Computer numerical storage format with precision type indicator
US9128697B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3885
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Various techniques for storing computer numbers such as floating-point numbers. In one embodiment, a data processing unit is configured to represent floating-point numbers using a first precision with a first number of bits and a second precision with a second number of bits, where the second number of bits is greater than the first number of bits. A floating-point type value may be set upon a memory store to indicate whether a first representation of a floating-point number uses the first or the second number of bits. A second representation of the floating-point number and the floating-point type value may be stored accordingly. In some embodiments, the second representation may correspond to the first representation with one or more bits shifted. This format may lead to memory power savings when reading from a memory location of the second precision when the result is indicated as the first precision.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.