Variable-Bitwidth Matrix Multiplication With Programmable Adder Reuse
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing matrix multiplication methods are limited by fixed bitwidth capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in computational cost, hardware footprint, and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A processor device and method for performing variable-bitwidth matrix multiplication using dot product hardware and programmable adder hardware to combine dot products based on target bitwidths, allowing for flexible bitwidth operations and efficient matrix multiplication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed bitwidth matrix multiplication is used, then hardware implementation is simple, but flexibility and adaptability are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal matrix multiplication hardware device that can perform operations at multiple bitwidths (1-bit, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit) through a single configurable architecture. The dot product hardware and programmable adder hardware are designed to be reconfigurable, allowing the same physical hardware to adapt to different precision requirements without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each bitwidth, thus achieving multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic bitwidth configuration capability where the hardware can adjust its operational precision based on the specific computation requirements. The programmable adder hardware receives bitwidth configuration inputs and dynamically reconfigures its addition logic to match the required output precision, enabling the system to transition between different operational states (different bitwidths) as needed.
2Measurement precision
If high precision (large bitwidth) matrix multiplication is performed, then computational accuracy is improved, but computational cost and hardware footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the matrix multiplication process into two distinct hardware stages: (1) dot product hardware that performs parallel multiplication and accumulation operations at the maximum supported bitwidth, and (2) programmable adder hardware that selectively combines intermediate results at the target bitwidth. This segmentation allows the computationally intensive dot product operations to be performed once at high precision, while the final combination step can be optimized for the specific output precision requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs dot product calculations with excessive precision (at the maximum supported bitwidth) and then selectively truncates or rounds the results to the required target bitwidth. This approach ensures that all intermediate calculations maintain full precision to avoid accumulation errors, while only the final results are reduced to the necessary precision level, thereby maintaining computational accuracy without unnecessarily increasing hardware footprint for the entire computation chain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If variable bitwidth operations are implemented, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a programmable adder hardware unit as an intermediary component between the dot product hardware and the final output. This intermediary receives the maximum-precision dot product results and the target bitwidth configuration, then performs selective combination and precision reduction. This mediator approach allows the core dot product hardware to remain relatively simple while the complexity of variable bitwidth handling is concentrated in the configurable adder stage.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for performing variable-bitwidth matrix multiplication are provided. For example, a processor device can include dot product hardware configured to perform a plurality of dot products at a first bitwidth to generate a plurality of first-bitwidth dot product outputs. The processor device can include programmable adder hardware. The programmable adder hardware can be configured to obtain data indicative of one or more target bitwidths. The programmable adder hardware can be configured to combine, based on the data indicative of the one or more target bitwidths, one or more subsets of the plurality of first-bitwidth dot product outputs according to the one or more target bitwidths.