Abstract: A data processing apparatus has an instruction memory system arranged to output an instruction word, capable of containing a plurality of instructions, respective instruction words being output in response to respective instruction addresses. An instruction execution unit contains a plurality of functional units, each capable of executing a respective instruction from the instruction word in parallel with execution of other instructions from the instruction word by other ones of the functional units. A power saving circuit is provided to switch a selectable subset of the functional units and/or parts of the instruction memory to a power saving state, while other functional units and parts of the instruction memory continue processing instructions in a normal power consuming state. The power saving circuit selects the functional units and/or parts of the instruction memory dependent on program execution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor comprising a plurality of functional units (110, 130, 135), each for executing an operation, and a VLIW controller (100) connected to each of said functional units (110, 130, 135) and adapted to controlling said functional units (110, 130, 135). The VLIW processor comprises at least one indication means (140) associated with one of said functional units (135) and adapted to registering and indicating to the VLIW controller (100) whether said one functional unit (135) is idle or operating.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus has an instruction memory system arranged to output an instruction word addressed by an instruction address. An instruction execution unit, processes a plurality of instructions from the instruction word in parallel. A detection unit, detects in which of a plurality of ranges the instruction address lies. The detection unit is coupled to the instruction execution unit and/or the instruction memory system, to control a way in which the instruction execution unit parallelizes processing of the instructions from the instruction word, dependent on a detected range. In an embodiment the instruction execution unit and/or the instruction memory system adjusts a width of the instruction word that determines a number of instructions from the instruction word that is processed in parallel, dependent on the detected range.

Abstract: A program of instruction words is executed with a VLIW data processing apparatus. The apparatus comprises a plurality of functional units capable of executing a plurality of instructions from each instruction word in parallel. The instructions from each of at least some of the instruction words are fetched from respective memory units in parallel, addressed with an instruction address that is common for the functional units. Translation of the instruction address into a physical address can be modified for one or more particular ones of the memory units. Modification is controlled by modification update instructions in the program. Thus, it can be selected dependent on program execution which instructions from the memory units will be combined into the instruction word in response to the instruction address.