High speed apparatus for branch detection of a loop instruction
US5646974A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/325
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for branch detecting a loop operation in a microprocessor. The apparatus includes a register, an ALU port, a predetector, an ALU, a flag generator and a branch detector. The register is provided for storing a loop information. Through the ALU port, the loop information is sent to the predetector and is predetected therein whenever the loop operation is about to proceed. A predetected result is then generated by the predetected and is sent to the branch detector to determine whether the loop operation has to be terminated. The ALU processes the loop information and updates new loop the register at the same time the predetection and detection tasks are performed by the predetector and the branch detector, respectively. The flag generator generates a flag which is independent of the detection and termination of the loop operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.