Semiconductor Register Access Hardware Bypassing Software Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor devices face complications in software development and increased access time from CPU to register due to the need for arbitration processing in read-modify-write methods for shared resource registers.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a decoder circuit to determine the write-source processor, a write-enable setting storage circuit to manage processor permissions, a masking/merging circuit to generate write values, and a write-back circuit to efficiently write back values to the register, thereby reducing software complexity and access time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the read-modify-write method is used for shared resource registers, then access safety is improved, but access time increases and software complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based read-modify-write arbitration mechanism with a hardware-based permission registration mechanism. The permission registration circuit hardware directly controls write access permissions for each CPU to shared resource registers, eliminating the need for software arbitration and reducing access time while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a permission registration circuit as an intermediary between CPUs and shared resource registers. This circuit stores permission information and automatically determines whether write operations are permitted, acting as a mediator that enforces access control without requiring software intervention or arbitration.
2Reliability
If the read-modify-write method is used for shared resource registers, then access safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex software arbitration logic with a simple hardware permission registration circuit. The circuit stores permission information in a straightforward manner and automatically processes write requests based on stored permissions, significantly reducing software complexity while maintaining access safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The permission registration circuit performs self-service by automatically determining write permissions based on stored permission information. When a CPU attempts to write to a shared resource register, the circuit autonomously checks permissions and either permits or blocks the operation without requiring software intervention, simplifying the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
Access time from a CPU to a register can be reduced while complication of software is prevented. A semiconductor device includes: a decoder circuit determining a write-source process; a write-enable setting storage circuit storing a write-enable setting that indicates a processor enabled to execute writing into each bit of a write-destination register; a masking/merging circuit generating a value to be written back into the write-destination register on the basis of the write-enable setting and the write-source processor; and a write-back circuit writing back the value to be written back into the write-destination register.