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:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 05, 1998
Paul K Miller, McKinney, TX (US);
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A microprocessor optimized to execute two instruction sets in a long instruction word (LIW) format. One instruction set may have variable length instructions. The microprocessor has an alignment unit configured to detect variable length instructions as they are fetched from an instruction cache, and then embed the variable length instructions within a long instruction word. The long instruction words are stored in a central window until they are executed by a number of functional units. A number of the microprocessor's functional units may be configured to execute instructions from both instruction sets. These dual instruction set-capable functional units may be used in conjunction with an MROM unit configured to translate a subset of instructions from one instruction set into less complex instructions in either instruction set. The central window may be configured to shift the order of the long instruction words before they are issued in order to minimize the amount of time the functional units are idle. The central window may be replaced altogether by a series of reservation stations. A method for operating a microprocessor with two instruction sets is also disclosed.