Microprocessor with functional units that can be selectively coupled
US6230278A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data processing device is provided which has multiprocessors that can be configured on a cycle by cycle basis as loosely coupled or tightly coupled. Bit-stream Processing Unit (BPU) 110 executes instructions from ROM 112 and accesses data from RAM 111. Similarly, Arithmetic Unit (AU) 120 executes instructions from ROM 122 and accesses data from RAM 121. Both processor operate in parallel and exchange data by accessing RAM 121. AU 120 can receive an instruction directive from BPU 110 directing it to perform a selected sequence of instructions in a loosely coupled manner. AU 120 can also receive an instruction directive from BPU 110 directing that a portion of AU 120 operationally replace a portion of BPU 110 for the duration of one instruction which allows data to be passed directly between the processors in a tightly coupled manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.