Embedded branch prediction unit
US9395994B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
17References
24Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/323
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a branch prediction unit for an embedded controller may be placed in association with the instruction fetch unit instead of the decode stage. In addition, the branch prediction unit may include no branch predictor. Also, the return address stack may be associated with the instruction decode stage and is structurally separate from the branch prediction unit. In some cases, this arrangement reduces the area of the branch prediction unit, as well as power consumption.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.