Parallel Instruction Demarcator Logic for Variable-Length Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional processing units face challenges in efficiently demarcating and decoding instructions of varying lengths due to the complexity and power consumption associated with traditional RISC and CISC architectures, which require elaborate decoders and increase energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of instruction demarcators and demarcation methods that use logic blocks to determine instruction lengths and boundaries, allowing for the demarcation of instruction sequences into individual instructions using LEN positioned bits and LENCARRY signals, enabling efficient handling of instructions of varying lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional CISC architecture uses elaborate decoders to determine instruction boundaries based on individual instructions and their complexity, then instruction demarcation capability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The instruction stream is segmented into fixed-width chunks (e.g., 2-byte or 4-byte units), and pre-computed tags are attached to each chunk indicating whether it contains a complete instruction or a partial instruction. This segmentation approach replaces complex runtime decoding with simple tag checking, resolving the contradiction between demarcation capability and decoder complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instruction boundary information is pre-computed and stored as tags during instruction encoding or compilation, rather than being determined at runtime through complex decoding. The tags are generated in advance and simply looked up during execution, eliminating the need for elaborate decoders while maintaining accurate instruction demarcation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional CISC architecture uses elaborate decoders to determine instruction boundaries, then instruction demarcation capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the instruction stream into fixed-width chunks and attaching pre-computed tags, the system avoids the energy-intensive operation of complex runtime decoding. The segmentation enables simple tag-based boundary detection that consumes significantly less energy while maintaining full instruction demarcation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight, simple tag structures (essentially small binary indicators) instead of complex decoder circuits. These simple tags are inexpensive in terms of both hardware area and energy consumption, yet effectively serve the purpose of instruction boundary detection.
3Device complexity
If traditional RISC architecture uses one standard instruction width to mark boundaries, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to instructions of varied lengths is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the simplicity of fixed-width instruction processing with the flexibility of variable-length instructions by combining fixed-width chunking with pre-computed tags. The fixed-width chunks maintain simple hardware processing, while the tags encode the variable-length instruction boundary information, achieving both simplicity and adaptability simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Parallel instruction demarcators and methods for parallel instruction demarcation are included, wherein an instruction syllable sequence comprising a plurality of instruction syllables is received and stored at an instruction buffer. It is determined, using one or more logic blocks arranged in a sequence, a size of an instruction and at least one boundary at which the instruction is demarcated. Additionally, using a controlling logic block a restart point is determined from where the sequence of instruction syllables is examined and demarcated into individual instructions.