Apparatus and method for controlling instruction flow by using a matrix of transmission gates in super-scaler microprocessor and selectively delaying microprocessor instruction execution based on resource availability

An apparatus including an instruction flow control circuit, comprising:

• a primary signal path including a plurality of propagating gates, each propagating gate receiving complementary inputs from one of a plurality of resource request signals, each propagating gate propagating a resource availability signal in the primary signal path where the resource request signal input into the propagating gate does not request a resource;
• at least one secondary signal path including a plurality of propagating gates, each propagating gate receiving complementary inputs from one of the plurality of resource request signals, each propagating gate propagating a resource availability signal in the secondary signal path where the resource request signal input into the propagating gate does not request a resource;
• a shifting gate coupled between selected pairs of propagating gates in selected pairs of signal paths, each shifting gate receiving complementary inputs from the same resource request signal providing inputs to the pair of propagating gates, and shifting the resource availability signal in one of the signal paths to the other signal path where the resource request signal requests a resource;
• a transistor coupled after each propagating gate in each secondary signal path, and receiving an input from the same resource request signal providing inputs to the propagating gate in the secondary signal path, the transistor changing a logic level in the secondary signal path coupled thereto where the resource request signal requests a resource;
• and
• a plurality of comparing gates, each comparing gate coupled to the primary signal path to receive a resource availability signal, and further coupled to receive a selected one of the resource request signals, for comparing the signals and producing in response thereto a suppression signal.