Abstract: A method for determining a logarithmic functional unit comprises providing a segment number; using the segment number to determine a piecewise linear approximation on a plurality of corresponding intervals for approximating a function for converting a fraction; providing a bit precision; converting endpoints separating the plurality of intervals to corresponding binary endpoints separating an additional plurality of intervals in the bit precision; determining an adjusted piecewise linear approximation that has an approximation error less than a threshold and is on the additional plurality of intervals; encoding coefficients of the adjusted piecewise linear approximation; determining a less precise approximation from the adjusted piecewise linear approximation as a candidate linear approximation, wherein the less precise approximation uses an argument value having a least bit-width while still being able to have an approximation error less than the threshold; and implementing the less precise approximation to

Abstract: An arithmetic module is provided, including a first adder, a first shifter coupled to the first adder, a multiplier coupled to the first shifter for receiving an external coefficient signal, a digit alignment unit coupled to the multiplier, a second adder coupled to the digit alignment unit, and a second shifter coupled to the second adder. The arithmetic module reduces the overall computation time effectively, as compared with a scalar processor, by employing a serial data connection design, and also significantly reduces power consumption of the digital signal processor by requiring fewer input and output ends than those of a multi-issue processor.

Abstract: A multicore interface with dynamic task management capability and a task loading and offloading method thereof are provided. The method disposes a communication interface between a micro processor unit (MPU) and a digital signal processor (DSP) and dynamically manages tasks assigned by the MPU to the DSP. First, an idle processing unit of the DSP is searched, and then one of a plurality of threads of the task is assigned to the processing unit. Finally, the processing unit is activated to execute the thread. Accordingly, the communication efficiency of the multicore processor can be effectively increased while the hardware cost can be saved.

Abstract: An approach is provided for a method and device for measuring Hematocrit (Hct) are disclosed that measures current variations from reactions of Electrochemistry on the electrodes. The method comprises acts of giving a blood sample on a pair of electrodes, obtaining a response current by providing a voltage on the electrodes, and determining an Hct value from the obtained current based on a predetermined rule. Therefore, the present disclosure provides higher reliable and precise measurement compared to the conventional measuring apparatus.

Abstract: An arithmetic module is provided, including a first adder, a first shifter coupled to the first adder, a multiplier coupled to the first shifter for receiving an external coefficient signal, a digit alignment unit coupled to the multiplier, a second adder coupled to the digit alignment unit, and a second shifter coupled to the second adder. The arithmetic module reduces the overall computation time effectively, as compared with a scalar processor, by employing a serial data connection design, and also significantly reduces power consumption of the digital signal processor by requiring fewer input and output ends than those of a multi-issue processor.

Abstract: A structure for LED Christmas light is provided, including a light holder, being a hollow body having a separating part connected to the inner wall of the light holder to divide the hollow interior of the light holder into two cavities. Each of the two opposite sides of the inner wall of the light holder connected to the separating part forms a slot and face the surface of the separating part of the two cavities, with each having a guiding channel. Two wire sets are fixed inside the two cavities. An LED light bulb has a positive pin and a negative pin inserted inside the guiding channel, respectively, and being electrically connected to the wire sets. A light cap has a holding part passing the LED light bulb to tightly engage to the top of the light holder so as to fix the LED light bulb to the light holder.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus for compiling high-level languages into specific processor architectures are provided. In this embodiment, the specific processor is encapsulated in a virtual processor interface with simple instruction set architecture, and a compiler translates application programs into corresponding assembly codes. Further, the difficulty of the compiler design is reduced.

Abstract: A structure for LED Christmas light is provided, including a light holder, being a hollow body having a separating part connected to the inner wall of the light holder to divide the hollow interior of the light holder into two cavities. Each of the two opposite sides of the inner wall of the light holder connected to the separating part forms a slot and face the surface of the separating part of the two cavities, with each having a guiding channel. Two wire sets are fixed inside the two cavities. An LED light bulb has a positive pin and a negative pin inserted inside the guiding channel, respectively, and being electrically connected to the wire sets. A light cap has a holding part passing the LED light bulb to tightly engage to the top of the light holder so as to fix the LED light bulb to the light holder.

Abstract: A multitasking processor and a task switching method thereof are provided. The task switching method includes following steps. A first task is executed by the multitasking processor, wherein the first task contains a plurality of switching-point instructions. An interrupt event occurs. Accordingly, the multitasking processor temporarily stops executing the first task and starts to execute a second task. The multitasking processor executes a handling process of the interrupt event and sets a switching flag. After finishing the handling process of the interrupt event, the multitasking processor does not perform task switching but continues to execute the first task, and the multitasking processor only performs task switching to execute the second task when it reaches a switching-point instruction in the first task.

Abstract: A self-compensation method includes: firstly using a min-sum algorithm to derive multiple output values in order to approach a operational result of the checking side of a belief-propagation; and then checking the present iteration number of decoding based on a checking rule; and finally, if in the previous step the present iteration number is identified with a to-be-corrected state, then performing a compensation procedure on the multiple output values, wherein the compensation term is dynamically selected in accordance with an input value of the checking nodes of the belief-propagation. The invention also provides an automatic compensation apparatus, which consists of devices such as a min-sum operating unit, and a dynamic quantization control unit, etc., which can be used, while executing the invented method described above, to decode the belief-propagation algorithm.

Abstract: A multicore interface with dynamic task management capability and a task loading and offloading method thereof are provided. The method disposes a communication interface between a micro processor unit (MPU) and a digital signal processor (DSP) and dynamically manages tasks assigned by the MPU to the DSP. First, an idle processing unit of the DSP is searched, and then one of a plurality of threads of the task is assigned to the processing unit. Finally, the processing unit is activated to execute the thread. Accordingly, the communication efficiency of the multicore processor can be effectively increased while the hardware cost can be saved.

Abstract: A digital signal processor structure by performing length-scalable Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) discloses a single processor element (single PE), and a simple and effective address generator are used to achieve length-scalable, high performance, and low power consumption in split-radix-2/4 FFT or IFFT module. In order to meet different communication standards, the digital signal processor structure has run-time configuration to perform for different length requirements. Moreover, its execution time can fit the standards of Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) or Inverse Fast Fourier Transformation (IFFT).

Abstract: A pipelined datapath with dynamically reconfigurable pipeline stages is provided, having a pipeline controller which generates clock signals and selects signals based on a system clock and a valid data signal to control each of the registers and each of the multiplexers in the pipeline circuit. In other words, when a valid datum is being processed, the pipeline register is activated to latch the output of the combinational logic circuit; otherwise, when an invalid datum is received, the register is not activated and the datum bypasses the register through a multiplexer. Therefore, the pipeline stages of the pipelined datapath are dynamically reconfigured to save the power dissipation effectively.

Abstract: An inter-cluster communication module using the memory access network is provided, including a plurality of clusters, a memory subsystem, a controller and a switch device. When some clusters issue a load instruction and some clusters issue a store instruction of an identical memory address concurrently, the controller controls the switch device which connects the clusters and the memory banks of the memory subsystem, so that the data item is transmitted from the cluster issuing the store instruction to the cluster issuing the load instruction through the switch device, thereby achieving data exchange between the clusters. Herein, the data item is selectively stored in the memory module depending on the address. Furthermore, the data item is also transmitted between the memory and the clusters over the switch device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual cluster architecture and method. The virtual cluster architecture includes N virtual clusters, N register files, M sets of function units, a virtual cluster control switch, and an inter-cluster communication mechanism. This invention uses a way of time sharing or time multiplexing to alternatively execute a single program thread across multiple parallel clusters. It minimizes the hardware resources for complicated forwarding circuitry or bypassing mechanism by greatly increasing the tolerance of instruction latency in the datapath. This invention may distribute function units serially into pipeline stages to support composite instructions. The performance and the code sizes of application programs can therefore be significantly improved with these composite instructions, of which the introduced latency can be completely hidden in this invention. This invention also has the advantage of being compatible with the program codes developed on conventional multi-cluster architectures.

Abstract: A self-compensation method includes: firstly using a min-sum algorithm to derive multiple output values in order to approach a operational result of the checking side of a belief-propagation; and then checking the present iteration number of decoding based on a checking rule; and finally, if in the previous step the present iteration number is identified with a to-be-corrected state, then performing a compensation procedure on the multiple output values, wherein the compensation term is dynamically selected in accordance with an input value of the checking nodes of the belief-propagation. The invention also provides an automatic compensation apparatus, which consists of devices such as a min-sum operating unit, and a dynamic quantization control unit, etc., which can be used, while executing the invented method described above, to decode the belief-propagation algorithm.

Abstract: A pipelined datapath with dynamically reconfigurable pipeline stages is provided, having a pipeline controller which generates clock signals and selects signals based on a system clock and a valid data signal to control each of the registers and each of the multiplexers in the pipeline circuit. In other words, when a valid datum is being processed, the pipeline register is activated to latch the output of the combinational logic circuit; otherwise, when an invalid datum is received, the register is not activated and the datum bypasses the register through a multiplexer. Therefore, the pipeline stages of the pipelined datapath are dynamically reconfigured to save the power dissipation effectively.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus for compiling high-level languages into specific processor architectures are provided. In this embodiment, the specific processor is encapsulated in a virtual processor interface with simple instruction set architecture, and a compiler translates application programs into corresponding assembly codes. Further, the difficulty of the compiler design is reduced.

Abstract: A unified single-core and multi-mode processor and its program execution method are provided. In an embodiment of this processor, a single instruction stream is different types of instructions randomly arranged in thereof. The processor switches its modes based on the type of a fetched instruction to execute the program corresponding to the fetched instruction.

Abstract: An inter-cluster communication module using the memory access network is provided, including a plurality of clusters, a memory subsystem, a controller and a switch device. When some clusters issue a load instruction and some clusters issue a store instruction of an identical memory address concurrently, the controller controls the switch device which connects the clusters and the memory banks of the memory subsystem, so that the data item is transmitted from the cluster issuing the store instruction to the cluster issuing the load instruction through the switch device, thereby achieving data exchange between the clusters. Herein, the data item is selectively stored in the memory module depending on the address. Furthermore, the data item is also transmitted between the memory and the clusters over the switch device.