Coherent Logix, Inc.

Globalfoundries Inc.

Kenneth R Faulkner

Carl S Dobbs

Michael R Trocino

Keith M Bindloss

Michael B Solka

Christopher L Schreppel

Michael B Doerr

John Mark Beardslee

David A Gibson

Sumeer Arya

Faisal A Syed

Alex E Icaza

Frederick A Rush

Afzal M Malik

Kok-Hoong Chiu

Various embodiments are disclosed of a multiprocessor system with processing elements optimized for high performance and low power dissipation and an associated method of programming the processing elements. Each processing element may comprise a fetch unit and a plurality of address generator units and a plurality of pipelined datapaths. The fetch unit may be configured to receive a multi-part instruction, wherein the multi-part instruction includes a plurality of fields. First and second address generator units may generate, based on different fields of the multi-part instruction, addresses from which to retrieve first and second data for use by an execution unit for the multi-part instruction or a subsequent multi-part instruction. The execution units may perform operations using a single pipeline or multiple pipelines based on third and fourth fields of the multi-part instruction.

Memory-network processor with programmable optimizations

A multi-processor system with processing elements, interspersed memory, and primary and secondary interconnection networks optimized for high performance and low power dissipation is disclosed. In the secondary network multiple message routing nodes are arranged in an interspersed fashion with multiple processors. A given message routing node may receive messages from other message nodes, and relay the received messages to destination message routing nodes using relative offsets included in the messages. The relative offset may specify a number of message nodes from the message node that originated a message to a destination message node.

Memory network processor

Various embodiments are disclosed of a multiprocessor system with processing elements optimized for high performance and low power dissipation and an associated method of programming the processing elements. Each processing element may comprise a fetch unit and a plurality of address generator units and a plurality of pipelined datapaths. The fetch unit may be configured to receive a multi-part instruction, wherein the multi-part instruction includes a plurality of fields. A first address generator unit may be configured to perform an arithmetic operation dependent upon a first field of the plurality of fields. A second address generator unit may be configured to generate at least one address of a plurality of addresses, wherein each address is dependent upon a respective field of the plurality of fields. A parallel assembly language may be used to control the plurality of address generator units and the plurality of pipelined datapaths.

Embodiments of a synchronous digital system are disclosed that may include generation of clock and synchronization signals. Any of a plurality of available clock signals may be selected for use as a primary clock, without causing clock-induced errors in the synchronous digital system. A clock signal generated on-chip with the synchronous digital system may be automatically selected in response to detecting a condition indicating that use of a local clock may be necessary. Such conditions may include detection of tampering with the synchronous digital system. If an indication of tampering is detected, security measures may be performed.

Clock distribution network for multi-frequency multi-processor systems

Embodiments of a multi-processor array are disclosed that may include a plurality of processors, and controllers. Each processor may include a plurality of processor ports and a sync adapter. Each sync adapter may include a plurality of adapter ports. Each controller may include a plurality of controller ports, and a configuration port. The plurality of processors and the plurality of controllers may be coupled together in an interspersed arrangement, and the controllers may be distinct from the processors. Each processor may be configured to send a synchronization signal through its adapter ports to one or more controllers, and to pause execution of program instructions while waiting for a response from the one or more controllers.

Processing system with synchronization instruction

Embodiments of a synchronous digital system are disclosed that may include generation of clock and synchronization signals. Any of a plurality of available clock signals may be selected for use as a primary clock, without causing clock-induced errors in the synchronous digital system. The clock signals may be selected automatically or programmatically. Clock generation circuitry may generate a clock signal that is initially used as the primary clock. The clock generation circuitry may be dynamically reconfigured without interrupting operation of the synchronous digital system, by first selecting another of the available clock signals for use as the primary clock.

Automatic selection of on-chip clock in synchronous digital systems

Embodiments are disclosed of an apparatus capable of performing multi-rate synchronous communication between component chips. Each chip may receive a common clock reference signal, and may generate an internal clock signal dependent on the clock reference signal. A clock distribution tree and phase-locked loop may be used to minimize internal clock skew at I/O circuitry at the chip perimeter. Each chip may also generate an internal synchronizing signal that is phase-aligned to the received clock reference signal. Each chip may use its respective synchronizing signal to synchronize multiple clock dividers that provide software-selectable adjusted-frequency clock signals to the I/O cells of the chip. In this way, the adjusted-frequency clock signals of the multiple chips are edge-aligned to the low-skew internal clock signals, and phase-aligned to the common clock reference signal, allowing the I/O cells of the multiple chips to perform synchronous communication at multiple rates with low clock skew.

Multi-frequency clock skew control for inter-chip communication in synchronous digital systems

Embodiments are disclosed of a multi-chip apparatus capable of performing multi-rate synchronous communication between component chips. Each chip may receive a common clock reference signal, and may generate an internal clock signal dependent on the clock reference signal. A clock distribution tree and phase-locked loop may be used to minimize internal clock skew at I/O circuitry at the chip perimeter. Each chip may also generate an internal synchronizing signal that is phase-aligned to the received clock reference signal. Each chip may use its respective synchronizing signal to synchronize multiple clock dividers that provide software-selectable reduced-frequency clock signals to the I/O cells of the chip. In this way, the reduced-frequency clock signals of the multiple chips are edge-aligned to the low-skew internal clock signals, and phase-aligned to the common clock reference signal, allowing the I/O cells of the multiple chips to perform synchronous communication at multiple rates with low clock skew.

A system and methods are disclosed to prioritize circuit nodes that interconnect the device components of an electronic device design for rerouting. The prioritized nodes can be used to focus effort on improving the quality of signal nodes in an efficient manner. Re-routable nodes are first identified by comparing the signal propagation time delay of each node in the design to an ideal propagation time delay of an ideal route of that node, and selecting the nodes that have a deviation from the ideal delay that exceeds a specified threshold. Once the set of re-routable nodes is identified, each node is then prioritized based on the propagation time delay of a complete path encompassing that node. These nodes can then be re-routed based upon their associated priority.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Kenneth R Faulkner