Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method for activating and shutting down enhanced pipeline stages and enhanced modules based on priority and performance requirements

US9671856B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
9References
23Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 2015
Grant dateJun 6, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A pipeline-based processor and method. The method includes partitioning a particular pipeline into one or more base pipeline stages and a plurality of enhanced pipeline stages, each enhanced pipeline stage configured to be either a shutdown enhanced pipeline stage or an activated enhanced pipeline stage. Each enhanced pipeline stage has an enhanced stage priority level. The method also includes configuring each enhanced pipeline stage to be activated or shut down based at least on the enhanced stage priority level. The method additionally includes partitioning a particular pipeline stage into at least one base module and a plurality of enhanced modules, each enhanced pipeline stage configured to be either a shutdown enhanced pipeline stage or an activated enhanced pipeline stage. Each enhanced module has a particular priority level. The method further includes configuring each enhanced module to be activated or shut down based at least on the particular priority level.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.