Single Cycle Data Movement Between Integer and Floating-Point Registers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microprocessor technologies face performance reduction due to the latency associated with load and store memory instructions when moving data between integer and floating-point register files, which requires multiple cycles.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a processor architecture that allows data to be moved directly between an integer register file and a floating-point register file using an integer execution unit with single cycle latency, eliminating the need for memory operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If load and store memory instructions are used to move data between integer and floating-point register files, then data can be transferred between the two register files, but the transfer requires multiple cycles which reduces processor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a direct data pathway coupled to the integer execution unit - that enables direct data transfer between the integer register file and floating-point register file. This intermediary pathway bypasses the traditional memory-based load/store instructions, allowing data to move directly between register files in a single cycle without involving memory operations.
2Reliability
If memory operations are used to move data between register files, then data can be transferred, but the process requires multiple cycles which reduces processor efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data transfer function from the memory subsystem and relocates it to the execution unit. By taking out the data movement capability from memory operations and embedding it directly in the integer execution unit, the system enables single-cycle transfers between register files, thereby improving processor efficiency without sacrificing data movement functionality.
3Reliability
If traditional load and store instructions are used for inter-register-file data transfer, then data can be moved between integer and floating-point registers, but the multi-cycle latency reduces overall processor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing a direct data pathway coupled to the integer execution unit that connects both register files. This preliminary structural arrangement allows data to be transferred immediately in a single cycle when needed, rather than requiring multi-cycle memory operations, thus increasing data transfer speed while maintaining transfer accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing single cycle movement of data between a floating-point register file (FRF) and a general purpose or integer register file (IRF) of a microprocessor system are provided. The system may include an integer execution unit operative to execute instructions with single cycle latency, a floating-point execution unit, a working register file (WRF), an FRF, and an IRF. To achieve the single cycle movement functionality, the integer execution unit may physically own the WRF, IRF, and FRF, and may monitor and control any dependencies between them. Thus, since the integer execution unit has direct read access to both the IRF and the FRF, data may be moved between the two register files using the single cycle operation of the integer execution unit, without the need to store and load the data from memory.