Abstract: A signal processor with an instruction set architecture (ISA) for flexible data typing, permutation, and type matching of operands. The signal processor includes a data typer and aligner to support flexible data typing, permutation and type matching of operands of the instruction set architecture. The data typer and aligner is selectively configued to align and select one of more sets of data bits from one or more data buses as operands for functional blocks of the signal processor in response to fields of an instruction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a digital specific signal processor integrated circuit. Data buses are routed through multiplexers to reduce the number of busses routed across an integrated circuit and maintain their prior state. Global memory is clustered into memory clusters. The memory cluster having a memory block to be accessed is activated without activating other memory clusters in the global memory. Inactive data buses retain their state by use of bus state keepers. A loop buffer stores instructions within program loops to avoid memory accesses. Functional blocks can have their clocks gated instruction by instruction to lower power consumption. RISC and DSP units swap circuit activity to reduce power consumption. Local data memory is includes self-timed memory access activation and provides for off boundary access to further lower power consumption.

Abstract: An instruction set architecture (ISA) for application specific signal processor (ASSP) is tailored to digital signal processing applications. The instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The instruction word of the ISA is typically 20 bits but can be expanded to 40-bits to control two instructions to be executed in series or parallel. All DSP instructions of the ISA are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations with one instruction in one cycle. The DSP instructions or operations in the preferred embodiment include a multiply instruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximize instruction (MIN/MAX) also referred to as an extrema instruction, and a no operation instruction (NOP) each having an associated operation code (“opcode”). The present invention efficiently executes DSP instructions by means of the instruction set architecture and the hardware architecture of the application specific signal processor.

Abstract: An instruction set architecture (ISA) for application specific signal processor (ASSP) is tailored to digital signal processing applications. The instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The instruction word of the ISA is typically 20 bits but can be expanded to 40-bits to control two instructions to be executed in series or parallel. All DSP instructions of the ISA are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations with one instruction in one cycle. The DSP instructions or operations in the preferred embodiment include a multiply instruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximize instruction (MIN/MAX) also referred to as an extrema instruction, and a no operation instruction (NOP) each having an associated operation code (“opcode”). The present invention efficiently executes DSP instructions by means of the instruction set architecture and the hardware architecture of the application specific signal processor.

Abstract: An instruction set architecture (ISA) for application specific signal processor (ASSP) is tailored to digital signal processing applications. The instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The instruction word of the ISA is typically 20 bits but can be expanded to 40-bits to control two instructions to be executed in series or parallel. All DSP instructions of the ISA are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations with one instruction in one cycle. The DSP instructions or operations in the preferred embodiment include a multiply instruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximize instruction (MIN/MAX) also referred to as an extrema instruction, and a no operation instruction (NOP) each having an associated operation code (“opcode”). The present invention efficiently executes DSP instructions by means of the instruction set architecture and the hardware architecture of the application specific signal processor.

Abstract: An instruction set architecture (ISA) for application specific signal processor (ASSP) is tailored to digital signal processing applications. The instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The instruction word of the ISA is typically 20 bits but can be expanded to 40-bits to control two instructions to be executed in series or parallel. All DSP instructions of the ISA are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations with one instruction in one cycle. The DSP instructions or operations in the preferred embodiment include a multiply instruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximize instruction (MIN/MAX) also referred to as an extrema instruction, and a no operation instruction (NOP) each having an associated operation code (“opcode”). The present invention efficiently executes DSP instructions by means of the instruction set architecture and the hardware architecture of the application specific signal processor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and an instruction set architecture (ISA) for an application specific signal processor (ASSP) tailored to digital signal processing (DSP) applications. A single DSP instruction includes a pair of sub-instructions: a primary DSP sub-instruction and a shadow DSP sub-instruction. Both the primary and the shadow DSP sub-instructions are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations in one instruction cycle. Each signal processing unit of the ASSP includes a primary stage to execute a primary DSP sub-instruction based upon current data and a shadow stage to simultaneously execute a shadow DSP sub-instruction based upon delayed data stored locally within registers of the signal processing units. The present invention efficiently executes DSP instructions by simultaneously executing primary DSP sub-instructions (based upon current data) and shadow DSP sub-instructions (based upon delayed locally stored data) with a single DSP instruction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for integrated circuit debugging. Three debug access methods into an integrated circuit are provided to control the testing and debugging of program code, functional blocks and circuitry therein. The debug access includes a serial access, an I/O mapped parallel access, and a direct parallel access. The three debug accesses have varying levels of intrusiveness and test/debug efficiency. Depending upon whether the integrated circuit is unpackaged, packaged, coupled to a printed circuit board or found within a system, any one or more of the three debug accesses to debugging the integrated circuit can be utilized.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for an off boundary memory to provide off boundary memory access. The off boundary memory includes a right memory array having a plurality of right memory rows and a left memory array having a plurality of left memory rows. This forms a memory having a plurality of row lines, each row line having a right memory row and a left memory row, respectively. An off boundary row address decoder is coupled to both the right and left memory arrays and is capable of performing an off boundary memory access which includes accessing a desired plurality of memory addresses from one of a right or left memory row of a row line and from one of a left or right memory row of an adjacent row line at substantially the same time within one memory access cycle.

Abstract: An instruction set architecture (ISA) for application specific signal processor (ASSP) is tailored to digital signal processing applications. The instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The instruction word of the ISA is typically 20 bits but can be expanded to 40-bits to control two instructions to be executed in series or parallel. All DSP instructions of the ISA are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations with one instruction in one cycle. The DSP instructions or operations in the preferred embodiment include a multiply instruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximize instruction (MIN/MAX) also referred to as an extrema instruction, and a no operation instruction (NOP) each having an associated operation code (“opcode”). The present invention efficiently executes DSP instructions by means of the instruction set architecture and the hardware architecture of the application specific signal processor.

Abstract: The invention is a processing method and a processor architecture which contains multiple processors on the same silicon but which does not make a fixed compromise by statically assigning processing units to the processors but rather dynamically assigns such processing units so that they may be efficiently shared. The invention may provide the same functionality as was obtained with static allocation, and may be implemented on a single chip with much lower area for the same level of performance. The preferred architecture uses a mode bit that may be programatically set for passing control from a general purpose instruction decoder to a finite state machine. The preferred architecture further includes a multiplexer that uses the mode bit as its selection input.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and an instruction set architecture (ISA) for an application specific signal processor (ASSP) tailored to digital signal processing (DSP) applications. The instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. In one embodiment, a single DSP instruction includes a pair of sub-instructions: a primary DSP sub-instruction and a shadow DSP sub-instruction. Both the primary and the shadow DSP sub-instructions are dyadic DSP instructions performing two operations in one instruction cycle. The DSP operations, in one embodiment, include a multiply instruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximize instruction (MIN/MAX), and a no operation instruction (NOP).

Abstract: A distributed direct memory access (DMA) method, apparatus, and system is provided within a system on chip (SOC). DMA controller units are distributed to various functional modules desiring direct memory access. The functional modules interface to a systems bus over which the direct memory access occurs. A global buffer memory, to which the direct memory access is desired, is coupled to the system bus. Bus arbitrators are utilized to arbitrate which functional modules have access to the system bus to perform the direct memory access. Once a functional module is selected by the bus arbitrator to have access to the system bus, it can establish a DMA routine with the global buffer memory.

Abstract: An application specific signal processor (ASSP) performs vectorized and nonvectorized operations. Nonvectorized operations may be performed using a saturated multiplication and accumulation operation. The ASSP includes a serial interface, a buffer memory, a core processor for performing digital signal processing which includes a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor and four signal processing units. The four signal processing units execute the digital signal processing algorithms in parallel including the execution of the saturated multiplication and accumulation operation. The ASSP is utilized in telecommunication interface devices such as a gateway. The ASSP is well suited to handling voice and data compression/decompression in telecommunication systems where a packetized network is used to transceive packetized data and voice.

Abstract: An application specific signal processor (ASSP) performs vectorized and nonvectorized operations. Nonvectorized operations may be performed using a saturated multiplication and accumulation operation. The ASSP includes a serial interface, a buffer memory, a core processor for performing digital signal processing which includes a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor and four signal processing units. The four signal processing units execute the digital signal processing algorithms in parallel including the execution of the saturated multiplication and accumulation operation. The ASSP is utilized in telecommunication interface devices such as a gateway. The ASSP is well suited to handling voice and data compression/decompression in telecommunication systems where a packetized network is used to transceive packetized data and voice.