The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 09, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1992
Eric R DeLano, Ft. Collins, CO (US);
Craig A Gleason, Ft. Collins, CO (US);
Mark A Forsyth, Ft. Collins, CO (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method of producing predecode bits from instructions as instructions are copied from a memory system to a cache memory unit. A predecode unit, coupled between the memory unit and the cache memory unit, produces the predecode bits for utilization by a superscalar processor. The circuitry of the predecode unit is comprised of logic and latches. The predecode unit includes two main paths for transporting instruction information: a predecode path and an instruction path. The instruction path buffers instructions sent from memory to cache as information from these instructions are decoded in the predecode path. The predecode path includes a decoder and a bit information unit. The decoder identifies the instruction type by monitoring the op-code of instructions entering the predecode unit. The bit information unit is coupled to the decoder and receives signals indicating instruction type and passes these signals through logic gates to obtain whether instructions can be bundled. The bit information unit then transfers to cache bundle signals and instruction type signals. These signals are stored as predecode bits along with instructions from the instruction path in the cache.