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:
Oct. 13, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 12, 2003
John Matthew Nolan, Bath, GB;
Roger Paul Dealtry, Bath, GB;
John Matthew Nolan, Bath, GB;
Roger Paul Dealtry, Bath, GB;
Picochip Designs Limited, Bath, GB;
Abstract
A method is disclosed for achieving synchronization in an array of semi-synchronous devices. A processor array has an array of processor elements, wherein each of said processor elements comprises a cycle counter, and a master processor element is able to transmit control command signals to each of the other processor elements. Each processor element is such that, on receipt of a control command signal, it acts on that signal only when its cycle counter reaches a predetermined value, and the master processor element is such that it transmits control command signals only when its cycle counter takes a value which is within a predetermined range, or 'safe window'. By appropriate setting of the 'safe window', it can be guaranteed that, when the master processor element transmits a control command signal to each of the other processor elements, those command control signals are acted upon at corresponding times within the other processor elements.