System and method for automatic conversion of a partially-explicit instruction set to an explicit instruction set
US7774748B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2115/10
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system and method for adding programmer visible features to a microprocessor by using partially-explicit ISA constructs. The system includes a language for expressing the partially-explicit ISA constructs that describe VLIW instruction formats, slots, and operations. These partially-explicit instruction set constructs are used in conjunction with prior art instruction set constructs to describe a complete instruction set. The system also includes a method for converting a partially-explicit instruction set to an explicit instruction set, which can then be used as described in prior art processor generation systems to generate fully-pipelined micro-architectural implementations in the form of synthesizable HDL, and to generate software components for extending software development tools for the microprocessor. Because the partially-explicit instruction set constructs are easier to write, modify, and maintain than prior art instruction set constructs, the invention significantly simplifies the process of describing an instruction set.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.