Specialized vector instruction and datapath for matrix multiplication

A method of operating a data processing element, comprising:

• fetching instructions for scalar, vector and array processing;
• processing a scalar quantity through a scalar pipeline datapath;
• also processing a one-dimensional vector quantity through a vector pipeline datapath employing a vector register;
• and
• further processing a two-dimensional vector quantity through an array pipeline datapath employing a parallel processing structure.

a MIMO receiver, comprising:

• a MIMO input element, coupled to multiple receive antennas, that provides receive data for scalar, vector and array processing;
• a data processing element, including:
• an input unit that provides instructions for the scalar, vector and array processing,
• a scalar processing unit that provides a scalar pipeline datapath for processing scalar data,
• a vector processing unit, coupled to the scalar processing unit, that provides a vector pipeline datapath employing a vector register for processing one-dimensional vector data, and
• an array processing unit, coupled to the vector processing unit, that provides an array pipeline datapath having a parallel processing structure for processing two-dimensional vector data;
• and
• a MIMO output element, coupled to the data processing element, that provides an output data stream corresponding to the receive data.