Abstract: A microprocessor includes a hardware instruction translator that translates x86 ISA and ARM ISA machine language program instructions into microinstructions, which are encoded in a distinct manner from the x86 and ARM instructions. An execution pipeline executes the microinstructions to generate x86/ARM-defined results. The microinstructions are distinct from the results generated by the execution of the microinstructions by the execution pipeline. The translator directly provides the microinstructions to the execution pipeline for execution. Each time the microprocessor performs one of the x86 ISA and ARM ISA instructions, the translator translates it into the microinstructions. An indicator indicates either x86 or ARM as a boot ISA. After reset, the microprocessor initializes its architectural state, fetches its first instructions from a reset address, and translates them all as defined by the boot ISA. An instruction cache caches the x86 and ARM instructions and provides them to the translator.

Abstract: A universal serial bus (USB) device and a USB system are provided. The USB device comprises an electrical physical layer (EPHY) module, a logical physical layer (LPHY) module and a link layer module. The EPHY module reads the voltages of first and second transmission lines of a USB cable to extract a recovery clock and data. The LPHY module detects the recovery clock and data to output an indication signal. When the recovery clock is not detected, the LPHY module sets the indication signal to a predetermined value. The link layer module determines whether the indication signal is at the predetermined value, and makes a state machine thereof leave a normal operation state when the indication signal has been maintained at the predetermined value over a predetermined time period.

Abstract: In a method for adjusting power-saving strategy of a peripheral device controller in communication with a CPU, whether the CPU is in a working state while the peripheral device enters a power-saving mode is first determined. Then, interrupt the CPU at relatively short intervals during the power-saving mode if the CPU is in the working state; and interrupt the CPU at relatively long intervals during the power-saving mode if the CPU is not in the working state.

Abstract: An intra-frame prediction method and a prediction apparatus using the same are provided. The prediction apparatus includes an input data unit, a control unit, an selection unit, a processing unit, and an output data selecting unit. The input data unit provides surroundings pixels of a predicted block. The control unit provides an input selection signal, a computing parameter, and an output selection signal. The selection unit selects the surroundings pixels according to the input selection signal. The processing unit computes the selected surroundings pixels for producing a plurality of results according to the computing signal. The output data unit selects results according to the output selection signal.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes a first plurality of fuses selectively blown with control values, a second plurality of fuses selectively blown collectively with an error correction value computed from the control values, control hardware that receives the control values and provides them to circuits of the microprocessor for controlling operation thereof. A state machine, serially coupled to the control hardware and to the fuses, serially scans the control values from the first fuses to the control hardware and serially scans the control values and the error correction value to a first register. The microprocessor reads the control values and error correction value from the first register, detects and corrects an error in the control values using the error correction value, writes the corrected control values to a second register, and causes the state machine to serially scan the corrected control values from the second register to the control hardware.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes a first plurality of fuses, a predetermined number of which are selectively blown. Control values are provided from the fuses to circuits of the microprocessor to control operation thereof. A second plurality of fuses are blown with the predetermined number of the first plurality of fuses that are blown and a Boolean complement of the predetermined number. In response to being reset, the microprocessor: reads the predetermined number and the Boolean complement of the predetermined number from the second plurality of fuses, Boolean complements the predetermined number read from the second plurality of fuses to generate a result, compares the result with the Boolean complement of the predetermined number read from the second plurality of fuses, and prevent itself from fetching and executing user program instructions if the result does not equal the Boolean complement of the predetermined number read from the second plurality of fuses.

Abstract: An out-of-order execution in-order retire microprocessor includes a branch information table comprising N entries. Each of the N entries stores information associated with a branch instruction. The microprocessor also includes a reorder buffer comprising M entries. Each of the M entries stores information associated with an unretired instruction within the microprocessor. Each of the M entries includes a field that indicates whether the unretired instruction is a branch instruction and, if so, a tag identifying one of the N entries in the branch information table storing information associated with the branch instruction. N is significantly less than M such that the overall die space and power consumption is reduced over a processor in which each reorder buffer entry stores the branch information.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes a first plurality of fuses, selectively blown with a predetermined value for provision to circuits of the microprocessor to control operation of the microprocessor. The microprocessor also includes a second plurality of fuses, selectively blown with error detection information used to detect an error in the first plurality of fuses such that a blown fuse of the microprocessor returned a non-blown binary value. In response to a user program instruction, the microprocessor is configured to determine whether there is an error in the first plurality of fuses such that a blown fuse returned a non-blown binary value using the error detection information from the second plurality of fuses.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes a first plurality of fuses, a predetermined number of which are selectively blown. Control values are provided from the first plurality of fuses to circuits of the microprocessor to control operation of the microprocessor. The microprocessor also includes a second plurality of fuses, blown with the predetermined number of the first plurality of fuses that are blown. In response to being reset, the microprocessor is configured to: read the first plurality of fuses and count a number of them that are blown; read the predetermined number from the second plurality of fuses; compare the counted number with the predetermined number read from the second plurality of fuses; and prevent itself from fetching and executing user program instructions if the number counted from reading the first plurality of fuses does not equal the predetermined number read from the second plurality of fuses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a graphics processing unit comprising an instruction decoder and sum-of-absolute-differences (SAD) accleration logic. The instruction decoder is configured to decode a SAD instruction into parameters describing an M×N and an n×n pixel block in U,V coordinates. The SAD accleration logic is configured to receive the parameters and compute SAD scores. Each SAD score corresponds to the n×n block and to one block contained within the M×N pixel block and horizontally offset within the n×n block. Also disclosed is a GPU comprising a host processor interface receiving video acceleration instructions and a video acceleration unit. The unit is responsive to the instructions and comprises SAD accleration logic configured to receive the parameters and compute SAD scores. Each SAD score corresponds to an n×n pixel block and to one block contained within an M×N block and horizontally offset within the n×n block. M, N, and n are integers.

Abstract: A multi-chip package structure is provided with a first chip, a substrate adjacent to the first chip, a plurality of contacts connecting the first chip and the substrate, a second chip disposed between the first chip and the substrate and connecting to the first chip, and a underfill film, wherein the underfill film covers the contact to isolate the contact from the second chip, wherein an empty space is defined by the second chip and the substrate so that the second chip does not contact the substrate.

Abstract: Mapping management methods and systems are provided. First, a sub-read command comprising mapping directory number, block offset and page offset is obtained. Then, a specific block mapping table is located from a plurality of block mapping tables according to the mapping directory number, and a first specific entry is located from the specific block mapping table according to the block offset, wherein the first specific entry comprises a mapping mode setting and block information. When the mapping mode setting is a page mapping mode, a second specific entry is located from a page mapped block table according to the block information, and a page mapping table is located corresponding to a specific page mapped block. Thereafter, a third specific entry is located from the page mapping table according to the page offset, and a page of data is located from a storage unit according to the third specific entry.

Abstract: An optical USB device includes an electro-optical converter configured to receive optical signals from an optical fiber and to convert them into first electrical signals and configured to receive second electrical signals and to convert them into optical signals for transmission to the optical fiber. A USB 3.0 pin-compatible connector is coupled to the electro-optical converter. The pin-compatible connector is configured for coupling to a USB 3.0 connector of another USB device. The pin-compatible connector includes a first pair of pins configured for transmitting the first electrical signals from the optical USB device. The pin-compatible connector also includes a second pair of pins configured for receiving the second electrical signals into the optical USB device. The pin-compatible connector also includes a third pair of pins configured for transceiving third electrical signals according to a non-USB serial bus interface protocol to control and configure the electro-optical converter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining whether a current macroblock and an adjacent macroblock thereof are located in the same slice. The method is used in a predetermined process for a block-based digitally encoded image. The block-based digitally encoded image is represented as an encoded bit-stream and each macroblock therein is assigned a sequence characteristic number. The method includes: providing a memory space for storing and tracing a slice changing point; initializing the slice changing point to a predetermined number; checking the encoded bit-stream, and when the current slice is determined to change, setting the slice changing point to a derived sequence characteristic number derived from the sequence characteristic number of the current macroblock; and determining whether the current macroblock and the adjacent block thereof are in the same slice according to a comparison result between the sequence characteristic number of the adjacent block and the slice changing point.

Abstract: A circuit substrate fabricating process includes a base layer, a patterned conductive layer, a dielectric layer, an outer pad and a conductive block. The patterned conductive layer is disposed on the base layer and has an inner pad. The dielectric layer is disposed on the base layer and covers the patterned conductive layer. The outer pad is disposed on the dielectric layer. The conductive layer is passed through the dielectric layer and connected between the outer pad and the inner pad, wherein the outer pad and the conductive block are formed as an integrative unit, and an outer diameter of the outer pad is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the conductive block. In addition, a fabricating process for the circuit substrate is also provided.

Abstract: A phase error circuit including phase difference logic and delay and register logic. The phase difference logic provides a pulse difference signal including at least one difference pulse indicative of a timing difference between selected edges of a pair of clock signals. The delay and register logic receives the pulse difference signal and provides a phase error value representing phase error between the clock signals. The delay and register logic may include a delay line with multiple delay cells and taps coupled in series in which each tap provides an output state of a delay cell. The register logic registers a state of each tap to provide delay bits in response to each trailing edge of the difference pulses. Each delay bit may remain set until reset so that the longest pulse difference signal is registered to provide the peak phase error.

Abstract: A spiral inductor device is provided. The spiral inductor device includes a first spiral conductive trace with multiple turns and a second spiral conductive trace with multiple turns adjacent thereto, disposed on an insulating layer over a substrate, wherein the outermost turn and the innermost turn of the first spiral conductive trace have a first end and a second end, respectively, the outermost turn and the innermost turn of the second spiral conductive trace have a third end and a fourth end, respectively, and the second and fourth ends are connected to ground. A non-continuous spiral conductive trace with a single turn is disposed on the insulating layer, parallel and adjacent to the outermost turn of the first spiral conductive trace, wherein the non-continuous spiral conductive trace is connected to the ground and at least a portion thereof is disposed between the first and the second spiral conductive traces.

Abstract: A method for performing a hash operation, including providing an atomic hash instruction that directs a microprocessor to perform a the hash operation and to indicate whether the hash operation has been interrupted by an interrupting event; translating the atomic hash instruction into first and second micro instructions; via a hash unit, first executing the first micro instructions to accomplish the hash operation according to the hash mode; and via an integer unit, second executing the second micro instructions in parallel with the first executing to test a bit in a flags register, to update text pointer registers, and to process interrupts during execution of the hash operation. The atomic hash instruction has an opcode field, configured to prescribe the hash operation, and a hash mode field, configured to prescribe that the microprocessor accomplish the hash operation according to a one of a plurality of hash modes.

Abstract: A power management method for use in a computer system having a processor, a power management module and a phase lock loop circuit (PLL) is provided. The power management module is coupled to a plurality of peripheral modules and the computer system and the processor are capable of being operated in a working state and power saving states. The method includes the following. When the computer system is operated in the working state and the processor is entered into a lowest power consumption state among the power saving states, states of the peripheral modules are detected to determine whether a specific condition has been matched. If the specific condition is matched, the processor is directed to a control state to control the PLL according to a control state configuration.

Abstract: An exemplary graphics processing unit (GPU) comprises a decoder and a video processing unit. The decoder is configured to decode a first and a second deblocking filter acceleration instruction. The first and second deblocking filter instructions are associated with a deblocking filter used by a particular video decoder. The video processing unit is configured to receive encoded by the deblocking filter acceleration instructions, and to determine first and second memory sources specified by the received parameters as one of a plurality of memory sources located on the GPU. The video processing unit is further configured to load a first block of pixel data from the first memory source, and to apply the deblocking filter to the first block of pixel data, and to load a second block of pixel data from the second memory source, and to apply the deblocking filter to the second block of pixel data.