Texas Instruments Corporation

Ian Chen

Jonathan H Shiell

Yutaka Takahashi

James J Walsh

Joseph Joe

Steven D Krueger

Uming U Ko

Ashwini K Nanda

Robert W Milhaupt

A computer system ( ) comprising a central processing unit ( ) and a memory hierarchy. The memory hierarchy comprises a first cache memory ( ) and a second cache memory ( ). The first cache memory is operable to store non-pixel-information, wherein the non-pixel information is accessible for processing by the central processing unit. The second cache memory is higher in the memory hierarchy than the first cache memory, and has a number of storage locations operable to store non-pixel information ( ) and pixel data ( ). Lastly, the computer system comprises cache control circuitry ( ) for dynamically apportioning the number of storage locations such that a first group of the storage locations are for storing non-pixel information and such that a second group of the storage locations are for storing pixel data.

Microprocessor circuits, systems, and methods with combined on-chip pixel and non-pixel cache structure

Circuits, systems, and methods relating to operating a computer system operable in a system manager mode (24). The method includes various steps. The first step (34) occurs during operation of the computer system (10) at a time other than start-up, and receives user power management data from a user of the computer system. The second step (38) stores the user power management data in memory space (30) accessible by the system management mode. The third step (40) accesses the user power management data from the memory space. Finally, the fourth step (42) controls at least one peripheral (14, 16, 18, 20) of the computer system in response to the accessed user power management data.

SMM power management circuits, systems, and methods

A microprocessor-based system (2) is disclosed, based on an x86-architecture microprocessor (5). The system includes a memory address space (30) and a input/output address space (40), where input/output operations are performed in an I/O mapped manner. According to a first embodiment of the invention, burstable access is performed to areas of the main memory (32) which are blocked from cache access, by the microprocessor (5) asserting the cache request signal (CACHE#) in combination with the control signal (M/IO#) indicating that an I/O operation is requested. The memory controller (10) interprets this combination as a burst request to the non-cacheable memory location (32), indicates the grant of burst access by asserting the cache acknowledge control signal (KEN#), and the burst memory access is then effected. According to a second embodiment of the invention, burst access to non-cacheable memory space (32) is acknowledged by the memory controller (60) by way of a burst acknowledge signal (BEN#) that is separate from the cache acknowledgment signal (KEN#).

Microprocessor system with burstable, non-cacheable memory access support

A microprocessor-based data processing system (2) in which asynchronous bus transactions are performed is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments include one or more microprocessors (5) of the x86-architecture type, compatible with the P54C bus protocol, preferably Pentium-compatible microprocessors, as the central processing units (CPUs) of the system. A CPU (5.sub.r) requests an asynchronous bus transaction, in a first disclosed embodiment, by presenting a combination of control signals that is unused in conventional x86-architecture systems; the controller chipset (27) determines whether the transaction may be performed in an asynchronous manner, and later returns an acknowledge or non-acknowledge code to the requesting CPU (5.sub.r). The microprocessors (5) include certain pins, in this first embodiment, corresponding to conventional Pentium-compatible output pins but which now have receiver circuitry for receiving the acknowledge and non-acknowledge codes, along with the transaction identifier. If the transaction is accepted as asynchronous, the identifier is used to later identify the transaction when access is granted. A second disclosed embodiment provides an immediate indication of the acceptability of the requested transaction as of the asynchronous type, so that unacceptable transactions may be immediately processed in synchronous fashion. A third disclosed embodiment uses an additional terminal to indicate the acknowledge or non-acknowledge response.

Microprocessor system with capability for asynchronous bus transactions

In a method embodiment (34), the method operates a computer system (10) having a type of configuration and including a single integrated circuit microprocessor (24). The microprocessor operates in response to codes and has an instruction set. The method involves various steps, including determining (40) the type of the configuration. In response to the type of the configuration, the method selects (42) a set of patch codes from a plurality of sets of patch codes. The method also issues (54) a patch request instruction from the instruction set, and it stores (56) the selected set of patch codes to a memory space accessible by the microprocessor. Other circuits, systems, and methods are also disclosed and claimed

Single chip microprocessor circuits, systems, and methods for

A microprocessor device (102) includes a central processing unit (702) having a clock input, a clock generator (OSC, PLL) of clock pulses, a logic circuit (708) having an output to supply a clock control signal (SUSP), and a clock gate (3610) fed by the clock pulses and having a clock gate output (CPU.sub.-- CLK) coupled to the clock input of the central processing unit. The clock gate (3610) responds to the clock control signal (SUSP) to prevent said clock pulses (CPU.sub.-- CLK) from reaching the central processing unit within one clock cycle of a change in said clock control signal. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Clock control circuits, systems and methods

An integrated circuit includes a single chip (102) that has a microprocessor (702), a memory controller unit (718), an internal bus (714) connecting the microprocessor (702) and the memory controller unit (718), and an external bus to internal bus interface circuit (716). The microprocessor (102) occupies a substantially rectangular region on a substrate (802). The memory controller unit (718) occupies a first strip along one side of the microprocessor unit (702) accessible via the bond pads broadside to the first strip. Other circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Ian Chen