Pipeline Flattener With Conditional Trigger Registers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pipelined processors' complex architecture makes it difficult to correlate instructions with data transfers during debugging, as execution stages operate independently, and existing debug solutions like pipeline flatteners have high gate counts and power consumption, which are undesirable for cost-sensitive applications.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a processor having a pipeline flattener that uses trigger registers to mark instructions for debug tracking, reducing the need to track all signals, and optionally includes counter registers to identify specific instructions, thereby reducing power consumption and gate count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional pipeline flatterer is used to track all pipeline signals for debugging, then complete debug tracking capability is achieved, but gate count and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and tracks only the essential debug-relevant signals from the complete pipeline signal set. Instead of monitoring all pipeline registers and signals, the invention selectively extracts instruction fetch signals, memory access signals, and register writeback signals that are necessary for debugging, thereby reducing gate count while maintaining debug functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pipeline debugging function into distinct components: instruction fetch stage tracking, execute stage tracking, memory access stage tracking, and register writeback stage tracking. Each stage has dedicated trigger registers and tracking logic, allowing independent configuration and reducing overall complexity compared to a monolithic pipeline flatterer
2Reliability
If a traditional pipeline flatterer is used to track all pipeline signals for debugging, then complete debug tracking capability is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic triggering where trigger registers are selectively activated only when specific debug conditions are met (e.g., when a breakpoint is hit or a specific instruction is executed). This periodic action approach allows the debug tracking to be enabled only when needed, significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous tracking of all pipeline signals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and tracks only the essential debug-relevant signals from the complete pipeline signal set. Instead of monitoring all pipeline registers and signals, the invention selectively extracts instruction fetch signals, memory access signals, and register writeback signals that are necessary for debugging, thereby reducing gate count while maintaining debug functionality
3Productivity
If pipeline stages operate independently to increase processing speed, then processor performance is improved, but correlation between instructions and data transfers becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces trigger registers as intermediary elements between pipeline stages and the debug unit. These trigger registers capture and hold trigger signals from each pipeline stage, serving as mediators that link independent pipeline stage operations to the centralized debug logic. This allows the debug unit to correlate instructions with their corresponding data transfers despite the independent operation of pipeline stages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where trigger signals propagate through pipeline stages and are captured by trigger registers, providing feedback information to the debug unit about instruction execution status. This feedback enables the debug unit to track and correlate instructions with their data transfers across independent pipeline stages
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device comprising a processor having a pipelined architecture and a pipeline flattener and a method for operating a pipeline flattener in a semiconductor device are provided. The processor comprises a pipeline having a plurality of pipeline stages and a plurality of pipeline registers that are coupled between the pipeline stages. The pipeline flattener comprises a plurality of trigger registers for storing a trigger, wherein the trigger registers are coupled between the pipeline stages.