Abstract: A system and method for monitoring energy use in an electronic device. In one embodiment, an energy monitoring system includes a processor and an energy monitor module. The energy monitor module includes instructions that when executed cause the processor to receive values of measured parameters of a pulse signal that controls the switching of energy to an energy storage device in a switch mode power supply that provides power to an electronic device. The instructions also cause the processor to determine, based on the values of measured parameters, attributes of operation of the electronic device powered by the energy source during an interval corresponding to the measured parameters. The instructions further cause the processor to generate, based on the attributes of operation, a control signal that causes the electronic device to change the loading of the power supply by the electronic device.

Abstract: A circuit and method for accelerating function evaluation. In one embodiment, a processor includes a function accelerator unit configured to evaluate a mathematical function. The function accelerator unit includes a coefficient generator and a polynomial evaluator. The coefficient generator is configured to generate coefficients for a polynomial evaluated to produce a solution to the function. The coefficient generator varies values of the coefficients based on an input value at which the function is to be evaluated. The polynomial evaluator configured to apply the coefficients provided by the coefficient generator to evaluate the polynomial at the input value.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

Abstract: A processor includes a processor core. The processor core includes a first execution unit and a second execution unit. The first execution unit is configured to 1) execute a complex instruction that requires multiple instruction cycles to execute; 2) generate a wait signal that when asserted suspends execution of instructions by the second execution unit for at least a portion of the execution of the complex instruction; and 3) maintain information defining parameters of the wait signal generation across interruption of the complex instruction by execution of a different instruction in the first execution unit.

Abstract: A system and method for accelerating evaluation of functions. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a processor, a value to be processed, and notification of a function to be applied to the value. The value is represented in a floating point format. The value is converted, by the processor, to a fixed point format. Which of Newton-Raphson and polynomial approximation is to be used to apply the function to the value in the fixed point format is determined by the processor. The function is applied to the value in the fixed point format to generate a result in the fixed point format. The result is converted to the floating point format by the processor.

Abstract: A processor includes an instruction storage memory, a processor core, and an instruction merge unit. The processor core includes a plurality of execution units coupled to the instruction storage memory. A first of the execution units is configured to execute instructions provided from the instruction storage memory via a first instruction path, and to execute instructions provided by a second of the execution units via a second instruction path. The second of the execution units is configured to execute instructions provided from the instruction storage memory, and to provide instructions for execution to the first of the execution units via the second instruction path. The instruction merge unit is configured to merge the instructions provided via the first and second instruction paths into a stream of instructions to be executed by the first execution unit.

Abstract: A system for tracking energy use in a electronic circuit. In one embodiment, an energy tracking system includes pulse timing logic and reporting logic. The pulse timing logic is configured to receive a pulse signal from a DC-DC converter, and measure a duration of a pulse of the pulse signal. The pulse signal controls the switching of energy to the storage device in the DC-DC converter. The reporting logic is configured to report the measured duration of the pulse to an energy monitoring system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant ON-time.

Abstract: A processor and execution units providing intra-processor operation control. In one embodiment, a processor includes a processor core and a peripheral device. The processor core includes a first execution unit and a second execution unit. The second execution unit is coupled to the first execution unit and the peripheral device. The second execution unit is configured to execute a complex instruction, and includes a status register and execution control logic. The status register includes an execution control information field configured to store execution control information. The execution control information specifies operational parameters of the peripheral device. The execution control logic is configured to apply the execution control information to generate execution control signals, and to control operation of the peripheral device via the execution control signals.

Abstract: A processor and execution units providing intra-processor resource control. A processor includes a processor core and a peripheral. The processor core includes a first execution unit, and a second execution unit coupled to the first execution unit. The peripheral is coupled to the second execution unit. The second execution unit is configured to execute a complex instruction, and includes a status register and resource control logic. The status register includes a resource control field configured to store resource control information. The resource control information specifies whether the second execution unit requests access to the peripheral during execution of an instruction stream comprising a complex instruction. The resource control logic is configured to apply the resource control information to request access to the peripheral during execution of the instruction stream comprising the complex instruction.

Abstract: A method of protecting software for embedded applications against unauthorized access. Software to be protected is loaded into a protected memory area. Access to the protected memory area is controlled by sentinel logic circuitry. The sentinel logic circuitry allows access to the protected memory area from only either within the protected memory area or from outside of the protected memory area but through a dedicated memory location within the protected memory area. The dedicated memory location then points to protected address locations within the protected memory area.

Abstract: A processor includes a plurality of execution units. At least one of the execution units is configured to repeatedly execute a first instruction based on a first field of the first instruction indicating that the first instruction is to be iteratively executed.

Abstract: A processor includes a plurality of execution units. Each of the execution units includes a status register configured to store a value indicative of state of the execution unit. At least one of the execution units is configured to execute a complex instruction that requires multiple instruction cycles to execute. The at least one of the execution units is also configured to interrupt execution of the complex instruction to execute a different instruction, and resume, based on the value stored in the status register, execution of the complex instruction at the point interrupted after execution of the different instruction.

Abstract: A processor includes a plurality of execution units. At least one of the execution units is configured to determine, based on a field of a first instruction, a number of additional instructions to execute in conjunction with the first instruction and prior to execution of the first instruction.

Abstract: A processor includes a plurality of execution units. Each of the execution units includes processing logic configured to process data, and registers accessible by the processing logic. At least one of the execution units is configured to execute a first instruction that causes the at least one execution unit to: route a value from a first register of the registers of one of the execution units to the processing logic of one of the execution units, to process the value in the processing logic to generate a result, and to store the result in a second register of the registers of one of the execution units. At least one of the first register, the second register, and the processing logic are located in a different one of the execution units from the at least one of the execution units.

Abstract: A processor includes a plurality of execution units. At least one of the execution units is configured to execute a complex instruction that requires multiple instruction cycles to execute, and to enforce atomic execution of the complex instruction during a first-portion of the multiple instruction cycles required to execute the complex instruction. The at least one of the execution units is further configured to enable execution of the complex instruction to be interrupted for execution of a different instruction by the at least one execution unit during execution of a second portion of the multiple instruction cycles. The first portion and the second portion are non-overlapping.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method for operating an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a reset stage which is configured to have a power down threshold and a power cycle threshold. The voltage level of the power cycle threshold is lower than the voltage level of the power down threshold. The two threshold levels define a first and second interval for a supply voltage of the electronic device. A first interval is between the power cycle threshold and the power down threshold. A second interval is above the power down threshold. The reset stage is further configured to provide the control signal having a defined first state in the first interval and a defined second state in the second interval. The electronic device is set to a low power reset mode if the control signal is in the first state and the electronic device is enabled to enter an active mode if the control signal is in the second state.