Vector/scalar system with vector unit producing scalar result from vector results according to modifier in vector instruction
US7167972B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F15/8076
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Described herein is a processor for executing instructions and a method therefor. The processor comprises a scalar unit for executing scalar instructions each defining a single value pair; a vector unit for executing vector instructions each defining multiple value pairs; and an instruction decoder for receiving a single stream of instructions including scalar instructions and vector instructions and operable to direct scalar instructions to the scalar unit and vector instructions to the vector unit. The vector unit can comprises a plurality of value processing units and a scalar result unit. The scalar unit can comprise a scalar register file. Communication between the vector unit and the scalar unit is enabled by allowing the vector unit to access the scalar register file and allowing the scalar unit to access output from the scalar result unit. The output of the scalar result unit may be based on the relative magnitudes of outputs from the plurality of value processing units.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.