Method and system for providing a single-instruction, multiple-data execution unit for performing single-instruction, multiple-data operations within a superscalar data processing system
US5758176A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 26, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F15/8092
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) execution unit for use in conjunction with a superscalar data processing system is provided. The SIMD execution unit is coupled to a branch execution unit within a superscalar processor. The branch execution unit fetches instructions from memory and dispatches vector processing instructions to the SIMD execution unit via the instruction bus. The SIMD execution unit includes a control unit and a plurality of processing elements for performing arithmetic operations. The processing elements further include a register file having multiple registers and an arithmetic logic unit coupled to the register file. The arithmetic logic unit may include a fixed-point unit for performing fixed-point vector calculations and a floating-point unit for performing floating-point vector calculations. Once the control unit within the SIMD execution unit receives a vector instruction, the control unit translates the instruction into commands for execution by selected processing elements within the SIMD execution unit. If such a vector instruction requires access to memory, a fixed point execution unit within the superscalar processor may be utilized to calculate…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.