Abstract: A circuit having a pipeline and a configuration circuit. The pipeline generally has multiple stages linked in series by registers. The registers may be governed by a clock signal having a first frequency in a first mode and a second frequency in a second mode. The second frequency may be slower than the first frequency. Each stage may have a respective one of multiple first latencies each shorter than a first period of the first frequency. The configuration circuit may be disposed in the pipeline. The configuration circuit generally bypassing selectively a particular register while in the second mode to form a combined stage. The combined stage may (i) comprise a first of the stages adjoining the particular register and a second of the stages adjoining the particular register and (ii) have a second latency shorter than a second period of the second frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory module and an initialization module is disclosed. The initialization module may be configured to (i) mark a particular location in the memory module as an uninitialized location by writing a predetermined word into the particular location in response to an occurrence of an event, (ii) read a read word from an address in the memory module in response to a read cycle and (iii) generate an interrupt signal by analyzing the read word, the interrupt signal being asserted where the read word indicates that the address is the uninitialized location in the memory module.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory and a controller is disclosed. The memory may be configured to (i) store a plurality of cache lines, each of the cache line comprising a plurality of locations including a respective end location and (ii) accessing a particular one of the cache lines identified by a cache address signal. The controller may be configured to (i) buffer a plurality of line pointers, each of the line pointers identifying a respective boundary one of the locations in one of the cache lines and (ii) generate the cache address signal in response to a processor address signal hitting a given one of the locations residing between the respective boundary location and the respective end location.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of tag circuits, a plurality of compare circuits and a processing circuit. The plurality of tag circuits may each be configured to store memory mapping data. The plurality of compare circuits may each be configured to generate a respective compare result in response to a match between the memory mapping data of a respective one of the tag circuits and a respective one of a plurality of tag fields. The processing circuit may be configured to receive each of the compare results from the plurality of compare circuits. The processing circuit may also be configured to count occurrences of the matches. If more than one match is identified within a predetermined time, the processing circuit may invalidate the memory mapping data and the tag field. If more than one match is identified within a predetermined time, the processing circuit may also re-fetch the memory mapping data.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory module and an initialization module is disclosed. The initialization module may be configured to (i) mark a particular location in the memory module as an uninitialized location by writing a predetermined word into the particular location in response to an occurrence of an event, (ii) read a read word from an address in the memory module in response to a read cycle and (iii) generate an interrupt signal by analyzing the read word, the interrupt signal being asserted where the read word indicates that the address is the uninitialized location in the memory module.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory module and an initialization module is disclosed. The initialization module may be configured to (i) mark a particular location in the memory module as an uninitialized location by writing a predetermined word into the particular location in response to an occurrence of an event, (ii) read a read word from an address in the memory module in response to a read cycle and (iii) generate an interrupt signal by analyzing the read word, the interrupt signal being asserted where the read word indicates that the address is the uninitialized location in the memory module.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory and a controller is disclosed. The memory may be configured to (i) store a plurality of cache lines, each of the cache line comprising a plurality of locations including a respective end location and (ii) accessing a particular one of the cache lines identified by a cache address signal. The controller may be configured to (i) buffer a plurality of line pointers, each of the line pointers identifying a respective boundary one of the locations in one of the cache lines and (ii) generate the cache address signal in response to a processor address signal hitting a given one of the locations residing between the respective boundary location and the respective end location.

Abstract: An apparatus having a memory module and an initialization module is disclosed. The initialization module may be configured to (i) mark a particular location in the memory module as an uninitialized location by writing a predetermined word into the particular location in response to an occurrence of an event, (ii) read a read word from an address in the memory module in response to a read cycle and (iii) generate an interrupt signal by analyzing the read word, the interrupt signal being asserted where the read word indicates that the address is the uninitialized location in the memory module.

Abstract: A circuit having a pipeline and a configuration circuit. The pipeline generally has multiple stages linked in series by registers. The registers may be governed by a clock signal having a first frequency in a first mode and a second frequency in a second mode. The second frequency may be slower than the first frequency. Each stage may have a respective one of multiple first latencies each shorter than a first period of the first frequency. The configuration circuit may be disposed in the pipeline. The configuration circuit generally bypassing selectively a particular register while in the second mode to form a combined stage. The combined stage may (i) comprise a first of the stages adjoining the particular register and a second of the stages adjoining the particular register and (ii) have a second latency shorter than a second period of the second frequency.

Abstract: A system rapidly dynamic values (B) on a bus (12) to a programmable but thereafter fixed reference value (C). The system includes first leads (33) coupled to a comparison means (35), second leads (13) coupled to the bus (12) and third leads (34, 36) coupled to sources of potential (GND, VCC) related to logical HIGH and LOW of the fixed reference value (C). The leads (33, 13, 34, 36) are coupled in one or more programmable connection cell (32). Connections (471) or disconnections (461) are made between the leads (33, 13, 34, 36) so that the dynamic values (B) and the appropriate logical HIGH and logical LOW values are presented to the correct inputs of the comparison means (35). The programmable connections cells (32) invert the reference value (C) to (C) for coupling to the comparator (35). The system replaces a level of conventional decode logic (16) by the programmable interconnections (47), thereby reducing delay time, using fewer devices and occupying less circuit area.

Abstract: A pulse width modulator (20) includes a reconfigurable counter (30) whose width is determined by mode control bits. In one embodiment, a decoder (24) decodes the mode control bits to provide decoded width control signals to the reconfigurable counter (30). The width control signals enable selected least significant counter cells (101-107) of the reconfigurable counter (30) in a binary-to-thermometer fashion. Thus, unused counter cells are disabled, reducing power. The pulse width modulator (20) also includes an output circuit (25) which provides a pulse width modulated output signal having a duty cycle determined by a proportion of a cycle of the reconfigurable counter (30) during which a comparator (23) detects that an output of the reconfigurable counter (30) has reached a value of an input number. A portion of the comparator (23) may also be disabled in response to the width control signals.

Abstract: A pulse width modulator (PWM) (20) receives a two's complement input number and separates a sign bit from remaining less significant bits. The PWM converts these bits into an unsigned number in dependence on the sign bit. A comparator (41) provides a compare output signal in response to an output of a counter (30) equaling the unsigned number. An output circuit (25) provides first and second pulse width modulated signals for a length of time determined by the output of the comparator (41) in dependence on whether the sign bit indicates a positive or negative sign. In one embodiment, the PWM (20) converts a negative two's complement number to the unsigned number by one's complementing the least significant bits, and the output circuit (25) keeps the second pulse width modulated signal active for one additional clock cycle to fully convert to two's complement form, without the need for a carry operation.