Selectively compressed microcode
US9361097B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3802
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microprocessor includes one or more memories configured to hold microcode instructions, wherein at least a portion of the microcode instructions are compressed. The microprocessor also includes a decompression unit configured to decompress the compressed microcode instructions after being fetched from the one or more memories and before being executed. A method includes receiving from a memory a first N-bit wide microcode word, determining whether or not a predetermined portion of the first N-bit wide microcode word is a predetermined value, if the predetermined portion is not the predetermined value, decompressing the first N-bit wide microcode word to generate an M-bit wide microcode word, and if the predetermined portion is the predetermined value, receiving from the memory a second N-bit wide microcode word and joining portions of the first and second N-bit wide microcode words to generate the M-bit wide microcode word.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.