Patents by Inventor Daniel B. Clifton

Daniel B. Clifton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8468191
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-precision computation are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of multiply-add units (MADDs) configured to perform one or more single precision operations and an arrangement generator to generate one or more mantissa arrangements using a plurality of double precision numbers. Each MADD is configured to receive and load said mantissa arrangements from the arrangement generator. The MADDs compute a result of a multi-precision computation using the mantissa arrangements. In an embodiment, the MADDs are configured to simultaneously perform operations that include, single precision operations, double-precision additions and double-precision multiply and additions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mantor, Jeffrey T. Brady, Daniel B. Clifton, Christopher Spencer
  • Publication number: 20110055308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-precision computation are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of multiply-add units (MADDs) configured to perform one or more single precision operations and an arrangement generator to generate one or more mantissa arrangements using a plurality of double precision numbers. Each MADD is configured to receive and load said mantissa arrangements from the arrangement generator. The MADDs compute a result of a multi-precision computation using the mantissa arrangements. In an embodiment, the MADDs are configured to simultaneously perform operations that include, single precision operations, double-precision additions and double-precision multiply and additions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mantor, Jeffrey T. Brady, Daniel B. Clifton, Christopher Spencer
  • Publication number: 20100332792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved vector data processing based on separately processing elements of a vector in multiple simultaneously executing vector element processing units are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a vector processing system including a plurality of vector element processing units and a routing infrastructure. The routing infrastructure is configured to route each element of a received vector to a respective one of the vector element processing units. The received vector may be from a memory which is coupled to the vector element processing units by the routing infrastructure. Each vector element processing unit is configured to simultaneously process two or more elements, wherein each of the two or more elements is from a separate vector. Embodiments of the present invention also provide for forwarding of data and results of computation between vector element processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. CLIFTON
  • Patent number: 7509363
    Abstract: A technique for approximating output values of a function based on LaGrange polynomials is provided. Factorization of a LaGrange polynomial results in a simplified representation of the LaGrange polynomial. With this simplified representation, an output value of a function may be determined based on an input value comprising a fixed point input mantissa and an input exponent. Based on a first portion of the fixed point input mantissa, a point value and at least one slope value are provided. At least one slope value is based on a LaGrange polynomial approximation of the function. Thereafter, the point value and the at least one slope value are combined with a second portion of the fixed point input mantissa to provide an output mantissa. Based on this technique, a single set of relatively simple hardware elements may be used to implement a variety of functions with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Daniel B. Clifton
  • Patent number: 6976043
    Abstract: A technique for approximating output values of a function based on LaGrange polynomials is provided. Factorization of a LaGrange polynomial results in a simplified representation of the LaGrange polynomial. With this simplified representation, an output value of a function may be determined based on an input value that includes an input mantissa and an input exponent. Based on a first portion of the input mantissa, a point value and at least one slope value are provided. Each of the at least one slope value is based on a LaGrange polynomial approximation of the function. Thereafter, the point value and the at least one slope value are combined with a second portion of the input mantissa to provide an output mantissa. Based on this technique, a single set of relatively simple hardware elements may be used to implement a variety of functions with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Clifton
  • Publication number: 20030037080
    Abstract: A technique for approximating output values of a function based on LaGrange polynomials is provided. Factorization of a LaGrange polynomial results in a simplified representation of the LaGrange polynomial. With this simplified representation, an output value of a function may be determined based on an input value comprising an input mantissa and an input exponent. Based on a first portion of the input mantissa, a point value and at least one slope value are provided. Each of the at least one slope value is based on a LaGrange polynomial approximation of the function. Thereafter, the point value and the at least one slope value are combined with a second portion of the input mantissa to provide an output mantissa. Based on this technique, a single set of relatively simple hardware elements may be used to implement a variety of functions with high precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel B. Clifton
  • Patent number: 6433790
    Abstract: A method and system for rendering a feature, such as a line, for display on an array of pixels. With this method, the line is identified on the pixel array, the line is expanded into a polygon, and color values are determined for the pixels within the polygon. Also, an antialiasing region is identified in the polygon, and blend values are computed for the pixels in this antialiasing region. Then, the color values determined for the pixels in the antialiasing region are modified as a function of these computed blend values. The pixels in the antialiasing region may then be shown at their modified color values, while the pixels that are in the polygon but not in the antialising region may be shown at their original determined color value. Preferably, the blend values for the pixels in the antialiasing region are calculated as a function of the locations of the pixels in that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Clayton Taylor, Daniel B. Clifton, David Gotwalt, Michael A. Mang, Thomas A. Piazza, Jeffrey D. Potter
  • Patent number: 5469556
    Abstract: A resource access security system for use in a data processing system for controlling access to resources correspondingly assigned to addresses in an address space of the data processing system by the use of descriptors. The descriptors correspondingly identify the resources and access to the resources is controlled by requiring the input of a descriptor of the resource to which access is sought. The resource access security system controls access to the resources by translating each descriptor being taught to gain access to a resource by use of a plurality of tables having stored therein user/job information, domain information and page information and a descriptor translator which controls the descriptor translation process. The descriptors are virtual addresses of addresses assigned to the resources of the data processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel B. Clifton