I just found something..

[nAo]

That's an 'old' patent application by Sony:

Methods and apparatus for multi-processing execution of computer instructions

Please notice this paragraph:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/363,873 (Attorney Docket No. SCEA 3.8-012), filed Mar. 13, 2002, entitled GRAPHICS SHADING PROCESSOR, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Now..where is that patent?? I don't know..I can't find it.
Maybe it's not granted yet...damn

ciao,
Marco