Memory Address Interface Unit for Digital Signal Processor Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In SIMT architecture digital signal processors, the existing addressing mechanisms are inflexible and suffer from latency issues, limiting the ability to efficiently read or write data in irregular patterns, which reduces processor performance, especially in applications like OFDM systems.
Innovation Solution
A digital signal processor with a memory address interface unit that provides addressing data as an address vector, allowing for flexible addressing and compensating for latency by storing addressing data before it is requested, enabling parallel handling with processing and reducing startup delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If addressing data is read from the third unit after the first memory unit requests it, then the system follows traditional sequential access, but latency delays the availability of addressing data
Solution Approach 1:
The memory address interface unit reads addressing data from the third unit in advance, before the first memory unit actually requests it. This preliminary action eliminates the latency delay by ensuring addressing data is already available when needed, without requiring complex reconfiguration of the addressing mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed preselected addressing modes are used in the address generation unit, then the addressing mechanism is simple, but flexibility in reading or writing data patterns is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The memory address interface unit acts as an intermediary between the third unit (providing addressing data) and the first memory unit (using addressing data). This intermediary enables flexible addressing patterns by allowing addressing data to be read in advance and stored, decoupling the flexibility requirement from the core addressing mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The addressing function is segmented into separate components: the third unit provides addressing data, the memory address interface unit manages the interface and timing, and the first memory unit performs data access. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling flexibility without overwhelming complexity
3Productivity
If addressing data is read in parallel with functional unit processing, then processor performance improves, but timing synchronization becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The memory address interface unit autonomously manages the timing and coordination of addressing data transfer. It automatically reads addressing data in advance, stores it, and makes it available to the first memory unit without requiring complex external timing control, enabling parallel processing while keeping timing control manageable
Data Source
AI summary
In a digital signal processor (200) comprising at least one vector execution unit (203, 205) and at least a first memory unit (230, 231) a third unit is arranged to provide addressing data in the form of an address vector to be used for addressing the first memory unit (230, 231), said third unit being connectable to the first memory unit (230, 231) through the on-chip network (244), in such a way that data provided from the third unit (250) can be used to control the reading from and/or the writing to the first memory unit (230, 231). This enables fast reading from and writing to a memory unit of data in any desired order.