Central processing unit including a DSP function preprocessor wh

Details Central processing unit including a DSP function preprocessor wh Central processing unit including a DSP function preprocessor wh

1996-03-18

1998-08-04

Lall, Parshotam S.

395389, 39580035, G06F 9318

Patent

active

057908249

ABSTRACT:
A CPU or microprocessor which includes a general purpose CPU component, such as an X86 core, an also includes a DSP core. The CPU also includes an intelligent DSP function decoder or preprocessor which examines X86 opcode sequences and determines if a DSP function is being executed. If the DSP function decoder determines that a DSP function is being executed, the DSP function decoder converts or maps the opcodes to a DSP macro instruction that is provided to the DSP core. The DSP core executes one or more DSP instructions to implement the desired DSP function in response to the macro instruction. The DSP core implements or performs the DSP function using a lesser number of instructions and also in reduced number of clock cycles, thus increasing system performance. If the X86 opcodes in the instruction cache or instruction memory do not indicate or are not intended to perform a DSP-type function, the opcodes are provided to the X86 core as which occurs in current prior art computer systems. The X86 core and the DSP core are coupled to each other and communicate data and timing signals for synchronization purposes. Thus, the DSP core offloads these mathematical functions from the X86 core, thereby increasing system performance. The DSP core also operates in parallel with the X86 core, providing further performance benefits. The CPU of the present invention thus implements DSP functions more efficiently than X86 logic while requiring no additional X86 opcodes. The present invention also generates code that operates transparently on an X86 only CPU or a CPU according to the present invention which includes X86 and DSP cores. Thus the present invention is backwards compatible with existing software.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4439828 (1984-03-01), Martin
patent: 4638423 (1987-01-01), Ballard
patent: 5355485 (1994-10-01), Denio et al.
patent: 5568646 (1996-10-01), Jaggar
patent: 5588118 (1996-12-01), Mandava et al.
patent: 5619665 (1997-04-01), Emma
patent: 5630082 (1997-05-01), Yao et al.
patent: 5638525 (1997-06-01), Hammond et al.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Real-Time CISC Architecture HW Emulator on a RISC Processor, vol. 37, No. 3, Mar. 1994.
Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Structured Computer Organization, 1.4 Hardware, Software, and Multilevel Machines, pp. 10-12, Dec. 1984.
Flanagan, William. P., Tangent and NexGen team up to challenge Intel., PC Magazine, pp. 37-39, Nov. 1994.
Mahon et al., Hewlett-Packard Precision Architecture: The Processor, Hewlett Packard Journal, pp. 4-22, Aug. 1986.
Seltzer, Larry J., Four ways to fake an X86 . . . , PC Week, pp. 93-94, Nov. 1994.
Halfhill, T.R., "AMD K6 Takes on Intel P6," BYTE, vol. 21, No. 1 Jan. 1, 1996, pp. 67,68, 70 & 72.
International Search Report for PCT/US 96/19584, dated Dec. 30, 1997.
International Search Report for PCT/US 96/19586 dated Apr. 28, 1997.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Central processing unit including a DSP function preprocessor wh does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Central processing unit including a DSP function preprocessor wh, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Central processing unit including a DSP function preprocessor wh will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1188930