Abstract: A data processor whose level of operation parallelism is enhanced by composing floating-point inner product execution units to be compatible with single instruction multiple data (SIMD) and thereby enhancing the operation processing capability is made possible. An operating system that can significantly enhance the level of operation parallelism per instruction while maintaining the efficiency of the floating-point length-4 vector inner product execution units is to be implemented. The floating-point length-4 vector inner product execution units are defined in the minimum width (32 bits for single precision) even where an extensive operating system becomes available, and compose the inner product execution units to be compatible with SIMD. The mutually augmenting effects of the inner product execution units and SIMD-compatible composition enhances the level of operation parallelism dramatically.

Abstract: The data processor executes an instruction having a direction for write to a reference register of other instruction flow and an instruction having a direction for reference register invalidation. The data processor is arranged as a data processor having typical functions as an integrated whole of processors (CPU1 and CPU2) which execute simple instruction flows. When executing the instruction having a direction for write to a reference register of other instruction flow, the processor confirms whether a write register is invalid. The processor waits for the register to be made invalid, if the register is not invalid, and performs write if the register is invalid. After having executed the instruction having a direction for reference register invalidation, the processor invalidates the register to which a reference has been made. When the reference register is invalid, execution of the referring instruction is suspended until it is made valid.

Abstract: A first object of the present invention is to reduce interrupt to a CPU which occurs when microprocessors that are connected by a network receive a packet from the network to efficiently operate the processors. A second object of the present invention is to provide a microprocessor and a communication method, which make it possible to reply a quick response to the microprocessor at the transmitting side. Each of the microprocessors includes the CPU and a communication module. The communication module includes a register that stores information which is managed by the microprocessor. The communication module compares information at a given bit position within the packet which is inputted through the network with information retained in the register, and determines whether a process corresponding to the packet reception is conducted by the CPU, or not, according to the comparison result.

Abstract: The RISC data processor is based on the idea that in case that there are many flag-generating instructions, the number of flags generated by each instruction is increased so that a decrease of flag-generating instructions exceeds an increase of flag-using instructions in quantity, thereby achieving the decrease in instructions. With the data processor, an instruction for generating flags according to operands' data sizes is defined. To an instruction set handled by the RISC data processor, an instruction capable of executing an operation on operand in more than one data size, which performs a process identical to an operation process conducted on the small-size operand on low-order bits of the large-size operand, and generates flags capable of coping with the respective data sizes regardless of the data size of each operand subjected to the operation is added. Thus, the reduction in instruction code space of the RISC data processor tight in instruction code space can be achieved.

Abstract: A basic cell capable of a fixed operating frequency regardless of the configuration information, which is also capable of effectively utilizing the arithmetic logic circuit within the cell in a LSI semiconductor integrated circuit, is capable of dynamic changes in configuration information. The circuit has an input switch ISW connected to multiple data input nodes, an output switch OSW connected to multiple data output nodes, a first data path containing an arithmetic logic circuit ALU and a result storage flip-flop CFF0 between the input switch ISW and output switch OSW. The second data path containing a data transfer flip-flop between an input switch ISW and an output switch OSW, and the result storage flip-flop CFF stores the calculated result data from the arithmetic logic circuit ALU, and the data transfer flip-flop holds data input from any of the multiple data input nodes.

Abstract: A data processor whose level of operation parallelism is enhanced by composing floating-point inner product execution units to be compatible with single instruction multiple data (SIMD) and thereby enhancing the operation processing capability is made possible. An operating system that can significantly enhance the level of operation parallelism per instruction while maintaining the efficiency of the floating-point length-4 vector inner product execution units is to be implemented. The floating-point length-4 vector inner product execution units are defined in the minimum width (32 bits for single precision) even where an extensive operating system becomes available, and compose the inner product execution units to be compatible with SIMD. The mutually augmenting effects of the inner product execution units and SIMD-compatible composition enhances the level of operation parallelism dramatically.

Abstract: A microcontroller and a controlling system having the same are provided, in which the increase in the program code for performing floating-point arithmetic, in particular, the increase in the amount of code due to a variable are suppressed, and the processing overhead for converting fixed-point data into floating-point data is reduced. The microcontroller includes a floating-point converter which inputs integer data and corresponding decimal point position data as fixed-point data and which converts the input data into floating-point data by acquiring a fraction part, an exponent part, and a sign of the floating type from the input data, and a floating-point arithmetic logic unit which receives the output of the floating-point converter and calculates the floating-point data. The floating-point converter acquires the exponent part by performing addition and subtraction of the decimal point position data and the shift amount of the fraction part to the integer data.

Abstract: The data processing apparatus includes two or more execution resources, each enabling a predetermined process for executing an instruction. The execution resources enable a pipeline process. Each execution resource treats instructions according to an in-order system following the instructions' flow order in case that the execution resource is in charge of the instructions. Also, each execution resource treats instructions according to an out-of-order system regardless of the instructions' flow order in case that the instructions are treated by different execution resources. Thus, local processes in the execution resources can be simplified and materialized in a small-scale of hardware. Consequently, the need for the whole synchronization in processing across execution resources is eliminated, and the locality of processes and the efficiency of electric power are increased.

Abstract: To guarantee response time while strictly maintaining the priority specified by software, a processor (1) which is a multithread processor having a thread multiplexer (10), and an issue information buffer (ISINF). An instruction code, and issue information (isid) for instructions issued at and after the next operating cycle which is added to the instruction code, are supplied to the thread multiplexer. The issue information is valid from the second and subsequent instruction flows, and is saved temporarily in an issue information buffer. This issue information is for example the position of an operating cycle which can issue a high priority instruction, i.e., information showing a slot. The thread multiplexer issues a low priority instruction at another operating cycle at which a high priority instruction is not issued according to the issue information.

Abstract: To guarantee response time while strictly maintaining the priority specified by software, a processor (1) which is a multithread processor having a thread multiplexer (10), and an issue information buffer (ISINF). An instruction code, and issue information (isid) for instructions issued at and after the next operating cycle which is added to the instruction code, are supplied to the thread multiplexer. The issue information is valid from the second and subsequent instruction flows, and is saved temporarily in an issue information buffer. This issue information is for example the position of an operating cycle which can issue a high priority instruction, i.e., information showing a slot. The thread multiplexer issues a low priority instruction at another operating cycle at which a high priority instruction is not issued according to the issue information.

Abstract: In a processor system comprising of a processor having an instruction decoder 22, a general register 61 composed of a plurality of register areas and at least one ALU 60, and a Java accelerator 30 for converting a Java bytecode sequence to a native instruction sequence for the processor and supplying the native instruction sequence to the instruction decoder. The Java accelerator 30 is composed of a bytecode translator 40 for converting the Java bytecode sequence to the native instruction sequence for the processor and a register status control unit 50 for mapping a Java operand stack to any of the register areas of the general register and detecting a bytecode redundant for the processor. When a redundant bytecode is detected by the register status control unit 50, the supply of the native instruction from the bytecode translator 40 to the instruction decoder 22 is inhibited.

Abstract: The data processor executes an instruction having a direction for write to a reference register of other instruction flow and an instruction having a direction for reference register invalidation. The data processor is arranged as a data processor having typical functions as an integrated whole of processors (CPU1 and CPU2) which execute simple instruction flows. When executing the instruction having a direction for write to a reference register of other instruction flow, the processor confirms whether a write register is invalid. The processor waits for the register to be made invalid, if the register is not invalid, and performs write if the register is invalid. After having executed the instruction having a direction for reference register invalidation, the processor invalidates the register to which a reference has been made. When the reference register is invalid, execution of the referring instruction is suspended until it is made valid.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a semiconductor device having a plurality of modules each enabled to perform properly while managing allowable power for an entire chip through distributed power control. A predetermined allowable power consumption value is defined for each module. The predetermined power consumption value refers to power consumption defined taking into account allowable power values for a plurality of modules. Each module takes a difference between the predetermined allowable power consumption value and an actual power consumption value as extra power and notifies other modules of the extra power thereof. To avoid a deadlock, each module is designed to be capable of performing data processing below the predetermined power consumption value without using extra power from another module. When notified of extra power by another module, each module can use for data processing power equal to the predetermined power consumption thereof and the extra power.

Abstract: In performing address translation from a virtual address space to a physical address space, when the virtual address space is divided into an area (P0), which is subjected to the address translation by TLB, and areas (P1 and P2), which are fixedly mapped to the physical address without being subjected the address translation, future extension of the physical address become difficult. A data processor comprises an address translation unit ATU that receives virtual address output from the CPU and outputs a physical address; the ATU includes a first translation lookaside buffer UTLB, a second translation lookaside buffer DTLB, a control circuit TLB_CTL that selects one of a first and a second translation lookaside buffers and performs address translation in accordance with an area of an address space in the virtual address.

Abstract: A Sweeney Robertson Tocher (SRT) divider and a square root extractor of floating point double-precision bit width, including a selector of single-precision and double-precision, a carry propagation adder (CPA) for conducting carry propagation of a partial remainder, a quotient digit selector circuit for making selection on a quotient digit, and a selector of a divisor or a partial square root extractor circuit, in a lower side thereof. A selector for selecting the propagation of carry between a carry save adder (CSA) in the upper side and the lower side thereof is provided, and a selector of a starting position within a quotient production circuit is provided, thereby enabling the execution of two (2) calculations, such as, division or square root extraction of the floating point single-precision, at the same time, but without increasing the bit width of a computing unit.

Abstract: In performing address translation from a virtual address space to a physical address space, when the virtual address space is divided into an area (P0), which is subjected to the address translation by TLB, and areas (P1 and P2), which are fixedly mapped to the physical address without being subjected the address translation, future extension of the physical address become difficult. A data processor comprises an address translation unit ATU that receives virtual address output from the CPU and outputs a physical address; the ATU includes a first translation lookaside buffer UTLB, a second translation lookaside buffer DTLB, a control circuit TLB_CTL that selects one of a first and a second translation lookaside buffers and performs address translation in accordance with an area of an address space in the virtual address.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a functional circuit block with predictive power controller is provided so as to construct a system LSI manufactured in a practicable number of design steps, which is extensible and in which power is reduced. The functional circuit block includes a prediction circuit and a predictive power shutdown circuit having a power status control circuit. The prediction circuit controls a power status of the functional circuit block by using the power status control circuit, based on input information thereto. When no information is inputted for a predetermined a period of time, the power status control circuit shifts from a power status of the functional circuit block to a low-power status.

Abstract: To guarantee response time while strictly maintaining the priority specified by software, a processor (1) which is a multithread processor having a thread multiplexer (10), and an issue information buffer (ISINF). An instruction code, and issue information (isid) for instructions issued at and after the next operating cycle which is added to the instruction code, are supplied to the thread multiplexer. The issue information is valid from the second and subsequent instruction flows, and is saved temporarily in an issue information buffer. This issue information is for example the position of an operating cycle which can issue a high priority instruction, i.e., information showing a slot. The thread multiplexer issues a low priority instruction at another operating cycle at which a high priority instruction is not issued according to the issue information.

Abstract: A distributed control system having a plurality of network-connected control units is realized in which a task having characteristics specific to a controller, such as input/output processing being necessary, or data stored in a dedicated controller having to be used, can be transferred to another controller for execution. In order to transfer a task specific to a controller to another controller for execution, a transfer source controller is provided with, in addition to an original function, a function of collecting input data of a storage area and context information and transferring them to a transfer destination controller. The destination controller has a function of storing the data transferred from the source controller in a storage area, making arithmetic operations, and sending the arithmetic result to the source controller. An arithmetic operation program is provided for both the source and destination controllers.

Abstract: A first object of the present invention is to reduce interrupt to a CPU which occurs when microprocessors that are connected by a network receive a packet from the network to efficiently operate the processors. A second object of the present invention is to provide a microprocessor and a communication method, which make it possible to reply a quick response to the microprocessor at the transmitting side. Each of the microprocessors includes the CPU and a communication module. The communication module includes a register that stores information which is managed by the microprocessor. The communication module compares information at a given bit position within the packet which is inputted through the network with information retained in the register, and determines whether a process corresponding to the packet reception is conducted by the CPU, or not, according to the comparison result.