National Semiconductor Corporation

Ran Talmudi

Donald B Alpert

Dror Avnon

Amos Ben-Meir

Sorin Iacobovici

Motti Beck

A microprocessor partially decodes instructions retrieved from main memory before placing them into the microprocessor's integrated instruction cache. Each storage location in the instruction cache includes two slots for decoded instructions. One slot controls one of the microprocessor's integer pipelines and a port to the microprocessor's data cache. A second slot controls the second integer pipeline or one of the microprocessor's floating point units. The instructions retrieved from main memory are decoded by a loader unit which decodes the instructions from the compact form as stored in main memory and places them into the two slots of the instruction cache entry according to their functions. In addition, auxiliary information is placed in the cache entry along with the instruction to control parallel execution as well as emulation of complex instructions. A bit in each instruction cache entry indicates whether the instructions in the two slots are independent, so that they can be executed in parallel, or dependent, so that they must be executed sequentially. Using a single bit for this purpose allows two dependent instructions to be stored in the slots of the single cache entry.

Partially decoded instruction cache

A processor emulation system for testing processor operation. First and second identical microprocessors are used together with a target system which includes the main memory. One microprocessor performs an in-system emulation (ISE) function by operating in lock step with the second processor which functions as the master processor. A mode control signal is used to switch the microprocessors between a normal operating mode and an ISE mode. Normal microprocessor signals are outputted on predetermined terminals for the processor in the normal operating mode and the parallel contents of the processor program counter are outputted on the same predetermined terminals when the microprocessor is in the ISE mode. The master processor provides output signals to the target system, with the ISE processor and the master processor both receiving signals from the target system. Operation of the master processor can be ascertained by monitoring the program counter output of the ISE processor.

Processor with in-system emulation circuitry which uses the same group

Apparatus and method for storing partially-decoded instructions in the

Growing community of inventors

Ra'Anana, Israel

Ran Talmudi