Energy-efficient parallel data path architecture for selectively powering processing units and register files based on instruction type

A parallel data path architecture, comprising:

• a processing unit array including a plurality of processing units, each of the processing units comprising:
• a data bus;
• an instruction register operable for receiving a reset signal, synchronizing an instruction transmitted through an instruction bus with a first clock signal, and storing the instruction;
• an instruction decoder operable for receiving the first clock signal and a second clock signal, decoding the instruction stored by the instruction register, and producing a first control signal, a second control signal, and a third control signal corresponding to the instruction;
• register files operable for receiving the reset signal and the first control signal, wherein a register file among said register files is selected and controlled corresponding to the decoded instruction in response to the first control signal;
• a load/store unit operable for receiving the first and second clock signals, controlling data transmission to and from an external memory connectable to the data bus in response to the second control signal, and transmitting and receiving data to and from the register files;
• and
• first through third operation logic units that are selectively enabled in response to the third control signal and operable for executing the instruction and outputting results to the register files;
• wherein said instruction decoder is further operable for:
• outputting processing unit selection (PUSel) signals and register file selection (RFSel) signals,
• receiving one of said PUSel signals, via a first feedback line, as a processing unit selection input (PUIN) signal that selectively selects the processing unit to handle the instruction, and
• receiving one of said RFSel signals, via a second feedback line, as a register file selection input (RFIN) signal that selectively selects at least one of the register files of said processing unit for access by the external memory;
• wherein only the selected processing unit(s) and its/their selected register file(s) are enabled according to the instruction, thereby reducing power consumption and enhancing energy efficiency of the parallel data path architecture.