Processor with asymmetric SIMD functionality
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorKenneth Dockser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microprocessor including an execution unit enabled to execute an asymmetric instruction, where the asymmetric instruction includes a set of operand fields and an operation code (opcode). The execution unit is configured to interpret the opcode to perform a first operation on a first set of data indicated by the set of operand fields and to perform a second operation on a second set of data indicated by the set of operand fields, wherein the set of operand fields indicate different sets of data with respect to the first and second operations and further wherein the first and second operations are mathematically different.
Claims20
A microprocessor, comprising:
- a branch unit to process branch instructions and provide a fetch unit with a next instruction address;
- a load/store unit (LSU) to retrieve data from and stored data to a data memory of the microprocessor;
- an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to performing arithmetic operations on scalar, integer data;
- and
- a vector unit to execute a vector instruction to perform a first operation on a first set of data operands and a second operation on a second set of operands, wherein the first and second operations differ.
A vector unit within a microprocessor, comprising:
- means for receiving an instruction specifying first operand and second operands;
- means for performing a first operation on a first set of data indicated by the first and second operands and a second operation on data indicated by the first and second operands, wherein the first and second operations differ.
A microprocessor including:
- an execution unit enabled to execute an asymmetric instruction, wherein the asymmetric instruction includes a set of operand fields and an operation code (opcode);
- wherein the execution unit is configured to interpret the opcode to perform a first operation on a first set of data indicated by the set of operand fields and to perform a second operation on a second set of data indicated by the set of operand fields, wherein the set of operand fields indicate different sets of data with respect to the first and second operations and further wherein the first and second operations are mathematically different.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.