Method and apparatus for object indentification and collision detection in three dimensional graphics space

A computer graphics display system and method are described for rendering objects formed of at least one geometric primitive as pixel images which collide or intersect in three dimensional space. A depth buffer stores depth information representing graphics images rendered by the graphics system. Data stored in the depth buffer representing graphics objects displayed in the three dimensional space are partitioned into three portions comprising an identification portion to store information identifyng each object rendered in the three dimensional space, an object resolution portion to store data for controlling the resolution of the graphics object on a display screen, and a depth coordinate portion for storing the coordination information of the object rendered in the three dimensional space. A collision detection is provided to detect and determine when two objects collide on the display screen. Z depth information stored in the collision detection unit is compared with current Z values in the graphics engine to display a new object. If the Z values of the two objects are the same, the object are considered to have collided in the three dimensional space. The present invention also provides a collision information storage unit to store the coordinate information of object which collide. The collision information may then be used by the computer user in later graphics operations to ensure collision of object rendered in three dimensional space if such collision is desired.