IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,976,151
Granted Patent B1
US 6,976,151 · App. 09/675,816 · Granted Dec 13, 2005

Decoding an instruction portion and forwarding part of the portion to a first destination, re-encoding a different part of the portion and forwarding to a second destination

Assignees: Intel Corporation; Analog Devices, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,976,151
App. No.
09/675,816
Granted
Dec 13, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one embodiment, a processor receives coded instructions and converts the instructions to a second code prior to execution. The processor may be a digital signal processor. A decoder in the processor determines the destination of the instructions and performs decoding functions based on the destination.

Claims (27)

1. A method of handling instructions within a processor comprising:

decoding at least a portion of an instruction to determine a first destination and a second destination of the instruction;

re-encoding only a portion of said decoded portion of the instruction to a second re-encoded code used for said first destination and forwarding the re-encoded instruction to said first destination; and

forwarding a different portion of said decoded portion of the instruction, without re-encoding, to said second destination.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first destination is a first functional unit which operates based on op codes.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending at least a portion of the decoded instruction to a second functional unit which operates based on decoded information.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a portion of the coded instruction to decode.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising handling instructions in a digital signal processor.

6. A method of processing instructions within a processor comprising:

receiving a coded processor instruction;

determining a first functional unit which operates based on coded instructions, a second functional unit which operates based on decoded information obtained from the coded instruction, and a third functional unit, which each receive parts of the instruction;

forwarding a first portion of the coded instruction having a first destination location representing the first functional unit, to the first functional unit;

decoding another portion of the instruction;

forwarding said another portion of the decoded instruction having a second destination location representing the second functional unit, to the second functional unit;

re-encoding only the remaining portion of the instruction to a second code; and

forwarding the re-encoded instruction to a third location representing the third functional unit.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said second functional unit is a data address generator.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third functional unit is a system pipe.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising processing instructions within a digital signal processor.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising decoding and re-encoding with a decoder.

11. A processor comprising:

a decoder which receives an instruction coded in a first code and decodes at least a portion of the instruction to form a decoded part and to determine a first destination and a second destination of the instruction and forwards a portion of the instruction to said first destination, which operates based on a decoded code; and

an encoder which re-encodes only a portion of said decoded portion of the instruction to a second re-encoded code used for said second destination and forwarding said second re-encoded instruction to said second destination.

12. The processor of claim 11 , wherein the decoder determines the destination of the instruction.

13. The processor of claim 12 , wherein the decoder forwards control signals to other portions of the processor.

14. The processor of claim 13 , wherein the control signals may be in the first code or the second code.

15. The processor of claim 11 , wherein the processor is a digital signal processor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2007
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 018891/0599 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2001
From: OVERKAMP, GREGORY A.; ROTH, CHARLES P.; SINGH, RAVI P.
To: INTEL CORPORATION; ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 011440/0471 →