Instruction set for bi-directional conversion and transfer of integer and floating point data
DCFirst Claim
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1. A floating point register file within a microprocessor, the floating point register file comprising:
- a plurality of floating point registers, for storing floating point numbers in extended precision format; and
conversion logic, coupled to said plurality of floating point registers, configured to convert said floating point numbers into integers, and to store said integers into said plurality of floating point registers.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for bi-directional format conversion and transfer of data between integer and floating point registers is provided. A floating point register is configured to store floating point data, and integer data, in a variety of numerical formats. Data is moved in and out of the floating point register as integer data, and is converted into floating point format as needed. Separate processor instructions are provided for format conversion and data transfer to allow conversion and transfer operations to be separated.
25 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A floating point register file within a microprocessor, the floating point register file comprising:
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a plurality of floating point registers, for storing floating point numbers in extended precision format; and
conversion logic, coupled to said plurality of floating point registers, configured to convert said floating point numbers into integers, and to store said integers into said plurality of floating point registers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for transferring data between an integer register file and a floating point register file, the method comprising:
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retrieving integer data from an integer register file and storing the integer data into a floating point register file; and
converting the stored integer data into floating point data;
wherein intermediate storage of the integer data in system memory is not required during retrieval of the integer data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
storing the converted floating point data into the floating point register file.
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10. A method for transferring data between a floating point register file and an integer register file, the method comprising:
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converting floating point data in the floating point register file into integer data; and
retrieving the integer data from the floating point register file and storing the integer data into the integer register file; and
wherein intermediate storage of the integer data is not required during conversion of the floating point data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
storing the converted integer data into the floating point register file.
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14. A microprocessor comprising:
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integer means configured to store a plurality of integer data;
floating point means, coupled to said integer means, configured to store a plurality of floating point data and a plurality of integer data; and
conversion means, coupled to said floating point means, configured to convert a first one of said floating point data in said floating point means into a first integer, and to store said first integer into said floating point means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
transfer means, coupled to said integer means and said floating point means, configured to transfer a first one of said plurality of integer data from said floating point means to said integer means.
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17. The microprocessor as recited in claim 14 further comprising:
transfer means, coupled to said integer means and said floating point means, configured to transfer a first one of said plurality of integer data from said integer means to said floating point means.
Specification