Programmable interconnection chip for computer system functional modules
First Claim
1. A programmable interconnection chip for use in interconnecting major components of a processor such as arithmetic logic units, floating point multipliers, processor memory and processor register files to provide physical communication and data buffering between such components comprising:
- (a) programmable data input buffer and flow control means including a plurality of data input ports;
(b) programmable pipeline register file output means including a plurality of data output ports;
(c) crossbar interconnection means electrically connected between the data input buffer and flow control means and the pipeline register file output means, said crossbar interconnection means configured on each clock cycle to provide a desired interconnection pattern in a manner allowing multiple data transfers to flow in parallel between the data input buffer and flow control means and the pipeline register file output means in accordance with said pattern; and
(d) control pattern memory means electrically connected to the crossbar interconnection means and the pipeline register file output means for storing programmed instructions designed to control the configuration of the interconnection pattern and the operations of the crossbar interconnection means on each clock cycle and to control shifting of data into and output of data from the pipeline register file output means on each clock cycle, said electrical connection of the control pattern memory means to the crossbar interconnection means being independent of said electrical connection between the crossbar interconnection means and the data input buffer and control means.
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Abstract
The interconnection chip of the present invention is a custom chip which is designed to serve as an efficient link between system functional modules, such as arithmetic units, register files and input/output ports. The chip includes a crossbar interconnection, a FIFO or programmable delay for each of its inputs and a pipeline register file for each of its outputs. By using pre-stored control patterns, the chip can configure its crossbar and delays while performing other operations. Therefore, the usual functions of busses and register files can be realized with this single chip. Various embodiments and applications for the chip are disclosed.
213 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A programmable interconnection chip for use in interconnecting major components of a processor such as arithmetic logic units, floating point multipliers, processor memory and processor register files to provide physical communication and data buffering between such components comprising:
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(a) programmable data input buffer and flow control means including a plurality of data input ports; (b) programmable pipeline register file output means including a plurality of data output ports; (c) crossbar interconnection means electrically connected between the data input buffer and flow control means and the pipeline register file output means, said crossbar interconnection means configured on each clock cycle to provide a desired interconnection pattern in a manner allowing multiple data transfers to flow in parallel between the data input buffer and flow control means and the pipeline register file output means in accordance with said pattern; and (d) control pattern memory means electrically connected to the crossbar interconnection means and the pipeline register file output means for storing programmed instructions designed to control the configuration of the interconnection pattern and the operations of the crossbar interconnection means on each clock cycle and to control shifting of data into and output of data from the pipeline register file output means on each clock cycle, said electrical connection of the control pattern memory means to the crossbar interconnection means being independent of said electrical connection between the crossbar interconnection means and the data input buffer and control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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5. A programmable interconnection chip according to claim wherein one of said two memory banks may be programmed with new control patterns while the other of said two banks controls the configuration and operation of the crossbar interconnection means and pipeline register file output means.
Specification