Data transfer between an external data source and a memory associated with a data processor
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorsTan Ba Tran, Richard Roy Grisenthwaite, Gerard Richard Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data processor core 10 comprising a memory access interface portion 30 operable to perform data transfer operations between an external data source and at least one memory associated with said data processor core and a data processing portion 12 operable to perform further data processing operations in response to receipt of said processor clock signal CLK. The two portions of the core being operable to be independently enabled such that one portion may be active while the other is inactive.
Claims36
A data processor core comprising:
- a clock signal input operable to receive a processor clock signal;
- a memory access interface portion operable to perform data transfer operations between an external data source and at least one memory associated with said data processor core in response to receipt of said processor clock signal;
- a data processing portion operable to perform further data processing operations in response to receipt of said processor clock signal;
- at least one further input operable to receive a memory access enable signal;
- at least one read/write port operable to receive and send data via a bus to said at least one memory associated with said data processor core;
- wherein
- said memory access interface portion is operable to receive said processor clock signal when said memory access enable signal has a predetermined value and not to receive said processor clock signal when said memory access enable signal does not have said predetermined value;
- and
- said data processing portion is operable to receive said processor clock signal when a data processing enable signal has a further predetermined value and not to receive said processor clock signal when said data processing enable signal does not have said further predetermined value.
A method of transferring data between an external data source and a memory associated with a data processor core, said data processor core comprising a memory access interface portion operable to perform data transfer operations between said external data source and said memory associated with said data processor core and a data processing portion operable to perform data processing operations, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a processor clock signal and a memory access enable signal at the core;
- performing said data transfer operations through said memory access interface portion clocked by said processor clock signal when said memory access enable signal has a predetermined value, and not performing said data transfer operations when said memory access enable signal does not have said predetermined value;
- and
- performing said data processing operations at said data processing portion clocked by said processor clock signal when a processing enable signal has a further predetermined value and not performing said data processing operations when said processing enable signal does not have said further predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.