Vector Functional Unit Concurrent Execution Heterogeneous Instructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processor architectures face inefficiencies in utilizing execution resources due to underutilization when handling vector instructions of varying element sizes, leading to suboptimal performance in concurrent processing of multiple tasks.
Innovation Solution
A processor architecture that enables concurrent execution of multiple vector program instructions, regardless of their element size, by utilizing a functional unit that can operate on vectors of maximum element size, allowing underutilized resources to be repurposed for executing additional instructions, thus maximizing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a processor executes vector instructions on maximum element size, then the functional unit operates at full capacity, but resources are underutilized when data elements require less than maximum element size
Solution Approach 1:
The functional unit is designed to handle multiple element sizes (e.g., 64-bit, 32-bit, 16-bit, 8-bit) using the same hardware resources. When a vector instruction operates on elements smaller than the maximum size, the unused portions of the functional unit are made available to execute additional vector instructions concurrently, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple purposes and maximize resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of leaving execution resources idle when processing smaller element sizes, the system continuously utilizes available resources by scheduling and executing additional vector instructions in parallel. This ensures that the functional unit operates continuously at full capacity, eliminating wasted execution cycles and maintaining maximum productivity throughout.
2Productivity
If multiple vector instructions are executed concurrently, then resource utilization increases, but instruction complexity and scheduling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The instruction issue unit segments the process of issuing vector instructions into distinct stages: identifying available functional units, selecting compatible instructions based on element size matching, and scheduling execution. This segmentation of the scheduling process into manageable steps reduces overall complexity while enabling concurrent execution of multiple vector instructions.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor may include a vector functional unit that supports concurrent operations on multiple data elements of a maximum element size. The functional unit may also support concurrent execution of multiple distinct vector program instructions, where the multiple vector instructions each operate on multiple data elements of less than the maximum element size.