Half Word Unit Alignment in Digital Signal Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital signal processors face challenges in aligning data from disparate register units for certain operations, such as addition or subtraction, as these units are not always properly aligned, hindering efficient execution of instructions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that combine corresponding half word units from multiple non-adjacent register units within a digital signal processor during the execution of a single instruction, allowing for proper alignment and processing of data within a destination register unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is stored in multiple non-adjacent register units, then data storage capacity is improved, but data alignment for operations becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data alignment mechanism that acts as an intermediary between non-adjacent register units. This mechanism automatically aligns data from disparate register units (e.g., R0 and R2) by extracting corresponding half-word units and repositioning them into a properly aligned format, eliminating the manual alignment burden while preserving the benefits of non-adjacent storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments data into half-word units (e.g., 16-bit portions) within register units. By dividing the 32-bit register into two 16-bit half-word units, the system can selectively extract and recombine specific segments from non-adjacent registers, enabling flexible data alignment without requiring adjacent physical storage locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If register units are accessed individually, then flexibility in data selection is improved, but operational efficiency for aligned operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capabilities of individually accessing multiple register units with the efficiency of aligned operations. By combining data from non-adjacent register units through automatic alignment mechanisms, the system achieves both the flexibility of selective data access and the operational efficiency of aligned data processing in a single instruction cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data access mechanism that handles both adjacent and non-adjacent register units uniformly. The same instruction format and alignment mechanism work whether data comes from registers R0-R1 or R0-R2, providing multi-functional capability that maintains flexibility while improving operational efficiency across different access patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system to combine corresponding half word units from multiple register units within a microprocessor, such as, for example, a digital signal processor, during execution of a single instruction are described. An instruction to combine predetermined disparate source register units from a register file structure is received within a processing unit. The instruction is then executed to combine corresponding half word units from the source register units and to input the half word units into respective portions of a resulting destination register unit. During the execution of the instruction, the predetermined source register units are identified and corresponding most significant half word units and associated data are retrieved from the identified register units. The retrieved half word units are further combined and input into a respective most significant portion of a resulting destination register unit. Similarly, corresponding least significant half word units and associated data are retrieved from the identified register units. The retrieved half word units are further combined and input into a respective least significant portion of a resulting destination register unit. Finally, the resulting destination register unit is stored into the register file structure for further processing.