Memory LSI with arithmetic logic processing capability, main memory system using the same, and method of controlling main memory system

• US 5,862,396 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Motomura, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US08/897,430
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 395/309, 395/800.34, 395/200.33, 395/800.14, 395/894, 395/800.36, 395/800.37, 395/182.01, 365/230.03, 365/230.02, 365/189.07, 365/233, 365/189.01, 365/109.01, 345/524, 345/510, 711/106, 711/118, 364/710.14
• US Class Current: 712/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7821 Tightly coupled to memory, e.g. computational memory, smart memory, processor in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/575 Basic arithmetic logic units, i.e. devices selectable to perform either addition, subtraction or one of several logical operations, using, at least partially, the same circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3001 Arithmetic instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3879 for non-native instruction execution, e.g. executing a command; for Java instruction set
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/00 Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store G11C5/00 takes precedence; auxiliary circuits for stores using semiconductor devices G11C11/4063, G11C11/413

Abstract

In a main memory with arithmetic logic processing capability, k first memories (k is an integer equal to or more than 0) are connected to a memory bus, for storing data. M second memories with arithmetic logic processing capability (m is an integer equal to or more than 1) are also connected to the memory bus. Each of the m second memories includes a memory section for storing data, and an arithmetic logic processing section. The arithmetic logic processing section performs a first processing to at least a part of the data stored in the memory section in response to a first instruction inputted via the memory bus, and allows a result of the first processing to be outputted onto the memory bus in response to a second instruction inputted via the memory bus. The arithmetic logic processing section may further includes a macro code RAM for storing macro codes. The main memory with arithmetic logic processing capability and a memory device with arithmetic logic processing capability used in the same have compatibility with a corresponding main memory and a corresponding memory device.

Claims

1. A main memory with arithmetic logic processing capability, comprising:

a memory bus;

k first memories (k is an integer equal to or more than

     0) connected to said memory bus, for storing data; and

m second memories with arithmetic logic processing capability (m is an integer equal to or more than

     1) connected to said memory bus, wherein each of said m second memories comprises;

a memory section for storing data, and

an arithmetic logic processing section for performing a first processing to at least a part of said data stored in said memory section in response to a first instruction inputted via said memory bus, and for allowing a result of said first processing to be outputted onto said memory bus in response to a second instruction inputted via said memory bus.

2. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic logic processing section stores the first processing result in said memory section and allows a data designating the first processing result to be outputted onto said memory bus in response to said second instruction inputted via said memory bus.

3. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein each of said m second memories has a same terminal structure in an electrical and physical manner as each of said k first memories.

4. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to a specific one of said m second memories, and said second instruction is a read instruction to said specific second memory.

5. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein said first instruction is a coprocessor start operation to a specific one of said m second memories, and said second instruction is a coprocessor synchronize operation to said specific second memory.

6. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic logic processing section includes an interface circuit composed of at least a pair of registers, and an address space of said main memory is composed of a first address space for each of said k first memories, a second address space for said memory section of each of said m second memories, and a third address space for said interface section of said arithmetic logic processing section of each of said m second memories.

7. A main memory according to claim 6, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to one of the registers of said pair, and said second instruction is a read instruction to the other of the registers of said pair.

8. A main memory according to claim 6, wherein the third address space is designated as an un-chacheable space on an operating system.

9. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic logic processing section includes an interface circuit composed of at least a pair of registers, and which of a part of a first address space for each of said k first memories, and an address space of a second address space for said memory section of each of said m second memories and a third address space for said interface section is to be used is selected on an operating system.

10. A main memory according to claim 1, wherein said main memory is installed on a print circuit board which can be installed in a processor system including another main memory board, in place of the other main memory board.

11. A main memory with arithmetic logic processing capability, comprising:

a memory bus;

k first memories (k is an integer equal to or more than

     0) connected to said memory bus, for storing data; and

m second memories with arithmetic logic processing capability (m is an integer equal to or more than

     1) connected to said memory bus, wherein each of said m second memories comprises;

a memory section for storing data,

a storing section for storing at least a macro code, and

an arithmetic logic processing section for executing said at least a macro code in response to a first instruction inputted via said memory bus to perform a first processing to at least a part of said data stored in said memory section, and for allowing a result of said first processing to be outputted onto said memory bus in response to a second instruction inputted via said memory bus.

12. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein said arithmetic logic processing section stores the first processing result in said memory section and allows a data designating the first processing result in said memory section to be outputted onto said memory bus in response to said second instruction inputted via said memory bus.

13. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to a specific one of said m second memories, and said second instruction is a read instruction to said specific second memory.

14. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein said first instruction is a coprocessor start instruction to a specific one of said m second memories, and said second instruction is a coprocessor synchronize instruction to said specific second memory.

15. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein each of said m second memories has a same terminal structure in an electrical and physical manner as each of said k first memories.

16. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein said arithmetic logic processing section includes an interface circuit composed of at least a pair of registers, and an address space of said main memory is composed of a first address space for each of said k first memories, a second address space for said memory section of each of said m second memories, a third address space for said interface section of said arithmetic logic processing section of each of said m second memories, and a fourth address space for said storing section of each of said m second memories.

17. A main memory according to claim 16, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to one of the registers of said pair, and said second instruction is a read instruction to the other of the registers of said pair.

18. A main memory according to claim 16, wherein the third address space and the fourth address space are designated as an un-chacheable space on an operating system.

19. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein said arithmetic logic processing section includes an interface circuit composed of at least a pair of registers, and which of a part of a first address space for each of said k first memories, and an address space of a second address space for said memory section of each of said m second memories, a third address space for said interface section, and a fourth address space for said storing section of each of said m second memories is to be used is selected on an operating system.

20. A main memory according to claim 11, wherein said main memory is installed on a print circuit board which is replaceable with another main memory board which is installed in a processor system using a socket.

21. A memory device with arithmetic logic processing capability, comprising:

a memory bus connected to external terminals;

an internal bus;

a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) section connected between said memory bus and said internal bus; and

an arithmetic logic processing section connected between said memory bus and said internal bus, for performing a first processing to at least a part of data stored in said DRAM section in response to a first instruction inputted via said memory bus, and for allowing a result of said first processing to be outputted onto said memory bus in response to a second instruction inputted via said memory bus.

22. A memory de vice according to claim 21, further comprising a storing section for storing at least a macro code, and

wherein said arithmetic logic processing section executes said at least a macro code in response to said first instruction inputted via said memory bus to perform said first processing to said at least a part of said data stored in said memory section.

23. A memory device according to claim 22, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section, and said second instruction is a read instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section.

24. A memory device according to claim 22, wherein said first instruction is a coprocessor start instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section, and said second instruction is a coprocessor synchronize instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section.

25. A memory device according to claim 22, wherein said memory device has an electrically and physically same terminal structure as another memory device such as said memory device is replaceable with the other memory device in a processor system.

26. A memory device according to claim 22, further comprising an interface circuit composed of at least a pair of registers, and interposed between said memory bus and said arithmetic logic processing section, and

wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to one of the registers of said pair, and said second instruction is a read instruction to the other of the registers of said pair.

27. A memory device according to claim 21, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section, and said second instruction is a read instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section.

28. A memory device according to claim 21, wherein said first instruction is a coprocessor start instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section, and said second instruction is a coprocessor synchronize instruction to said arithmetic logic processing section.

29. A memory device according to claim 21, wherein said memory device has an electrically and physically same terminal structure as another memory device such as said memory device is replaceable with the other memory device in a processor system.

30. A memory device according to claim 21, further comprising an interface circuit composed of at least a pair of registers, and interposed between said memory bus and said arithmetic logic processing section, and

wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to one of the registers of said pair, and said second instruction is a read instruction to the other of the registers of said pair.

31. A method of controlling a main memory with arithmetic logic processing capability in a processor system including a processor, said main memory comprising at least one memory device with arithmetic logic processing capability, comprising the steps of:

issuing a first instruction from said processor to said memory device via a memory bus;

performing a processing to at least a part of data stored in said memory section in said memory device in response to said first instruction;

storing a processing result in said memory device;

issuing a second instruction from said processor to said memory device via said memory bus; and

outputting a data designating the processing result to said processor in response to said second instruction inputted via said memory bus.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said first instruction is a write instruction to said memory device, and said second instruction is a read instruction to said memory device.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein said first instruction is a coprocessor start operation to said memory device, and said second instruction is a coprocessor synchronize operation to said memory device.