Programmable APU Interface for Non-Quadword Data Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Auxiliary Processor Unit (APU) interface in integrated circuits requires data to be quadword-aligned for high-bandwidth operations, leading to inefficiencies and complexities when dealing with non-quadword-aligned data, as it may result in incorrect data transfer or the need for embedded processor cycles to align data, complicating instruction programming.
Innovation Solution
A hardware interface is developed for integrated circuits that includes data storage, a data shifter, and a control circuit with a programmable state machine, allowing for adaptive data alignment and transfer with the APU, enabling efficient handling of non-quadword-aligned data without consuming embedded processor cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is required to be quadword-aligned for high-bandwidth APU operations, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but device complexity and programming difficulty increase due to the need for alignment handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary alignment buffer between the APU and memory that automatically handles data alignment. This buffer includes a data buffer for storing data and an alignment buffer for adjusting alignment, with control logic that transparently manages the alignment process without requiring processor intervention or complicating programming.
2Manufacturing precision
If embedded processor instructions are used to pre-align non-quadword-aligned data, then data alignment is achieved, but processor cycles are consumed and instruction programming is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment buffer operates autonomously to self-align data without processor intervention. The control logic automatically detects misaligned data and performs the necessary alignment operations using the alignment buffer, allowing the system to serve its own alignment needs without consuming processor cycles or requiring complex instruction sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment buffer performs preliminary alignment of data before it reaches the APU. By pre-aligning data in the buffer using control logic that operates independently of the processor, the system prepares data for high-bandwidth transfer without requiring the processor to execute alignment instructions, thus preventing processor cycle consumption.
3Reliability
If the APU interface enforces strict quadword alignment, then high-bandwidth operation reliability is improved, but adaptability to handle non-aligned data decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment buffer provides dynamic alignment adjustment capability. The control logic can adaptively handle both aligned and misaligned data by dynamically configuring the alignment buffer, allowing the interface to maintain reliable high-bandwidth operations while simultaneously adapting to various data alignment requirements without sacrificing either reliability or flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A hardware interface in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The hardware interface comprises data storage coupled to store and provide data; a data shifter coupled to the data storage to at least bit shift the data obtained from the data storage; and a control circuit coupled to the data storage and the data shifter for controlling a transfer of the data from the data storage and the data shifter. The control circuit comprises a state machine for controlling operation of the data storage and the data shifter; and the state machine is programmable responsive to code executable by a processor coupled to an auxiliary processing unit to adapt to the auxiliary processing unit.