Generic register interface for accessing registers located in different clock domains
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsChing Yu, Jeffrey Dwork, John Chiang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel method of providing an external host processor with access to registers located in different clock domains. The method comprises the steps of translating host processor interface signals into internal register interface signals, and performing handshaking with the registers via the internal register interface. The handshaking includes supplying registers with a register access signal for enabling access to a selected register, and producing a register ready signal in response to the register access signal. Synchronization signals delayed with respect to the register ready signal may be used for synchronizing registers located in different clock domains with the processor interface.
Claims19
A data processing system connected to an external host processor, comprising:
- a host processor interface for providing interface to the host processor,
- a plurality of register modules located in different clock domains and having registers to be accessed by the host processor,
- an internal register interface for providing interface to the plurality of register modules, and
- a processor interface module coupled to the host processor interface for performing handshaking with the plurality of register modules via the internal register interface to provide the host processor with access to the registers in the plurality of register modules.
A network switching system for switching data packets between multiple ports, comprising:
- a plurality of receive ports for receiving data packets, a decision making engine responsive to the received data packets for controlling transmission of the received data packets to a selected transmit port,
- a host processor interface for connecting a host processor, multiple register modules located in different clock domains and having registers to be accessed by the host processor,
- an internal register interface for providing interface to the plurality of register modules, and
- a processor interface module coupled to the host processor interface for supporting host processor's access to the registers in the plurality of register modules.
A method of providing an external host processor with access to registers located in different clock domains, comprising the steps of:
- translating host processor interface signals into signals in an internal register interface, and
- performing handshaking with the registers via the internal register interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.