Intel Corporation

Alex Pineiro

Thomas D Fletcher

Brian J Hickmann

A semiconductor chip is described having a functional unit that can execute a first instruction and execute a second instruction. The first instruction is an instruction that multiplies two operands. The second instruction is an instruction that approximates a function according to CCXCX. The functional unit has a multiplier circuit. The multiplier circuit has: i) a first input to receive bits of a first operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a Cterm of the second instruction; ii) a second input to receive bits of a second operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a Xterm of the second instruction.

Functional unit capable of executing approximations of functions

A semiconductor chip is described having a functional unit that can execute a first instruction and execute a second instruction. The first instruction is an instruction that multiplies two operands. The second instruction is an instruction that approximates a function according to C0+C1X2+C2X2. The functional unit has a multiplier circuit. The multiplier circuit has: i) a first input to receive bits of a first operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a C1 term of the second instruction; ii) a second input to receive bits of a second operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a X2 term of the second instruction.

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Barcelona, Spain

Alex Pineiro