公开(公告)号：US09477476B2

公开(公告)日：2016-10-25

申请号：US13686229

申请日：2012-11-27

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： Melinda J. Brown ,  Michael William Morrow ,  James Norris Dieffenderfer ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Rodney Wayne Smith ,  Jeffrey M. Schottmiller ,  Andrew S. Irwin

IPC: G06F9/00 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F9/30

CPC classification number: G06F9/3017 ,  G06F9/30167

Abstract: Fusing immediate value, write-based instructions in instruction processing circuits, and related processor systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first instruction indicating an operation writing an immediate value to a register is detected by an instruction processing circuit. The circuit also detects at least one subsequent instruction indicating an operation that overwrites at least one first portion of the register while maintaining a value of a second portion of the register. The at least one subsequent instruction is converted (or replaced) with a fused instruction(s), which indicates an operation writing the at least one first portion and the second portion of the register. In this manner, conversion of multiple instructions for generating a constant into the fused instruction(s) removes the potential for a read-after-write hazard and associated consequences caused by dependencies between certain instructions, while reducing a number of clock cycles required to process the instructions.

Abstract translation: 公开了立即值的融合，指令处理电路中的基于写入的指令以及相关的处理器系统，方法和计算机可读介质。 在一个实施例中，指令处理电路检测指示向寄存器写入立即值的操作的第一指令。 电路还检测至少一个后续指令，指示在保持寄存器的第二部分的值的同时重写寄存器的至少一个第一部分的操作。 所述至少一个后续指令被转换（或替代）与一个融合指令，其指示写入寄存器的至少一个第一部分和第二部分的操作。 以这种方式，将用于产生常数的多个指令转换为融合指令消除了读写后危险和由特定指令之间的依赖性引起的相关后果的可能性，同时减少了处理所需的时钟周期数 说明。

公开(公告)号：US20150301884A1

公开(公告)日：2015-10-22

申请号：US14256360

申请日：2014-04-18

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： John Sumner Ingalls ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Thomas Philip Speier

IPC: G06F11/10 ,  G06F3/06

CPC classification number: G06F11/1004 ,  G06F3/0619 ,  G06F3/0638 ,  G06F3/0674 ,  G06F11/1064 ,  G06F12/0891

Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein include cache memory error detection circuits for detecting bit flips in valid indicators (e.g., valid bits) in cache memory following invalidate operations. Related methods and processor-based systems are also disclosed. If a cache hit results from access to a cache entry following an invalidate operation, a bit flip(s) has occurred in a valid indicator of the cache entry. This is because the valid indicator should indicate an invalid state following the invalidate operation of the cache entry, as opposed to a valid state. Thus, a cache memory error detection circuit is configured to determine if an invalidate operation was performed on the cache entry. The cache memory error detection circuit can cause a cache miss or an error for the accessed cache entry to be generated as a result, even though the valid indicator for the cache entry indicates a valid state due to the bit flip(s).

Abstract translation: 本文公开的方面包括用于在无效操作之后的高速缓存存储器中的有效指示符（例如，有效位）中检测位翻转的高速缓存存储器错误检测电路。 还公开了相关方法和基于处理器的系统。 如果在无效操作之后由高速缓存条目的访问导致高速缓存命中，则在缓存条目的有效指示符中发生位翻转。 这是因为有效的指示符应该指示高速缓存条目的无效操作之后的无效状态，而不是有效状态。 因此，缓存存储器错误检测电路被配置为确定是否对高速缓存条目执行了无效操作。 因此，高速缓冲存储器错误检测电路可能导致高速缓存未命中或所访问的高速缓存条目的错误，即使高速缓存条目的有效指示符由于位翻转而指示有效状态。

公开(公告)号：US20140281405A1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-18

申请号：US13841576

申请日：2013-03-15

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： Daren Eugene Streett ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Thomas Philip Speier ,  Rodney Wayne Smith ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Kenneth Alan Dockser ,  James Norris Dieffenderfer

IPC: G06F9/30

CPC classification number: G06F9/30098 ,  G06F9/30189 ,  G06F9/3842 ,  G06F9/3863

Abstract: A processor includes a queue for storing instructions processed within the context of a current value of a register field, where for some embodiments the instruction is undefined or defined, depending upon the register field at time of processing. After a write instruction (an instruction that writes to the register field) executes, the queue is searched for any entries that contain instructions that depend upon the executed write instruction. Each such entry stores the value of the register field at the time the instruction in the entry was processed. If such an entry is found in the queue and its stored value of the register field does not match the value that the write instruction wrote to the register field, then the processor flushes the pipeline and restarts at a state so as to correctly execute the instruction.

Abstract translation: 处理器包括用于存储在寄存器字段的当前值的上下文中处理的指令的队列，其中对于一些实施例，取决于处理时的寄存器字段，指令是未定义的或定义的。 在执行写入指令（写入寄存器字段的指令）之后，将搜索包含依赖于执行的写入指令的指令的任何条目。 每个这样的条目存储处理条目中的指令时的寄存器字段的值。 如果在队列中找到这样的条目，并且其寄存器字段的存储值与写入指令写入寄存器字段的值不匹配，则处理器刷新流水线并在一个状态下重新启动，以便正确地执行指令 。

公开(公告)号：US20140281391A1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-18

申请号：US13827867

申请日：2013-03-14

Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

Inventor： James Norris Dieffenderfer ,  Michael William Morrow ,  Rodney Wayne Smith ,  Jeffery M. Schottmiller ,  Daniel S. Higdon ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Kulin N. Kothari

IPC: G06F9/30

Abstract: A processor to a store constant value (immediate or literal) in a cache upon decoding a move immediate instruction in which the immediate is to be moved (copied or written) to an architected register. The constant value is stored in an entry in the cache. Each entry in the cache includes a field to indicate whether its stored constant value is valid, and a field to associate the entry with an architected register. Once a constant value is stored in the cache, it is immediately available for forwarding to a processor pipeline where a decoded instruction may need the constant value as an operand.

Abstract translation: 解码将立即数移动（复制或写入）到结构化寄存器的移动即时指令时，在缓存中存储恒定值（立即数或立即数）的处理器。 常量值存储在缓存中的条目中。 缓存中的每个条目包括一个字段，用于指示其存储的常量值是否有效，以及一个字段，用于将条目与架构化寄存器相关联。 一旦常数值被存储在高速缓存中，则立即可以转发到处理器流水线，其中解码的指令可能需要常数值作为操作数。

公开(公告)号：US20140089598A1

公开(公告)日：2014-03-27

申请号：US13626916

申请日：2012-09-26

Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

Inventor： Leslie Mark DeBruyne ,  James Norris Dieffenderfer ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Brian Michael Stempel

IPC: G06F12/08

CPC classification number: G06F12/0886 ,  G06F9/30149 ,  G06F9/3816 ,  G06F12/0888 ,  G06F12/10 ,  G06F2212/452

Abstract: An instruction in an instruction cache line having a first portion that is cacheable, a second portion that is from a page that is non-cacheable, and crosses a cache line is prevented from executing from the instruction cache. An attribute associated with the non-cacheable second portion is tracked separately from the attributes of the rest of the instructions in the cache line. If the page crossing instruction is reached for execution, the page crossing instruction and instructions following are flushed and a non-cacheable request is made to memory for at least the second portion. Once the second portion is received, the whole page crossing instruction is reconstructed from the first portion saved in the previous fetch group. The page crossing instruction or portion thereof is returned with the proper attribute for a non-cached fetched instruction and the reconstructed instruction can be executed without being cached.

Abstract translation: 具有可高速缓存的第一部分的指令高速缓存行中的指令，来自不可缓存的页面的第二部分和跨越高速缓存行的指令被禁止从指令高速缓存执行。 与不可缓存的第二部分相关联的属性与高速缓存行中的其余指令的属性分开跟踪。 如果到达执行页面交叉指令，则刷新页面交叉指令和指令，并且对至少第二部分对存储器进行不可缓存请求。 一旦接收到第二部分，则从保存在先前取出组中的第一部分重构整个页面交叉指令。 返回页面交叉指令或其一部分具有用于非缓存取出指令的适当属性，并且重建的指令可以被执行而不被缓存。

公开(公告)号：US20140047221A1

公开(公告)日：2014-02-13

申请号：US13788008

申请日：2013-03-07

Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

Inventor： Andrew S. Irwin ,  James Norris Dieffenderfer ,  Melinda J. Brown ,  Jeffery M. Schottmiller ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Rodney Wayne Smith ,  Michael William Morrow

IPC: G06F9/30

CPC classification number: G06F9/30181 ,  G06F9/30072

Abstract: Fusing flag-producing and flag-consuming instructions in instruction processing circuits and related processor systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a flag-producing instruction indicating a first operation generating a first flag result is detected in an instruction stream by an instruction processing circuit. The instruction processing circuit also detects a flag-consuming instruction in the instruction stream indicating a second operation consuming the first flag result as an input. The instruction processing circuit generates a fused instruction indicating the first operation generating the first flag result and indicating the second operation consuming the first flag result as the input. In this manner, as a non-limiting example, the fused instruction eliminates a potential for a read-after-write hazard between the flag-producing instruction and the flag-consuming instruction.

Abstract translation: 公开了在指令处理电路和相关处理器系统，方法和计算机可读介质中对产生标记和标记消息的指令进行融合。 在一个实施例中，指令处理电路在指令流中检测指示产生第一标志结果的第一操作的标志产生指令。 指令处理电路还检测指示流中指示消耗第一标志结果的第二操作的指令消息指令作为输入。 指令处理电路产生指示第一操作的融合指令，该第一操作产生第一标志结果并指示第二操作消耗第一标志结果作为输入。 以这种方式，作为非限制性示例，融合指令消除了标志产生指令和标志消耗指令之间的写后读取危险的可能性。

公开(公告)号：US20130311754A1

公开(公告)日：2013-11-21

申请号：US13676146

申请日：2012-11-14

Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

Inventor： Melinda J. Brown ,  James Norris Dieffenderfer ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Rodney Wayne Smith ,  Jeffrey M. Schottmiller ,  Andrew S. Irwin ,  Michael William Morrow

IPC: G06F9/38

CPC classification number: G06F9/3867 ,  G06F9/30043 ,  G06F9/30072 ,  G06F9/3017

Abstract: Fusing conditional write instructions having opposite conditions in instruction processing circuits and related processor systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first conditional write instruction writing a first value to a target register based on evaluating a first condition is detected by an instruction processing circuit. The circuit also detects a second conditional write instruction writing a second value to the target register based on evaluating a second condition that is a logical opposite of the first condition. Either the first condition or the second condition is selected as a fused instruction condition, and corresponding values are selected as if-true and if-false values. A fused instruction is generated for selectively writing the if-true value to the target register if the fused instruction condition evaluates to true, and selectively writing the if-false value to the target register if the fused instruction condition evaluates to false.

Abstract translation: 公开了在指令处理电路和相关处理器系统，方法和计算机可读介质中具有相反条件的条件写指令。 在一个实施例中，由指令处理电路检测基于评估第一条件将第一值写入目标寄存器的第一条件写入指令。 该电路还基于评估与第一条件逻辑相反的第二条件，检测向目标寄存器写入第二值的第二条件写入指令。 选择第一个条件或第二个条件作为融合指令条件，并将相应的值选为if-true和if-false值。 如果融合指令条件评估为真，则生成融合指令，以便如果融合指令条件评估为真，则将if-true值有选择地写入目标寄存器，如果融合指令条件评估为false，则选择性地将if-false值写入目标寄存器。

公开(公告)号：US09411590B2

公开(公告)日：2016-08-09

申请号：US13833844

申请日：2013-03-15

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： Rodney Wayne Smith ,  Jeffery M. Schottmiller ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Melinda J. Brown ,  Daren Eugene Streett

IPC: G06F9/30 ,  G06F9/38

CPC classification number: G06F9/30058 ,  G06F9/30054 ,  G06F9/3806

Abstract: An apparatus and method for executing call branch and return branch instructions in a processor by utilizing a link register stack. The processor includes a branch counter that is initialized to zero, and is set to zero each time the processor decodes a link register manipulating instruction other than a call branch instruction. The branch counter is incremented by one each time a call branch instruction is decoded and an address is pushed onto the link register stack. In response to decoding a return branch instruction and provided the branch counter is not zero, a target address for the decoded return branch instruction is popped off the link register stack, the branch counter is decremented, and there is no need to check the target address for correctness.

Abstract translation: 一种用于通过利用链路寄存器堆栈在处理器中执行呼叫分支和返回分支指令的装置和方法。 处理器包括初始化为零的分支计数器，并且每当处理器解码除了呼叫转移指令之外的链接寄存器操作指令时，该分支计数器被设置为零。 每当一个呼叫转移指令被解码并且一个地址被推到链路寄存器堆栈上时，分支计数器递增1。 响应于解码返回分支指令并且提供的分支计数器不为零，解码的返回分支指令的目标地址从链接寄存器堆栈中弹出，分支计数器递减，并且不需要检查目标地址 为正确。

公开(公告)号：US09329930B2

公开(公告)日：2016-05-03

申请号：US14256360

申请日：2014-04-18

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： John Sumner Ingalls ,  Brian Michael Stempel ,  Thomas Philip Speier

IPC: G11C29/00 ,  G06F11/10 ,  G06F3/06 ,  G06F12/08

CPC classification number: G06F11/1004 ,  G06F3/0619 ,  G06F3/0638 ,  G06F3/0674 ,  G06F11/1064 ,  G06F12/0891

Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein include cache memory error detection circuits for detecting bit flips in valid indicators (e.g., valid bits) in cache memory following invalidate operations. Related methods and processor-based systems are also disclosed. If a cache hit results from access to a cache entry following an invalidate operation, a bit flip(s) has occurred in a valid indicator of the cache entry. This is because the valid indicator should indicate an invalid state following the invalidate operation of the cache entry, as opposed to a valid state. Thus, a cache memory error detection circuit is configured to determine if an invalidate operation was performed on the cache entry. The cache memory error detection circuit can cause a cache miss or an error for the accessed cache entry to be generated as a result, even though the valid indicator for the cache entry indicates a valid state due to the bit flip(s).

Abstract translation: 本文公开的方面包括用于在无效操作之后的高速缓存存储器中的有效指示符（例如，有效位）中检测位翻转的高速缓存存储器错误检测电路。 还公开了相关方法和基于处理器的系统。 如果在无效操作之后由高速缓存条目的访问导致高速缓存命中，则在缓存条目的有效指示符中发生位翻转。 这是因为有效的指示符应该指示高速缓存条目的无效操作之后的无效状态，而不是有效状态。 因此，缓存存储器错误检测电路被配置为确定是否对高速缓存条目执行了无效操作。 因此，高速缓冲存储器错误检测电路可能导致高速缓存未命中或所访问的高速缓存条目的错误，即使高速缓存条目的有效指示符由于位翻转而指示有效状态。

公开(公告)号：US09317293B2

公开(公告)日：2016-04-19

申请号：US13792335

申请日：2013-03-11

Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated

Inventor： James Norris Dieffenderfer ,  Michael William Morrow ,  Michael Scott McIlvaine ,  Daren Eugene Streett ,  Vimal K. Reddy ,  Brian Michael Stempel

IPC: G06F9/38 ,  G06F9/30

CPC classification number: G06F9/3808 ,  G06F9/30054

Abstract: Establishing a branch target instruction cache (BTIC) entry for subroutine returns to reduce pipeline bubbles, and related systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of establishing a BTIC entry includes detecting a subroutine call in an execution pipeline. In response, at least one instruction fetched sequential to the subroutine call is written as a branch target instruction in a BTIC entry for a subroutine return. A next instruction fetch address is calculated, and is written into a next instruction fetch address field in the BTIC entry. In this manner, the BTIC may provide correct branch target instruction and next instruction fetch address data for the subroutine return, even if the subroutine return is encountered for the first time or the subroutine is called from different calling locations.

Abstract translation: 建立用于子程序的分支目标指令缓存（BTIC）条目返回以减少管道气泡，以及相关系统，方法和计算机可读介质。 在一个实施例中，建立BTIC条目的方法包括检测执行流水线中的子程序调用。 作为响应，在子程序返回的BTIC条目中写入与子程序调用顺序取得的至少一个指令作为分支目标指令。 计算下一个指令提取地址，并将其写入BTIC条目中的下一个指令获取地址字段。 以这种方式，即使第一次遇到子程序返回或从不同的呼叫位置调用子程序，BTIC可以为子程序返回提供正确的分支目标指令和下一个指令获取地址数据。