Abstract: A processor is configured to implement an instruction set architecture for accessing data that includes loading data elements from a memory containing data blocks separated by block boundaries. The instruction set architecture includes a first type of data load instruction for loading an aligned data structure from the memory and a second type of data load instruction for loading an unaligned data structure from the memory. The loading includes fetching a data load instruction of the second type and loading from the memory according to the data load instruction of the second type. The resulting data structure formed of n consecutive data elements is determined from the data load instruction. The data structure loaded from memory is formed of n consecutive unaligned data elements. The processor is similarly configured to implement storing data elements from a set of registers to a memory containing data blocks separated by block boundaries.

Abstract: Instruction set architectures (ISAs) and apparatus and methods related thereto comprise an instruction set that includes one or more instructions which identify the global pointer (GP) register as an operand (e.g., base register or source register) of the instruction. Identification can be implicit. By implicitly identifying the GP register as an operand of the instruction, one or more bits of the instruction that were dedicated to explicitly identifying the operand (e.g., base register or source register) can be used to extend the size of one or more other operands, such as the offset or immediate, to provide longer offsets or immediates.

Abstract: A microprocessor architecture having extendible logic. One or more customized applications are available to the instruction pipeline. The customizable applications may include software, extension logic instruction or register, dynamically configurable hardware logic, or combinations of these. In order to enable the operating system to interface with the customized extension applications, at least one software extension is provided to the operating system. When a specific extension is requested a software exception is generated by the OS. In response to the exception, the least one software extension is called to handle context switch and dynamic configuration of the extendible logic of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A microprocessor architecture having extendible logic. One or more customized applications are available to the instruction pipeline. The customizable applications may include software, extension logic instruction or register, dynamically configurable hardware logic, or combinations of these. In order to enable the operating system to interface with the customized extension applications, at least one software extension is provided to the operating system. When a specific extension is requested a software exception is generated by the OS. In response to the exception, the least one software extension is called to handle context switch and dynamic configuration of the extendible logic of the microprocessor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus optimized for compiling instructions in a data processor are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of address calculation is disclosed, comprising operating a compiler to generate at least one instruction; canonicalizing the address calculation in a plurality of different approaches: in one exemplary embodiment, the first approach comprises canonicalizing the “regular” 32-bit instruction addressing modes, and the second for the “compressed” 16-bit instruction addressing modes. In another aspect, a plurality of functions (up to and including all available functions) are called indirectly to allow addresses to be placed in a constant pool. Improved methods for instruction selection, register allocation and spilling, and instruction compression are provided. An improved SoC integrated circuit device having an optimized 32-bit/16-bit processor core implementing at least one of the foregoing improvements is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus optimized for compiling instructions in a data processor are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of address calculation is disclosed, comprising operating a compiler to generate at least one instruction; canonicalizing the address calculation in a plurality of different approaches: in one exemplary embodiment, the first approach comprises canonicalizing the “regular” 32-bit instruction addressing modes, and the second for the “compressed” 16-bit instruction addressing modes. In another aspect, a plurality of functions (up to and including all available functions) are called indirectly to allow addresses to be placed in a constant pool. Improved methods for instruction selection, register allocation and spilling, and instruction compression are provided. An improved SoC integrated circuit device having an optimized 32-bit/16-bit processor core implementing at least one of the foregoing improvements is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus optimized for compiling instructions in a data processor are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of address calculation is disclosed, comprising operating a compiler to generate at least one instruction; canonicalizing the address calculation in a plurality of different approaches: in one exemplary embodiment, the first approach comprises canonicalizing the “regular” 32-bit instruction addressing modes, and the second for the “compressed” 16-bit instruction addressing modes. In another aspect, a plurality of functions (up to and including all available functions) are called indirectly to allow addresses to be placed in a constant pool. Improved methods for instruction selection, register allocation and spilling, and instruction compression are provided. An improved SoC integrated circuit device having an optimized 32-bit/16-bit processor core implementing at least one of the foregoing improvements is also disclosed.

Abstract: Digital processor apparatus having an instruction set architecture (ISA) with instruction words of varying length. In the exemplary embodiment, the processor comprises an extended user-configurable RISC processor with four-stage pipeline (fetch, decode, and writeback) and associated logic that is adapted to decode and process both 32-execute, bit and 16-bit instruction words present in a single program, thereby increasing the flexibility of the instruction set, and allowing for greater code compression and reduced memory overhead. Free-form use of the different length instructions is provided with no required mode shift. An improved instruction aligner and code compression architecture is also disclosed.