Programmable pipeline array
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an array of programmable data-processing cells configured as a plurality of cross-connected pipelines.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an array of programmable data-processing cells configured as a plurality of cross-connected pipelines. An apparatus includes cells capable of performing data-processing functions selectable by a presented instruction. A first set of cells includes an input cell, an output cell, and a series of at least one interior cell providing an acyclic data processing path from the input cell to the output cell. Additional cells are similarly configured. Memory presents configuration instructions to cells in response to a configuration code. Data advances through ranks of the cells. The configuration code advances to memory associated with a rank in tandem with the data.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- an array of programmable data-processing cells configured as a plurality of cross-connected pipelines.
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2. An apparatus including a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells capable of performing a plurality of data-processing functions selectable by a presented instruction, the apparatus comprising:
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a first set of cells, the first set including (a) an input cell, (b) an output cell, and (c) a series of at least one interior cell providing an acyclic data processing path from the input cell to the output cell; and
a second set of cells, the second set including (a) an input cell, (b) an output cell, and (c) a series of at least one interior cell providing an acyclic data processing path from the input cell to the output cell;
whereina data output of a cell of the first series, other than the output cell, connects to a data input of a cell of the second series; and
a data output of a cell of the second series, other than the output cell, connects to a data input of a cell of the first series. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A data processing method comprising:
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providing a first set of cells, the first set including (a) an input cell, (b) an output cell, and (c) a series of at least one interior cell providing an acyclic data processing path from the input cell to the output cell;
providing a second set of cells, the second set including (a) an input cell, (b) an output cell, and (c) a series of at least one interior cell providing an acyclic data processing path from the input cell to the output cell;
providing memory capable of presenting configuration instructions to a plurality of cells in response to a configuration code;
presenting first data to the input cells;
presenting a first configuration code to memory associated with the input cells;
advancing the first data in tandem through ranks of the sets of cells as first processed data; and
advancing the configuration code to memory associated with a rank of the sets of cells in tandem with the first processed data advancing to the rank. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of pipeline means for programmably processing data as a series of wavefronts through a plurality of ranks, and memory means for providing instructions to the ranks of the pipeline means.
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Specification