Method and device for coupling a data processing unit and a data processing array
OwnerMartin Vorbach, Markus Weinhardt +1inventors
InventorsMartin Vorbach, Markus Weinhardt, Juergen Becker
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of coupling at least one (conventional) unit processing data in a sequential manner, e.g. a CPU, von-Neumann-Processor and/or microcontroller, the (conventional) unit for data processing comprising an instruction pipeline, and an array for processing data comprising a plurality of data processing cells, e.g. a preferably coarse grain and/or preferably runtime reconfigurable data processor, FPGA, DFP, DSP, XPP or chaemeleon-technology-like data processing fabric, wherein the array is coupled to the instruction pipeline.
Claims69
A method of processing data comprising the step of:
- coupling:
- (a) at least one unit adapted for processing data in a sequential manner and comprising an instruction pipeline;
- and
- (b) an array adapted for processing data, the array comprising a plurality of data processing cells having programmable coarse grained arithmetic logic units (ALUs) and the array comprising a packet-oriented network communicating values in packets;
- wherein:
- the at least one unit is operable independently of the array;
- and the array:
- processes at least one program that is compiled from a high-level language;
- and
- is:
- at least one of coarse grained and runtime reconfigurable;
- and
- controlled by instructions issued from the instruction pipeline of the at least one unit to the array.
A device for processing data comprising:
- at least one unit adapted for processing data in a sequential manner and comprising an instruction pipeline;
- and
- an array adapted for processing data comprising a configurable network and a plurality of data processing cells that are configurable in their function;
- wherein:
- the array is coupled to the instruction pipeline, the coupling of the array to the instruction pipeline including controlling configurations by the instruction pipeline;
- and
- the at least one unit is operable independently of the array.
A method of processing data comprising the steps of:
- coupling:
- (a) at least one unit adapted for processing data in a sequential manner and comprising an instruction pipeline;
- and
- (b) an array that:
- is adapted for processing data;
- comprises a plurality of data processing cells having programmable coarse grained arithmetic logic units (ALUs);
- comprises a packet-oriented network communicating values in packets;
- and
- processes at least one program that is compiled from a high-level language;
- and
- providing a path allowing for block data transfer between the array and the at least one unit through a data cache.
8-11. (canceled)
A method of processing data comprising:
- coupling:
- (a) at least one unit adapted for processing data in a sequential manner and comprising an instruction pipeline;
- and
- (b) an array that:
- is adapted for processing data;
- comprises a plurality of data processing cells having programmable coarse grained arithmetic logic units (ALUs);
- comprises a packet oriented network communicating values in packets;
- and
- processes at least one program that is compiled from a high-level language;
- wherein the at least one unit is operable independently of the array and transmits data directly from within a data path of the at least one unit to the array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.