Abstract:
Methods, systems and non-transitory computer readable media are described. A system includes a shader pipe array, a redundant shader pipe array, a sequencer and a redundant shader switch. The shader pipe array includes multiple shader pipes, each of which perform rendering calculations on data provided thereto. The redundant shader pipe array also performs rendering calculations on data provided thereto. The sequencer identifies at least one defective shader pipe in the shader pipe array, and, in response, generates a signal. The redundant shader switch receives the generated signal, and, in response, transfers the data destined for each shader pipe identified as being defective independently to the redundant shader pipe array.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/476,158, filed Jun. 1, 2009, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,513 filed May 30, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,483 filed May 30, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,504 filed May 30, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,492 filed May 30, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,499 filed May 30, 2008; all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is generally directed to computing operations performed in computing systems, and more particularly directed to graphics processing tasks performed in computing systems. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a complex integrated circuit that is specially designed to perform graphics processing tasks. A GPU can, for example, execute graphics processing tasks required by an end-user application, such as a video game application. In such an example, there are several layers of software between the end-user application and the GPU. 
         [0006]    The end-user application communicates with an application programming interface (API). An API allows the end-user application to output graphics data and commands in a standardized format, rather than in a format that is dependent on the GPU. Several types of APIs are commercially available, including DirectX® developed by Microsoft Corp. and OpenGL® developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. The API communicates with a driver. The driver translates standard code received from the API into a native format of instructions understood by the GPU. The driver is typically written by the manufacturer of the GPU. The GPU then executes the instructions from the driver. 
         [0007]    A GPU produces the pixels that make up an image from a higher level description of its components in a process known as rendering. GPU&#39;s typically utilize a concept of continuous rendering by the use of pipelines to process pixel, texture, and geometric data. These pipelines are often referred to as shader pipes or shader pipelines, “shader” being a term in computer graphics referring to a set of software instructions used by a graphic resource primarily to perform rendering effects. In addition, GPU&#39;s can also employ multiple pipelines in a parallel processing design to obtain higher throughput. A multiple of shader pipelines can also be referred to as a shader pipe array. 
         [0008]    Periodically an error occurs somewhere within a pipeline as a shader pipe array, for example, as a result of a production defect. As the number of errors increase the overall yield of acceptable rendering calculations decreases. Typically the method used to correct a defective pipeline would be to recalculate the entire array of data within the shader pipe array. While this method can correct the defective pipeline data, it also consumes a fair amount of processing time to recalculate the entire array of data. This recalculation effort due to even a single defective element within a single pipeline effectively decreases a system&#39;s overall performance, or the production yield amount of effective product. 
         [0009]    What are needed, therefore, are systems and/or methods to alleviate the aforementioned deficiencies. Particularly, what is needed is a highly efficient, cost effective approach to overcome the effects of a defective shader pipe with minimal impact on overall product production or performance. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Consistent with the principles of the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention includes method and apparatus for shader pipeline repair comprising a shader pipe array, a redundant shader pipe array, a redundant shader switch, a sequencer, and a texture fetch system. During manufacturing test, system level test, or start up test, if a defect is noted, a control register is configured to map defective shader pipe columns to redundant shader pipe column. In normal operating mode, for example, if the redundant shader control register indicates a defect in a shader pipe column within the shader pipe array, data that was to be directed to the defective shader pipe column is transferred by a redundant shader switch directly via a horizontal path to a redundant shader pipe array column where it is processed. This can be controlled uniquely per row, or common for all rows. A defective shader pipe within the shader pipe array could be caused, for example, because of a manufacturing defect, post-manufacturing defect, component degradation, external interference, and/or inadvertent static discharge, or other electrical or environmental condition or occurrence. A shader pipe will be defective if a static or intermittent error condition is detected during testing. Testing can occur at the time of manufacturing or periodically (e.g., at the time of start-up or initialization) during use of the product. Once the data is processed by the redundant shader pipe array it is re-inserted into the correct output column by the redundant shader switch. In addition, the redundant shader switch synchronizes the redundant shader pipe array data so that the redundant shader pipe array data is correctly positioned and timed with other output data. In this manner, a defective shader pipe is “repaired” by re-routing data that was destined to a defective shader pipe to a redundant shader pipe for processing. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment of the invention, the shader pipe array comprises one or more Vertical Shader Pipe Columns where each column is made up of one or more Shader Pipe blocks. In this embodiment the shader pipe array is configured as a (M·N) array with M Vertical Shader Pipe Columns where each column comprises N rows of Shader Pipe blocks. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment the redundant shader pipe comprises one or more Vertical Redundant Shader Pipe Columns where each column is made up of one or more Redundant Shader Pipe blocks. In this embodiment the redundant shader pipe array is configured as a (X·N) array with X Vertical Redundant Shader Pipe Columns where each column comprises N rows of Redundant Shader Pipe blocks. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment where the redundant shader pipe comprises more than one Vertical Redundant Shader Pipe Column, the redundant shader pipe is capable of simultaneously receiving, processing, and outputting data destined to the more than one defective shader pipe column in a single shader pipe array to the more than one Vertical Redundant Shader Pipe Columns. As such, each redundant column is capable of repairing an individual column in the primary shader array. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment the redundant shader pipe array would include an input and output module. The input module can transfer data to a redundant shader pipe column for processing that was initially destined to a defective shader pipe prior to the data entering the shader pipe array. In this embodiment the output unit of the shader pipe array would also multiplex the processed shader pipe array data from the redundant shader pipe array back into the correct output column and synchronize the output to coincide with other output data. 
         [0015]    Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In the drawings: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram depicting an implementation of a redundant shader pipe repair system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a system diagram depicting an implementation of a redundant shader pipe repair system illustrating the details of a shader pipe array. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a system diagram depicting an implementation of a redundant shader pipe repair system illustrating the details of a redundant shader switch output. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a system diagram depicting an implementation of a redundant shader pipe repair system illustrating the details of a redundant shader pipe array in a single column. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a system diagram depicting an implementation of a redundant shader pipe repair system illustrating the details of a multiple column redundant shader pipe array. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart depicting an implementation of a method for redundant shader pipe repair. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The present invention relates to a shader pipe array wherein there is a redundant shader pipe array with the ability to process data destined to a defective shader pipe. In embodiments of this invention, defective shader pipes are identified and then through the use of a redundant shader switch, data that was destined to the identified defective shader pipe is instead transferred, via a horizontal path, to a redundant shader pipe array where the shader pipe data is processed. The redundant shader switch also controls returning the processed redundant shader pipe data to the correct output column at the correct time in line with other output data. In this manner the effects of a defective shader pipe can be repaired and the redundant shader pipe array can be used to increase the initial yield at the point of manufacture or to extend the useful life of a device where a subsequent defective shader pipe would otherwise render the device unusable or operating in a degraded condition. 
         [0025]    While specific configurations, arrangements, and steps are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the pertinent art(s) will recognize that other configurations, arrangements, and steps can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the pertinent art(s) that this invention can also be employed in a variety of other applications. 
         [0026]    It is noted that references in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described can include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to incorporate such a feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
         [0027]    While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the invention would be of significant utility. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a shader system  100  within a graphics processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. System  100  comprises a shader a sequencer  130 , a pipe array  140 , a redundant shader switch (RSS) represented as RSS-In  120  and RSS-Out  160 , a redundant shader pipe array  150 , and a texture filter  155 . Also shown are a shader pipe interpolation unit  110  that inputs pixel data and the shader pipe output  170  to which processed pixel data is directed. 
         [0029]    Shader pipe array  140  performs shader program calculations on input data received from shader pipe interpolation unit  110  through RSS-In  120 . RSS-In  120  controls the flow of input data to shader pipe array  140 . Sequencer  130  controls the flow of data through shader pipe array  140  as well as to identify a defective shader pipe within shader pipe array  140 . In the event that there is no defective shader pipe, the processed data continues through RSS-Out  160  to the shader pipe output  170 . 
         [0030]    In the event there is a defective shader pipe in shader pipe array  140 , sequencer  130  notifies RSS-In  120  of the location of the defective shader pipe. RSS-In  120  then transfers the data destined to the defective shader pipe via a direct horizontal path from shader pipe array  140  to redundant shader pipe array  150 . Redundant shader pipe array  150  is responsible to “effectively” repair the defective shader pipe by processing the shader pipe data originally targeted to be processed by the defective shader pipe. Once the shader pipe data is processed by redundant shader pipe array  150 , the data is returned to RSS-Out  160  that places the redundant shader pipe data at the correct location and at the proper time as it would have been if the shader pipe had not been found to be defective. 
         [0031]    Shader pipe array  140  and redundant shader pipe array  150  can also issue a texture request to texture filter  155 . In this instance texture filter  155  generates appropriate addresses to cache system (not shown) that contains texel data associated with pixels. 
         [0032]    The cache system, after receiving the address, will return the associated texel data to texture filter  155 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, in the event that there is no defective shader pipe, redundant shader pipe array  150  can be used for other purposes, including, as an example, additional rendering calculations on input data. As an alternative embodiment, if special diagnostic testing, e.g., software code or hardware testing circuitry, identifies a shader pipe to be only intermittently defective, or newly defective, then the control register (not shown) can be configured such that the shader pipe data for the intermittently, or newly, defective shader pipe would only be transferred to the redundant shader array for processing. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed view of the shader pipe array  140  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, shader pipe array  140  comprises one or more vertical shader pipe columns shown as vertical shader pipe columns  141 - 1 ,  141 - 2 ,  141 - 3 , and  141 - 4  through  141 -M, where “M” represents a positive integer greater than one. Each vertical shader pipe column, such as  141 - 1 A, comprises one or more shader pipe blocks, here represented as SP — 00 through SP — 0N, where “N” represents a positive integer greater than one. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 2 , as an example, if sequencer  130  identifies the shader pipe located in shader pipe block SP — 12 as being defective, then RSS-In  120  would transfer the data originally destined to the defective pipe, SP — 12, via the horizontal path, to redundant shader pipe array  150  for processing. Once redundant shader pipe array  150  processes the shader pipe data originally destined to the defective shader pipe, the processed shader pipe data would be transferred from redundant shader pipe array  150  to RSS-Out  160 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates a more detailed view of RSS-Out  160  according to an embodiment of the present invention. RSS-Out  160  comprises a set of delay buffers labeled DB — 0 through DB_M and a set of output buffers labeled OB — 0 through OB_M. Each set of delay buffers and output buffers, for example DB — 0 and OB — 0, are aligned with the corresponding vertical shader pipe column in shader pipe array  140 , e.g., column 0 comprised of block SP — 00 through SP — 0N. 
         [0037]    The purpose of a delay buffer is to hold the data output of the vertical shader pipe column in shader pipe array  140  for a sufficient period of time to allow redundant shader pipe array  150  results to be re-aligned to complete the processing of shader pipe data and to transfer the processed shader pipe data back to the appropriate column of RSS-Out  160 . As an example, if sequencer  130  indicates a defective shader pipe in vertical shader pipe column 2, specifically in block SP — 2N, then shader pipe data that was destined for the defective shader pipe SP — 2N would be transferred to redundant shader pipe array  150  via the horizontal path associated with row N, illustrated in  FIG. 3  as  131 . Redundant shader pipe array  150  would process the shader pipe data and would then return the processed shader pipe data to RSS-Out  160  via the return path illustrated in  FIG. 3  as  161 . In this example, since the defective pipe was located in column 2, the processed shader pipe data would be returned to output buffer OB — 2. Because of the delay buffer, in this example DB — 2, the output buffer, in this case OB — 2 would be able to insert the processed shader pipe data into the output stream for column 2 to take the place of the shader pipe data that was originally in SP — 2N. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the data can be processed as a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) where the defective lane is replaced with a redundant unit where sequencer  130  issues all the instructions necessary for processing, including export instructions. Therefore, RSS-Out  160  performs a re-alignment of the data on an instruction basis. However, in another embodiment, the SIMD approach can be replaced by a Multiple Instruction stream, Multiple Data stream (MIMD) where the components function in a parallel and independent manner. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  illustrates a more detailed view of redundant shader pipe array  150  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment redundant shader pipe array  150  comprises a single column outlined in  FIG. 4  as  151 . In this configuration redundant shader pipe array  150  can process shader pipe data destined for up to one defective shader pipe per row, but can repair up to N rows. The RSP — 00 block can process shader pipe data destined for a single defective shader pipe within row 0 of shader pipe array  140  that comprises blocks SP — 00 through SP_M0. In a similar manner block RSP — 01 can process shader pipe data destined for a single defective shader pipe within row 1 of shader pipe array  140  that comprises blocks SP — 01 through SP_M1 and so forth for redundant shader pipe array  150  rows through RSP — 0N. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a multi-column redundant shader pipe array  510  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment redundant shader pipe array  510  comprises multiple columns outlined in  FIG. 5  as  151 - 1  through  151 X, where X is a positive integer greater than one. In this configuration redundant shader pipe array  510  can process shader pipe data destined for up to X defective shader pipes per row. The number of columns (“X”) in redundant shader pipe array  510  is independent of the number of columns in shader pipe array  140  (“M”), but would be a function of the number of concurrent defective shader pipes in a single row for which shader pipe data is desired to be simultaneously processed. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart depicting a method  600  for shader pipe data repairing using a redundant shader switch. Method  600  begins at step  602 . In step  604 , a sequencer reads defective shader pipe control registers based on system test results and set controls to use shader pipe redundancy. In step  606  a redundant shader switch multiplexes the shader pipe data destined to a defective shader pipe from the shader pipe array to a redundant shader pipe array for processing. In step  608  the redundant shader pipe performs the actual processing of the shader pipe data that was destined to the defective shader pipe. 
         [0042]    In step  610 , the redundant shader pipe array returns the processed shader pipe data to the appropriate output column of the redundant shader switch. In step  612  the redundant shader switch merges the processed shader pipe data from the shader array and redundant shader array in the appropriate output column. 
         [0043]    The functions, processes, systems, and methods outlined in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6  can be implemented in software, firmware, or hardware, or using any combination thereof. If programmable logic is used, such logic can execute on a commercially available processing platform or a special purpose device. 
         [0044]    As would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art, based on the description herein, embodiments of the present invention can be designed in software using a hardware description language (HDL) such as, for example, Verilog or VHDL. The HDL-design can model the behavior of an electronic system, where the design can be synthesized and ultimately fabricated into a hardware device. In addition, the HDL-design can be stored in a computer product and loaded into a computer system prior to hardware manufacture. 
         [0045]    It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections can set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way. 
         [0046]    The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. 
         [0047]    The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance. 
         [0048]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.