Graphics processing system with enhanced memory controller

• US 8,098,255 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Fouladi, Farhad, Yeung, Winnie W., Cheng, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Joni
• Application Number:
  US12/470,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 345/519, 345/530, 345/531, 345/535, 345/536, 345/542, 345/558, 345/559, 711/154, 711/158, 711/167, 711/137, 711/5, 711/113, 711/106, 711/100, 711/163, 711/151, 711/156, 711/140, 711/141, 365/222, 709/235, 710/240, 710/100, 710/310, 710/105, 710/117
• US Class Current: 345/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1605 based on arbitration arbitration in handling access to a common bus or bus system G06F13/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management

Abstract

A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. A memory controller performs a wide range of memory control related functions including arbitrating between various competing resources seeking access to main memory, handling memory latency and bandwidth requirements of the resources requesting memory access, buffering writes to reduce bus turn around, refreshing main memory, and protecting main memory using programmable registers. The memory controller minimizes memory read/write switching using a “global” write queue which queues write requests from various diverse competing resources. In this fashion, multiple competing resources for memory writes are combined into one resource from which write requests are obtained. Memory coherency issues are addressed both within a single resource that has both read and write capabilities and among different resources by efficiently flushing write buffers associated with a resource.

Claims

1. In a graphics system including a main processor;

a graphics processing system including a command processor, a texture unit and a pixel engine for generating graphics images on a display in cooperation with said main processor;

an audio processor;

a video interface;

an input/output interface; and

a main memory, a memory controller comprising;

a plurality of main memory read queues each operatively coupled to a respective read requester, said plurality of main memory read queues including a first main memory read queue which is operatively coupled to receive read requests from said command processor, a second main memory read queue which is operatively coupled to receive read requests from said texture unit, a third main memory read queue which is operatively coupled to receive read requests from said audio processor, a fourth main memory read queue which is operatively coupled to receive read requests from said input/output interface, and a fifth main memory read queue which is operatively coupled to receive read requests from said video interface;

a plurality of main memory write queues each operatively coupled to a respective write requester, said plurality of main memory write queues including a first main memory write queue which is operatively coupled to receive write requests from said pixel engine, a second main memory write queue which is operatively coupled to receive write requests from said audio processor and a third main memory write queue which is operatively coupled to receive write requests from said input/output interface;

a global write queue coupled to said plurality of main memory write queues for storing write requests for main memory access transferred thereto from said plurality of main memory write queues; and

a control circuit for controlling the transfer of write requests to said global write queue, wherein said control circuit is operable to control the transfer of write requests from said plurality of main memory write queues to said global write queue to reduce the frequency of switching from main memory write operations to main memory read operations,

wherein said control circuit further comprises an arbitration circuit for arbitrating access to said main memory from among said main processor, said plurality of main memory read queues and said global write queue.

2. A memory controller according to claim 1, wherein said arbitration circuitry is operable to control the frequency with which one or more of said read and write requesters are enabled to participate in the arbitrating for main memory access.

3. A memory controller according to claim 1, further including a memory access control register associated with one of said read and write requesters, wherein said arbitration circuit is responsive to the contents of said memory access control register for determining a frequency that said one of said read and write requesters is permitted to participate in the arbitrating for main memory access.

4. A memory controller according to claim 1, further including a set of control registers, said control registers being programmable by said main processor.

5. A memory controller according to claim 4, wherein said control registers include a plurality of memory bandwidth control registers which are accessed by said arbitration circuit in determining which read or write requester will be granted main memory access.

6. A memory controller according to claim 5, wherein each of said memory bandwidth control registers is respectively associated with one of said read and write requesters seeking main memory access.

7. A memory controller according to claim 4, wherein said control registers include at least one register associated with a read or write requester for storing data for said requester indicative of at least one of memory usage and memory bandwidth for that requester.

8. A memory controller according to claim 1, wherein a write requester that is writing to main memory generates a flush signal for initiating the flushing of that write requester'"'"'s main memory write queue.