Data transfer device and method for multidimensional memory

• US 20030233511A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kubo, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0207 with multidimensional access, e.g. row/column, matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/10 Address translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

To provide a data transfer device for multidimensional memory capable of performing an efficient SIMD operation and suitable for transferring data between a multidimensional memory and a one-dimensional memory. A DMAC 43 reads data of a rectangular area in a logical two-dimensional space of a two-dimensional data access memory 10, and writes the read data on a one-dimensional data access memory 41. Further, it reads data from the one-dimensional data access memory 41, and writes the read data on the two-dimensional data access memory 10 such that the data are arranged in the rectangular area in the logical two-dimensional space of the two-dimensional data access memory 10.

Claims

1. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory for transferring data between a multidimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a multidimensional space as seen from accessing side and a one-dimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a one-dimensional space as seen from accessing side, comprising:

multidimensional memory reading means for reading data of a predetermined area in said multidimensional space from said multidimensional memory; and

one-dimensional memory writing means for writing the data read by said multidimensional memory reading means on said one-dimensional memory.

2. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multidimensional memory reading means receives a read-reference address as a reference for reading data and a read-area specifying information for specifying a read area in said multidimensional space input thereto, and reads the data of the predetermined area in said multidimensional space from said multidimensional memory on the basis of the read-reference address and the read-area specifying information.

3. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 2, wherein said read-area specifying information includes a read-data-length information indicating a data length to be read in each dimension in said multidimensional space, and

wherein said multidimensional memory reading means specifies the read area in said multidimensional space on the basis of a data length specified by each read-data-length information included in said read-area specifying information and said read-reference address, and reads the data of the specified read area from said multidimensional memory.

4. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 3, wherein said read-area specifying information further includes a maximum data-length information indicating a maximum data length in a predetermined dimension in said multidimensional space, and

wherein said multidimensional memory reading means specifies the read area in said multidimensional space on the basis of the data length specified by each read-data-length information included in said read-area specifying information, the data length specified by the maximum data-length information included in said read-area specifying information, and said read-reference address, and reads the data of the specified read area from said multidimensional memory.

5. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 3, wherein said one-dimensional memory writing means receives a write-reference address as a reference for writing data and a write-area specifying information for specifying a write area in said one-dimensional space input thereto, and writes the data read by said multidimensional memory reading means on said one-dimensional memory on the basis of the write-reference address and the write-area specifying information.

6. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 5, wherein when a multidimensional space having the same dimension as that of said multidimensional space is constructed logically in said one-dimensional memory, said write-area specifying information includes a maximum data-length information indicating a maximum data length in a predetermined dimension in said logical multidimensional space, and

wherein said one-dimensional memory writing means specifies a write area in said one-dimensional memory on the basis of the data length specified by each read-data-length information included in said read-area specifying information, the data length specified by the maximum data-length information included in said write-area specifying information, and said write-reference address, and writes the data read by said multidimensional memory reading means on said specified write area.

7. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 6, wherein said one-dimensional memory writing means is set to one of a normal transfer mode for corresponding said read area to said write area and writing the data of said read area on said write area and a transposing transfer mode for transposing said read area and said write area and writing the data of said read area on said write area, and in accordance with a set transfer mode, writes the data read by said multidimensional memory reading means on said one-dimensional memory.

8. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 1, being connected to said multidimensional memory through a bus of a first burst length,

wherein said multidimensional memory reading means reads the data of the predetermined area in said multidimensional space from said multidimensional memory in a unit of said first burst length, and when the data to be read from said multidimensional memory has a data length less than said first burst length, reads only said data from said multidimensional memory in a unit of data having a data length less than said first burst length.

9. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 1, being connected to said one-dimensional memory through a bus of a second burst length,

wherein said one-dimensional memory writing means writes the data read by said multidimensional memory reading means on said one-dimensional memory in a unit of said second burst length, and when the data to be written on said one-dimensional memory has a data length less than said second burst length, writes only said data on said one-dimensional memory in a unit of data having a data length less than said second burst length,

19. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data transfer between said multidimensional memory and said one-dimensional memory is performed independently from operations of an operation processor which uses said multidimensional memory.

20. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multidimensional memory comprises:

n memories in which a two-dimensional memory space is constructed by arranging predetermined minimum two-dimensional virtual memory spaces in horizontal and vertical directions and in which each address of said minimum two-dimensional virtual memory spaces is previously assigned to each memories in a predetermined rule;

a read-data control unit for specifying an access position in said minimum two-dimensional virtual memory space when reading data, rearranging each read data from said n memories in accordance with a read access mode for designating a direction or a pattern for reading data from the specified access position, and outputting each rearranged read data in a lump; and

a read-address control unit for correcting a designated read address to a predetermined address in accordance with said designated read access mode and said specified access position when designating the read address and in accordance with said designated read access mode when a space to be accessed extends over adjacent said minimum two-dimensional virtual memory space, and outputting the address to said n memories.

21. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 20, wherein said read-data control unit comprises:

a data controller for outputting a selection signal for selecting read data in said n memories in accordance with the access position in said minimum two-dimensional virtual memory space specified according to a designation of the read address, and a designation of said read access mode when reading data; and

n selectors provided correspondingly to said n memories, for selecting and simultaneously outputting each read data from said n memories on the basis of the selection signal from said data controller, and

wherein said read-address control unit comprises;

an address controller for outputting an address conversion signal for converting said read address corresponding to lower address in each of said memories into a predetermined value in accordance with said read access mode and said read address when designating said read address, and for outputting a correcting signal for correcting said read address corresponding to upper address in each of said memories in accordance with said read access mode when a space to be accessed extends over adjacent said minimum two-dimensional virtual memory space; and

n address correcting portions provided correspondingly to said n memories, for converting said read address into a predetermined value on the basis of the address conversion signal from said address controller to output the converted read address to said respective memories and correcting said read address on the basis of the correcting signal from said address controller to output the corrected read address to said respective memory.

10. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory for transferring data between a multidimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a multidimensional space as seen from accessing side and a one-dimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a one-dimensional space as seen from accessing side, comprising:

one-dimensional memory reading means for reading data from said one-dimensional memory; and

multidimensional memory writing means for writing the data read by said one-dimensional memory reading means on said multidimensional memory such that the data are arranged in a predetermined area in said multidimensional space.

11. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 10, wherein said one-dimensional memory reading means receives a read-reference address as a reference for reading data and a read-area specifying information for specifying a read area in a logical multidimensional space when a multidimensional space having the same dimension as that of said multidimensional space is constructed logically in said one-dimensional memory input thereto, and reads the data of the predetermined area in said logical multidimensional space from said one-dimensional memory on the basis of the read-reference address and the read-area specifying information.

12. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 11, wherein said read-area specifying information includes a read-data-length information indicating a data length to be read in each dimension in said logical multidimensional space, and

wherein said one-dimensional memory reading means specifies the read area in said logical multidimensional space on the basis of a data length specified by each read-data-length information included in said read-area specifying information and said read-reference address, and reads the data of the specified read area from said one-dimensional memory.

13. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 12, wherein said read-area specifying information further includes a maximum data-length information indicating a maximum data length in a predetermined dimension in said logical multidimensional space, and

wherein said one-dimensional memory reading means specifies the read area in said logical multidimensional space on the basis of the data length specified by each read-data-length information included in said read-area specifying information, the data length specified by the maximum data-length information included in said read-area specifying information, and said read-reference address, and reads the data of the specified read area from said one-dimensional memory.

14. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 12, wherein said multidimensional memory writing means receives a write-reference address as a reference for writing data and a write-area specifying information for specifying a write area in said multidimensional space input thereto, and writes the data read by said one-dimensional memory reading means on said multidimensional memory on the basis of the write-reference address and the write-area specifying information.

15. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 14, wherein said write-area specifying information includes a maximum data-length information indicating a maximum data length in a predetermined dimension in said multidimensional space, and

wherein said multidimensional memory writing means specifies a write area in said multidimensional memory on the basis of the data length specified by each read-data-length information included in said read-area specifying information, a data length specified by the maximum data-length information included in said write-area specifying information, and said write-reference address, and writes the data read by said one-dimensional memory reading means on said specified write area.

16. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 15, wherein said multidimensional memory writing means is set to one of a normal transfer mode for corresponding said read area to said write area and writing the data of said read area on said write area and a transposing transfer mode for transposing said read area and said write area and writing the data of said read area on said write area, and in accordance with a set transfer mode, writes the data read by said one-dimensional memory reading means on said multidimensional memory.

17. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 10, being connected to said multidimensional memory through a bus of a first burst length,

wherein said multidimensional memory writing means writes the data read from said one-dimensional memory to said multidimensional memory in a unit of said first burst length, and when the data to be written on said multidimensional memory has a data length less than said first burst length, writes only said data on said multidimensional memory in a unit of data having a data length less than said first burst length.

18. A data transfer device for multidimensional memory as claimed in claim 10, being connected to said one-dimensional memory through a bus of a second burst length,

wherein said one-dimensional memory reading means reads data from said one-dimensional memory in a unit of said second burst length, and when the data to be read from said one-dimensional memory has a data length less than said second burst length, reads only said data from said one-dimensional memory in a unit of data having a data length less than said second burst length.

22. A data transfer program for multidimensional memory for transferring data between a multidimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by multidimensional space as seen from accessing side and a one-dimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a one-dimensional space as seen from accessing side, making a computer perform processes to be executed by:

multidimensional memory reading means for reading the data of a predetermined area in said multidimensional space from said multidimensional memory; and

one-dimensional memory writing means for writing the data read by said multidimensional memory reading means on said one-dimensional memory.

23. A data transfer program for multidimensional memory for transferring data between a multidimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by multidimensional space as seen from accessing side and a one-dimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a one-dimensional space as seen from accessing side, making a computer perform processes to be executed by:

one-dimensional memory reading means for reading data from said one-dimensional memory; and

multidimensional memory writing means for writing the data read by said one-dimensional memory reading means on said multidimensional memory such that the data are arranged in a predetermined area in said multidimensional space.

24. A data transfer method for multidimensional memory for transferring data between a multidimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by multidimensional space as seen from accessing side and a one-dimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a one-dimensional space as seen from accessing side, comprising:

a multidimensional memory reading step for reading the data of a predetermined area in said multidimensional space from said multidimensional memory; and

a one-dimensional memory writing step for writing the data read by said multidimensional memory reading step on said one-dimensional memory.

25. A data transfer method for multidimensional memory for transferring data between a multidimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by multidimensional space as seen from an accessing side and a one-dimensional memory in which memory space is constituted by a one-dimensional space as seen from the accessing side, comprising:

a one-dimensional memory reading step for reading the data from said one-dimensional memory; and

a multidimensional memory writing step for writing the data read by said one-dimensional memory reading step on said multidimensional memory such that the data are arranged in a predetermined area in said multidimensional space.