TLB Output Comparator Structure for Single-Cycle Address Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional translation lookaside buffer (TLB) structures in processor designs are not fast enough to provide physical address translations in certain systems, leading to delays in memory access.
Innovation Solution
A processor with a TLB that includes a data array and a compare unit, where the data array outputs translated physical addresses within a clock cycle and the compare unit concurrently compares these addresses with outstanding write requests, providing hit indications within the same cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional TLB structures are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the processing speed becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The TLB is segmented into multiple data arrays (first data array, second data array) that can be accessed in parallel. Each data array handles specific address translation tasks, allowing simultaneous operations to increase overall translation speed without requiring a single complex monolithic structure
Solution Approach 2:
The compare unit performs preliminary comparison actions by concurrently comparing translated physical addresses with outstanding write request addresses within the same clock cycle. This preliminary action identifies potential conflicts before they affect memory operations, enabling faster conflict resolution and reducing overall processing latency
Solution Approach 3:
The patent merges the address translation function and the address comparison function into a unified TLB structure. The data arrays provide translation while the compare unit simultaneously performs conflict detection, combining multiple functions that would traditionally require separate processing stages into a single integrated unit
2Loss of time
If sequential processing is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the time required for memory access increases
Solution Approach 1:
The TLB maintains continuous useful action by performing address translation and address comparison simultaneously within the same clock cycle. The compare unit continuously monitors outstanding write requests against translated addresses, ensuring no processing stage idle time and maximizing throughput without requiring complex multi-cycle sequencing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the processing by enabling concurrent operations within the same clock cycle. Instead of sequential processing through multiple cycles, the system performs translation and comparison in parallel time slots, effectively adding a time dimension to the processing architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A processor includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) including a data array and a compare unit. The data array includes a number of entries each configured to store a respective translated physical address. In response to a read access to a given entry of the TLB, the data array is configured to output within a particular clock cycle, the respective translated physical address stored in the given entry. In addition the compare unit may be configured to compare the respective translated physical address output by the data array with a number of additional addresses. The compare unit may also be configured to provide a hit indication for each of the additional addresses within the particular clock cycle.