Patent ID: 6092179
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An integrated circuit including a digital processor, comprising:a control unit, responsive to a set of instructions;a data processing unit, responsive to the control unit, having therein an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and a register file, an input of the ALU coupled to an output of the register file and an output of the ALU coupled to an input of the register file;a function unit adapted to be substituted for the ALU, the function unit responsive to the control unit, the function unit having an input coupled to an output of the register file and an output;a bus for sending flag bits from the function unit to the control unit for processing; anda selector responsive to the control unit, disposed between the output of the ALU and the input of the register file, for receiving the output of the ALU and the output of the function unit, and for selecting as input to the register file the output of the ALU or the output of the function unit;wherein a portion of the instruction set pertains to the function unit and the remaining portion of the instruction set pertains to the digital processor.