Variable length instruction pipeline
US7260707B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3867
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A variable length instruction pipeline includes optional expansion stages that can be included in the variable length instruction pipeline to avoid pipeline stalls. The expansion stages are removed from the variable length instruction pipeline when not needed to reduce the length of the pipeline, which reduces latency and other problems associated with long pipelines. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, a variable length instruction pipeline includes a first pipeline stage, a first expansion stage, and a second pipeline stage. The second pipeline stage is configured to selectively receive instructions from the first pipeline stage or the first expansion stage if the first expansion stage holds an instruction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.