstract

Apparatus and method for a Parallel Query Z-coordinate Buffer .[.are described. The apparatus and method.]. perform a keep/discard decision on screen coordinate geometry before the geometry is converted or rendered into individual display screen pixels by implementing a parallel searching technique within a novel z-coordinate buffer based on a novel magnitude comparison content addressable memory (MCCAM) structure. The MCCAM provides .[.means.]. .Iadd.structure and method .Iaddend.for performing simultaneous arithmetic magnitude comparisons on numerical quantities. These arithmetic magnitude comparisons include arithmetic less-than, greater-than, less-than-or-equal to, and greater-than-or-equal-to operations between coordinate values of a selected graphical object and the coordinate values of other objects in the image scene which may or may not occult the selected graphical object. .[.Embodiments of the method and apparatus utilizing variations.]. .Iadd.The structure and method support variations and combinations .Iaddend.of bounding box occulting tests, vertex bounding box occulting tests, span occulting tests, and raster-write occulting tests.[., as well as combinations of these tests are described.]. .

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First Claim