Abstract: Two types of command interval specifications are defined as first and second command interval specifications. The first command interval specifications is defined as the relationship between a preceding command and a following command that are issued for the same bank, while the second command interval specifications is defined as the relationship between a preceding command and a following command that are issued for different banks, respectively. As for the second command interval specification, since target banks are different between a preceding command and a following command, the following command is executed during the column circuits precharge after the preceding command. Therefore, in the case of the second command interval specification, a command interval is substantially shortened. In addition, pairs of banks are defined as bank pairs, and are applied the first and second command interval specifications, so that the DRAM device is small-sized.

Abstract: Two types of command interval specifications are defined as first and second command interval specifications. The first command interval specifications is defined as the relationship between a preceding command and a following command that are issued for the same bank, while the second command interval specifications is defined as the relationship between a preceding command and a following command that are issued for different banks, respectively. As for the second command interval specification, since target banks are different between a preceding command and a following command, the following command is executed during the column circuits precharge after the preceding command. Therefore, in the case of the second command interval specification, a command interval is substantially shortened. In addition, pairs of banks are defined as bank pairs, and are applied the first and second command interval specifications, so that the DRAM device is small-sized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including means for storing an executable file which includes a group of bits which define functional operations and cycle bits associated with each functional operation and means for completing a variable number of the functional operations in parallel during a single execution cycle in accordance with a state of the associated cycle bit. The method and apparatus eliminates the need for complex data dependency checking hardware and allows a minimum amount of control logic to complete execution of executable files. The method and apparatus further minimizes the necessity of adding null operations (NOPs) to executable files which reduces the amount of storage space necessary to store the executable files and allows executable files to be used on multiple hardware implementations and for register values to be used for multiple purposes during single execution cycles.

Abstract: A prediction mechanism for improving direct-mapped cache performance is shown to include a direct-mapped cache, partitioned into a plurality of pseudo-banks. Prediction means are employed to provide a prediction index which is appended to the cache index to provide the entire address for addressing the direct mapped cache. One embodiment of the prediction means includes a prediction cache which is advantageously larger than the pseudo-banks of the direct-mapped cache and is used to store the prediction index for each cache location. A second embodiment includes a plurality of partial tag stores, each including a predetermined number of tag bits for the data in each bank. A comparison of the tags generates a match in one of the plurality of tag stores, and is used in turn to generate a prediction index.