Register Free List Management via Pre-Startup Defect Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional register file management systems generate a register free list that includes defective registers, requiring complex repair logic and additional resources, which increases the size and complexity of the register file and can lead to performance issues due to the need to avoid defective registers during operation.
Innovation Solution
A pre-startup register free list is created that excludes defective registers, allowing only non-defective registers to be used for allocation and reallocation during normal operation, eliminating the need for row and column repair logic and reducing the register file's size and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional register file management includes repair logic to handle defective registers, then yield can be improved by replacing defective registers, but device complexity increases due to additional repair logic and configuration resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts defective register information from the operational register file and stores it separately in a defect list stored in memory. This separation removes the complexity of repair logic from the register file structure while maintaining the ability to avoid defective registers during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of defective registers during manufacturing and stores this information in a defect list before the register file enters normal operation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex runtime repair logic, as the system proactively avoids defective registers through the pre-populated defect list.
2Adaptability or versatility
If register free list includes all registers including defective ones, then allocation flexibility is improved, but performance deteriorates due to need to avoid defective registers during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a defect list as an intermediary data structure that mediates between the physical register file and the register allocation logic. This defect list allows the system to maintain flexible register allocation while automatically excluding defective registers, thus preserving both adaptability and performance.
3Reliability
If redundant registers are added to replace defective ones, then reliability is improved, but device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically copying or duplicating registers to create redundancy, the patent creates a logical copy of the register file by maintaining a defect list that virtualizes the exclusion of defective registers. This approach achieves reliability through information copying rather than physical register duplication, avoiding additional hardware area.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes one or more processing units that execute instructions that employ a register file, control logic creates a pre-startup register free list, prior to normal operation of at least one of the processing units, that includes a list of registers devoid of defective registers. In some implementations, no column and row repair information is provided to register file repair logic. In certain examples, the register file is configured as a repair-less register file. During normal operation of the one or more processing units, the integrated circuit employs the pre-startup register free list to select registers in a register file for the executing instructions. Associated methods are also presented.