Time-based on-chip hardware performance monitor
First Claim
1. A hardware performance monitor for a functional block of a system, comprising:
- a counter circuit, wherein the counter circuit includes;
an event select multiplexer configured to select an event occurring in the functional block, the event being a type of activities occurring in the functional block;
a time window counter with a programmable maximum counter value, the maximum counter value determining a counting period, wherein the time window counter restarts at zero after the maximum counter value is reached;
an event counter coupled to the event select multiplexer and the time window counter, wherein the event counter is configured to;
count a number of occurrences of the selected event occurring in the functional block during the counting period;
restart counting the selected event in a new counting period if the number of occurrences of the selected event during the counting period falls within a threshold band; and
generate an output trigger signal when the number of occurrences of the selected event during the counting period falls outside of the threshold band; and
an interface with a cross trigger network,wherein the event counter sends the output trigger signal to the cross trigger network and receives an input trigger signal from the cross trigger network through the interface; and
wherein the event counter is configurable to pause counting after receiving the input trigger signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a performance monitor for a functional block of a system, the performance monitor comprising a counter circuit, wherein the counter circuit includes a programmable time window counter configured to determine an adjustable counting period, and an event counter coupled to the time window counter. The event counter is configured to count a number of occurrences of an event occurring in the functional block during the counting period, and record the number of occurrences of the event during the counting period and generate an output trigger signal when the number of occurrences of the event during the counting period is outside of a programmable threshold band, or after receiving an input trigger signal from a cross trigger network triggered by other performance monitors in electrical communication with the cross trigger network.
14 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A hardware performance monitor for a functional block of a system, comprising:
a counter circuit, wherein the counter circuit includes; an event select multiplexer configured to select an event occurring in the functional block, the event being a type of activities occurring in the functional block; a time window counter with a programmable maximum counter value, the maximum counter value determining a counting period, wherein the time window counter restarts at zero after the maximum counter value is reached; an event counter coupled to the event select multiplexer and the time window counter, wherein the event counter is configured to; count a number of occurrences of the selected event occurring in the functional block during the counting period; restart counting the selected event in a new counting period if the number of occurrences of the selected event during the counting period falls within a threshold band; and generate an output trigger signal when the number of occurrences of the selected event during the counting period falls outside of the threshold band; and an interface with a cross trigger network, wherein the event counter sends the output trigger signal to the cross trigger network and receives an input trigger signal from the cross trigger network through the interface; and wherein the event counter is configurable to pause counting after receiving the input trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A performance monitor for a functional block of a system, the performance monitor comprising:
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a counter circuit, wherein the counter circuit includes; a programmable time window counter configured to determine an adjustable counting period; and an event counter coupled to the time window counter, wherein the event counter is configured to; count a number of occurrences of an event occurring in the functional block during the counting period, the event being a type of activities occurring in the functional block; and record the number of occurrences of the event during the counting period when the number of occurrences of the event during the counting period is outside of a threshold band, wherein the threshold band includes at least one of a low threshold or a high threshold; and wherein the event counter is further configured to;
receive an input trigger signal; andin response to receiving the input trigger signal, record the number of occurrences of the event occurring in the functional block during the counting period. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification