Abstract: A hardened store-in cache system includes a store-in cache having lines of a first linesize stored with checkbits, wherein the checkbits include byte-parity bits, and an ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) that holds a copy of most recently stored-to lines of the store-in cache. The ASOC includes fewer lines than the store-in cache, each line of the ASOC having the first linesize stored with the checkbits.

Abstract: An IC structure having reduced power loss and/or noise includes two or more active semiconductor regions stacked in a substantially vertical dimension, each active semiconductor region including an active layer. The IC structure further includes two or more voltage supply planes, each of the voltage supply planes corresponding to a respective one of the active layers.

Abstract: Apparatus for passively tracking expired data in a dynamic memory includes a time stamp memory configurable for storing information relating to a refresh status of one or more corresponding data entries in the dynamic memory. The apparatus further includes a timer configurable for defining a desired window of time in which a refresh operation of data in the dynamic memory is to occur in order to ensure that the data is valid. Control circuitry is coupled to the time stamp memory and to the timer. The control circuitry is operative to manage the information stored in the time stamp memory relating to the refresh status of the one or more corresponding data entries in the dynamic memory.

Abstract: A method of electronic computing, and more specifically, a method of design of cache hierarchies in 3-dimensional chips, and a cache hierarchy resulting therefrom, including a physical arrangement of bits in cache hierarchies implemented in 3 dimensions such that the planar wiring required in the busses connecting the levels of the hierarchy is minimized. In this way, the data paths between the levels are primarily the vias themselves, which leads to very short, hence fast and low power busses.

Abstract: A hardened store-in cache system includes a store-in cache having lines of a first linesize stored with checkbits, wherein the checkbits include byte-parity bits, and an ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) that holds a copy of most recently stored-to lines of the store-in cache. The ASOC includes fewer lines than the store-in cache, each line of the ASOC having the first linesize stored with the checkbits.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of stages serially interconnected as a pipeline to perform sequential processings on input operands. A shortening circuit associated with at least one stage of the pipeline recognizes when one or more of input operands for the stage has been predetermined as appropriate for shortening and execute the shortening when appropriate.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a cache system having a store-in policy and affording the advantages of store-in cache operation, while simultaneously providing protection against soft-errors in locally modified data, which would normally preclude the use of a store-in cache when reliability is paramount. The improved store-in cache mechanism includes a store-in L1 cache, at least one higher-level storage hierarchy; an ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) that holds most recently stored-to lines of the store-in L1 cache, and a cache controller that controls storing of data to the ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) and recovering of data from the ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) such that the data from the ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) is used only if parity errors are encountered in the store-in L1 cache.

Abstract: An integrated circuit design, structure and method for fabrication thereof includes at least one logic device layer and at least two additional separate memory array layers. Each of the logic device layer and the at least two memory array layers is independently optimized for a particular type of logic device or memory device disposed therein. Preferably also disposed within the logic device layer are array sense amplifiers, memory array output drivers and like higher performance circuitry otherwise generally disposed within memory array layer substrates. All layers may be independently powered to provide additional performance enhancement.

Abstract: A memory storage structure includes a memory storage device, and a first meta-structure having a first size and operating at a first speed. The first speed is faster than a second speed for storing meta-information based on information stored in a memory. A second meta-structure is hierarchically associated with the first meta-structure. The second meta-structure has a second size larger than the first size and operates at the second speed such that faster and more accurate prefetching is provided by coaction of the first and second meta-structures. A method is provided to assemble the meta-information in the first meta-structure and copy this information to the second meta-structure, and prefetching the stored information from the second meta-structure to the first meta-structure ahead of its use.

Abstract: A method of electronic computing, and more specifically, a method of design of cache hierarchies in 3-dimensional chips, and a cache hierarchy resulting therefrom, including a physical arrangement of bits in cache hierarchies implemented in 3 dimensions such that the planar wiring required in the busses connecting the levels of the hierarchy is minimized. In this way, the data paths between the levels are primarily the vias themselves, which leads to very short, hence fast and low power busses.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of stages serially interconnected as a pipeline to perform sequential processings on input operands. A shortening circuit associated with at least one stage of the pipeline recognizes when one or more of input operands for the stage has been predetermined as appropriate for shortening and execute the shortening when appropriate.

Abstract: Apparatus for passively tracking expired data in a dynamic memory includes a time stamp memory configurable for storing information relating to a refresh status of one or more corresponding data entries in the dynamic memory. The apparatus further includes a timer configurable for defining a desired window of time in which a refresh operation of data in the dynamic memory is to occur in order to ensure that the data is valid. Control circuitry is coupled to the time stamp memory and to the timer. The control circuitry is operative to manage the information stored in the time stamp memory relating to the refresh status of the one or more corresponding data entries in the dynamic memory.

Abstract: In processors having buffers to manage instruction flow referred to as a ReOrder Buffer (ROB) it is shown that these buffers are of the same approximate size of a checkpoint array for architected state. In a particular “morphing mode” in which a pair of processors can be configured to provide different functionalities on demand, a new “High-Reliability” (HR) mode is provided in which the ROB of one of the processors is used for a checkpoint array, and the pair of processors is made to run in lockstep on a single instruction stream under the control of the remaining ROB so as to provide redundant, hence highly-reliable computing.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a cache system having a store-in policy and affording the advantages of store-in cache operation, while simultaneously providing protection against soft-errors in locally modified data, which would normally preclude the use of a store-in cache when reliability is paramount. The improved store-in cache mechanism includes a store-in L1 cache, at least one higher-level storage hierarchy; an ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) that holds most recently stored-to lines of the store-in L1 cache, and a cache controller that controls storing of data to the ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) and recovering of data from the ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) such that the data from the ancillary store-only cache (ASOC) is used only if parity errors are encountered in the store-in L1 cache.

Abstract: A memory system and method includes a cache having a filtered portion and an unfiltered portion. The unfiltered portion is divided into block sized components, and the filtered portion is divided into sub-block sized components. Blocks evicted from the unfiltered portion have selected sub-blocks thereof cached in the filtered portion for servicing requests.

Abstract: An IC structure having reduced power loss and/or noise includes two or more active semiconductor regions stacked in a substantially vertical dimension, each active semiconductor region including an active layer. The IC structure further includes two or more voltage supply planes, each of the voltage supply planes corresponding to a respective one of the active layers.

Abstract: An IC structure having reduced power loss and/or noise includes two or more active semiconductor regions stacked in a substantially vertical dimension, each active semiconductor region including an active layer. The IC structure further includes two or more voltage supply planes, each of the voltage supply planes corresponding to a respective one of the active layers.

Abstract: A three-dimensional architecture chip includes a base chip including a unit integrated thereon and configured to perform electrical signal operations. An active layer is separately fabricated from the base layer. The active layer includes a component to service the unit of the base chip. The active layer is bonded to the base chip such that the component is aligned in vertical proximity of the unit. An electrical connection connects the unit to the component through vertical layers of at least one of the base chip and the active layer.

Abstract: A memory system and method includes a cache having a filtered portion and an unfiltered portion. The unfiltered portion is divided into block sized components, and the filtered portion is divided into sub-block sized components. Blocks evicted from the unfiltered portion have selected sub-blocks thereof cached in the filtered portion for servicing requests.

Abstract: A memory storage structure includes a memory storage device, and a first meta-structure having a first size and operating at a first speed. The first speed is faster than a second speed for storing meta-information based on information stored in a memory. A second meta-structure is hierarchically associated with the first meta-structure. The second meta-structure has a second size larger than the first size and operates at the second speed such that faster and more accurate prefetching is provided by coaction of the first and second meta-structures. A method is provided to assemble the meta-information in the first meta-structure and copy this information to the second meta-structure, and prefetching the stored information from the second meta-structure to the first meta-structure ahead of its use.