IP Library › Granted Patent US 44,365

Granted Patent E1

US 44,365 · App. 12/909,061 · Granted Jul 9, 2013

Method of self-synchronization of configurable elements of a programmable module

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 44,365
App. No.: 12/909,061
Granted: Jul 9, 2013
Kind: E1

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Abstract

A method of synchronizing and reconfiguring configurable elements in a programmable unit is provided. A unit has a two- or multi-dimensional, programmable cell architecture (e.g., DFP, DPGA, etc.), and any configurable element can have access to a configuration register and a status register of the other configurable elements via an interconnection architecture and can thus have an active influence on their function and operation. By making synchronization the responsibility of each element, more synchronization tasks can be performed at the same time because independent elements no longer interfere with each other in accessing a central synchronization instance.

Claims (309)

1. A method for controlling data processing by an integrated circuit that includes a plurality of data processing elements that are arranged for at least one of arithmetically and logically processing data using a sequence of commands, the sequence including jumps, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of the processing elements that each include at least one corresponding register:

predefining at least one corresponding configuration command; and

storing each of the at least one corresponding configuration command in one of the at least one register corresponding to the processing element;

processing data in at least one first processing element;

obtaining at least one of a comparison, a sign, a carry-over, and an error state during the processing of the data in the at least one first processing element;

in response to the at least one of the comparison, the sign, the carry-over, and the error state, generating for the at least one second processing element at least one first synchronization signal within a data stream during runtime;

processing data in at least one second processing element in a stream-like manner; and

in response to the at least one first synchronization signal, selecting at least one particular command from the stored configuration commands in order to control a jump in the sequence.

2. A runtime configurable processor comprising:

a plurality of configurable elements arranged in an array of more than one dimension, at least some of the plurality of configurable elements including an arithmetic logic unit, a configuration with respect to at least one of a function and an interconnection of at least one of the at least some configurable elements being reconfigurable at runtime in response to configuration data;

at least one multiplexer adapted to determine the at least one of the function and the interconnection in response to a state machine, which is adapted to control the at least one multiplexer; and

at least one storage component adapted for storing said configuration data;

wherein the at least one storage component:

is provided in the array; and

is selectively connectable to at least one of the at least some configurable elements via the at least one multiplexer so as to allow for the runtime reconfiguration.

3. The runtime configurable processor of claim 2, wherein the state machine is adapted to control the at least one multiplexer in response to received trigger signals.

4. The runtime configurable processor of claim 3, wherein the received trigger signals are generated in the array.

5. The runtime configurable processor of claim 3, wherein the received trigger signals are generated in the array by at least one of a counter and a comparator implemented in at least one of the configurable elements.

6. The runtime configurable processor of claim 4, wherein the received trigger signals are generated in the array by a counter implemented in at least one of the configurable elements.

7. The runtime configurable processor of claim 6, wherein the received trigger signals are multibit trigger signals generated by at least one of the configurable elements.

8. A runtime configurable processor comprising:

a plurality of configurable elements arranged in an array of more than one dimension, at least some of the plurality of configurable elements including an arithmetic logic unit, a configuration of at least one of a function and an interconnection of at least one of the at least some configurable elements being redeterminable at runtime in response to configuration select information;

a multiplexer arrangement adapted for determining said at least one of the function and the interconnection in response to said configuration select information;

at least one storage component adapted to store configuration data and provided in the array, wherein:

the at least one storage component is selectively connectable to at least one of the at least some configurable elements via at least one multiplexer of said multiplexer arrangement so as to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, configuration select information being pipelined through said array; and

the at least one multiplexer receives configuration select information from said pipeline; and

a state machine being provided to control the at least one multiplexer.

9. The runtime configurable processor of claim 8, wherein the configuration select information is pipelined along with the data to be processed via a configurable interconnection system.

10. The runtime configurable processor of claim 9, wherein the pipeline is adapted to transfer trigger signals as configuration select information via the configurable interconnection system.

11. The runtime configurable processor of claim 9, wherein the pipeline is adapted to transfer one bit trigger signals as configuration select information via the configurable interconnection system.

12. The runtime configurable processor of any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the state machine is adapted to control the at least one multiplexer in response to received trigger signals.

13. The runtime configurable processor of claim 12, wherein the received trigger signals are generated in the array.

14. The runtime configurable processor of claim 12, wherein the received trigger signals are generated in the array by at least one of a counter and a comparator.

15. The runtime configurable processor of claim 12, wherein the received trigger signals are generated in the array by a counter.

16. The runtime configurable processor of claim 15, wherein the received trigger signals are multibit trigger signals.

17. A method for synchronizing data processing in a runtime configurable processor, the runtime reconfigurable processor comprising: a plurality of configurable elements arranged in an array of more than one dimension, at least some of the plurality of configurable elements including an arithmetic logic unit, a configuration of at least one of a function and an interconnection of at least one of the at least some configurable elements being redeterminable at runtime in response to configuration data; and at least one storage component for the configuration data, the at least one storage component being provided in the array, the method comprising the steps of:

processing data by the configurable elements;

propagating processed data through the array;

generating, by at least one of the configurble elements, at least one configuration select information signal in the array according to data being processed;

propagating the at least one configuration select information signal in a pipelined manner, the propagation of the configuration select information signal being synchronous to the propagation of the processed data; and

using the propagated configuration select information signal to one of trigger a certain action in data processing and put the at least one of the configurable elements in a certain state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the propagated configuration select information signal is used to determine that at least one of: data is to be processed in continuous manner; data is to be processed in a single step manner; data is not to be processed; and a configuration is to be changed.

19. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed.

20. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the propagated configuration select information signal is used to change a configuration during runtime of the processor and while at least another element of the configurable elements processes data.

21. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed; and

the propagated configuration select information signal is used to change a configuration during runtime of the processor and while at least another element of the configurable elements processes data.

22. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter.

23. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed; and

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter.

24. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter.

25. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter.

26. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

27. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed; and

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

28. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

29. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

30. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

31. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed; and

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

32. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

33. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator.

34. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

the at least one storage component stores configuration data and is selectively connected to at least one of the at least some configurable elements via at least one multiplexer in a manner to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination; and

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

35. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

36. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

37. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

38. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

39. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

40. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

41. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

the at least one storage component stores configuration data is are selectively connected to at least one of the at least some configurable elements via at least one multiplexer in a manner to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination; and

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

42. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

43. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

44. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

45. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

46. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

47. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

48. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

49. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals.

50. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received trigger signals which were generated in the array.

51. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

52. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

53. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

54. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

55. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

56. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

57. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

58. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

59. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

60. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

61. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

62. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

63. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

64. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

65. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

66. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a state machine is provided to control the at least one multiplexer used to allow for the runtime configuration redetermination, the control being in response to received multibit trigger signals which were generated in the array.

67. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

68. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

69. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

70. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

71. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

72. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

73. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter;

74. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

75. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

76. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

77. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

78. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

79. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

80. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

81. The method of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein:

at least one configuration select information signal is pipelined downstream together with at least some of the data being processed;

a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a counter and a configuration select information signal is generated in the array by a comparator;

Assignments (2)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2018

From: PACT XPP TECHNOLOGIES AG

To: SCIENTIA SOL MENTIS AG

Reel/Frame 045532/0745 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2014

From: RICHTER, THOMAS; KRASS, MAREN

To: PACT XPP TECHNOLOGIES AG

Reel/Frame 032225/0089 →