Scalar/vector processor

A scalar/vector processor capable of concurrent scaler and vector operations, comprising:

• interface means for receiving scalar data and vector data including means for detecting the availability of the scalar data and the vector data;
• scalar resources including a plurality of scalar functional units to process scalar program instructions and scalar/vector program instructions requiring corresponding scalar data and scalar resources for execution, and including means for detecting the availability of the scalar resources;
• vector resources including a plurality of vector functional units adapted to be operated concurrently with said scalar functional units and with one another to process vector program instructions and scalar/vector program instructions requiring corresponding vector data and vector resources for execution and possibly requiring corresponding scalar data for execution, and including means for detecting the availability of the vector resources;
• an instruction cache connected to said interface means, said scalar resources and said vector resources and operable for storing the scalar, vector and scalar/vector program instructions;
• program counter means connected to said scalar resources, said vector resources and said instruction cache, and operable for selecting said scalar, vector and scalar/vector program instructions in a desired order, one by one in succeeding clock cycles;
• program instruction issue means connected to said scalar resources, said vector resources, said instruction cache and said program counter means, and responsive to each scalar program instruction and to the availability of the corresponding scalar data and scalar resources required to execute said each scalar program instruction for issuing said each scalar program instruction for execution if said required corresponding scalar data and scalar resources are available for use;
• vector initiation queue associated with said vector functional units for storing issued vector and issued scalar/vector program instructions that have not been initiated, and having queue status having a full status and a not full status;
• and
• said program instruction issue means further responsive to each vector and scalar/vector program instruction, to the availability of scalar data, if any, required to execute said each vector program instruction or each scalar/vector program instruction, and to the queue status to the vector initiation queue for issuing each vector program instruction or each scalar/vector program instruction and for transferring said each issued vector program instruction or each issued scalar/vector program instruction to said vector initiation queue if (1) the queue status of the vector initiation queue is not full and (2) the required scalar data, if any, is available, wherein a next succeeding vector program instruction or a next succeeding scalar/vector program instruction can be issued and transferred by the program instruction issue means even if the corresponding required vector data and vector resources are not available.