Patent number: 6658578
Abstract: A processor (100) is provided that is a programmable fixed point digital signal processor (DSP) with variable instruction length, offering both high code density and easy programming. Architecture and instruction set are optimized for low power consumption and high efficiency execution of DSP algorithms, such as for wireless telephones, as well as pure control tasks. The processor includes an instruction buffer unit (106), a program flow control unit (108), an address/data flow unit (110), a data computation unit (112), and multiple interconnecting busses. Dual multiply-accumulate blocks improve processing performance. A memory interface unit (104) provides parallel access to data and instruction memories. The instruction buffer is operable to buffer single and compound instructions pending execution thereof. A decode mechanism is configured to decode instructions from the instruction buffer. The use of compound instructions enables effective use of the bandwidth available within the processor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 1, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 2, 2003
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Inventors:
Gilbert Laurenti, Jean-Pierre Giacalone, Emmanuel Ego, Anne Lombardot, Francois Theodorou, Gael Clave, Yves Masse, Karim Djafarian, Armelle Laine, Jean-Louis Tardieux, Eric Ponsot, Herve Catan, Vincent Gillet, Mark Buser, Jean-Marc Bachot, Eric Badi, N. M. Ganesh, Walter A. Jackson, Jack Rosenzweig, Shigeshi Abiko, Douglas E. Deao, Frederic Nidegger, Marc Couvrat, Alain Boyadjian, Laurent Ichard, David Russell